COVID-19 Response
Seattle Public Schools COVID-19 Response
SPS COVID-19 Data
What are the vaccination rates for SPS schools?
As of August 2022, 83% of SPS students have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 80% of students have had two, and of students who are eligible for boosters, 72% have received their booster shot. The highest vaccination rate in a school is 96%, while the lowest is 27%. Of 106 schools, 95 have a greater than 50% vaccination rate and 11 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.
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. *DOH is currently revising the flowcharts to align with updated guidance.
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.
If I needed one, where would I find the Mask Exemption Form?
Here is the SPS Mask Exemption Form
Virtual, Remote, and In-Person Learning
COVID-19 symptoms, testing, and isolating
*DOH is revising the flowcharts to align with updated guidance.
Any student or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home for five full days regardless of vaccination status.
If you test positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms:
- Isolate for at least five days after testing positive for COVID-19. Day zero is the day you test positive. You can leave isolation after five full days if you have not developed any symptoms. Repeating the test does not change the requirement to isolate for five full days.
If you develop symptoms after testing positive:
- Your five-day isolation should start over. Follow the isolation recommendations below for individuals who have symptoms.
If you test positive for COVID-19 and develop symptoms:
- Individuals may return from isolation after five full days have passed since symptoms appeared if:
- No fever within the past 24 hours (without medication) AND
- Symptoms have significantly improved
COVID-19 antigen tests are encouraged before returning from isolation. Only start testing if you are fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
- Anyone returning to school or work after isolation should wear a well-fitted mask from day six to 10. These individuals should also remain masked for sports and other extracurricular activities.
- If an individual tests positive after five days of isolation, they must stay at home for the full 10-day isolation period unless they test negative on two sequential tests each performed 24-48 hours apart. If they test negative on the two sequential tests, they can end isolation before day 10.
- If an individual is unable to wear a well-fitting mask, they should continue to isolate for the full 10 days.
Individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 within the past 90 days should use an antigen test, as PCR tests may remain persistently positive even if there is no new or active infection.
COVID-19 Exposure
Regardless of vaccination status, housemates or family members who were potentially exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to:
- Monitor for symptoms and get tested for COVID-19 three to five days after your last exposure.
- Wear a high-quality mask or respirator around others at home and in public for 10 days after your last exposure. Continue to wear a mask even if you test negative for COVID-19.
If you test positive:
- Isolate and follow SPS isolation, masking, and return to school guidance
If you test negative by an antigen test:
- Retest with an antigen test 24-48 hours after the first negative test. If the second test is negative, but concerns exist for COVID-19, you may retest 24-48 hours after the second negative test, for a total of at least three tests.
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.
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. All children 6 months and older are now eligible for the COVID vaccine and children 5 years and older are eligible for the booster.
Recent Announcements
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including boosters at a Seattle Public Schools vaccination clinic for children and adults.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 please alert the school’s front office of your absence and complete the CIC Health Self Reporting form.
On-demand COVID-19 Testing Consent Campaign SPS is prepared to manage COVID-19 in our schools. Our goals are to keep school communities healthy and safe, and ensure uninterrupted in-person learning. One […]
SPS will continue to monitor COVID-19 rates in our schools and will be ready to adjust if necessary.
The Student Health team gathered some tips and suggestions to help students identify their feelings about the changes to mask guidelines.