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Board approves revised policies on contest participation and religious observances
Summary
The board approved updates to policy language on contest participation and protections for foreign‑born students and adopted a modified Policy 3000 on religious observances while directing alignment of implementation procedures.
At its Jan. 29 meeting the Howard County Board of Education approved several policy updates after presentations from the Office of General Counsel and the policy office.
Antoine Perry, policy manager, presented revisions to Policy 10,030 (student participation in contests) and Policy 10‑70 (protections and supports for foreign‑born students and families). Perry said the committee had reviewed language to ensure equitable access, accessibility of contest materials, and protection of student ownership of submitted materials; the policy will go to a public hearing on Feb. 9 and is scheduled for action March 26 with an effective date listed where appropriate. The board voted 8‑0 to approve the recommended action on Policy 10‑70.
The board then debated Policy 3000 on religious observances. Legal counsel J. Stephen Coles explained that under the cited Kumar regulation religious observances are designated lawful absences, whereas cultural observances do not automatically receive the same legal status; adding cultural observances to the policy title without changes to the policy text could create confusion about lawful absences. Board members asked staff to reconcile the policy text and the implementation procedures (IP) used for calendars and asked the policy office to return with clarifying language. The board moved to adopt the modified Policy 3000 (policy only; implementation procedures to be aligned separately) and approved it by roll call (motion carried 5‑1).
