January 16, 2022
Baltimore City Public Schools continues to update its health and safety effort as students and staff return to in-person learning this winter. Visit our website homepage weekly to get the latest insight for students and families on this critical work; staff will receive updates via the Inside Scoop weekly newsletter or supplementary email.
The Baltimore City Health Department has recommended that City Schools continue with its ongoing health and safety steps listed below. City Schools leaders meet weekly with the Health Department to ensure our response is aligned with the community-wide effort.
On Tuesday, January 18, Baltimore City Public Schools will begin implementing three key changes in its health and safety rules. Quick Health and Safety Update
These changes align with recent guidance for K-12 schools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maryland Department of Health. City Schools has also reviewed these changes with the Baltimore City Health Department.
Five-day quarantine periods
City Schools will reduce its required quarantine period to 5 days for students and staff members for the following groups:
- After January 18, anyone who has COVID must quarantine for 5 days
- No symptoms - Day 1 of the quarantine is the day AFTER you test positive
- Symptoms - Day 1 of the quarantine is the day AFTER your symptoms start
- You must be fever-free for 24 hours with a reduction in symptoms to return after 5 days
- After January 18, anyone who is an unvaccinated close contact to someone with COVID-19 must quarantine for 5 days unless they are participating in the Test to Stay protocols (see below)
- Day 1 of the quarantine is the day AFTER exposure
Next-day rapid testing for positive pools (Test to Stay)
Elementary/middle school students and staff members in a positive pool test will receive rapid tests the following day. The procedure is as follows:
- All students and staff in a positive pool will return to school the business day after the results.
- Rapid tests will be administered to those students and staff.
- Individuals who test negative will stay in school.
- Even if vaccinated, individuals who test positive will leave school and begin the 5-day quarantine period. Positive individuals may return to school after the 5-day quarantine period.
- Unvaccinated household contacts of those who test positive must quarantine.
Test to Stay will start in high schools at a later date.
Smaller groups for pool testing at elementary/middle schools
City Schools is reducing the size of its testing pools to only five individuals (when possible). This important change will allow us to better know which students need to quarantine, which will mean fewer missed classroom days for students. Smaller pools will also help laboratories in producing results more quickly.
Two reminders (updated 1/14/22)
One - If you test positive for COVID-19, you don't have to test for the next 90 days.
Two - All students are required to participate in weekly testing at their schools. Individuals must participate in the City Schools testing program or get tested by a third party and provide the result. The Parent/Guardian Consent Form and COVID-19 Awareness Agreement are required (English | Spanish). City Schools will attempt to remind and engage families that do not complete and submit the consent form. Failure to weekly test may result in schools placing limits on student participation in extracurriculars and other school activities to mitigate health and safety risks.
All school staff must participate in weekly school testing through January, even if they are vaccinated.