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School Testing for COVID-19

It’s critical that K-12 schools implement safety measures to keep schools open and students and staff healthy and safe from COVID-19. One key measure is regular COVID-19 testing in schools.
When used with vaccination, physical distancing, and properly wearing a mask, regular COVID-19 testing in schools can:
- Help reduce community spread of COVID-19, keeping schools open and students in classrooms, and protecting students and staff.
- Serve as an early warning to help schools identify COVID-19 cases early and stop an outbreak before it starts.
- Provide access to COVID-19 tests for families who may not be able to get them otherwise.
- Increase confidence among students, parents, and school staff around continuing in-person learning and other activities.
CDC urges you to implement COVID-19 testing programs at schools within your district and support and encourage program participation among parents and staff.
covid test icon Learn more about Testing for COVID-19 in Schools
- CDC’s Communication Toolkit for Schools: Letters, FAQs, social media posts, posters, and flyers to reach parents and educators
- ELC Reopening Schools: Resources to launch and maintain a school testing program, including details on available funding for your jurisdiction
- Open and Safe Schoolsexternal icon: Toolkit to support state and public health leaders and school leaders in starting or continuing testing programs (from the Shah Family Foundation)
- Rockefeller Foundation’s K-12 Playbookexternal icon: Detailed, step-by-step guidance to design and start or continue testing programs in schools
Communication Toolkit for Schools
This toolkit includes materials that school administrators can use to help promote regular COVID-19 testing programs and encourage participation among parents, students, and school staff. Many of these materials are customizable and can be adapted according to the school’s needs.
info circle light icon For STLT Health Departments, Visit the Communication Resource Center for additional customizable school COVID-19 testing materials.
Videos to Answer Common Questions
Short videos that answer common questions about regular school testing for COVID-19. Use these links to go directly to these videos to download or share.
Customizable Letters and Q&As
Letters explaining school testing for parents and staff.
Sample Q&As to answer questions on school testing from parents and staff.
Sample social media messages and graphics targeting parents and school staff. School districts and health departments can adapt these messages for their locations and needs.
Printable Posters & Flyers
Sample posters and flyers targeting parents, students, and school staff
- K-12 Schools Guidance
- Testing Strategies for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
- Testing Strategies for SARS-CoV-2
- Considerations for Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in K-12 Schools and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)
- Types of Masks
More Information
- Open and Safe Schoolsexternal icon
- Understanding the Value and Feasibility of Routine COVID-19 Testing in Schoolsexternal icon
- New Evidence for Safely Reopening K-12 Schools: Testing Can Reduce Infections and Increase Confidenceexternal icon
- Rockefeller’s K-12 Playbookexternal icon
- Case Study Videoexternal icon
- When to Test – COVID-19 Testing Impact Calculatorexternal icon
- When to Test – K-12 Playbookexternal icon