Students across Texas are returning to the classroom after a winter break that coincided with a surge of COVID-19 cases.
Driving around Dallas County, families find long lines of cars full of people waiting to get a test to see whether they are infected. Pharmacies are posting signs in their front windows: All out of COVID-19 at-home tests.
Some school districts, though, are offering free tests for students and staff. Here’s where Dallas County families can find them:
Cedar Hill ISD is offering tests for students and staff at the JoLynn Maddox Teaching & Learning Center. People can get tested for free on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Coppell ISD will provide tests at the Coppell High School Buddy Echols Field Press Box. They will do tests on students older than 5. Anyone under 18 must be swabbed by an accompanying adult. It’s available weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Due to the supply of tests and high volume of interest, appointments are required.
Dallas ISD schools have rapid testing supplies available for both students and staff at each campus to get swabs. They must have a signed consent form to get a COVID test.
Duncanville ISD will provide free rapid testing to staff and students on each campus by school nurses who show symptoms of COVID-19. Parents must consent for their child to be tested.
Garland ISD offers free COVID-10 tests to students and staff every day except Sunday. People can visit the Jill Shugart Professional Development Center on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Students can schedule rapid tests with campus nurses.
Lancaster ISD is hosting COVID-19 testing clinics this week for district staff, students and parents. On Jan. 6, testing will be from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. People are asked to sign up online ahead of time.
Mesquite ISD Health Services will provide free COVID testing Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Testing is available without appointments to students, staff and community members at 105 Florence St. in Mesquite.
RISD partners with MCI Labs to offer tests to asymptomatic students and staff from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. To get tested on a Monday, people can go to the Lake Highlands High School auditorium. On Wednesdays, testing is available at the Richardson High School auditorium. Those with symptoms can go to the MCI Diagnostic Center in their drive-through at 9728 Greenville Avenue.
Statewide picture
While these school districts are providing swabs, education officials statewide have been slow to tap into federal funding to support COVID-19 testing.
It’s a logistical challenge, officials say, that’s now complicated by an even steeper demand for supplies.
Meanwhile, Dallas County officials also announced this week expanded testing sites. Other providers are also beefing up to meet the demand.
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