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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 8090 – Non-School-Hour Curricular Programs

The purpose of this policy is to establish appropriate guidelines for student participation in curricular activities during non-school hours.

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Policy Value Statement

The Board of Education of Howard County recognizes the benefit to students of participating in activities beyond the school day that reinforce skills, provide valuable learning experiences, and serve as incentives for improvement, specifically the non-school-hour programs that implement the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) curriculum.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish appropriate guidelines for student participation in curricular activities during non-school hours.

III. Standards

  1. Required non-school-hour curricular activities are those activities identified as course requirements.

  2. Participation in required non-school-hour curricular activities will be reflected within the student’s total grade in accordance with Policy 8010 Grading and Reporting: PreKindergarten Through Grade 5 and Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School.

  3. No grade penalty will be assessed for excused absences from required non-school-hour curricular activities (see Policy 8010 Grading and Reporting: PreKindergarten Through Grade 5 and Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School).

  4. Absence from a required non-school-hour curricular activity, excused or not, may result in the student’s exclusion from a scheduled performance or event for which the missed activity was considered essential preparation.

  5. Violation of the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct may result in a student’s exclusion from a scheduled performance or event.

  6. Students will not be required to pay a fee to participate in a required non-school-hour curricular activity.

  7. Students who do not participate in voluntary non-school-hour curricular activities will not be penalized.

  8. If the non-school hour curricular activity involves a field trip, the trip will adhere to Policy 8100 Field Trips.

  9. All Board policies remain in effect for non-school-hour curricular activities taking place on school property or at an off-site location.

  10. Curricular activity leaders, in collaboration with school-based administrators, have the ability to make provisions to meet student needs.

IV. Responsibilities

  1. Curriculum coordinators will identify those required non-school-hour curricular activities integral to each program or course.

  2. Curriculum coordinators will determine the maximum number of required non-school-hour curricular activities in which students will participate to meet program requirements.

  3. The principal/designee will approve any schedule of curricular activities during non-school hours.

  4. Curricular activity leaders will provide participating students and their parents with information prior to or at the beginning of the course regarding all required curricular activities taking place during non-school hours.

  5. Curricular activity leaders will consult with the school administrator/designee prior to excluding a student from a scheduled performance or an event.

V. Delegation of Authority

The Superintendent is authorized to develop procedures to implement this policy.

VI. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Curricular Activity Leader – The teacher responsible for directing a non-school-hour curricular activity.

  2. Non-School-Hour Curricular Activities – Learning experiences scheduled during non-school-hours that are part of the approved curriculum at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, such as rehearsals, practices, or performances. These activities can be either:

    1. Required – Those non-school-hour activities mandated by a curricular program.

    2. Voluntary – Those non-school-hour activities that are scheduled and for which student participation is not required.

  3. Parent – Any one of the following recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the student:

    1. Biological Parent – A natural parent whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    2. Adoptive Parent – A person who has legally adopted the student and whose parental rights have not been terminated.

    3. Custodian – A person or an agency appointed by the court as the legal custodian of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    4. Guardian – A person who has been placed by the court in charge of the affairs of the student and granted parental rights and responsibilities.

    5. Caregiver – An adult resident of Howard County who exercises care, custody, or control over the student but who is neither the biological parent nor legal guardian as long as the person satisfies the requirements of the Education Article, §7-101 (c) (Informal Kinship Care) or has been issued a U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Verification of Release form entering into a custodial arrangement with the federal government.

    6. Foster Parent – An adult approved to care for a child who has been placed in the home by a state agency or a licensed child placement as provided by the Family Law Article, §5-507.

VII. References

A. Legal

  • The Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, §7-101(c) Informal Kinship Care

  • The Annotated Code of Maryland, Family Law Article, §5-507

B. Other Board Policies

C. Relevant Data Sources

D. Other

VIII. History

ADOPTED: July 24, 1981

REVIEWED:

MODIFIED:

REVISED:

  • May 11, 1995

  • June 9, 2005

  • February 9, 2012

  • January 7, 2021

EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2021

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.