Dear Families and Caregivers,

In an effort to mitigate COVID-19 in our schools and community, Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has adopted a Comprehensive COVID-19 Testing Strategy in collaboration with public health officials, community partners, universities, and healthcare organizations.

This strategy works with our school-based APS Care Centers and community resources to provide testing for the following groups: 1. Students, teachers, and staff with symptoms identified through the health screening protocols. 2. Students, teachers, and staff who have had contact with someone with COVID-19 in the school or workplace. 3. All students, faculty, and staff with possible exposure in the context of outbreak settings. 4. Surveillance testing for individuals who are asymptomatic.

There are four testing options currently available in our comprehensive testing strategy:

Surveillance testing – This test that detects the presence of COVID-19 even in individuals who may be asymptomatic. The benefits of surveillance testing include allowing APS to test, receive test results (within 24 hours) and notify individuals of a clinically significant reading before coming to school or work. APS has begun the process of rolling out surveillance testing as grade bands return to in-person learning.
*Testing for Mary Lin begins on Friday, February 19th. The contact person for our school is Nurse Keona Henry.

School-based health clinics – As part of our testing strategy, we have developed cluster-based testing options (Jackson, South Atlanta, Washington, and Mays) at our APS Health Clinics for students and staff. Click HERE for school-based locations.

APS COVID-19 Drive-Up & Walk-Up Testing at Douglass High School – Held in partnership with Viral Solutions, LLC., and Pediatric Researchers from Emory University, testing is open to ALL students, staff and families five days per week. It will launch Feb. 22, 2021.

Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) Response – Community-based testing options are available to APS students, staff and families within the city of Atlanta. In-home, at school, and worksite testing options are available on demand.

Keeping our students and staff safe is our top priority. Implementing comprehensive testing strategies is one way we minimize any exposure to COVID-19 in our schools.

For more information and updates on the District’s health and mitigation strategies, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us/APSProtects. For more details on our return to in-person learning, visit www.atlantapublicschools.us/reopen.

You can view the Student Consent Form and the Notice of Privacy Practices HERE on our website.

Sincerely,

Sharyn P. Briscoe, Principal