Thank you for joining us at the CSBA Conference!
Safely Opening Schools (SOS) originally began as an 8-week rapid antigen testing project for 10 pilot districts across California to introduce a safer reopening. The SOS project team has played an important role in helping districts throughout the state set up their COVID-19 testing protocols with rapid antigen testing.
Today, Safely Opening Schools continues by helping schools with tools to test students and education workers and providing information about resources available to keep school communities safe as they recover from the pandemic.
Promoting Vaccination
Schools are safe to attend, but the pandemic is not over. We need to continue to keep schools as safe as possible for students and education workers. COVID-19 is a resilient virus, consistently mutating into new variants like Delta and Omicron.
Key Findings
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California school districts have authority to mandate vaccination, but must still offer medical and personal belief exemptions until the Legislature acts.
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To pursue equity, schools should support the rollout of vaccine education to students and families, especially students of color, and support culturally responsive on-site and community vaccination efforts, with or without a mandate.
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The Legislature should act to add COVID-19 to the list of required vaccinations for school children as soon as possible.
Meet the authors
Lets us help you, help your community.
Safely Opening Schools strives to bridge the gap in distance-learning by implementing COVID-19 testing and promoting vaccination. Ensuring all students in K-12 schools have access to fully continue their education in-person, despite the ongoing pandemic and that the health of students and school staff be equitably protected.
Submit an interest form below to get in touch with an sos team member
Virtual Training
In collaboration with Heluna Health, we provide a weekly training on the administration of the Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen Test.
Tools and resources
Through the SOS pilot, our team has put together resources and guides for schools and their communities to support COVID-19 testing implementation.
Technical assistance
Our team of Testing Strategists have a robust background in Public Health - with both worked and lived experience - who support school districts across the state to build their own testing program based on the needs of their communities.
School site visits
We understand that testing in schools is new for many. Invite an SOS team member to your school to support the roll out of your testing program.
Ongoing District Support
An SOS team member continously works with your district staff to ensure the testing program is running smootly and communicates updates on guidelines and regulations from the state.
Stay connected with the exhibitors
Hector Serrano
Program Manager
[email protected]
Sana Ahmad, MPH
Associate Testing Strategist
[email protected]
Come learn more in the SOS classroom
CDPH End-to-End Funding
How to Get Started
Parents and Families
© 2021 Safely Opening Schools. All rights reserved. Site design by Doug Rider Consulting.
Safely Opening Schools is a project of the Public Health Institute, (PHI) PHI has been a leader in public health and development for over 50 years. PHI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a vision of creating healthy communities where individuals reach their highest potential. Safely Opening Schools is part of PHIs Prevention Policy Group, which works on policy approaches involved in safely opening public schools after Covid-19.
