Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions about admissions.

Admission to MSB begins at the local school level. All students are referred for placement through their local school’s IEP team. Reasons for referral may include a need for vision-related services beyond a level the county can reasonably provide. Additional services include consistency in programming across the day and evening and instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum skills that school systems cannot address in a typical school day.

When the determination is made that the student’s needs can best be met through collaboration with their local school system and The Maryland School for the Blind, the student may be eligible for our preadmission process.

Referred students and their families are required to participate in our preadmission process on our campus which can include 1 or 2 days of formal and informal assessment of the student's functioning and skill areas and a parent interview. Information obtained from the preadmission process is used to establish a student's eligibility for placement as determined by the school's admission criteria and resources available to meet their needs.

Final decisions about placement are made by the admissions team, which consists of the school's three directors of student programs and services. Once all necessary school and health documents are received, accepted students and their parents are then asked to participate in an enrollment meeting to finalize the admissions process. Placement is reviewed every year through the IEP process.

Parents are not required to pay tuition for students who are residents of the state of Maryland; however, the local school systems do incur a minimal cost to send students to MSB in addition to providing transportation.

MSB strives to prepare students to return to their local school systems, when appropriate.

For more information about Admissions, contact:
Ruth Hynson, Outreach Coordinator
410.444.5000 ext. 1726      ruthh@mdschblind.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does it cost to send a child to MSB?

A: There is no tuition and no cost to the family of MSB students. In most cases, the local counties pay some of the cost each semester and provide transportation.

Q: Can I transfer my child to your school?

A: Although all referrals come to us through the local school system, families may initiate this process by contacting their child's school.  All students must go through an admissions process at MSB which involves evaluation and a review by the Admissions Team.

Q: Do you have academic students at MSB?

A: Yes.  Many of our students are able to pass the state's High School Assessment tests after enrolling in our Expanded Academic Program.  although the majority of students who attend MSB are multiply disabled and are in programs that focus on life skills and functional skills.

Q: Do students reside on campus all year and on weekends?

A: No. The residential program is only open when school is in session.  Students reside at their homes on weekends, major holidays and school closings.

Q: Can parents visit their children in the evenings?

A: Absolutely! In fact, this is encouraged so that parents can see what their children are capable of doing and learn strategies to help their child continue using these skills at home.

Q: Can parents of prospective students visit MSB for an admissions tour?

A: Of course! We welcome you to visit our campus. Please call 410.444.5000 ext. 1726 to arrange an admissions tour.