DC schools relaxing COVID-19 protocols ahead of student return

The Washington, D.C., Public School system announced Thursday evening during a town hall that it would relax COVID-19 measures amid the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) announced that it will no longer be conducting daily health screenings on students upon arrival to school. However, DCPS is asking parents to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms every day before sending them to the classroom.

The district will also no longer require students and staff to quarantine following a COVID-19 exposure — unless they are exhibiting COVID symptoms, which is DCPS’ biggest change from last school year’s guidance. The latest guidance has been updated in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations.

Asymptomatic weekly testing from the prior school year will now be discontinued at schools, except for at the start of the school year, where “test to return” will be conducted.