Administration extends funding commitment for pooled testing in schools

The Baker-Polito administration is extending its funding commitment to a pooled COVID-19 testing initiative in schools through the end of the school year.

The first-in-the-nation testing program, launched in February, is available to every Massachusetts public school at no cost.

Also on March 29, the administration announced that the program has found positivity rates far below 1% among participating students and staff across the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts schools have tested nearly 159,000 individuals in 22,679 pools with a pool positivity rate of 0.76% to date. Because the average pool includes seven people, individual prevalence among those tested is well below that number.

More than 1,000 schools are enrolled in the COVID-19 pooled testing initiative, and more than 329,000 students, educators and staff are eligible to be tested on a weekly basis, according to the administration. Results are delivered within 24 hours.

“Access to this pooled testing program has given many school districts the information and assurance they need in order to be able to keep educating students in person safely and successfully,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

Initial state funding was due to expire on April 18. The administration said the continuation of the free program is made possible by additional federal funds specifically for COVID-19 testing, anticipated to total approximately $207 million for Massachusetts.

Schools that are not yet enrolled in the program are encouraged to do so by emailing K12CovidTesting@mass.gov.