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COVID Guidelines

COVID Health and Safety Guidance

2022-23 School Year

Please note this guidance is subject to change.

Daily Entry to School

Students Who Are Ill

  • Students who are ill, whether at home or if sick at school, should follow the guidelines set forth in ACPS Policy JHCF: Student Wellness.
  • Students who are ill at school should report to the clinic. Consistent with health clinic guidance, face masks will be required for students and staff while in the clinic. Face masks will be available should a student or staff member need one.
  • Students who are ill at school should report to the clinic.
  • Students should remain at home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.
  • Students, families, and staff are strongly encouraged to test for COVID should they exhibit any of the symptoms prior to returning to school from an illness.

Reporting and Tracking of COVID Cases

  • ACPS will continue to monitor cases of COVID within ACPS facilities.
  • Positive cases should be reported to ReportingCOVID@acps.k12.va.us.
  • Individuals who are positive for COVID will still be required to isolate per the most up-to-date guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
    • Individuals who test positive for COVID should not attend school during the required 5 day isolation period.
    • ACPS requests that individuals who tested positive and are returning to school between day 6-10 wear a face mask.
    • Individuals who are returning from recently testing positive or have recently been exposed to COVID should not sit at the reserved lunch table for students who have immunocompromised family members or who may be immunocompromised themselves,
    • If an individual who is positive wants to end their wearing of a face mask earlier than day 11, then ACPS requests they have two negative antigen/rapid tests taken 48 hours apart and submit the results to reportingCOVID@acps.k12.va.us. This assists us with reducing the spread of COVID in the schools.
  • Students, staff, and families can check the ACPS COVID-19 Dashboard for the most current information about cases in their school or site.
  • ACPS will no longer contact trace each individual case of COVID. ACPS will monitor cases for outbreaks.
  • Students and staff who are aware that they are a close contact of an individual who is positive for COVID are strongly encouraged to follow the latest CDC recommendations.
    • ACPS requests that close contacts wear a mask for a full 10 days following exposure and watch for symptoms.
    • ACPS requests close contacts test on either day 6 or when symptoms develop.

COVID Testing Options

Face Masks (Students)

  • Masks remain optional in school or on school buses for ACPS students, staff, visitors, and volunteers. 
  • In some instances ACPS may request staff and students wear face masks in classes where students have documented medical conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID and potentially developing severe COVID. Thank you in advance for helping to protect all in our school community. 
  • ACPS continues to strongly encourage the wearing of face masks when Alexandria is designated at a Medium or High Community Level per CDC guidance.

Vaccines

  • COVID-19 vaccines are now available and strongly encouraged for anyone aged 6 months and up.
  • Individuals are encouraged to be up-to-date on their vaccinations, which for many includes receiving booster shots.
  • Vaccines are available through family medical providers, through pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens, and through the Alexandria Health Department.
  • Families are strongly encouraged to submit their child’s COVID vaccinations through the secure ACPS Student COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation Form. 

Additional Layered Mitigation and Prevention Strategies

  • Schools will continue to have sections reserved at lunch for students who would like more space and distance while eating due to being immunocompromised or having immunocompromised family members.
  • Adherence to our layered prevention strategies has kept our schools open for in-person learning since the first day of the 2021-22 school year. 
  • ACPS will continue to provide thorough cleaning and disinfection of our facilities during heightened case quantities, reinforcement of hand hygiene and healthy habits, as well as making use of outside spaces (where possible) and maintaining strategies that improved ventilation throughout the 2021-22 school year.