Test To Stay Pilot Program Coming To 3 Alexandria Public Schools

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Three Alexandria public schools will participate in a Test to Stay pilot program coordinated by the Virginia Department of Health. The COVID-19 testing program seeks to minimize quarantines when possible in COVID-19 case investigations.

James K. Polk Elementary School, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy and the Alexandria City High School satellite campus will join the Test to Stay program starting Tuesday, Feb. 22. Test to Stay involves testing students who are not fully vaccinated every day for five days after an exposure. If the tests comes back negative, the student can remain in school rather than quarantine. To remain in school, the Virginia Department of Health recommends the individual wears a mask and remain without symptoms for 10 days.

The program is initially open to only unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated students. Staff, parents and fully vaccinated students are not eligible. Vaccinated students identified as close contacts do not have to quarantine unless they experience symptoms, per ACPS guidance.

The program is voluntary and open to students who have provided a consent form. Families at the three schools will receive information on how to provide consent and how the testing will work.

The Virginia Department of Health will collect data from the pilot program to determine the effectiveness of test-to-stay to keep schools safe and open for in-person learning.

The Test to Stay program at the three schools supplements the weekly voluntary testing offered by ACPS at school locations.