SHIELD Illinois weekly COVID testing

CCSD21 has partnered with SHIELD Illinois (University of Illinois) to administer weekly saliva PCR tests to in-person students and staff. This is a non-invasive saliva test and there is no cost to families or staff for testing. Results will be available to School District 21 within 24-48 hours of testing and positive results will be shared with the student’s parent/guardian by email or phone call shortly thereafter. More information about SHIELD Illinois testing is available here:

• Video: SHIELD Testing Town Hall with epidemiologist, courtesy of Deerfield 109
• Video: SHIELD Testing How To
• Social Story: SHIELD Testing | Español
• About SHIELD Testing – University of Illinois
• Frequently Asked Questions

The implementation of a comprehensive testing program is an important part of our effort to increase the amount of in-person learning time. For this reason, testing for in-person students will be considered mandatory unless there is a specific and valid reason that a child should be exempted. Any parent or guardian seeking an exemption to mandatory testing should contact their school principal.

EXCLUSION/ISOLATION PROTOCOLS (Updated 2-15-2022)

Data and metrics

The district will continue to monitor multiple sources of COVID-19 infection data and will implement adaptive pauses to in-person instruction at the classroom, school, or district level as conditions require.

Sources include data from the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as the COVID-19 Dashboard maintained by the Northwestern Medicine’s Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center. In addition we are tracking our internal data on the CCSD21 COVID-19 Data Dashboard.

Mitigation of spread

Per joint guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the minimum distance in effect in classrooms is 3 feet or to the greatest extent possible.

CCSD21 will still consider the use of an Adaptive Pause at the classroom, school, or district levels if COVID-19 spread in the community reaches such a significant level and/or if an order to return to remote learning is issued by the Governor, Illinois State Board of Education, or state or county public health officials. Any decision to return to an adaptive pause will be made with a solid understanding of trending data, including current rates of exclusion or confirmed cases within our schools, and with as much advance notice given to families as possible. Please continue to consider your family’s contingency plan should a close contact occur, or should closure occur at the classroom, school, or District level.

Family Resources

Parent / Family Support Site

Additional Resources

• E-Learning and Eye Care Information

Questions

Please direct any other questions or concerns to [email protected].