ACPS COVID-19 Testing Updates

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Starting the week of Feb. 21, 2022, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) will begin implementing additional COVID-19 testing programs in schools. These programs do not replace the weekly COVID surveillance testing currently conducted in ACPS schools through Curative. Information on ACPS testing is available online.

ACPS Day 6-10 COVID Testing Program

The ACPS Day 6-10 COVID Testing program is for students who have tested positive for COVID-19 who are returning to school on day six through 10 of their 10-day isolation period. This program is designed for students who:

  • Are returning on days six through 10 following a positive COVID test result
  • Have symptoms that have resolved or who are asymptomatic (including fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication)
  • Are able to mask for the duration of the school day

Starting Feb. 22, 2022, students who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to fulfill one of the requirements below in order to return to school:

  • Fulfill a 10-day isolation period
  • Fulfill a minimum five-day isolation period, be free from symptoms and submit a negative antigen (rapid) test result from an at-home test or a test from a medical or testing provider to reportingCOVID@acps.k12.va.us.
    • These tests should be taken no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on day five of the student’s isolation period.
    • The results submitted must include a picture of the test with the student’s name and the date tested written on the test.
  • Fulfill a minimum five-day isolation period, be free from symptoms and participate in the ACPS Day six to10 COVID Testing program as described below:
    • A test would be provided at school the first morning of the student’s return on day six, seven, eight, nine or 10 of their isolation period.
    • If possible, parents or guardians should drive or walk the student to school.
    • If students test positive, they will be required to go home and complete the full 10-day isolation period.

The benefit to students and families is that students are able to return to in-person learning more quickly than with a full 10-day isolation period following COVID-19 diagnosis or the development of COVID-19 symptoms.

Parents or guardians can provide consent for the in-school ACPS Day six to 10 COVID Testing program by completing this ACPS Consent for In-School Testing form: ACPS Consent for In-School Testing Form

VDH Test-to-Stay Pilot at Select Schools

On Tues., Feb. 22, 2022, ACPS will begin a pilot program as part of Virginia’s “Test to Stay” effort aimed at minimizing the impact of quarantine on students and keeping more students in the classroom when identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This state program is open to students at the schools selected for the pilot initiative who are unvaccinated or who are not yet fully vaccinated; staff, parents and fully vaccinated students are not eligible to participate at this time.

The three ACPS schools that are part of this pilot program are John K. Polk Elementary School, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy and the Satellite Campus of Alexandria City High School. The pilot program works as follows:

  • It requires eligible close contacts to take a COVID-19 test every day for five days after the exposure.
  • If the test is negative, they are allowed to stay in school; they must also wear a mask and remain without symptoms for 10 days after the exposure.
  • Test kits are provided free of charge for families who would prefer to conduct testing at home.
  • Results for tests conducted outside of school must be submitted to reportingCOVID@acps.k12.va.us. The results submitted must include a picture of the test with the student’s name and the date tested written on the test.

Parents or guardians can provide consent for the VDH Test-to-Stay Pilot program by completing this ACPS Consent for In-School Testing form: ACPS Consent for In-School Testing Form

Symptomatic Testing

ACPS will also be providing opportunities for students who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 while at school to receive at-home testing kits. These tests will require the scheduling of an online appointment to be proctored by a virtual testing professional. These tests may also be supported on-site if families need additional assistance.

Students and families would be able to use the results from these at-home tests to return to school as long as they were free from symptoms for at least 24 hours and the test result was negative.

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