Last updated February 16, 2023.
Available languages: Español
In its continuing efforts to keep students, teachers, staff, and volunteers healthy and in school, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is providing K-12 Colorado schools and early childhood education programs (ECEs) with FREE COVID-19 rapid antigen tests through the Test to Know program for the 2022-2023 school year. This program can help schools and ECEs slow COVID-19 transmission and reduce disruptions to learning by making it easy for students to test both in school and at home.
Who is eligible?
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K-12 schools: public, private, charter, and tribal schools.
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Early childhood education programs (ECEs): center-based child care, family child care, Head Start, or other early learning, early intervention and preschool/pre-kindergarten programs delivered in schools, homes, or other settings.
At-home testing with Over-the-Counter (OTC) rapid antigen tests for K-12 schools and ECEs
- Free OTC tests are available for K-12 schools and ECEs for at-home testing of students and children away from school.
In-school testing with Point-of-Care (POC) rapid antigen tests for K-12 schools
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Free POC tests are available for K-12 schools to provide in-school testing administered by trained school staff.
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Trained school staff administering tests are covered by the CDPHE CLIA waiver through Aug 27, 2023.
Orders typically ship within seven business days. Large orders can take longer. If you have not received a notification within seven business days of your order, email cdphe_covidtesting@state.co.us.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Tests
OTC tests are rapid antigen tests. They provide rapid results at home.
Schools, districts, and ECEs may choose to provide OTC tests to students, teachers, staff, and volunteers for testing away from school.
At-home testing can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools, but it’s important to know how to properly use the test and interpret the results. For more information, visit:
People using rapid tests at home do not need to report their test results.
Point-of-Care (POC) Tests
POC testing provides rapid results for in-school testing. In-school testing allows K-12 trained school staff to administer POC rapid antigen tests under the state’s CLIA waiver and are covered through Aug 27, 2023.
Point-of-Care tests are required to be administered by trained school staff and reported via Simple Report.
Students younger than the age of 18 years are required to have parental or guardian consent on file for any testing performed on-site.
Reporting
COVID-19 reporting is required for all positive POC test results. Details about how reporting works are below:
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A trained school staff member must administer the tests on-site at school.
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Any school staff member can be trained to perform a test.
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Tests take approximately 15 minutes to administer.
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Positive test results must be reported by school staff using the reporting application SimpleReport. Find SimpleReport enrollment instructions under the header “How to Report COVID-19,” Option 2.