For States
Federal Support
for School COVID-19 Testing
School COVID-19 testing programs are a key part of the CDC’s operational strategy for K-12 schools. In accordance with that strategy, the federal government is supporting school COVID-19 testing programs through four funding streams.
Not sure where to start? Email us at StatesTA@openandsafeschools.org
The K12 National Testing Action Program
funding from the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement
$10 Billion to 64 states, territories and large localities to set up school COVID-19 testing programs.
Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) Program
Directly supports schools in high need areas.
Operation Expand Testing (ET)
Regional coordinating hubs to work with vulnerable populations and schools in high need areas
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds
Title I funds direct to local and state education agencies; can be spent on a range of educational activities in addition to school COVID-19 testing.
The K12 National Testing Action Program (NTAP)
via Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allocated $10 billion specifically for school COVID-19 testing programs which is awarded to states, territories, and large localities via the ELC program.
Accessing the Program
Funding is available via states and territories. If you are a school leader seeking to access this funding, please contact your State or territory ELC awardee (often the Department of Health) about the best way to access funding for testing.
Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT)
The ICATT program is a HHS program run out of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health. To date, the program has tested a total of 10.5 million samples among underserved populations by leveraging partnerships with pharmacies, community testing sites, and schools.
A new ICATT effort expands testing operations to schools with the goals of ensuring schools are safe environments for in person learning and they stay open sustainably. The ICATT program works with schools in high need areas to deliver customized and fully funded testing solutions.
Accessing the Program
The program is a direct collaboration between ICATT and a school district. If you are a school leader interested in testing, please email ICATT@hhs.gov to determine if your school is eligible for the ICATT program.
Operation Expand Testing
As a part of President Biden’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, HHS partnered with DOD to make a $650 million investment to expand testing opportunities for K-8 schools and underserved congregate settings. The program will establish 3-4 regional coordinating centers to organize testing capacity, partner with laboratories, and deploy testing to places that need it - including schools. As of early April 2021, the regional coordinating hub application process was in process.
Program announcement can be found here.
Accessing the Program
The program will be available via designated regional coordinating hubs yet to be named. If you are a school leader interested in testing through Operation Expand Testing, please Sign Up for Updates to be notified when the Regional Coordinating Hubs are named.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2021, subsequent Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSA), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided significant additional funding to schools to support a range of COVID response activities to help create better remote learning environments, reopen schools for in-person learning, and address learning loss.
Accessing the Program
Schools already have access to their ESSER funds. If you are a school leader interested in using your ESSER funds to implement a school testing program, we recommend you start by talking to other school leaders implementing testing programs by visiting our Peer-to-Peer hub here.