Dear Colleagues:
Thank you for your continued dedication to keeping students and staff safe and schools open for in-person learning. Infection rates from COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses are typically higher during the fall and winter months. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 – and to support strong school attendance so that students can safely learn in person – the U.S. Department of Education (ED), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is pleased to offer free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to interested local educational agencies (LEAs).
LEAs, including public school districts and public charter school districts, may request over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests free of charge for their students, families, staff, and school communities. These self-tests are easy to use and can play an important role in containing the spread of the virus in schools and communities. We encourage LEAs to make use of this free COVID-19 test offering, which schools may use, for example, to stock school nurses’ offices and main offices with tests; to send test kits home with students or parents; or to distribute within their communities to put these valuable safeguards in the hands of students, parents, and staff who need them.
Everyone can take steps to prevent illness from spreading and keep up consistent, regular school attendance. As respiratory virus season approaches, we remind all school and district leaders to review the latest information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses in schools, including recommendations on testing, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, Preventing Spread of Infections in K-12 Schools. The guidance includes everyday actions that schools can take to prevent and control the spread of respiratory and stomach viruses, such as influenza and norovirus, and bacterial illness, such as strep throat.
Districts and schools are encouraged to share resources with parents on how to keep kids healthy and in school so that they benefit from in-person instruction and supportive relationships. The CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, Attendance Works and the National Association of School Nurses, and other organizations offer resources to help parents navigate whether to send kids to school and how to support consistent school attendance while also preventing the spread of illness. As always, districts should regularly inform parents about their health and attendance policies, and parents should speak to their pediatricians with questions about their child’s health.
Additionally, the CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Vaccines are the best defense against viruses that can cause serious illness and are updated to protect against the viruses in communities this season. Families can go to Vaccines.gov, review the CDC’s webpage on Immunizations for Respiratory Viruses Prevention, or talk with their child’s doctor to get started.
Thank you again for all you do to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students. Our agencies remain committed to partnering with school leaders to support everyday school attendance and keep school communities healthy.
See digital copy of letter at COVID Test Distro 2024 DCL 10-4-24_Signed.
Sincerely,
Miguel A. Cardona, Ed.D.
U.S. Secretary of Education
Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention