On July 27, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) revised its School Testing for COVID-19 webpage to include updated links and contacts as well as guidance directing K-12 schools to continue to follow the Testing Framework for K-12 Schools for the 2022-2023 School Year for the upcoming school year (23/24).

CPDH also updated its Frequently Asked Questions Around K-12 Testing. The revised FAQ’s provide updated information around 23/24 school year testing programs for K-12 agencies. In addition, the FAQ’s no longer refer to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing programs and recommends the usage of at-home antigen testing or professional antigen testing when testing for COVID-19. School districts are not required to maintain a testing program for students, although CDPH does strongly recommend schools continue to facilitate testing, particularly for vulnerable populations within their communities. For employees, districts are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations, or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard. Districts should continue to offer testing to employees at no cost during paid time:

  • To employees who had a close contact at work, with an exception for symptom-free employees who recently recovered from COVID-19 (returned cases).
  • During an outbreak, to all employees within an exposed group, at least once a week, except for employees who were not at work during the relevant period and symptom-free employees who recently recovered from COVID-19 (returned cases). Employees who are not tested within 3-5 days after a close contact must be excluded from the workplace until the return to work requirements for COVID-19 cases are met.
  • During a major outbreak, twice per week, except for employees who were not at work during the relevant period and symptom-free employees who recently recovered from COVID-19 (returned cases). Employees in the exposed group who are not tested must be excluded from the workplace until the return to work requirements for COVID-19 cases are met.
  • When following CDPH’s Isolation and Quarantine Guidance to keep employees working, if tested.

In addition, Implementation Questions and Answers for Senate Bill (SB) 1479 were updated to include current information on available CDPH testing resources. Note that despite the updates, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are still required to comply with SB 1479 and are required to have a COVID-19 testing plan or adopt the CDPH framework discussed above. This testing plan or framework is not to be confused with the previously implemented optional student testing programs and is designed to support COVID-19 mitigation when necessary. For questions regarding any of the CDPH updates, contact Scarlett Sadler.