Test-To-Stay Program Coming To Fairfax Schools In January

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools will be part of a state test-to-stay program launching in January, allowing students to return to school quicker after a COVID-19 exposure.

As reported by WTOP, test-to-stay allows students identified as close contacts of a positive case to return to their in-person classes with continuing negative COVID-19 test results. The pilot program will be run by the Virginia Department of Health beginning in January. More details will be shared in January as VDH implements the program.

FCPS works with the Fairfax County Health Department on case investigations to determine if any students are close contacts of a positive case. In-person learning is paused for these close contacts until they are cleared to return.

There are different policies for vaccinated and unvaccinated students. Under the current policy for students unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, close contacts are directed to quarantine. After seven days of quarantine, students can return if they are symptom free, show a negative test taken after day five of quarantine or later, and a copy of the pause letter showing the return date. Otherwise, students may return after 10 days of quarantine if they are symptom free and show the pause letter with the return date.

Fully vaccinated students with an in-person learning pause have the option of completing a health department survey to verify they are vaccinated and not showing symptoms. If the student is vaccinated and asymptomatic, the health department will send a clearance to return to school within hours of submitting the survey (during business hours).

FCPS is also evaluating new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shortens the recommended isolation and quarantine period from 10 to five days. The school district is working with the Fairfax County Health Department to evaluate the impact on schools, but the existing 10-day guidelines continue for now.

While the test-to-stay program won't be ready in time when students return from winter break on Jan. 3, drive-thru testing will be provided on Dec. 30 and 31. The school district is providing testing ahead of the return to school after holiday travel and gatherings in light of the more contagious omicron variant spreading. The drive-thru testing event will be available to FCPS students only at the Gatehouse Administration Center (8115 Gatehouse Rd, Falls Church, VA) from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 30 and 31. Students should have their student ID number on hand.

Families are asked to register their student on the online portal in advance. This automatically enrolls the student in optional testing. Families can log in to the online portal after the test to remove the student from the weekly screening testing pool.

After these two testing events, diagnostic testing will resume on Jan. 3 at different locations each week. These events are geared toward students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or those in close contact with a positive case.

FCPS has a testing information page for other testing options in the region.