Schools and Education

COVID -19 Safety Highlights at Kennedy Krieger School Programs

• Universal Masking
  • All staff and students are required to wear a mask in all Kennedy Krieger buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
  • We know that some of our students have difficulty consistently wearing their mask so we will also do our best to maintain 3-6 feet of social distancing when possible.

• Screening
  • All staff and students are screened for COVID symptoms upon arrival, including temperature checks.

• Vaccinations
  • Staff - all Kennedy Krieger Institute staff are required to be fully vaccinated by September 1st. Staff who have medical or religious exemptions will be required to get an asymptomatic test weekly.
  • Students – we strongly encourage parents/guardians to have all eligible students vaccinated (currently those 12 and older). Kennedy Krieger offers a weekly vaccine clinic on Fridays. Trained staff are available to provide behavioral and other supports for individuals with disabilities. This clinic is open to the public. For more information about this clinic, you can call 667-205-4930 or email COVID19vaccine@kennedykrieger.org.

• Testing for Students
  • Symptomatic Testing –the School Programs are participating in the Maryland Department of Health voluntary testing program. We will be able to conduct onsite COVID testing of students who may exhibit COVID-like symptoms while at school or who have been exposed to COVID-positive peer or staff member.
  • Asymptomatic Testing – Kennedy Krieger School Programs are participating in a COVID 19 testing study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a Safe Return to School for all students. Staff and students who volunteer to participate will provide a weekly saliva sample to be tested. Regular asymptomatic testing can help prevent the spread of COVID 19 and its variants and help keep schools safely open.

• Contact Tracing and Quarantine Requirements
  • All guidance for contact tracing and quarantining is in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and local health departments, and Kennedy Krieger Institute Infection Control team.

• Virtual Programming
  • Virtual programming will be provided for students who are required to quarantine at home for an extended period of time.

“Thank you, Kennedy Krieger, for keeping the safety bar high. We know you’ll do this right and keep our kids safe!” – Parent of a KKS student

The School Programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute offer educational services to children with a variety of learning challenges.  Students aged 5-21 receive instruction that focuses on the development of academic, social, emotional and behavioral skills in an environment that recognizes and capitalizes on the individual strengths of each child. The School Programs at Kennedy Krieger are located in three-day school settings.