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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.
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.
- 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
