(The following information was provided by North Penn School District.)
The North Penn School District is partnering with the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to provide a “Test to Stay” program for non-vaccinated and partially vaccinated students who show no symptoms of COVID-19 but are identified as an in-school close contact. The program started gradually two weeks ago as the North Penn administration finalized logistics, hiring, supplies and other operational needs.
Through the “Test to Stay” program, any student, who is not mask exempt, who is not fully vaccinated and who is identified as a close contact due to exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case during in-school or extra-curricular activities will be given the opportunity to participate in the “Test to Stay” program. With parental consent, the student will receive the Binex Now antigen test within 24 hours of being identified as being a close contact. Following an initial negative result, additional testing will be administered every other day (excluding weekends) during the seven-day period from the date of original exposure. The student will be released from the “Test to Stay” program on Day 8 contingent on the student having produced negative test results and remaining asymptomatic.
As long as the student tests negative throughout the testing period, he or she will be able to attend school in person and participate in extracurricular activities, including clubs, sports and Home and School events, assuming all health and safety protocol measures are in place at the event. If a student tests positive while participating in “Test to Stay,” he or she will need to quarantine according to MCOPH guidelines. Close contacts who do not participate in the “Test to Stay'' program will also need to quarantine.
NPSD has hired antigen testers to assist in conducting “Test to Stay.” Students self-administer the swab tests but school staff members are available to those who need assistance. Parents may also accompany children to after-hour testing sites to assist if necessary. The testers rotate throughout our buildings ensuring students receive testing within 24 hours of being identified as a close contact. NPSD also has evening hours when parents may bring their child for testing at the Educational Services Center.
Since November 3 when the first test was administered, 100 students have participated in “Test to Stay.” Out of those, two students tested positive for COVID-19 and will begin quarantining. The other ninety-eight students will continue to be tested and, provided that they continue to test negative, will remain in school. NPSD is pleased to report that families and students have been happy with the process used and even our youngest children have reported feeling comfortable with the test.
Also important is that these students who tested negative in “Test to Stay” never had to miss school because they never had to quarantine, which is a major goal of this program. North Penn wants to protect the continuity of education. Allowing close contacts to stay in school when they are testing negative and showing no symptoms is what’s best for that child’s education. Furthermore, NPSD statistics have shown that over 97 percent of students who have been considered close contacts never test positive for COVID-19. We feel this number is so high because of the successful mitigation measures in place and the growing number of students who are fully vaccinated.
The “Test to Stay” program continues our commitment to the wellness of all students. Ensuring timely access to antigen testing for unvaccinated close contacts can help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the rare cases that the student is positive.
Finally, the “Test to Stay'' program is free. A roadblock for some families is the cost and access to tests, but our partnership with MCOPH and CHOP makes testing readily available.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
See also:
Schools’ Masking Requirements Again Inflame Public At North Penn District Meeting
Editorial: Uniting Around Student Health and Safety
North Penn School Board Discusses Lack of Air Conditioning in Middle Schools
North Penn to Require Indoor Masking for All Students, Staff, and Visitors, Effective Thursday
