Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After getting clearance from New York State and Erie County, the test to stay program aimed at keeping more students in schools is expanding to sixteen districts and schools across Erie County.
The Erie County Department of Health is launching test to stay programs with 16 Erie County school districts and 11 non-public schools. The schools and districts listed below expressed an interest in implementing the option for their students, and will work closely with the ECDOH Epidemiology School Team to coordinate testing and data reporting. ECDOH shared information with these schools on how to pick up a supply of COVID-19 test kits, and the department hopes that many schools will begin this program by the end of the week.
The test to stay program was originally unveiled in the Grand Island district only as a trial district and was heralded as a success.
Test to stay allows students, who would otherwise be subject to quarantine at home, to attend classes following an in-school COVID-19 exposure, as long as they remain symptom free.
Participating schools and school districts include:
Alden Central School District
Akron Central School District
Amherst Central School District
Clarence Central School District
Cleveland Hill UFSD
Eden Central School District
Erie 1 BOCES
Frontier Central School District
Iroquois Central School District
Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda UFSD
Lackawanna City School District
Lancaster Central School District
Sweet Home Central School District
Tonawanda City Schools
Williamsville Central School District
West Seneca Central School District
Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School
Buffalo Seminary
Canisius High School
Christian Central Academy
Mount Mercy Academy
Nardin Academy
The Park School of Buffalo
Sacred Heart Academy
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute
South Buffalo Charter School
Tapestry Charter School
