COVID-19 Response
Seattle Public Schools COVID-19 Response
SPS COVID-19 Data
What are the vaccination rates for SPS schools?
As of March 31, 2022, 83% of SPS students have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 79% of students have had two. The highest vaccination rate in a school is 95%, while the lowest is25%. Of 106 schools, 93 have a greater than 50% vaccination rate and 13 schools have less than a 50% vaccination rate.
Vaccine clinics at SPS Schools: The district continues to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics for our school community in partnership with trusted medical providers.
SPS COVID-19 Dashboard
SPS closely tracks and monitors confirmed COVID-19 cases. Confirmed case counts at Seattle Public are displayed on the COVID Data Dashboard.
Outbreak Response
SPS continues to follow mitigation strategies to minimize transmission of COVID-19. The district’s continuity of operations plan (COOP) identifies several interrelated factors that inform the decision to move a classroom or a school building to remote instruction.
Stay Home When Sick It is important that if students have COVID symptoms, they stay home and test. Keep a supply of home tests on hand.
Department of Health Symptom Flow Chart
This DOH flowchart ‘What to do if a Person is Symptomatic’ is available in additional languages.
Mask Guidance
Seattle Public Schools lifted its mask requirements in March 2022. SPS continues to encourage masking at school, especially after travel or a break. Read the Seattle Public Schools mask update.
Virtual, Remote, and In-Person Learning
COVID-19 testing
If You Test Positive for COVID-19:
- Stay home for a minimum of 5 days and until your symptoms have significantly improved.
- Notify your school
Outbreak Response and Testing Consent
If there is a suspected or confirmed outbreak in a classroom or across classrooms, testing and masking may be required to sustain in-person learning. Learn more about the testing protocol and consent to outbreak testing.
Read the outbreak response plan (created in consultation with Public Health).
COVID-19 Testing
Students can take a COVID test:
- At their school
- At home
At home testing: Seattle Public Schools is now accepting over the counter COVID-19 tests for students and staff.
Student assigned school: COIVID testing is available at each school, and results are available usually within 15 minutes with parent/guardian consent.
Vaccines
Vaccine Clinics
COVID-19 Vaccine for Students and Staff
Vaccination is our most important line of defense against the virus and being vaccinated also reduces the loss of vital in-person instruction time at school.
Prom, Arts, Activities, and Athletics
Prom Protocols
Prom is back! High schools are now able to host in-person proms. Schools will have free at-home COVID tests available for students attending prom. Each attendee can receive one test box which includes two tests. Students are strongly encouraged to take a COVID test both before prom and before returning to school. Let’s make this a healthy and safe prom season. Learn more about testing.
Performing Arts
Due to decreasing community transmission rates, community audiences are allowed at middle and high school performing arts events starting February 7. Physical distancing between family groups and masking are required.
Student Athletes COVID-19 Health Safety
In addition to the updated testing and masking requirements, there are also updates for when an athlete can return to play and spectator guidelines. Pre-pandemic community audiences are allowed at indoor middle and high school athletics starting April 2. Masking is optional and verification of vaccination or negative test are no longer required for entry. Learn more about athletics health safety.
Visitors and Volunteers in Buildings
Adults in Buildings
One-time/one-day visitors and one-time volunteers are allowed in buildings during the school day with the following requirements.
- Visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. Home tests will be accepted. Same day rapid antigen tests are highly recommended.
- Note that proof of vaccination or negative COVID test is not required outside of the school day.
- Visitors and staff in meetings together must follow all SPS Health and safety protocols.
- Adults maintain 6-feet physical distance from others.
- Meetings over Teams are still an option, and in some cases more convenient for families and staff.
- Note that essential volunteers are already allowed at the discretion of the school leader.
- School bus drivers and other SPS vendors supporting our students are allowed in buildings on an as-needed basis (e.g., restrooms).
Recent Announcements
SPS will continue to monitor COVID-19 rates in our schools and will be ready to adjust if necessary.
The district will relax current physical distancing requirements in all schools on April 25.
Our goals are to keep our school communities healthy and safe and ensure uninterrupted in-person learning.
On-demand COVID-19 Testing Consent Campaign SPS is prepared to manage COVID-19 in our schools for the remainder of this school year. Our goals are to keep our school communities healthy […]
SPS is prepared and ready to respond to a surge in our schools if/when necessary.