The health and safety of our students and staff is our primary focus. We will rely on the guidance provided by the CDC and our local Health Department to make sure students and staff are safe when entering school buildings. 

• Staying Healthy and Safe Frequently Asked Questions
• FAQ’s from DSS
• Bus Cleaning Overview

COVID-19 Process For Student Return

Health and Safety Protocols

When students return to school, protocols for health and safety include:

	Hand Washing Promoting frequent hand washing throughout the day, especially before and after meals.
	Physical Distancing Emphasizing increased spacing in the building and in classrooms with fewer students in spaces, and reducing the number of students/staff congregating as appropriate.
	Cleaning Cleaning and disinfecting facilities, buses, with an emphasis on frequently touched areas.
	Face Coverings Wearing masks during the school day and on buses.
	Hand Sanitizer Providing hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing stations, as appropriate, with at building entrances and in classrooms and shared spaces.
	Training Providing ongoing training on COVID-19 prevention practices, including social distancing and face-covering use. Signage and ongoing communication will supplement and reinforce training.

Collaboration with Health Department

SMCPS will coordinate its response with the local Health Department. Exclusion, quarantine and return to school for a person with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or persons with symptoms of COVID-19 like illness is based on CDC and Maryland Department of Health/Maryland State Department of Education guidance and is to be implemented by local school systems in collaboration with the local Health Department.

Additional Resources

Guidance for Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools

Response to a Laboratory Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools, Child Care Programs, and Youth Camps