Colorado Charter School Institute
1600 N Broadway, Ste. 1250, Denver, CO 80202
303-866-3299 | www.csi.state.co.us
COVID-19: Updates & Guidance
August 12, 2021
 
Dear School Leaders,
 
This newsletter includes important information about:
  • CDPHE COVID-19 Testing Program for Schools
  • No cost KN95 respirators and surgical masks available
CDPHE COVID-19 Testing Program for Schools
CDPHE has released information about its COVID-19 School Screening Testing Program for SY 2021-22. CDPHE is providing a free and voluntary school testing program for the 2021-22 school year to all public, private, charter, and tribal K-12 schools in the state. Enrolled school districts and schools will be able to offer rapid COVID-19 tests to all K-12 students and staff on a weekly basis. This program will begin testing September 7, and will be accepting enrollments into the school year.

Your school can read detailed information about CDPHE’s School Screening Testing Program and register for the Program here. Requirements for schools to participate in the screening testing program include:

  • School district authorization: All charter and public schools must have approval from authorized personnel at the district level to participate.
  • CSI is currently completing the necessary district-level Testing Authorization Form so as to provide blanket authorization for all CSI-authorized schools to opt into in this Testing Program should they choose to. Your school should NOT complete the “School District Authorization Form”.
  • Written parental/guardian consent: For anyone under the age of 18, parental consent must be on file in order for testing to be performed. This program will help manage the consent process for schools.
  • Testing is available to all: This testing program must be made available to all students and staff within the participating school, irrespective of vaccination status, presence of symptoms, or other subgroupings (e.g., athletes).
  • Screening testing implementation: This program is designed for weekly testing implementation. Full service testing is provided on a weekly cadence. Whether full service or direct ship, individuals participating in weekly screening testing and schools that reach 70% participation in weekly testing qualify for reduced quarantine as described in CDPHE’s Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC’s School Guidance.
  • Use of CDPHE-provided vendor and tests: CDPHE is in the final stages of contracting with two to four experienced testing vendors which will partner with CDPHE to implement this program across the state. Funding from this program cannot be used for individually contracted testing resources that a school or district may already have in place.

CDPHE COVID-19 School Testing Program Next Steps

  • CSI is currently completing the necessary district-level Testing Authorization Form so as to provide blanket authorization for all CSI-authorized schools to opt into in this Testing Program should they choose to. Your school should not complete the “School District Authorization Form”.
  • You can access the Opt-in form through the ”Enroll Now” section of the COVID-19 School Screening Testing Program for the 2021-22 School Year Overview.
  • If your school elects to participate in this program you can select “Yes” when answering the question: “Do you currently have approval from your district's superintendent for COVID-19 testing in your school?” on the “Opt-In Form for Free COVID Testing for the 2021-2022 School Year”. 
  • When completing the “District Information” section of the Opt-in form please use the following information:
  • School District: Charter School Institute
  • CDE School District Code: 8001
  • District Superintendent Name: Dr. Terry Croy Lewis
  • District Superintendent Email: TerryCroyLewis@csi.state.co.us
  • District Superintendent Phone Number (xxx-xxx-xxxx format): 720-626-2647
  • Additional information will be forthcoming regarding the funding for schools mentioned in the Overview. 

Other School COVID-19 Testing Options
  • A free and voluntary federal COVID-19 testing program is offered across the country by the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically targeting K-12 schools and is managed by the Midwest Expanded Testing Coordination Hub. The HHS program utilizes highly sensitive pooled PCR testing for asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals with a 24-hr results turnaround. If you are interested to learn more about the program you can find additional information on the program’s website: testedandprotected.org or contact the State Lead directly: Orie Gilad (614) 424-3087. 
  • CDPHE’s community COVID-19 Testing options can be found here.

Please contact Michael McManus with any questions.
No cost KN95 respirators and surgical masks available
Governor Jared Polis on Thursday announced the restart of the school mask program that will provide KN95 respirators and surgical masks at no cost for students and staff at school districts, BOCES, charter schools, private schools and facility schools that opt in to receive weekly shipments. 
The shipments of KN95 respirators, surgical/procedural masks and child-sized masks will begin Thursday, August 19, and will continue until further notice or to the end of the school year. This is a continuation of last school year’s school mask program led by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This is an opt-in program. Schools will not receive masks if they do not opt in.   

School Districts, BOCES, charter schools, facility schools and private schools can opt in by filling out the web form on this link. Include a physical shipping address along with the point of contact that includes a phone number and email of the person responsible for receiving the masks at each requested location. Note that FedEx will not deliver to P.O. boxes. More information is available on this webpage.
 
For more information, please contact cdphe_schooltesting@state.co.us.
Continue to check the CSI Coronavirus Updates webpage.
Please contact Michael McManus with any health-related questions. 
Please contact CSI Communications with any communication- or closure-related updates.