Starting on February 7, 2022, Dedham Public Schools will be updating our COVID testing program in accordance with new guidelines and program offerings from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH). We will be participating in an at-home testing program that will increase testing for students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.

This new at-home testing opportunity is voluntary. To participate and receive tests, you MUST complete the form and opt-in. Only those who opt-in will receive tests.

We will be periodically sending opt-in email reminders, but strongly encourage parents/students to register for this new program by February 2nd to opt-in.

Test kits will start being distributed the week of February 7th.

Each school has a separate opt-in form for organization purposes, so please be sure to complete the correct form for each of your students.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN THE LAST 90 DAYS: Please DO NOT register for this program at this time. Dedham will be sending periodic reminders and ongoing opportunities for students to register. Once you’ve tested positive for the virus, you do not need to test again for 90 days from symptom onset/positive test result.

MORE ABOUT THE AT-HOME RAPID COVID TESTING PROGRAM

ABOUT: iHealth is a 15-minute at-home FDA-approved rapid antigen test.

OPT-IN/AGREE: To participate, you must opt-in by completing the opt-in form linked above. By opting in, you will agree to review the training materials for test administration, report positive test results to our school via our DPS Positive COVID Test Reporting Form, and administer the tests according to Dedham Public Schools guidelines.

WHAT YOU GET: Every two weeks registered students can pick up an iHealth at-home rapid test kit – containing two individual tests (students will use 1per week).

TESTING: This test is administered at home (not at school), reducing the burden on school staff, minimizing time out of class to administer tests and increasing a family’s flexibility to do testing in the home for free.

Your student will self-administer one test each week on Thursdays if they are participating in the pooled testing program.

If your child does NOT participate in pooled testing, but is participating in the at-home testing program, they should test on Sunday.

REPORTING POSITIVE RESULTS: If your student tests positive on an at-home antigen test, you will inform the school of the positive result using the DPS Positive COVID Test Reporting Form. We will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you inform your healthcare professional of the positive result.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if my child loses the test kit on the way home from school?
How do I report a positive result?

If your student tests positive on an at-home antigen test, you will inform the school of the positive result using the DPS Positive COVID Test Reporting Form.

We will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you inform your healthcare professional of the positive result.
Should I report negative results?

NO. Only positive test results need to be reported.

If the test comes back negative, and the student does not have any of the outlined symptoms, they should continue to come to school as normal.

If you student tests negative, but still has some of the symptoms, we encourage you reach out to your school nurse or pediatrician for additional guidance.
Can I use this test for any family member?

The at-home test must be used for the student enrolled in the program. The benefit of the program is that it is helping us identify positive student cases of COVID and helping keep our schools safer.

If you would like tests for family members, we encourage you to go to COVIDTests.gov if you have not already done so. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order #4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
How often should I test my child each week?
My child was diagnosed with COVID in the past 90 days, should I use these at home tests?

We are asking students who have tested positive within the last 90 days to wait before registering for this program.

Once you’ve tested positive for the virus, you do not need to be tested again for 90 days from symptom onset, if you became ill, or from the date of your positive test, if you remained asymptomatic.

However, if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 during that three-month period, and if clinicians cannot identify another cause for these symptoms, you may need to be re-tested at that time.
What happens if I forget to test my child on the day I'm supposed to?

If you miss the proposed testing day, go ahead and test the next day. The timing was recommended so that we are spacing tests throughout the week, to get the most coverage and benefit when combined with pooled testing.

Students who are NOT participating in pooled testing are asked to test on Sundays, as they would have results before returning to the school building for the week.

COVID-19 Self-Test at Home Instructions Graphic

Graphic tutorial on how to administer the At-Home rapid test. Information and graphic is available here in many different languages for reference as needed.

Comments (-1)
DESE/DPH Joint Memo on New COVID-19 Testing Program Option

January 18, 2022 memo from DESE/DPH providing program information and process details.

Comments (-1)