Originally sent March 21, 2022

Dear SFUSD Staff,

COVID testing is a part of SFUSD’s layered strategy to keep our schools safe, healthy and welcoming. SFUSD is providing at-home test kits to staff in the coming weeks to encourage proactive COVID-19 testing, which can prevent exposures, outbreaks and unnecessary missed days for SFUSD staff and students.

You will receive 2 COVID-19 test kits along with a flier that contains information and instructions on the steps that you should take upon testing. The test kit may be an antigen or a molecular test. All tests are rapid tests that can be performed at home. An antigen test has two tests in one kit, and the molecular ones have one test in a kit. If you do not receive your kits by March 24, please contact your school site directly.  

Substitutes can pick up kits from 555 Franklin. If you work at multiple school sites, pick up from the one where you spend the most time. Test kits will be distributed to central office staff through their central office location.

While testing is not required, we strongly urge you to use one of the test kits before returning from Spring Break to minimize the spread of COVID-19 after the holiday. 

Use one of the test kits before returning from Spring Break. 

• If you received an antigen test kit containing 2 tests in a single box, use the first test in the kit on Thursday, March 31 and the second on Sunday, April 3, even if you are not symptomatic. Do not split up the test kits between two people. 
• If you received a molecular test kit containing one test in a single box, use the test kit on Sunday April 3 even if you are not symptomatic.

Additional uses for the other test kit include:

• If you are returning to school from isolation on or after 5 days.
• If you get sick with symptoms (like cough and fever), stay home and use your tests to see if it is COVID-19.
• If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19, and need to provide a negative test to return to work.

What should I do with my test results?

Depending on your test results, you might need to take action.

If your test is negative: 

• If you feel well and have no COVID-19 symptoms, return to school.
• If you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please call your school before you return – even if the test is negative. More testing may be needed.

If your test is positive:

• Stay home and isolate for at least 5 days. You must contact your school to report a positive test result. You can return to school on the sixth day if you have a negative test result after day five. 

If your test results are unclear:

• Retest at your school’s Color testing site if asymptomatic, at Crocker Amazon if you have symptoms (see below) or at a local testing site. Visit sfusd.edu/covid19testing for more information, including COVID-19 testing locations and schedules.

Additional COVID Testing Resources

SFUSD will continue to offer multiple testing options, including Color self-swab testing at every school site with daily pick-ups, and on-site rapid antigen testing through Safer Together.  

Sign up for Color testing, available at every school site 

Self-swab test results will be returned within 24 to 48 hours. You must register for a Color self-swab testing account to activate the test kits. For help with setting up your Color account, you can:

• Review this flier (multilingual options), or
• Watch the instructional videos, or
• Call Color at 844-531-0545 to get live support over the phone

Safer Together rapid on-site COVID testing

Free, mobile, on-site rapid antigen tests are available to SFUSD families, students, and staff at several school sites. At-home rapid test kits will not be distributed at the Safer Together testing sites.

Safer Together has now added Burton High School as one of its weekly rapid antigen testing sites on Wednesdays from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm to accommodate staff and students who could not make the earlier times at the other testing sites. 

Walk-ins only. No appointments necessary, but you are strongly encouraged to pre-register at bit.ly/sfusdtesting to cut down on wait times. 

Testing will be available to staff, students, and the SFUSD community. 

Testing options for people with symptoms or close contacts 

If students or staff become symptomatic while on campus, or are identified as close contacts, all school sites have unmonitored self-swab Color kits that can be used and dropped off on the same day.

For those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please do not come into school. You may go to the Crocker-Amazon testing site. 

Testing options are available throughout San Francisco

You may also access testing at locations throughout San Francisco, which includes your primary health care provider and community and public testing sites. 

For more information about COVID-19 testing, or to find a testing site near you, visit sf.gov/gettested or call SFDPH’s COVID Resource Center at 628-652-2700.

Lastly, please remember that being vaccinated is an important way to prevent the worst symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone ages 5+ is eligible for a vaccine and anyone ages 12+ who have completed their first series of 2 doses are eligible for a booster. We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated, and to keep their vaccination up to date to keep our schools safe. 

Thank you for your partnership to help keep our schools safe from COVID-19.

Sincerely,
SFUSD