The William S. Baer School
For over 75 years the William S. Baer school, a Baltimore City Public School, has served children with multiple disabilities from all over Baltimore city. Over time, the school’s population has changed. Today, the Baer school’s children are more dependent on medical technology, more medically fragile, and more economically disadvantaged than ever before.
Baer students face multiple, and often severe, challenges. These include: orthopedic disabilities, fragile health conditions, developmental delays, and other health impairments. The children are enrolled as young as three and older students “age-out,” or graduate, at age 21.
Mission
Our mission is to create an environment which challenges our students to reach educational and therapeutic success.
Vision Statement
- We will remain student-focused by giving our students opportunities to communicate, engage and plan transitions.
- We will know our students, recognize and appreciate their uniqueness, and always treat them with dignity.
- We will use data, transdisciplinary collaboration, and open communication to maximize educational and therapeutic outcomes.
- We will use our families, the community, and city school resources to meet our students’ educational, medical and therapeutic needs.
Programs
Pre-Kindergarten – High School
Specialized classrooms for children aged three to 21 years are organized by age, grade, and ability. Students who have multiple disabilities, are medically fragile, or who have other serious health impairments are educated through an IEP-driven process. Students in grades three, eight, and ten participate in the Alternate Maryland State Assessment (Alt MSA). Health-related services are provided through Baltimore City Health Department’s school-based Health Center. This Center is staffed by a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and BCHD nurses. Many students attend the Baer School with aid from private-duty nurses prescribed by their personal physician.
Other Related Services
The Baer School provides occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology and vision services, social work, psychology, adapted physical education, therapeutic swimming, music, and art.
The William S. Baer School is a M.O.V.E. International Model Site. “MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education)® helps children with disabilities:
- Acquire increased independence in sitting, standing, and walking,
- Learn and gain more mobility, and
- Experience better health and enhanced personal dignity.
