Non-Discrimation and Inclusivity – HCPSS
Non-Discrimination and Inclusivity
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Non-Discrimination
ADA Accommodations
House Bill 850
Title IX
Special Education
Section 504
Web Accessibility
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) recognizes that the quality and character of school life powerfully affects student motivation to learn. This understanding is in line with a growing body of research—and legislation—that supports the importance of a safe and nurturing school climate to promote student academic achievement and healthy youth development.
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HCPSS Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity Employment
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, immigration status, religion, physical, mental, or educational disability, pregnancy, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or socioeconomic status in its educational programs; including co-curricular and extracurricular activities, in the workplace or in hiring practices. HCPSS provides equal access to designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
EEO Compliance and Investigations Officer
Howard County Public School System
10910 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
TitleIXCoordinator@hcpss.org
Formally file an electronic complaint
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit
for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1–800–421–3481.
In accordance with the Education Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland
, Section 26-704, it is the policy of the State of Maryland that all public and publicly funded schools and school programs operate in compliance with:
Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
Title 26, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code, which states that public and publicly funded schools and programs may not:
Discriminate against a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, identity, or disability;
Refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or
Disciplined, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.
ADA Accommodations
Workplace accommodations refer to an adjustment to a job or work environment that makes it possible for an individual with a disability to perform their job duties. Accommodations may include specialized equipment, modifications to the work environment or adjustments to work schedules or responsibilities. Not all people with disabilities (or even all people with the same disability) need the same accommodation.
The Office of Employee and Labor Relations reviews requests for workplace accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAA). The Office of Employee and Labor Relations also reviews and engages with staff members on religious accommodations and temporary work restrictions.
Contact the ADA Coordinator at
ada_coordinator@hcpss.org
For more information on accommodations, please visit
ADA Accommodations | Staff Help (hcpss.org)
To apply for a medical workplace accommodation or work restriction, please
submit a request
. To facilitate a timely review of your request, you are encouraged to complete the following forms:
Employee Authorization
Health Provider Medical Form
To apply for a religious accommodation, please
submit a request for a Staff Religious Accommodation
Title IX
HCPSS is committed to providing an educational and work environment that is free from sexual discrimination. HCPSS prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its educational programs, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, and in the workplace as required by law. HCPSS provides
training materials and mechanisms for students and employees to report
sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct.
Special Education
The Howard County Public School System acknowledges and supports the rights of all students to receive a free appropriate public education that will enable them to develop their unique talents and abilities, thus preparing them to participate in and serve their community with dignity and pride. We offer a
continuum of services, supports, and programs
to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Section 504
Section 504 is a federal law that protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities. The Act prohibits any organization that receives federal funds from discriminating against otherwise qualified individuals because of a disability. School programs and activities are subject to this law.
The Howard County Public School System is committed to ensuring that no qualified student with a disability will be discriminated or retaliated against and/or denied an educational benefit or opportunity on the basis of a disability. For more information, visit our
Section 504 webpage
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires
schools to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in services, programs and activities.
Web Accessibility
Web accessibility ensures access to the web for everyone regardless of disability (visual, auditory, physical, or cognitive) and our site allows access of district-wide information regardless of hardware, software, device, or manner of site navigation.
For further information on accessibility and HCPSS compliance under Section 504 and Title II, visit the Department of Education’s
Office of Civil Rights website
If you come across a
section, page, video or document
on this site that you believe should be reviewed for its accessibility, please submit more information via the online form –
Accessibility Feedback Form for Content on www.hcpss.org
or by
emailing the Webmaster
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
HCPSS is committed to creating a welcoming and positive school culture as well as an inclusive environment for all students and ensuring that all backgrounds and interests equally represent the voice of the student body. Students have the opportunity to share their experiences both inside and outside of school and to contribute to programs that promote positive behavior in their school community and foster respect for all cultures and diversity throughout the system.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion webpage