(Washington, DC) As part of its enhanced COVID-19 surveillance testing program, DC Public Schools (DCPS) is reminding its community that all students and staff must administer a COVID-19 test at the conclusion of Spring Break, which starts next week. DCPS students must upload their negative test results to dcpsreopenstrong.com/safereturn by 9 pm on Monday, April 18 before returning to school.
All students and staff will receive rapid antigen test kits from their school by April 18. No school will take place for students from April 11 to April 18. Families may choose to utilize their own testing option, but tests administered before April 18 will not be accepted.
“In implementing our Safe Return testing program in December and February, we were able to keep our schools open as students, families, and staff returned to the classroom following week-long breaks,” said Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. “Our priority is to keep our students safely learning in the classroom, where we know they learn best. We appreciate the partnership of our entire community to collectively take this step to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our schools.”
Students will not be permitted to attend school until they provide proof of a negative test result following Spring Break. DCPS students who arrive at school on Tuesday, April 19 without a negative test result will be provided with a test kit to administer. Unaccompanied students will be tested onsite by trained medical professionals but will likely face a lengthy wait outside before starting the school day.
DCPS school staff have a scheduled professional development and records day on Monday, April 18, so they are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on April 17.
In January and February, DCPS students and staff uploaded their test results through the Safe Return portal following the Winter and February breaks. DCPS also has a test-to-stay pilot in place for Pre-K classrooms since our youngest learners are not yet eligible for the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.
For more information, visit dcpsreopenstrong.com/safereturn.