MSDE Technical Assistance Bulletin
June 2020
On June 10, 2020,the State Superintendent of Schools announced, in coordination with the second stage (medium risk) of the Governor’s Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery Plan, that nonpublic special education schools (NPSs) will have the option to reopen their school buildings to provide instruction through an alternative service delivery model, including face-to-face instruction. In response to this announcement, NPSs may begin to develop and implement a Recovery Plan aligned with requirements outlined by the Governor, the State Superintendent of Schools, local health departments, local government orders, and/or other appropriate agencies and/or partners. As one of the first programs to reopen following extended school closures, Maryland’s NPSs may serve as a model for replication across the State during this recovery period.
The re-entry of students with disabilities into NPS buildings will require innovative coordination, thoughtful planning, and intentional collaboration among families, local school systems,public agencies (LSSs/PAs), staff, and outside partners to support the continuum of teaching and learning while addressing health and safety concerns for the school community.This guidance provides important factors to consider in the development and implementation of the NPS Recovery Plan.
