With the increase in COVID-19 cases and concerns over more contagious variants, we are strongly encouraging all individuals to participate in weekly PCR testing as a preventative measure.

Testing provides an additional layer of protection by helping to proactively identify and isolate positive cases, effectively lowering the potential for spread in schools.

We believe that participation, especially by unvaccinated individuals, will help maximize the safety of our school communities and maintain the continuity of in-person instruction with less disruption for students, families, and educators.

District 65 is partnering with SHIELD Illinois through the University of Illinois to conduct testing at each District 65 school. This is a non-invasive saliva (spit) PCR test. More information is available at https://www.uillinois.edu/shield.

No. Testing is optional but is highly encouraged, especially for those who are unvaccinated.

Parents/guardians MUST opt their child OUT of testing. Parents/guardians can opt-in or out of testing at any time. To opt your child out of testing, please complete the SHIELD Opt-Out Form (English / Spanish). By sending a child to school without opting out of the testing program (in writing), parents/guardians are consenting to their child to be tested for COVID-19 and to have the results and related information shared with District 65 health services staff and local health departments consistent with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance and the Illinois Control of Communicable Disease Code.

Parents/guardians can opt-in or out of testing at any time. To opt your child out of testing, please complete the SHIELD Opt-Out Form (English / Spanish).

Parents/guardians who choose to opt their child out of testing can send the completed form to covid19testing@district65.net or can drop off at their child’s school.

On August 23, the School Board passed a resolution requiring COVID-19 vaccination of all District 65 employees, vendors, and outside staff supporting before and afterschool programming in D65 facilities. This is also a requirement of an Executive Order signed by Governor Pritzker. Staff who do not have an approved religious or medical exemption will be required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing through the SHIELD program. Fully vaccinated staff are not required to participate; however, they are encouraged to do so especially in times of high community transmission.

Testing is highly accurate at 97% sensitivity and 99% specificity with very few false positives.

No, absolutely no genetic material is kept or retained for any reason.

Parents/guardians/staff will be contacted via phone of a positive result within 24 hours.

Results and related information shared with District 65 health services staff and local health departments consistent with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance and the Illinois Control of Communicable Disease Code.

Testing will be held during school hours on a designated day each week. Students and staff will be tested once per week. If there is a need for additional testing, a parent/guardian or staff member can contact their school health staff or the Health Services Department to see if they can be tested at another District 65 location. Please note that it is not possible to make-up SHIELD testing within a building due to a holiday or non-attendance day.

View Testing Schedule

View current SHIELD Testing Schedule

Please note that the testing schedule is subject to change.

SHIELD Testing cannot be rescheduled within a building due to a holiday or non-attendance day.

If test results are positive, the child must not come to school and staff must not report to work. Any other siblings that are not fully vaccinated should also remain at home. You may not send your child back to school without a note of clearance from the Health Department.

Tests sometimes produce incorrect negative results called “false negatives” in people who have COVID-19. If your child tests negative but has symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have concerns about your child’s exposure to COVID-19, you should call your child’s doctor, keep them home, and notify the school health clerk. Staff members should follow the same procedure.

Under the new guidance released by the CDC in January 2022 (also adopted by IDPH and Evanston and Skokie health departments), any staff or student who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must remain home for a minimum of five days and a maximum of 10 days after the first day of symptoms or the date of a positive test result. 

Those who are asymptomatic will be allowed to return to school after the five-day period, and those who experienced symptoms can also return if they are fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours, diarrhea/vomiting have ceased for 24 hours, and other symptoms have improved. Individuals must continue to wear a mask for five days at school, home, and in the community and must stay at least six feet apart from others when eating.

District 65 will continue to offer remote learning for students who must quarantine as directed by the local health department. This option will remain available to them during the length of their quarantine period. Information about Quarantine Remote Classrooms is available on the District 65 website.

Parents/guardians or participating staff members are only notified of positive results. Notifications will not be sent for negative results. No news is good news!

No, testing is free for all participating students and staff members and there is no cost to the district for operating the program.

SHIELD Illinois uses a third-party collections and logistics team (Visit Healthcare) to collect the samples and disseminate the results. All parties are subject to confidentiality agreements. Identifiable information is kept to a minimum through the use of QR codes and barcodes. Individual results will be reported directly to parents/guardians and the district.