The Short Version:
  • What Parent Action Is Required? Grade 1–8 parents need to do ONE THING, and only ONE PARENT or guardian needs to do it. Please log in to MyFASPS (click here) by January 3, 2022, and sign the consent form for the new vendor you should see linked in the yellow bar across the webpage. Email KyleL@FASPS.org with questions.
  • What Is the Change? FASPS will switch from using Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW rapid antigen test to using Atlas Genomics’ next-day, lab-based PCR test for our weekly covid-19 Learn to Return testing program (for Grade 1–8 students only).
  • When Will FASPS Switch? We will make this change sometime in early to mid-January, and we will let everyone know the specifics after the winter break.
  • Will It Still Be a Self-administered Shallow Nasal Swab? YES! Like the BinaxNOW test, Atlas Genomics’ PCR test is a shallow nasal swab test students will administer themselves on campus in the morning once a week. Our hope is to test all Grade 1–8 students as early in the week as possible (as opposed to staggering the testing by grade throughout the week, which is what we do now with the BinaxNOW tests).
  • When Will the Test Results Be Available? Atlas Genomics’ test results will be available to us the day after nasal swabs are collected, as opposed to the 15 minutes it takes for the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test.
  • Questions? Email Kyle at KyleL@FASPS.org.
The Detailed Version:
Dear Grade 1–8 Parents,

We are excited to share with you a vendor change we will be making with our Learn to Return program participation beginning sometime in early to mid-January (we will know the specific start date after we return from winter break).

As a reminder, Learn to Return is the Washington State Department of Health program that helps schools provide free and easy covid-19 diagnostic testing for students. Currently, our Grade 1–8 students participate in this program by being tested once a week on campus with a BinaxNOW rapid antigen test (Grade 1 students on Mondays, Grade 2–3 students on Tuesdays, Grade 4–5 students on Wednesdays, and Grade 6–8 students on Fridays).
What Will NOT Change:
  • FASPS will continue to participate in the Learn to Return program, and this service will be provided at no charge to the school or to parents.
  • FASPS’s Grade 1–8 students will continue to be tested weekly as part of our Learn to Return program.
  • The test itself will continue to be a shallow nasal swab administered by students themselves on campus.
  • We will continue to use BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests for our Test to Stay program (Reminder: Our Test to Stay program enables students who are identified as close contacts of an individual on campus who has tested positive for covid-19 to attend classes on campus in a “modified, seven-day quarantine status” after exposure if and only if certain protocols are followed — click here for further information.)
What WILL Change:
  • FASPS will switch from using Abbott Laboratories’ BinaxNOW’s rapid antigen test to Atlas Genomics’ next-day, lab-based PCR test.
  • Our goal right now is to test all Grade 1–8 students as early in the week as possible as opposed to staggered testing throughout the week according to grade. We will know better what this will look like after the winter break.
  • Whereas BinaxNOW rapid antigen test results are known 15 minutes after taking the nasal swab, Atlas Genomics next-day, lab-based PCR test results are known the day after taking the nasal swab.
  • Since we will be using a different vendor, we will need one parent or guardian of each Grade 1–8 student to complete another consent form. Please log in to MyFASPS by January 3, 2022, click on the yellow bar you should see appear across the webpage near the top, and complete the form. Email KyleL@FASPS.org if you have any questions.
Why We Are Making This Change:
  • When we first signed up with the Washington State Department of Health’s Learn to Return program, using Atlas Genomics’ next-day PCR test was not an option for us (though we put our name on their waitlist). Recently, we made it to the top of their waitlist, and we decided to make the switch.
  • Because Atlas Genomic’s next-day, lab-based PCR test is a pooled test (nasal swabs will be sorted into roughly two pools per class), this will allow our testing team to test students more efficiently and on fewer days each week; our goal is to test all Grade 1–8 students as early in the week as possible.
  • With more efficient testing of students, classroom time will be disrupted less.
  • Because Atlas Genomics is located in Seattle, we can get the test results the day after submitting the pooled nasal swab samples (and Atlas Genomics will pick up our samples directly from our campus).
We are excited about the efficiencies this change will give us, and we will communicate further information in January as we firm up procedures. Please don’t forget to sign your student’s consent form by January 3, 2022, and let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.

Cordially yours,

Susan Griesse
FASPS CFO and COO
Parent Action Required by January 3:
Don’t forget to log in to MyFASPS and complete the Atlas Genomics consent form by January 3, 2022. Let Kyle know if you have any questions (KyleL@FASPS.org). Thank you!