Howard County Library System
 
 

A+ Partners in Education


A+ Partners in Education
In September 2002, Howard County Library System (HCLS) and the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) launched a groundbreaking county-wide initiative, A+ Partners in EducationSM. Several years later, Howard Community College (HCC) joined the partnership.

Our collective vision is to provide for Howard County students the best possible chance to achieve overall academic success. What makes A+ unique?
  • Every HCPSS school, and each HCC department, is assigned an HCLS branch and liaison.
  • Each student receives an HCLS card through school registration.
  • Kindergarten field trips to HCLS are part of HCPSS' curriculum.
  • HCLS instructors teach A+ Curriculum classes at HCLS branches, and in the schools.
  • Faculty send HCLS instructors Assignment Alerts.
  • The partnership is celebrated annually at the A+ Partners in Education Celebration.

More about A+ Partners... 

Since its inception, numerous libraries and schools have requested information about how to replicate such a partnership. If you are interested, review our toolkit for details.

STEM
A launching point in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) pipeline of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to fill high-tech BRAC-related jobs, Howard County Library System delivers an impressive line-up of STEM-related classes for preschool, elementary, and middle school students. The series, which teaches STEM through children's literature and experiments, includes: Having a Ball with Chemistry, Candy Science, Wiggly Giggly Gelatin, Snowflake Science, Go Figure, Robotics Fair, and Everyday Engineering. Watch a video about HCLS' STEM-related classes.

HCLS' A+ Curriculum guides, source (quarterly classes and events guide), and online calendar list the STEM classes, which HCLS instructors teach at HCLS' six branches for the general public, and take into school classrooms as part of A+ Partners in Education.

HiTech
HiTech provides access to the latest technology, and to peer and adult mentors who can support the creativity of students in grades 6-12 in the Savage community and surrounding areas. Details.

Battle of the Books
The fifth annual battle takes place April 19, 2013.  Details.
Download PDFs of photo sheets from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 competitions. Visit our Flickr page for more 2011 photos.

Great Scavenger Hunt
Read a book. Take a trivia quiz. Enter a prize drawing. Details.

HCLS Spelling Bee
Participate in the seventh annual HCLS Spelling Bee. Details.
Download PDFs of photo sheets from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 competitions. Visit our Flickr page for more 2011 photos.

Rube Goldberg Challenge
The Rube Goldberg Challenge unleashes the creativity of fourth and fifth grade students as they apply STEM concepts to solve a problem. Details.
Download a PDF of the photo sheet from the 2011 Awards Ceremony.

Summer Reading Club
Win prizes when you register for the Summer Reading Club! 
Download PDFs of photo sheets from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 kickoff events. Visit our Flickr page for more 2011 photos.