Harford County board hears hours of public comment on Patriot Program changes; adopts resolution to preserve original volunteer program

At its Jan. 27 business meeting, the Board of Education of Harford County faced sustained public comment over proposed changes to the county’s 30‑year Patriot Program and voted in favor of a board resolution directing that the existing volunteer/parent‑led Patriot Program remain available at participating schools.

The dispute drew dozens of public speakers and sustained comment from community groups, veterans, parents and students. Superintendent Dr. Bolsom introduced a presentation from curriculum staff explaining a plan to “elevate and amplify” the Patriot Program by embedding civic strands into pre‑K–5 classroom instruction so all students would have access to core civics content. Erin Lang, Supervisor of Social Studies, said the goal was to make the program “too important to be optional.”

Why it matters: Supporters of the existing Patriot Program said the program encourages memorization, civic pride, community engagement and provides awards, field trips and assemblies that families value. Opponents of the operational change voiced concern that moving program elements into classroom time could reduce the volunteer‑driven, extracurricular recognition that older community members and PTAs have supported for decades. Board members said they must weigh instructional time, equity of access and community expectations.

What presenters told the board

Thomas Smith, Director of Elementary School Instruction, and Erin Lang showed the board an “integrated Patriot program” pilot for grade 5 that staff say expands strands in history, geography, civics, media literacy, arts and service learning. Fifth‑grade teacher Emily Shepherd described three strands piloted this year — a constitutional convention simulation based on the Preamble and debates, a geography strand on industry and transportation tied to Maryland history, and a study of border states and sectional conflict leading to the Civil War — and said parent “learn with me” sessions drew positive feedback.

Lang told the board that 22 of 35 elementary schools offered some form of Patriot experience and that about 6,000 of an estimated 8,340 eligible students (roughly 28%) have participated where the program exists. Lang and Smith emphasized inconsistent implementation across schools, difficulties providing accommodations for students with individualized education programs when the program is run by volunteers, and the loss of teacher capacity when testing or program activities occur during standard instructional time.

Public comment and community reaction

More than two dozen speakers addressed the board in person or virtually. Tony Gee, vice president of the County Council for District C, said the Patriot Program "is a long standing initiative" and urged the board to "preserve the program's original mission to educate, inspire students about American history and patriotism." Several parents and community groups, including Moms for Liberty chapter leaders and veterans' organizations, urged the board to retain the existing optional, PTA‑or parent‑led model. A number of speakers said they had submitted public‑information requests for the new curriculum and had not received materials or satisfactory answers.

Some speakers framed the change as a loss of a cherished community tradition; others argued the revision would increase equity by offering core civic learning to students whose schools or families currently lack volunteer capacity. One teacher who piloted the integrated model told the board that parents who attended class demonstrations said they “actually learned a lot.”

Board discussion and the motion

Board members pressed staff on timelines and public outreach. Several members — including Miss Alvarez, Miss Strauss and Miss Pizzoke — described personal or family experiences with the traditional Patriot Program and urged community engagement before operational changes. At the meeting’s close, Board Member Mister Sewell moved a resolution saying, in summary, that the Patriot Program should remain “intact as originally designed and as previously implemented in HCPS participating schools led by the individual school, parents, and PTA as a supplementary and volunteer program” and that the voluntary program should remain in addition to any curriculum‑embedded civics instruction.

The motion drew a roll‑call vote after some procedural confusion; board members recorded votes individually during the recorded roll call and the chair announced the resolution passed. Minutes show the motion was approved by the board and staff said they would follow up with formal guidance.

What remains unsettled

District staff told the board they will continue developing a pre‑K–4 component of the integrated model and produce a family information packet for fifth‑grade families. Staff said the integrated strands are not a new separate curriculum but activities and learning experiences aligned to existing Maryland frameworks and the BOE‑approved social studies standards. Supporters of the existing volunteer model said they want the district to preserve assemblies, awards, field trips and volunteer roles in addition to any classroom civics work.

Ending note

Board members and staff agreed to continue community engagement and to provide more detailed materials to the board and the public; the district scheduled a follow‑up meeting and indicated it will provide the curriculum packet and additional information for board review. The board’s approved resolution directs that the existing, volunteer Patriot Program continue while curriculum work proceeds.