CCPS is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and respectful educational environment where the worth and dignity of individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. Behaviors that compromise this environment, interfere with school operations, or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of our public schools will not be tolerated.

The school system takes a proactive approach to educating students and staff on what bullying is, what it looks like, and what should be done if it is suspected. Bullying, harassment, or intimidation exists when there is a sufficiently severe action or persistent, pervasive pattern of actions or statements, directed at an identifiable individual or group.

Students who believe that they have been subject to bullying, harassment, or intimidation or who have knowledge of employees or students who may be engaging in bullying, harassment, or intimidation should immediately report the problem to a teacher, counselor, or school administrator.

We encourage that all cases of bullying and harassment be reporting by using the forms found below. All investigations must be conducted by school administration in a timely matter.

CCPS Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation Policy

Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation ONLINE Reporting

Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation Report Form - English | Spanish | Haitian Creole

CCPS has several comprehensive programs that support bullying prevention. Character Education programs exist at each of our 10 schools, and exist to reinforce positive character traits and good decisions, such as demonstrating fairness and respect to all individuals.

All of our schools are Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Schools which emphasize and reward good choices. All ten (10) of our schools have earned a GOLD designation, the highest honor given by PBIS.

We also have Restorative Practices at several schools that focuses on respectful conflict resolution.

Evening Credit Recovery

The CCPS credit recovery program provides an opportunity for currently enrolled high school students to recover credit (repeat a course) through the online APEX program.  Certified teachers provide academic support, instruction and remediation.

With assistance from the school counselor, eligible students must complete the Credit Recovery form, obtain parent/guardian signature and attend the program  (Monday through Thursday - 3pm to 5pm).  Course completion is self-paced within a 90 day window.

Please use the Evening Credit Recovery Form to register for credit recovery courses.

English | Spanish | Haitian Creole

Summer Credit Recovery

Credit recovery courses are for those students who did not pass the course during the regular school year. These courses may be taken by students in an effort to meet graduation requirements and earn the appropriate GPA for athletic/club eligibility. For more information, please contact the school counselor.

Guidelines:

• Home and Hospital Teaching is designed as a short-term service for students who are unable to attend school due to a physical condition or an emotional condition.

• Home and Hospital Teaching is not intended to take the place of regular school.

• The student must be under the care of a treating physician or nurse practitioner for a physical illness or under the care of a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist for an emotional illness.

School systems must determine the “initial service need” for instruction in a home or hospital setting by obtaining verification of the student’s physical condition by a licensed physician, or verification of the student’s emotional condition by a certified school psychologist, or licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. The statement of verification must include the statement that the student’s condition prevents the student from participating in the school of enrollment (COMAR 13A.03.05.04).

• A completed Home and Hospital Application must be signed by both doctor and parent, and submitted to student.services@ccpsstaff.org. An incomplete application will not be processed. Home and Hospital Teaching will not be in effect until approved by Caroline County Public Schools.

• Applications can be authorized for a maximum of 60 calendar days. Services beyond 60 days require a new application. The new application should be received by our office prior to the expiration of the initial 60 days.

• An adult who is 21 or older must be present in the home during the instruction.

• The parent must sign the teacher’s completed Biweekly Report following each session validating the day and time the teaching occurred.

• The teacher must be notified of cancellations by contacting the home and hospital teacher directly or the Office of Pupil Services at 410-479-3253.

• The school of enrollment must complete a Home and Hospital Student Re-Entry Action Plan 2 weeks prior to the Home and Hospital Teaching expiration.

• When the student is ready to return to school, make sure that the student has a release from the Health Care provider and immediately notify the home school and the Pupil Services office.

Home & Hospital Program Application

Home & Hospital Re-entry Action Plan

(McKinney-Vento Brochure - English, Spanish, Haitian Creole)

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures that all homeless children and youth, including preschoolers, have equal access to the same free, appropriate educational programs as provided to all other children and youth.

To access services:

Speak with your school's teacher, school counselor, administration or office staff, or the Pupil Personnel Worker assigned to your child's school.

Contact the Caroline County Public School Student Services office to:

• help you navigate through a transitional time,

• assist with program eligibility,

• help identify barriers, and

• advocate for services and resources that are in the best interest of your child

Traditional home instruction (homeschooling), overseen by CCPS Student Services, involves withdrawing your child from CCPS and taking over their education. The parent becomes the child’s learning guardian and is responsible for selecting, acquiring, and delivering curriculum and materials of instruction.  Families who choose to formally home school must follow the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) for Home Instruction.  It is important to know that students who are home instructed are not earning grades, credits, promotions or a diploma.

For information about Home Instruction (homeschooling), and to review requirements in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), please visit the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) webpage Maryland Home Instruction.

CCPS Home Instruction Notification Form

Maryland GED Diploma Information

MD Department of Transportation Learner's Permit Form (DL-300A)

For information regarding pregnant and parenting students, please see CCPS policy and regulation:

Pregnant & Parenting Student Policy
Pregnant & Parenting Student Regulation

School counselors are available in all CCPS schools. The CCPS School Counseling program is fully aligned with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Guidelines and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Framework. Services vary according to grade level.

Service-learning is an essential component of the educational experience in Maryland. Students are required to complete a minimum of 75 hours of service-learning during their time in school. In Caroline County, students complete school-based projects during grades 3-9. In middle and high school, students complete some hours on their own through individual projects.

All students in grades 6-12 who are undertaking individual projects must complete the Service Learning Approval/Verification Form.

• Part One must be completed prior to beginning the project. Students should submit it to the service-learning coordinator at their school for pre-approval.

• Part Two is to be completed after the project, and requires the signature of the community member who oversaw the project, as well as the student's reflection on the experience.

When selecting service-learning projects, students must adhere to the Maryland State Department of Education's service learning requirements. In order to be called service-learning, a project must meet Maryland's Seven Best Practices of Service Learning (1995):

• Meet a recognized need in the community

• Achieve curricular objectives through service-learning

• Reflect throughout the service-learning experience

• Develop student responsibility

• Establish community partnerships

• Plan ahead for service-learning

• Equip students with knowledge and skills needed for service

 As a graduation requirement, students must complete 75 hours.  Students will start working on their hours in grades 3-5, five (5) hours in each grade (15 hours).  Students must complete a service-learning project in grades 6-8, ten (10) hours in each grade (30 hours) and ten (10) hours in 10th grade.  Students must complete twenty (20) hours of independent service learning.  Students not completing the middle school component in middle school must do so in high school in addition to the high school requirement.  Each student is also required to complete the service-learning requirement for high school in order to be eligible to graduate.

Transfer Policy: Transfer policies differ in each Maryland public school system. If a student transfers to another county in Maryland, it will be indicated on the student’s record how many hours have been completed in that system. If transferring into Caroline County Public Schools from out-of-state, non-public school, out of country, or home school, based on their official record, students will need to complete their service-learning requirement.

For more information on the Service Learning program, please contact the school's service-learning coordinator/school counselor for assistance with service learning or to learn about service learning opportunities.

Application for Change of Student Assignment

Students are expected to attend the schools within the attendance area in which they live with their parents or legal guardians. However, exemptions may be granted based on specific circumstances and conditions.

Form: Request for Change of Student Assignment

To fulfill a request for a student transcript, Student Services must have the graduate’s request in writing, along with proper proof of identification. The Transcript Request form must be completed with an approved signature. The request will take 1-2 business days to process.

Transcript Request form

Guidelines for Support, September 2021

These guidelines are fluid and may be subject to change based on need, additional information, or changes in laws pertinent to the rights of transgender youth.

504 Parent/Student Rights
Identification, Evaluation and Placement
(Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)

The following is a description of the rights granted by federal law to students with 504 disabilities. The intent of the law is to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of these decisions.

You have the right to:

• Have your child take part in, and receive benefits from, public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disability.

• Have the school district advise you of your rights under federal law.

• Receive notice with respect to identification, evaluation, or placement of your child.

• Have your child receive a free appropriate public education. This includes the right to be educated with non-disabled students to the maximum extent appropriate. It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school-related activities.

• Have your child educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided non-disabled students.

• Have your child receive an individualized evaluation and receive specialized education services if s/he is found to be eligible under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

• Have evaluation, educational and placement decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student, the evaluation data, and placement options.

• Have transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting, determined by the school district, at no greater cost to you than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by the district.

• Have your child be given an equal opportunity to participate in non-academic and extracurricular activities offered by the district.

• Examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, educational program, and placement, and obtain copies of educational records at a reasonable cost, unless the fee would effectively deny you access to the records.

• Receive a response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child's records.

• Request amendment of your child's educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe that they are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of your child. If the school district refuses this request for amendment, it shall notify you within a reasonable time, and advise you of the right to a hearing.

• File a local grievance.

• Request mediation or an impartial due process hearing related to decisions or actions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, education program or placement. You and the student may take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you at your own expense. The impartial Hearing Officer will be selected by the district. Hearing requests must be made in writing to the Supervisor of Special Education. This is the person in the district who is responsible for assuring the Caroline County Public Schools comply with Section 504 requirements.