Vaccinating children ages 5 and older is the most important way to protect students and our community from the spread of COVID-19. Screening testing is also important for catching outbreaks early and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our school. The Laurel School District is participating in the COVID-19 Testing Program to test students who are not yet vaccinated on a weekly basis to screen for COVID-19. This testing is free of charge to families. While participation is optional, families are encouraged to sign up for free testing.

In addition to the weekly screening testing through the COVID-19 Testing Program, The Laurel School District offers free, daily testing for students who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to allow them to remain in school during their quarantine period if they continue to test negative for the virus.

Students who are enrolled in Laurel’s COVID-19 Testing Program with an up-to-date consent form are eligible for “Test to Stay.” If they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, they can be tested daily. To remain in school during their quarantine period, the student must

• Show no symptoms
• Test negative daily Monday evening through Thursday evening)
• Must correctly wear a mask indoors when at school
• Must continue to quarantine when not at school

If a student was exposed to someone with COVID-19 in school, the school nurse will contact the student’s parent/caregiver notifying them that their student has been exposed and that they have the option to remain in school during their quarantine period by receiving daily testing through the “Test to Stay” Program. If the parent/caregiver consents to having their student receive daily testing through the “Test to Stay” Program, the school nurse will provide details on the location and timing of daily testing. The student will need to be picked up on the day the parent is notified of the potential exposure (unless they test negative that morning through the regular COVID-19 Testing Program) but can return to class the next day if they test negative that evening in the “Test to Stay” Program and do not have any symptoms of COVID-19. Please keep in mind that we will only accept test results provided through the “Test to Stay” Program to allow quarantining students to remain in school. 

If a student was exposed to someone with COVID-19 outside of school, parents/caregivers and students have the option to let the school nurse or Denise Parsons, RN at NLELA know of this exposure so that the student can participate in the “Test to Stay” Program to receive daily testing and remain in school during their quarantine period. If the parent/caregiver consents to having their student receive daily testing through the “Test to Stay” Program, the school nurse will provide details on the location and timing of daily testing. Again, please keep in mind that only test results provided through the “Test to Stay” Program will be accepted to allow quarantining students to remain in school.

Your student must be enrolled in the school’s COVID-19 Testing Program to receive weekly screening tests to participate in the “Test to Stay” Program. However, if your student is exposed to COVID-19 before signing up for the COVID-19 Testing Program, they can be immediately enrolled in the program so that they may participate in the “Test to Stay” Program as well as weekly testing going forward.

If your student is exposed to COVID-19 and does not participate in “Test to Stay,” then they must stay home from school for 10 days following their known exposure. Your student may return earlier than 10 days if they take a PCR test on the 7th day following their known exposure and provide the school with the negative test result.

No. However, if they are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated at all, it is recommended that they receive weekly screening testing through participation in the COVID-19 Testing Program and daily testing while quarantining in the “Test to Stay” Program.

Students in “Test to Stay” will receive an antigen test in the evening before every school day (Monday through Thursday) for 7 days following a known exposure to COVID-19. The antigen tests will involve a quick and easy nasal swab. The swab will be done by the student or, if assistance is needed, by trained clinical staff.

The “Test to Stay” Program will be testing students after school or in the evenings between 4:00 -7:00p.m. for admittance the following school day. Testing will be conducted at Laurel Elementary School and is free to all families.

NO. The Laurel School District will not be doing Sunday testing so your child may not attend on Monday.

Results for antigen tests will be available typically within 30 minutes after the test is conducted.

Parents/caregivers can wait in the parking lot of the test location for testing staff to come to their car to deliver test results approximately 30 minutes after the test. Parents/caregivers will also be notified of results directly by email from Quidel, our testing partner. Parents/caregivers will need to upload the result to this QR code for their student to attend school the next day.

If your student tests negative and is able to remain in school during their quarantine period through the “Test to Stay” Program, they may also participate in extra-curricular activities. However, this does not include weekend activities, as testing is not available on Friday or Saturday evening.

We will ask you to keep your student home. You will be asked to provide information about your student’s close contacts so that everyone who has been exposed can be notified. We will also be in touch to assist you in connecting your student with medical care and other support for your student and family, if needed. Quidel will take a follow-up PCR swab at the “Test to Stay” site if a student receives a positive antigen test, so parents are encouraged to wait at the site for the antigen test results if possible.

Testing results will be shared only for public health purposes, which may include notifying close contacts that they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and taking other steps to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in your school community. Information sharing and notifying of contacts will be done in a way that protects your student’s privacy. Your student’s name and personal information will never be shared as part of this program. Sharing of information about your student will only be done in accordance with applicable laws and policies protecting student privacy and the security of your student’s information.