President Carter has declined the invitation from the Kennedy School and the Institute of Politics to speak at the dedication ceremonies for the school's new building next week, Jonathan Moore, director of the Institute of Politics, said yesterday.

The school has not received a formal answer from Carter, Moore said, adding that members of the president's staff told him he would not be here.

A spokesman for the White House Press Office said yesterday that Carter will not be able to attend the dedication ceremonies because he will be campaigning in Minnesota and Kansas on the weekend when the ceremonies are scheduled to take place.

Carter will be in Lynn on October 28 to campaign on behalf of the Democrati ticket, the spokesman added.

Some White House staff members had speculated that Carter would not support Edward J. King, the conservative Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who unexpectedly defeated Gov. Dukakis in the primaries.

Moore said he is disappointed by but not surprised at Carter's decision. It's very difficult to "book the president," Moore said.

However, the Kennedy School and the Institute of Politics have not given up hope. The School has invited Carter to speak when he comes to Lynn or in any future visit to Massachusetts. "We'll get him when we can," Moore said.

The invitation to speak at the Kennedy School elicited "a real feeling of enthusiasm" from Carter's staff, Moore said.

A panel discussion will probably replace the Carter speech, scheduled to take place in the Kennedy School Forum, Moore said. The event "will not be on the same order of magnitude," he added.

All in the Family

Despite Carter's absence, the dedication ceremonies for the Kennedy School of Government will not lack luminaries, political or otherwise. Dukakis, Sen. Edward Kennedy '54 (D-Mass), House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill (D-Mass) and Jacqueline Onassis will attend the two-day celebration. Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops, will conduct the Harvard University Band.

The dedication will begin in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Park outside the Kennedy School at 10:45 on Saturday morning. Dukakis and O'Neill will make opening remarks.