Lion Pride,
With the sudden surge in COVID cases, I am sending a reminder of our collective responsibility to keep each other safe and in school. Currently, only 25 percent of our student body is registered for weekly on site COVID testing. The weekly testing brings some sense of comfort level for me because I receive the results within two days. It’s also a relief to know I am doing everything I can to keep my family safe by knowing my results weekly.
I’m hoping to increase our testing numbers to 50 percent in 2022. Please register your child for weekly onsite COVID testing. Paper copy forms were sent home on Tuesday, December 14th and an online signup link is provided below.
Quarantining is inconvenient, frustrating and causes strain on families to seek last minute child care. It is a major component of our collective responsibility that we not send students to school if they are having any cold related symptoms, or if the students are unvaccinated and have had a possible exposure to a COVID positive person. Students who are vaccinated and have a possible exposure to a COVID positive person should take a PCR test after exposure, and the school must be informed immediately if there is a positive COVID case in your home. Report a COVID positive student to CPS using the reporting link : People who test positive should report this to the district at cps.edu/COVIDresults.
Please enjoy time with your family and friends safely during this holiday break.
How Do I Sign Up for On-Site Testing at my Child’s School ?
CPS will manage a voluntary, free, school-based asymptomatic screening testing program for employees and students regardless of vaccination status.
Please go to the Color website at https://www.color.com/readycheckgo-cps and select whether you are registering for a staff member or student. You can then search for your school name for your school’s unique sign-up link. City Wide employees should search “City Wide Employees” and use that link to register.
COVID-19 Testing
Who will be tested?
All students are eligible to be tested with parent consent.
Where will testing occur?
CPS will offer testing on-site at schools during the school day on a weekly basis.
When will testing occur?
9am – 3pm on every Wednesday at all three building locations. The intake and testing process takes approximately five minutes per person. When testing onsite falls on a holiday the testing day will occur on Monday .
What can you expect on your designated testing day?
Only those with consent on file will be tested. Next, a testing team member will guide them through a self-administered nasal swab test. The student will hand the swab to the testing personnel and return back to class or work. Students do not need to stay home while waiting on this test result because they are well. In 24-72 hours, results will be emailed to students with the following possible outcomes:
- Negative: The student continues to be present in school.
- Positive: The student will be considered a confirmed positive case and the district will begin contact tracing. The individual must isolate for 10 days from the initial testing date. Close contacts and their families will be notified that they must quarantine for 10 days from the initial testing date before returning to school. Families will be provided resources to schedule a COVID-19 test between five and nine days after potential exposure. Students will be expected to engage in virtual learning for the duration of their quarantine period, unless they are ill.
Symptomatic Quarantine Testing
If you or your child needs to access a COVID-19 test because of symptoms or being in close proximity to a COVID-positive individual, please follow the steps below. Additionally you can view a list of pediatric testing sites.
Private, Employer, or CPS-provided Insurance:
Contact your primary health care provider; some insurance plans require the provider to order and schedule a COVID-19 test.
Contact your insurance plan provider to find out what types of tests are covered and at what locations. In certain plans, transportation costs relating to treatment can be covered by the provider.
Medicaid:
Contact your primary health care provider. Some insurance plans require COVID-19 tests to be ordered and scheduled by them.
Contact your managed care provider to find out what types of tests are covered and at what locations. In certain plans, transportation costs relating to treatment can be covered by the provider. Contact information for common providers can be found below.
- Blue Cross Community Health Plans: (1-877-860-2837)
- CountyCare Health Plan: (1-312-864-8200)
- Aetna Better Health: (1-866-329-4701)
Meridian Health: (1-866-606-3700) - Molina HealthCare: (1-855-687-7861)
If you are a CPS family and have questions about your insurance plan, please contact the Office of Student Health & Wellness at 773-553-KIDS (5437).
I Do Not Have Insurance:
If you do not have insurance and need help accessing public health benefits, please contact the Office of Student Health & Wellness at 773-553-KIDS (5437) or fill out an assistance request at cps.edu/health.