Vermont
Note: Recipient-submitted material; content authored by recipient, not ELC
Information current as of October 6, 2021
To learn more about Vermont’s school testing plans, visit their websiteexternal icon.
Management structure for school screening
Since June 2021, the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) has contracted with CIC Health to provide COVID-19 testing for all interested public and private (“independent schools” in Vermont’s education nomenclature) schools using the Binx interface and secure portal. In this way, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is leveraging ELC funding to go directly to reimbursing CIC Health for school testing.
The Health Commissioner is the ordering provider for all COVID-19 testing done for schools. All results, in addition to being provided to the parent or guardian or patient through the Binx secure portal, will also be electronically provided to VDH.
VDH will use ELC funds to procure portable HEPA air purifiers for classrooms and school spaces. These purifiers are being offered to all Vermont schools.
Support provided to school districts
Community transmission levels are used to inform and encourage surveillance testing in K-12 schools. All Vermont counties are currently at high or substantial transmission levels.
Vermont’s goal is to maintain full in-person instruction throughout the school year. The Health Department and Agency of Education have made recommendations to school districts on how to safely return to class in the fall of 2021. They recommend that school districts require masks indoors for all students, of all ages, at the start of the school year. They also ask that districts require masks indoors for children under 12 years who are not able to be vaccinated at this time. The Health Department works with the Agency of Education and other partners to support the health and wellness of children and their families. The Agency of Education provides COVID-19 guidance/recommendationsexternal icon for Vermont schools.
COVID-19 surveillance testing is offered to all students and staff in Vermont schools. The Health Department strongly recommends that districts/schools participate in this testing to support in-person learning, including extracurricular activities, and monitor for COVID-19 in schools, and provides guidanceexternal icon for schools.