Learn to Return: What families need to know about Washington’s K-12 school COVID-19 testing program

With the holidays upon us, and indoor winter sports coming up, we may see a rise in COVID-19 cases among children. As of late October, nearly 6.3 million children across the U.S. had tested positive for COVID-19 at some point during the pandemic.

Testing is important for all children — especially those who aren’t vaccinated yet or are experiencing symptoms. And testing is a proven way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep Washington schools open for in-person learning.

That’s why we teamed up with a nonprofit known as the Health Commons Project and the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). And those efforts really paid off. Our Learn to Return program makes it easier for schools across the state to do on-site COVID-19 testing.

Here’s what you should know about the program.

What is Learn to Return?

Learn to Return helps schools provide free and easy COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing for students. Over 480 schools and school districts in Washington state already signed up for the program. This includes public, private, independent, and tribal schools.

Why is school-based COVID-19 testing important?

Testing helps to protect the children, teachers, and staff in our schools. It helps keep schools open for in-person learning and allows sports and other activities to continue. But most importantly, it helps stop the spread of COVID-19. And school testing also means you can feel better knowing that you’re protecting your child and those around them.

Is my child required to get tested?

Participation in Learn to Return is completely voluntary. Students can participate in school-based testing if their school is offering it.

Unvaccinated students must be tested regularly to participate in school sports and certain extracurricular activities. For more information, see our K-12 COVID-19 School Requirements.

Is there a cost?

There’s no cost to your family or your school, even if you don’t have insurance. Federal funding covers the cost of the tests.

Can parents get tested for COVID-19 at their child’s school?

Parents, guardians, and other family members who live with a student who was exposed may be able to get tested. It’s best to check with your child’s school to see if this is an option.

What kind of tests are offered?

Multiple testing options are available, including rapid antigen, PCR, and pooled testing. All tests through Learn to Return use shallow nasal swabs to collect samples. It’s quick and painless.

In most cases, samples are self-collected by the person being tested under the supervision of an observer. For more information about tests, refer to the testing FAQs.

Will my child’s privacy be protected if they are tested?

Yes. It’s no different than getting tested at your doctor’s office. All health information is kept private and is protected under federal HIPAA regulations.

What happens if my child or another child tests positive for COVID-19?

Some administrators and staff at your child’s school (such as COVID-19 coordinators) will be alerted if there is a positive test result. They will initiate contact tracing and outbreak mitigation procedures at your child’s school. For more information about positive and negative test results, visit the FAQ page.

How can I find out if my school participates in Learn to Return?

Contact your child’s school to find out if they participate in the program. If they do, ask about the process for signing up your child.

My school doesn’t participate in Learn to Return. What can I do?

There are many other cost-free COVID-19 testing options available to your family:

• Visit one of Washington’s many community sites, local clinics, pharmacies, and drive-through sites. Call 2–1–1 to locate a testing site near you or visit doh.wa.gov/testing.
• If you can’t get tested at school or by a health care provider, consider using an at-home test. These self-collection test kits are available in pharmacies and some retail stores. Some may require a prescription.

School-based testing programs are proven to help identify infections and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Combined with vaccinations and other safety measures, our schools can now help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. This keeps our kids in schools so they can learn and participate in the activities they love.

More information

This blog is accurate as of the date of posting. Information changes rapidly, so check the state’s COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date info at coronavirus.wa.gov. You can also sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 5 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.

WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington State may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.