COVID-19 Response
Ben Franklin Academy's Response to COVID-19 Information Page
In order to stay abreast of the complex and evolving situation in the United States and to exercise best practices in safeguarding our community, Ben Franklin Academy is remaining in constant communication with governmental and educational organizations. For the most detailed and up-to-date information on COVID-19, we encourage you to bookmark this page, watch our school calendar, and monitor the CDC website.
We are committed to keeping Ben Franklin Academy a safe place for students, faculty, and staff.
This decision is based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as Georgia and DeKalb County public health authorities, and is intended to comply with all state and local laws. Thorough scientific studies have shown the vaccines are safe and highly effective at protecting against COVID-19. Student vaccinations will create a healthier environment in our classrooms, and will allow students to engage in extracurricular activities, programs, athletics, performances and other in-person events. You may learn more about COVID-19 Vaccines here.
To establish that they will be “fully vaccinated,” all students must provide proof of all required vaccine doses. A student who has a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates the vaccine, or who objects to being vaccinated on the basis of sincerely held religious belief and practice, may apply for an exemption. Upon receiving an exemption request, BFA will engage in an interactive process to evaluate whether a reasonable accommodation can be provided that would not create an undue hardship and would not threaten the health or safety of others in the school. Any such request must be made before the student starts classes in order for BFA to evaluate the request.
As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 and the presence of variants and will be prepared to adjust our policies and procedures in response to evolving conditions and public health recommendations. These policies will be separately communicated to students and families in writing prior to the beginning of the school year. Because of the evolving nature of the pandemic, these policies and procedures may be further amended throughout the year as we receive new guidance from local, state, and national health agencies.