close
Skip to main content
Open all alerts
Possible technology service interruption.

On Friday, September 29, 2023, between 6 and 8 p.m., City Schools will be updating our technology infrastructure. This maintenance may cause intermittent service disruptions to all City Schools' technology services. This includes any systems that require internet access and cloud-based services. Please plan accordingly. 

Expires on 10/1

Health and Safety Procedures

Keeping students, staff, and school communities safe during the COVID pandemic

UPDATE: As of June 13, 2023, City Schools will no longer provide COVID testing, service, or support to schools or offices. All COVID-related concerns should be addressed to the Baltimore City Health Department

City Schools is working to keep school communities safe so students can continue to learn. Here you can find information about the steps we’re taking during the COVID pandemic and what’s happening now in our schools.

As guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state and local health agencies changes with the pandemic, we also may change procedures to reflect the situation in our city and neighborhoods. Check back here often for the latest updates.

Still need more information or want to share a concern with us? Email CovidResponse@bcps.k12.md.us.

View the dashboard

COVID Dashboard

Tracking cases in our schools during the 2021-22 school year

Read the SOP

COVID-19 Health and Safety Guide

Standard Operating Procedures, Guidelines, and Best Practices

View FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

More answers you need to know

Learn more about testing

In-School Testing

Diagnosing, screening, and test-to-stay as of January 2022

Get the latest about when to stay home

Quarantine and Isolation

Fewer days at home for asymptomatic and mild cases and close contacts

Learn more about air quality

Air Quality and Ventilation

Steps taken to filter out viruses, school by school

Access the flyers

Long COVID Resources

Learn more about its impact

Learn more here

COVID Vaccination Resources

Get the latest updates and FAQ about vaccinations

Procedures for the 2022-23 School Year

Working with state and local agencies, partners, and experts, City Schools has developed a plan and procedures that allow us to maintain safe in-person learning and extracurricular activities as community conditions change. These are detailed in our COVID Health and Safety Guide: Standard Operating Procedures, Guidelines, and Best Practices.
 

Here is a summary of some of the key procedures now in place.

  • Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community. City Schools strongly encourages all staff and families to get vaccinated! 
  • In-school testing helps identify potentially infected people so that steps can be taken to prevent spread of the virus. Through our "test to stay" protocols, students can get rapid tests that may eliminate the need to miss days at school.  
    • All students (vaccinated and unvaccinated) should participate in free in-school testing. Parent/ guardians must sign the consent form (English or Spanish) to ensure their students have access to this safe, convenience and free resource!
  • Everyone entering a City Schools building is reminded to monitor symptoms and not to enter if they are experiencing symptoms.
  • Isolation for those who test positive is five days. Note that all known contacts of a positive case will be eligible to receive a rapid test and stay in school if they test negative through our "test to stay" protocol, so quarantine is no longer required for those who have been exposed to COVID. 
  • Ventilation has been improved with high-quality filters and air purifiers to reduce the spread of viruses in the air.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting happen daily, with products designed to eliminate viruses. 
  • Personal hygiene will continue to be stressed, including teaching students about proper handwashing, use of tissues, covering sneezes and coughs, etc.

Health Advisory Committee

City Schools coordinates with the Baltimore City Health Department and the following health experts when making decisions that impact the health and safety of students, staff, and families. 

  • Dr. Andrea Berry, University of Maryland School of Medicine 
  • Dr. Lorece Edwards, Morgan State University
  • Drs. Megan Collins, Kate Connor, Gigi Kwik Gronvall, Sara Johns, Beth Marshall, and Amanda Neitzel, Johns Hopkins University
  • Dr. Courtney Pate, Director, Home and Hospital, Baltimore City Public Schools
  • Mary Grace White, Director, Acute Communicable Diseases, Baltimore City Department of Health