Covid-19 Policy for K-12 Students and Programs

Update effective: December 8, 2022

In-person programs for K-12 students and minors are permitted to operate on and off campus, including:

  • Programs operated by MIT departments, labs, and centers
  • Programs led by MIT students and student organizations
  • Third party-sponsored programs

Food and drinks are allowed – and may be provided and consumed – at MIT-sponsored events and meetings, including K-12 programs and activities held on and off campus. For more information about food and drinks at MIT-sponsored events and programs, see the guidance on eating indoors and FAQs for Event Planners.

Vaccination requirements

Minors participating in MIT camps or overnight programs who are eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have received one booster, or have a medical or religious exemption.

Temporary staff and volunteers working with MIT K-12 camps or overnight programs must also be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have received one booster, or have a medical or religious exemption.

All minors participating in day programs at MIT as well as all other K-12 visitors to campus are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster against COVID-19, unless they have a medical or religious exemption.

Minors as visitors

All visitors, including minors, must follow MIT’s campus access and visitors policy.

Minors must be escorted by an MIT ID holder when inside MIT facilities and may not be granted unescorted access via Tim Tickets. Children under 12 must either be accompanied by a parent or guardian or be participating in a registered MIT K-12 program and escorted by MIT program staff. 

Note that minors who are residents of MIT Housing (e.g., children of graduate student residents or heads of house) are subject to rules established for MIT residence halls.

Program registration

All MIT programs and activities that serve minors must be registered on the Protection of Minors website at least 30 days before they plan to begin. Additionally, background checks are usually required for programs that include minors.

Face coverings

Effective March 14, 2022, face coverings are optional in indoor spaces at MIT. (See the City of Cambridge order lifting the mask requirement for indoor public places, effective March 13, 2022.)

If you choose to wear a mask, the CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

Parental consent

Program sponsors must collect parental consent forms for all participants (including a Covid Acknowledgement form for camps and overnight programs) and may impose some additional restrictions, including limiting group size or choosing to offer remote or virtual K-12 programming.

Additional resources

If you have questions about K-12 students and programs, contact minors.mit.edu. If you have questions about Covid-related policies, please email covidapps-help@mit.edu.