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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Howard County Public Schools. We found 3 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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New Bullying Policies Require Scrutiny
The board is introducing first readings for new policies on bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment for both students (Policy 9460) and staff (Policy 7140). These types of policies are frequently used to insert ideological language, defining ‘harassment’ to include things like using the ‘wrong’ pronouns, which can punish children for expressing common-sense beliefs.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: The district has not provided the text for Items 3.A and 3.C. Download these documents from the official agenda link and check for definitions of ‘bullying’ or ‘harassment’ that include ‘gender identity’ or ‘gender expression.’ Contact the Board of Education (see the Official Agenda link for contact details): ‘Parents must be able to review the full text of proposed bullying policies before a first reading. Please table Items 3.A and 3.C until the documents are made public and parents have time to review them.’
💰 Impact: Student Speech Rights
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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New Attendance Policy May Open Door to Home Visits
The board is reviewing a new attendance policy (Policy 9010). These policies are often the gateway to ‘Chronic Absenteeism’ programs, which can give the school justification for intrusive interventions like home visits, putting your family’s privacy at risk.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: The text for Item 3.B, ‘Policy 9010 Attendance,’ is not included in the agenda summary. Download this policy from the official agenda link and search for terms like ‘chronic absenteeism,’ ‘home visits,’ or any language that allows school staff to intervene in the home. Contact the Board of Education (see the Official Agenda link for contact details): ‘What are the specific triggers for intervention in the new attendance policy, and does it authorize home visits by school staff?’
💰 Impact: Family Privacy
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague ‘Ombudsman’ Role Could Silence Parents
The board is discussing creating an ‘Ombudsman’ policy. Without clear language, this role can become another layer of bureaucracy designed to manage and deflect parent concerns rather than solve them, ultimately reducing parents’ direct access to decision-makers.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND CLARITY: The agenda lists an ‘Ombudsman Policy Discussion’ under Item 4 but provides no details. Contact the Board of Education (see the Official Agenda link for contact details): ‘Before any policy is created, parents need to know: To whom will the Ombudsman report? What is their scope of authority? Will they be an independent advocate for families or an agent of the administration?’
💰 Impact: Reduced Parent Voice
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