Salt Lake City School District Test To Stay Program At Our High Schools

Press release from the Salt Lake City School District:

February 26, 2021

When the number of active COVID-19 cases at one of our traditional high schools – East, Highland, or West – reaches the point where we need to consider transitioning to remote learning (when 1% of our in-person students test positive for COVID), the affected school will implement a Test to Stay program. Test to Stay provides free COVID-19 tests to all students and staff in the school. Students and staff who test negative will be able to continue in-person learning. Those who test positive for COVID-19 will transition to at-home, remote learning. (Students who are learning 100% remotely do not need to participate in Test to Stay.)

Testing is not mandatory, but we must test at least 80% of our staff and students who are participating in either in-person learning or in-person extracurriculars for the program to be effective. Those who choose not to participate in the testing will need to transition to remote learning for a 10-day period before returning for in-person learning.

Test to Stay programs have been used successfully at schools throughout the state, and we view this is as one more tool to help keep our students, community, and school staff safe.

How the Test is Administered

This test is a rapid test, which involves a quick nasal swab. Your student’s test results will be emailed to you within 30 minutes of the test being administered. If you do not have email, you can request a paper copy of the test results at the time of the test. Testing will take place at the student’s home school. Please contact your school principal directly for information on testing dates and logistics for your student’s school.

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days and is currently out of isolation, please provide evidence of their positive test, and they will not be required to be tested again in order to continue with in-person learning. Students who are NOT attending in-person learning and students who participate in the Test to Play program (for students in athletics or other in-person extracurricular activities) are not required to be tested for Test to Stay if they are already tested regularly under Test to Play.

Consent to Test

Parents, not students, must fill out and complete the consent form before testing. By doing so, you give consent for your child to be tested for the duration of the school year. The consent form can be filled out online via the REDCAP system. The link will be provided by your student’s school. Parents only need to complete the consent form once. If you have previously filled out the consent form for a previous rapid test, including Test to Play or Test to Start, you do not have to complete it again.

This press release was produced by the Salt Lake City School District. The views expressed are the author's own.