Interview: Senior White House Education Advisor On How Schools Can Access COVID Testing To Curb Omicron Amid ‘Supply Crisis’
Interview: Senior White House Education Advisor on How Schools Can Access COVID Testing to Curb Omicron Amid ‘Supply Crisis’
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Despite the Omicron surge potentially reaching its peak in certain regions of the U.S., schools continue to struggle due to the high number of students and staff affected by the virus. As school leaders work diligently to keep their doors open, many districts are facing a shortage of a vital resource: COVID tests.
On Wednesday, Linda Vail, the health officer for Ingham County in Central Michigan, stated that there is a "COVID test supply crisis" that will impact schools in Michigan. The state is working to provide testing kits to schools in the communities at the highest risk, where the prevalence of COVID is the greatest. Similar shortages have also been experienced in states ranging from Florida to Washington.
Last week, the Biden administration announced its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safe operation of schools by providing an additional 10 million COVID tests per month to K-12 institutions nationwide. This includes 5 million rapid tests and 5 million PCR tests.
In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed "test-to-stay" protocols, which allow students and staff who may have been exposed to COVID to remain in school buildings if they test negative for the virus before entering. However, a shortage of testing supplies can cause significant disruptions in school operations.
Despite the challenges, the majority of schools across the country have managed to remain open in the three weeks since winter break. However, according to the K-12 data service Burbio, an average of over 5,300 schools per week have experienced disruptions, such as temporary closures or shifts to virtual learning, due to high caseloads and staffing shortages.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, over 980,000 new cases of COVID among children were reported nationwide last week, the highest weekly total to date and nearly four times the previous highest tally prior to the Omicron variant.
To assist schools during this surge, spoke with Mary Wall, the White House Senior Education Policy Advisor, who shared insights on how schools can effectively utilize the newly available testing resources. The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
: Testing in schools is a critical issue during the Omicron surge, and some officials are concerned about potential supply shortages. What message do you have for school leaders regarding accessing testing?
Mary Wall: Absolutely. Our administration has made significant efforts to ensure that schools have the necessary resources to reopen and operate safely, with testing being a central component. The core investments made through the American Rescue Plan have played a crucial role in preparing schools for this moment.
Across the country, many schools are currently implementing testing and building upon existing testing programs. We understand that schools have diverse needs and levels of experience, so we strive to make it easy for everyone to access tests and strategies for implementing testing in schools.
The $10 billion investment in the CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) program is a major highlight. This funding has enabled states to establish testing programs for schools, and we have seen significant progress in this regard.
We are further expanding access to testing through the allocation of 5 million rapid antigen tests and the expansion of laboratory capacity through Operation Expanded Testing, which will provide an additional 5 million PCR tests each month.
Testing can present challenges for schools, and we recognize the immense responsibilities they have faced throughout the pandemic. Our goal is to simplify the process and ensure that schools can easily access the resources available to them.
A screenshot from the CDC’s webpage showcasing the COVID testing programs in various states.
If schools are interested in utilizing the 5 million antigen tests currently available, they can make requests to their state health departments, which then submit those requests to the CDC based on local need. Additionally, schools can immediately access testing resources supported by the $10 billion in ELC funds. They can tap into these resources right away.
Operation Expanded Testing, the free lab-based (PCR) testing capacity provided by the federal government, is also currently available. Schools can visit the Operation ET website, click on the link for the regional hub, and begin the process. They can start testing in as little as seven days.
Furthermore, schools have the option to connect with other testing providers operating in their state and utilize their ESSR funds from the American Rescue Plan. Testing is an approved use of these funds, and many school districts have used them to establish customized testing programs, regardless of district size.
After the announcement last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education received various responses from K-12 leaders. These responses can be categorized into a couple of different themes.
Firstly, there has been enthusiastic and positive feedback from districts that were already conducting testing. These districts are eager to take their testing efforts to the next level. For example, some districts currently conduct weekly screening tests and are excited to expand their programs to include test-to-stay initiatives. Other districts that had been conducting diagnostic testing have realized the importance of expanding their testing efforts to cover more students on a weekly basis, and the new investment will facilitate this expansion.
Secondly, many districts that hadn’t previously conducted testing expressed their eagerness to start implementing it. They recognize the significant increase in COVID cases, including among students, during the current surge. Testing is seen as a crucial defense measure within school buildings. The Department of Education is offering immediate technical assistance and support to help these districts set up testing successfully.
The Department of Education is committed to providing assistance every week for the next several weeks to all schools interested in implementing testing. This ensures that schools at any stage of their testing journey have the necessary resources and know-how to effectively use tests in their buildings.
Some individuals argue that the recent expansion of K-12 testing came too late to help schools respond effectively to the Omicron surge, although future surges may occur. How do you respond to this criticism?
I disagree with that assessment. We have demonstrated our commitment to keeping schools open safely through the American Rescue Plan, which allocated $130 billion for K-12 schools and $10 billion for COVID-19 testing. States have used this funding to establish testing strategies since April of the previous year. Schools that had already implemented testing were able to effectively utilize it during the current surge. We aim to build on this investment and continue supporting schools.
Lastly, the White House has taken a proactive stance in addressing the testing shortage in schools. Does the Department of Education see itself as responsible for alleviating the recent staffing shortages experienced by many schools?
As an administration, we acknowledge and take the staffing issues seriously.
To begin with, it is important to remind school districts and states that they have been allocated $130 billion to address various personnel needs resulting from the pandemic. This funding can be used to hire additional staff, retain current staff, provide higher salaries to existing staff, and ensure that all staffing requirements are met effectively.
Furthermore, we have made efforts to emphasize the existence of certain flexibilities that school districts and states can utilize. These flexibilities include exploring options for hiring retired teachers or individuals who were previously involved in the teaching profession. Additionally, school districts can consider creative approaches to hiring bus drivers and bringing in more staff members to support the functioning of schools.
In conclusion, it is essential for school districts and states to maximize the resources available to them in order to address personnel needs in response to the pandemic. By utilizing the allocated funds strategically and exploring various flexibilities, schools can ensure that staffing requirements are adequately met.
