How To Register for COVID-19 Testing at your School

The integration of testing in schools is new for many, Safely Opening Schools is available for ongoing support and sharing best practices learned from the SOS pilot.

01

Submit the California Department of Public Health K-12 School’s Rapid Antigen Testing Program interest form.

02

Attend the one-hour FAQ meeting with the California Department of Public Health.

03

Sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and submit an order for your school’s test kits.

04

Attend the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test training, see registration links here.

05

Complete the California Department of Public Health rapid antigen test competency quiz.

06

Attend the Primary.Health software training, see registration links here.

Your School is now a Laboratory

California School K-12 Antigen Testing Program

Through the 2021-2022 school year, the California Department of Public Health supported schools by implementing a robust testing program to reduce community transmission in schools. Over 800 schools districts across the State of California were eligible to receive support from the state to implement testing if they met the following criteria: rurality, size of student population, access to free and reduced lunch, vaccination rate among 5-17 year olds, community vulnerability in reference to the Healthy Places Index, and the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. Through the K-12 School Antigen Testing Program, school administrators were given the option to take direct funding to stand up their own testing program by employing testing administrators or opt into the End-to-End Services program. Through the End-to-End Services program, schools were assigned a testing vendor to provide testing services at their schools to include: students and staff.

Supplemental Guide to Videos

COVID-19 Testing Videos

  • Conducting Professional COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests at Schools
  • Inventory and Communication for COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing at Schools

Additional Tools and Resources for Testing in Schools

The Calfornia Department of Public Health released a draft copy of the Playbook for schools.

Additional Resources