FCPS Rapid Communication System

Frederick County Public Schools utilizes the Frederick County Public Schools’ Rapid Communication System as part of an ongoing effort to enhance student/staff safety, security, and communications. The FCPS Rapid Communication System will be used to contact families and employees in a variety of situations ranging from severe weather and power outages to other emergencies that may cause a school to evacuate, relocate, or lockdown. The system will also be used to inform families and staff when schools are closed, opening late or closing early due to inclement weather. It also may be used by individual schools to communicate information to their school community.

The FCPS Rapid Communication System has the ability to deliver thousands of voice, e-mail and text messages within minutes. Every family who has a child attending Frederick County Public Schools is automatically signed up to receive messages through the FCPS Rapid Communication System. FCPS employees also will receive messages from the system automatically. Since the FCPS Rapid Communication System supports different languages, many non-English speaking families can receive messages in their native language.

In order for the system to be effective, Frederick County Public Schools must have accurate contact information for all families and employees. Without current contact information, the FCPS Rapid Communication System will not be able to make the necessary contacts in the event of an emergency. Whenever a family member's home phone number, cell phone number or e-mail address changes, they should notify their child’s school so the information can be updated. FCPS employees should notify the Human Resources Department whenever their contact information changes.

Families must annually notify the office of the student’s school in writing if they do not want to receive messages via the FCPS Rapid Communication System. Such notification will remain in effect through the end of the current school year and must be renewed annually. FCPS employees who do not want to receive messages sent through the system, must annually notify the Human Resources Department in writing.