OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma schools can apply for money from a $119 million Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded grant program, and use the funds to conduct COVID-19 testing.
The Oklahoma Schools COVID-19 Prevention Program Grant (Project 723) is funded by the CDC and offered to schools in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma State Department of Education, according to Dr. Kathy Dodd, Chief Innovation Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Federal Programs for the Department of Education.
Schools must design a plan to test 10 percent of their enrolled students each month to comply with grant parameters, according to an FAQ provided by Dodd.
“For example, if your high school has 500 students, 50 tests should be administered each month,” Dodd said.
Department of Education officials removed references to “random testing” from the grant guidance, “as you may choose to test students participating in activities that require close contact where masking is not feasible,” Dodd said.
In one example, schools may choose to test students participating in vocal music, football, band, wrestling and drama.
“In this case, students would have the option be tested as a result of their participation in the activity,” Dodd said.
The full FAQ, provided below, gives further details on school testing through the grant:
Click the file below to download the FAQ:
