DCPS Takeway: You must to test and register result on 1/4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bet the Sinclair owned affiliates are salivating over the potential to film outraged parents watching first graders get turned away for not taking a test the parents never knew about.

If the parent doesn’t know won’t they think their school will be open on the 3rd? In which case they’ll be told and given a test then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do wonder how some of the students "furthest from opportunity" (DCPS's language) will upload their test results.

Perhaps set aside two computers at each library for uploading results on January 4th?

Most parents have a cell phone they can use to snap and upload a photo. Otherwise the kids will just be tested when they arrive at school on the 5th.

Untrue. Officials did not state this at the presser. It's only been declared on DCUM. Ferebee said that turning away students "is something we're prepared to do." There was no mention of at-school testing on the 5th.

Might it happen at some schools? Possibly. But it's not DCPS policy.

This is just wrong. A reported asked the question and pressed Bowser on it. She was really direct about all the time that is being given - Monday & Tuesday and basically said we don't want you to come to school on Weds and assume a test will be administered at that time. OSSE then stated that is someone does show up they can get a test a do it then. What is absolutely clear is that no person will be allowed into the building without a negative test.

She's saying that to get people to take the tests. They are using the results to decide whether to open an individual school/classroom or go virtual, so they need the results by Tuesday to make informed decisions. I guarantee that on Wednesday there will be onsite tests for those that don't send them Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do wonder how some of the students "furthest from opportunity" (DCPS's language) will upload their test results.

Perhaps set aside two computers at each library for uploading results on January 4th?

Most parents have a cell phone they can use to snap and upload a photo. Otherwise the kids will just be tested when they arrive at school on the 5th.

Untrue. Officials did not state this at the presser. It's only been declared on DCUM. Ferebee said that turning away students "is something we're prepared to do." There was no mention of at-school testing on the 5th.

Might it happen at some schools? Possibly. But it's not DCPS policy.

This is just wrong. A reported asked the question and pressed Bowser on it. She was really direct about all the time that is being given - Monday & Tuesday and basically said we don't want you to come to school on Weds and assume a test will be administered at that time. OSSE then stated that is someone does show up they can get a test a do it then. What is absolutely clear is that no person will be allowed into the building without a negative test.

She's saying that to get people to take the tests. They are using the results to decide whether to open an individual school/classroom or go virtual, so they need the results by Tuesday to make informed decisions. I guarantee that on Wednesday there will be onsite tests for those that don't send them Tuesday.

In fact, look at DCPS' actual email:

What happens if a student comes to school without a negative test result or proof of a negative test?

Students who have not tested or uploaded results will not be allowed to enter the school and will be provided a COVID-19 At-Home Rapid Antigen Test kit. Parents or guardians must test their child(ren) and upload results to the dcps.dc.gov/safereturn website. Students will be permitted to enter the school when the negative result has been uploaded and displayed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do wonder how some of the students "furthest from opportunity" (DCPS's language) will upload their test results.

Perhaps set aside two computers at each library for uploading results on January 4th?

Most parents have a cell phone they can use to snap and upload a photo. Otherwise the kids will just be tested when they arrive at school on the 5th.

Untrue. Officials did not state this at the presser. It's only been declared on DCUM. Ferebee said that turning away students "is something we're prepared to do." There was no mention of at-school testing on the 5th.

Might it happen at some schools? Possibly. But it's not DCPS policy.

This is just wrong. A reported asked the question and pressed Bowser on it. She was really direct about all the time that is being given - Monday & Tuesday and basically said we don't want you to come to school on Weds and assume a test will be administered at that time. OSSE then stated that is someone does show up they can get a test a do it then. What is absolutely clear is that no person will be allowed into the building without a negative test.

She's saying that to get people to take the tests. They are using the results to decide whether to open an individual school/classroom or go virtual, so they need the results by Tuesday to make informed decisions. I guarantee that on Wednesday there will be onsite tests for those that don't send them Tuesday.

You are trying to convince the wrong person about the availability of tests at school. Although I disagree with you about the part whether the results will impact a school/classroom opening; I don't think they have the manpower or ability to take a 4 pm deadline and make those kinds of informed decisions that fast.

[Anonymous]

So my kid shows up on Wednesday at Deal and gets into the metal detector lines. Is the security guard going to be asking him for his name and double checking a DC database to confirm his test was done and uploaded?

Just trying to understand the logistics here. The same staff who told the students they can’t ask for vaccination status of close contacts because of medical privacy laws.

[Anonymous]

The logistics of this will be a disaster. I support test to return as a strategy but I also expect there will be many who do not receive this communication, more who are unable to stand in line for an hour or so to pick up the rapid tests, and even more who cannot upload their results when the website crashes in the 24-hour run up to school starting.
The time to prepare for this strategy was during school between Thanksgiving and Dec 22. They should have send all kids HOME with tests. But that was back when the mayor was getting rid of the mask mandate, so she was too busy to figure the holiday peak might be an issue down the road.

[Anonymous]

Many students and parents just don’t care. I’m not sure how this will be enforced. At Ballou HS, one-third of the students are already frequently absent. I’m not against it but I’m wondering how this will all work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they test at school? I'm in a position to test my kids and upload, but I am sure many families are not.

Stop being lazy. Because its a lot of class time, and kids have to take off masks to do it.

[Anonymous]

What if you have recently had Covid and are past your 10 day isolation, but still test positive on the rapid test?

[Anonymous]

I’m guessing many teachers will be out.
Some will test positive and will need to isolate.
A few will be out with the flu.
Some will take leave to watch their kids because daycare might be closed.

I’m not sure there will be enough staffing at school to keep schools open. But even if schools manage to be open, they will be stretched thin. Not sure how they will add in testing kids, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you have recently had Covid and are past your 10 day isolation, but still test positive on the rapid test?

Then you shouldn’t be in school. You should be able to have a negative rapid test (not pcr) after recovering. If positive, you are still shedding virus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they test at school? I'm in a position to test my kids and upload, but I am sure many families are not.

Stop being lazy. Because its a lot of class time, and kids have to take off masks to do it.

It would be a massive super spreader event. That’s why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if you have recently had Covid and are past your 10 day isolation, but still test positive on the rapid test?

Then you shouldn’t be in school. You should be able to have a negative rapid test (not pcr) after recovering. If positive, you are still shedding virus.

Cite? That is not the CDC guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if you have recently had Covid and are past your 10 day isolation, but still test positive on the rapid test?

Then you shouldn’t be in school. You should be able to have a negative rapid test (not pcr) after recovering. If positive, you are still shedding virus.

NP. But that is absolutely not what 2 contact tracers, my PCP, and my kid’s pediatrician said. All four said rapid and PCR tests were inaccurate for up to 90 days after getting out of isolation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The logistics of this will be a disaster. I support test to return as a strategy but I also expect there will be many who do not receive this communication, more who are unable to stand in line for an hour or so to pick up the rapid tests, and even more who cannot upload their results when the website crashes in the 24-hour run up to school starting.
The time to prepare for this strategy was during school between Thanksgiving and Dec 22. They should have send all kids HOME with tests. But that was back when the mayor was getting rid of the mask mandate, so she was too busy to figure the holiday peak might be an issue down the road.

Half the tests would be lost or used on someone else, if they were sent home before the break. The idea that at Thanksgiving we should have anticipated that DC would be the epicenter of omicron is absurd.