International Students

Program Overview:

We place each student in a program that meets his/her needs, and offer related specialized services from our internationally renowned institution to our students, such as:

These programs and services are offered through our internationally recognized day school programs in Baltimore City and Montgomery County, Maryland.

The goal of our programs is to develop a student’s academic, emotional, social and behavioral skills that will prepare them to transition into their communities and live as independently as possible. To this end, we ensure an open dialogue between parents and our school specialists to determine if our programs and services can help children reach their educational and behavioral goals.

Students with physical disabilities also have the opportunity to participate in various sports offered through our Physically Challenged Sports and Recreational Program.

International students will follow enrollment guidelines established by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Our admissions officers work closely with families seeking admission for their children to make the application process as convenient as possible. At the end of the enrollment process, KKSP will issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status, also called Form I-20. The I-20 will allow families to apply for a student visa.

Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website for more information about the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

Overview of Application and Enrollment Procedures:

Throughout the admissions process, the parent/guardian is encouraged to communicate with the admissions officer to ask questions, express concerns and to otherwise maintain a mutually supportive relationship. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at internationalstudent@kennedykrieger.org.

The application and enrollment procedures typically include:

• Initial discussion between the parent and admission staff about the student’s disability and its impact on school performance
• Comprehensive parent survey to collect detailed information about student’s learning strengths and areas of need
• Review of existing documentation, including:
  • Current IEP (Individualized Education Plan), if available
  • Proof of immunizations
  • Cognitive and educational assessments and progress reports
  • Related service assessments and progress reports (e.g., speech and language, OT, PT, behavior, mental health, functional behavior)
  • Video clips of student in home and school settings
• Evaluation by an interdisciplinary team to determine student’s appropriateness for acceptance
• Family interview, usually via Skype
• Acceptance into one of the Kennedy Krieger School Programs
• Assistance to family in visa process

Download the International Students Application Flyer

Detailed Application and Enrollment Procedures:

The following steps generally occur during application for enrollment as an International Student at the Kennedy Krieger School Programs:

Parents are asked to complete a comprehensive survey which provides a detailed description of their child’s strengths and needs. This survey gives the parent/guardian a chance to include individualized information and indicate what goals they would like their child to achieve.

Our admissions officer will meet with a team of highly qualified special educators, psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, administrators, and related services providers, as appropriate, to review the application materials. These specialists will work as an interdisciplinary team to determine if placement in one of the Kennedy Krieger School Programs would be appropriate and beneficial for your child.

We encourage families to participate in an interview with the admissions team. If you and your child are not able to interview in person, we can communicate via Skype or conference call. We prefer to conduct interviews in person or via Skype (or another method with video) to give our staff the opportunity to observe your child in real time. The interview process will also give you an opportunity to discuss your child’s needs from your own perspective.

Step 1: Initial Contact

Send an email to internationalstudent@kennedykrieger.org with the following information:

Name, relationship to student, country of citizenship, mailing address, phone number (indicate if mobile or landline), email address

Name, date of birth (DOB), current school, grade, disabilities

Five to seven sentences describing the type of school program you are looking for

• Parent/Guardian:
• Student:
• Description:

Step 2: Parent Survey

Step 3: Disability Information

The parent/guardian will be asked to send as many of the following documents as available for KKSP review:

• Copy of passport with picture
• Proof of medical immunizations
• Medical evaluation documenting disability
• Educational and psychological documentation, including, but not limited to:
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • Cognitive assessment
  • Evaluation reports in areas such as educational achievement, functional behavior assessment, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
  • Video clips which show child in home, school, and community settings

Step 4: KKSP Review Process

Step 5: Family Interview

Step 6: Acceptance into the Kennedy Krieger School Program

The admissions team will review all application documents, survey responses, and interview outcomes to make a determination on admissions eligibility. Once your child has been accepted:

• A letter of acceptance will be sent to you electronically.
• A tuition contract with the specific terms of your child’s enrollment will be sent to you electronically. This contract must be signed and returned.
• The parent/guardian must submit proof that they are financially capable of meeting tuition obligations.
• Once a signed contract is received and financial ability is verified, the school will issue the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status” (I-20), and mail it to the family.

Please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website to learn more about applying for a student visa.

Tuition and Fees:

The Kennedy Krieger School maintains multiple programs in order to meet the needs of each and every student. As the child’s educational needs become more apparent, the admissions team will identify the most appropriate KKSP placement.

**Please Note: Actual tuition costs may vary based on the specific needs of each student and the identified program of enrollment. Please refer to your tuition contract for specific information or contact the admissions officer with general questions. A list of fees for the current school year is available upon request.**