Guidance for Non-Public Schools

Last updated: February 3, 2021

Back To School - Girl wearing a mask

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health sent a letter to nonpublic schools on August 13 to proactively ensure that nonpublic schools have safety measures in place to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in their schools. There are two requirements for nonpublic schools:

Submitting a safety plan for approval prior to reopening in-person.
Contacting the Department of Health if a student or staff member is positive.

Click here for the Behavioral Health Bureau’s 2020 School Year Parents’ Planner

The health department expects that every school that opens to in-person instruction will have a written safety plan that outlines the changes in place to minimize transmission of COVID-19. The plan will be reviewed within 2 business days and those that appropriately address all the elements of federal (CDC) and state (MSDE) guidance can reopen. For those with deficiencies in their plan, the department will work with those schools to improve their plans so that they can safely reopen on time.

For the list of nonpublic schools with approved plans, click here.

This approach gives schools the flexibility they need while ensuring that students and staff return to a school with the necessary safety precautions in place.

See Guidance for Public Schools

1.13.21 – Reopening Schools: COVID-19 Health Guidelines and Presentation for Anne Arundel County

1.7.21 – Maryland School Reopening Guidance

1.7.21 – Guidance for Temperature and Symptom Screening in Schools

1.7.21 – Response to a Laboratory Confirmed Case of COVID-19 and Persons with COVID-19-like Illness in Schools

10.23.20 – Maryland School Health Services Frequently Asked Questions

10.5.20 – Reopening Schools: COVID-19 Health Guidelines for Anne Arundel County

10.5.20 – Presentation for Board of Education by Anne Arundel County Health Officer Nilesh Kalyanaraman, M.D.

8.28.20 – Guidance for Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Maryland Schools

8.27.20 – COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Public Schools

8.12.20 – Letter to Nonpublic Schools or PDF

Coronavirus – Schools and Childcare Programs, Plan, Prepare, and Respond – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)