U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona is urging local educational agencies (LEAs) across the country to order free, over-the-counter rapid antigen COVID-19 self-tests for their students, families, staff, and school communities. 

“We encourage LEAs to make use of this free COVID-19 test offering, which schools may use, for example, to stock school nurses’ offices and main offices with tests; to send test kits home with students or parents; or to distribute within their communities to put these valuable safeguards in the hands of students, parents, and staff who need them,” Cardona said in a recent letter.  

As respiratory virus season approaches, Cardona reminds all school and district leaders to review the latest information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses in schools, including recommendations on testing, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, Preventing Spread of Infections in K-12 Schools. The guidance includes everyday actions that schools can take to prevent and control the spread of respiratory and stomach viruses, such as influenza and norovirus, and bacterial illness, such as strep throat. 

All up-to-date information about COVID-19 test availability for local educational agencies (LEAs) can be found at www.ed.gov/coronavirus. To participate in the COVID-19 Testing Supply Program, LEAs must complete a one-time registration at this link: https://protect-ows.hhs.gov/secure-upload/forms/fajrgxgrqtahgsvrl5wwzz4tuw.