FCPS speeds up the return-to-class procedure for students in contact with a COVID case

Students at Weyanoke Elementary School can take a weekly STEAM class, covering science, technology, engineering, art, and math. [FCPS]

Fairfax County Public Schools is speeding up the return to the classroom for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic students. 

FCPS has heard from many parents concerned about the amount of time fully vaccinated students are being paused from in-person instruction when identified as a potential close contact of a COVID-19 positive case, states a Sept. 2 announcement from Assistant Superintendent Michelle Boyd.

As a result, FCPS collaborated with the Fairfax County Health Department to accelerate this process. The new procedure takes effect Sept. 7.  

“Our goal is to streamline this process so it takes the least amount of time possible to complete while keeping our school community safe,” Boyd states. 

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Parents and guardians who have been notified by their school that their child is a potential close contact need to complete the COVID Contact Vaccination Verification form if their child is fully vaccinated. The link to the form will be included in the letter to parents.

The vaccination verification form calls for parents and guardians to take two steps:

• Provide proof of their child’s vaccination status by electronically uploading the vaccination record or card. 
• Complete a Health Department survey to confirm the child is asymptomatic, if appropriate.

The Health Department will quickly verify the information provided and send a personalized student clearance letter to the parent/guardian. 

Health Department staff will monitor the portal seven days a week, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. They will email a clearance letter to parents within hours (or the next day for after-hour submissions).

The child will be able to immediately resume in-person learning and activities when parents submit the clearance letter to their school.

The Health Department will follow-up with students who have not submitted the vaccination documentation, who are not fully vaccinated, or have reported symptoms. It will also send a daily list of all cleared students to FCPS, so students can return to in-person activities in a timely manner.

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Parents can visit the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Record Request Portal if they misplaced a child’s vaccination card or need to document their vaccination status. 

“This new process benefits all students, including those who are not fully vaccinated and those who are symptomatic,” Boyd says. “The time needed to complete investigations is decreased when the focus can be on individuals who are more likely to require quarantine as a result of the exposure.”

For more information, visit the FCPS web page on Pause, Quarantine, and Contact Tracing.