Following the guidance of our medical advisors and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health – and subject to changes to County Health Officer Orders – Los Angeles Unified will implement a new “response testing” protocol for summer school programs and the 2022-23 school year. Instead of requiring every student and employee to test weekly with a PCR test, only those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive, will be required to test. All testing will be conducted with take-home rapid antigen tests, which are available to students and employees at their school or worksite.

Students or employees who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive will be sent home with a rapid antigen test kit and directions for how to administer at home. All test results must be uploaded to Daily Pass at dailypass.lausd.net.

The Daily Pass portal will continue to be used to upload COVID-19 rapid antigen test results and vaccinations, monitor positive cases, and to notify close contacts of a person who has tested positive. It is not required to generate a Daily Pass QR code in order to enter campus.

Yes. Test results must be valid and should be submitted as soon as possible after the test date; employees and families can upload test results at dailypass.lausd.net.

Indoor masking is strongly recommended, but not required, for all employees, students and visitors at Los Angeles Unified elementary, secondary and adult school campuses, Expanded Transitional Kindergarten/Preschool Collaborative Classrooms (ETK/PCC), and in all non-school locations (including school buses and vans), with some exceptions. This guidance also applies to students, employees, and visitors at EECs, EECPCCs, CSPPs, Infant Centers, and PALS classrooms.

Per Los Angeles County Department of Public Health requirements, all individuals who are identified as close contacts are required to wear a highly protective mask indoors at school for 10 days after the last date of exposure. Students with mask accomodations who are identified as a close contact must quarantine at home for 10 days following last date of exposure.

Masking requirements are subject to change with updated guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Per LACDPH, close contacts are permitted to take off their masks indoors to eat and drink. Close contacts are not restricted to eating only outdoors, although it is recommended to ensure distancing when eating indoors where possible. We have put into place and will continue to maintain the highest standards to ensure our classrooms and workspaces have the safest air we can reasonably provide. Per the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, breakfast can be served in the classroom, and during service it is recommended that in addition to the filters that are changed on an ongoing basis, doors and windows be kept open for ventilation. Hand hygiene is important, for which Food Services provides wipes, and sanitizers are available in classrooms. 

If you or anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, it is important to test for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Students and employees can obtain a rapid antigen test kit from their school or work supervisor. Persons with symptoms should self-quarantine pending the test results because COVID-19 is very contagious. That individual should also separate themselves from everyone in their household, so they do not transmit the virus to any family members in the home. They should wear a mask and social distance if they must be in the same room as a household member. Follow hand hygiene recommendations and avoid sharing any personal items.

If a student or employee tests positive, the following instructions will be given:

Be sure the test result is uploaded into the Daily Pass.

Stay home until at least five days have passed since symptoms first appeared and there is no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough should also improve before going back to a school site. Anyone who has a condition that severely weakens the immune system may need to stay home for longer and should consult with their healthcare provider.

The student or the employee should take a rapid antigen COVID-19 test on day five (the day the student or employee tests positive is day zero). If they test negative on that test, have not had a fever for at least 24 hours, and have improving symptoms, they may return to school or work. Rapid antigen tests can be obtained from the individual's school or worksite.

If a student or staff who tests positive is asymptomatic, they still must stay home for at least five days after the positive test result and test negative on a rapid antigen test taken on day five.

If the test on the 5th day is positive, and/or they are still symptomatic, they should stay home for 10 calendar days.

After completing the isolation period and meeting the above criteria, the student or employee will receive clearance via the Daily Pass to return.

If the individual does not take a test and they remain asymptomatic, they can return after day 10.

Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result. 

It is not necessary to take a confirmatory PCR test if you test positive on an at-home rapid antigen test. If you would like to confirm your test result, however, you can visit an external healthcare provider to take a PCR test. Between taking those two tests, you must continue to isolate at home.

Employees and students who tested positive can take a rapid antigen test on day 5 after their positive test. If this test is negative and they are asymptomatic, they can return to school or work on day 6. If they test positive, they should isolate for the full 10 day period after the initial positive test. Rapid antigen tests are available from your school or worksite.

Employees and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and completed their isolation period should not take another COVID-19 test for 90 days because of the possibility of a false-positive result. An individual who has recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to three months and may continue to test positive although they are not contagious. After completing the isolation period and receiving clearance in the Daily Pass, students/employees should return to work or school.

More information is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html

A close contact is a person who was within 6 feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Persons with an outdoor exposure at school are not considered close contacts.

Individuals who are continuously exposed at home to a household member who has tested positive can remain at school or work as long as they: monitor for symptoms and remain asymptomatic, wear a highly protective mask at all times indoors at school/work (except when eating or drinking) for 10 days, and test negative within 3-5 days after the last date of exposure to the positive household member while they were infectious. Rapid antigen tests are available at all schools or from supervisors.

If your child is identified as a close contact of a positive individual outside of school, they can continue to attend school as long as they monitor for symptoms, wear a highly protective mask for 10 days after the last date of exposure, and test negative with an at-home rapid antigen test within 3-5 days after last exposure. Rapid tests can be obtained from your school.

If your child recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they are exempt from testing, but are required to monitor for symptoms and wear a mask for 10 days following exposure.

If your child develops any COVID-19 symptoms, you should call your healthcare provider immediately and make arrangements for your child to be tested for COVID-19.

No, household members of identified close contacts do not have to take the same precautions, as long as they are not experiencing symptoms.

The LA County Department of Public Health will conduct an investigation and make a determination if a school or class should close due to an outbreak.

To see positive cases at a school site, families can access their school’s COVID Testing Report Card. This Report Card is updated daily and can be accessed here: https://achieve.lausd.net/covidreportcard

Principals will communicate all necessary information to the school community, in accordance with LA County Department of Public Health guidelines. 

An outbreak is a specific event of multiple, linked cases that is determined in partnership with the LA County Department of Public Health. If an outbreak is identified, principals and the school's Compliance Task Force will follow specific protocols to inform the school community.

The Community Engagement team is composed of nurses and administrative staff. If employees or parents have questions related to a positive result, potential exposure, or symptoms of COVID, they can email the Community Engagement team directly at CE@lausd.net.

Rapid antigen tests are available at all schools and worksites. Tests will only be provided to individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who have been identified as a close contact of a positive individual. 

If you receive a positive result on an at-home test, please upload a photo of the test result as soon as possible onto the Daily Pass with your full legal name, date of birth and test date, handwritten on the test or a separate piece of paper. The Community Engagement team will review this test and approve or deny it within 24-48 hours. Positive individuals should follow isolation protocols: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidisolation/.

Note that the day you took the rapid test is "Day 0" of your isolation period. You can get cleared to return to school or work as early as Day 6, if you test negative on a rapid antigen test taken on or after Day 5 and do not have symptoms. If you test positive on the follow-up rapid test, you must remain in isolation for 10 full days after the initial test.

You will be exempt from testing at school for 90 days after the initial positive test result.

You should complete a 10 day isolation period. Day 0 is the day you took the test where you received your first positive result. After you complete the full 10 day isolation period at home, there is no need to test or submit a test result in order to return to work or school; you will be automatically cleared to return on Day 11.

If the negative PCR test was taken within 48 hours from the positive at-home test and you are asymptomatic, you will not need to isolate. If you are symptomatic, you will continue following isolation protocols. If the negative PCR test was taken after the 48-hour window, please consult with your primary doctor for further evaluation.

The use of test kits beyond their expiration date is endorsed by the California Department of Public Health. For more information on the emergency extension of expiration dates, please click here.

Yes, your child can attend in-person school this and next school year regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Los Angeles Unified has delayed its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students until at least July 1, 2023, in alignment with the state’s implementation timeline.

All eligible students are still strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all at no cost, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Students are encouraged to visit County vaccination sites, family pediatricians, local pharmacies and other healthcare providers for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines are also available at Los Angeles Unified Student Health & Human Services school-based clinics and Los Angeles Unified's community partner clinics stationed on school campuses. You can see more information on the school-based options here: https://achieve.lausd.net/covid and the County options at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/.

Families can find information about vaccination clinics within Los Angeles Unified at https://achieve.lausd.net/studentvaccine or locate appointments through Los Angeles County at bit.ly/LACountyVaxSites. Families can upload their student's vaccination cards onto the Daily Pass at dailypass.lausd.net.

Yes. Effective May 11, 2022, students who are not fully vaccinated are permitted to participate in in-person extracurricular activities (including all sports, after school programs and district sponsored events). 

Los Angeles Unified has delayed its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students until at least July 1, 2023, in alignment with the state’s implementation timeline.

At this time, booster shots are not required for students, but are strongly encouraged for anyone 12 and over. Pfizer boosters are available for eligible 12+ year-old students at our Los Angeles Unified COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Appointments are available through the Daily Pass. For vaccine clinic locations, please log on to achieve.lausd.net/covidvaccineappt.

If a student got vaccinated in another country, please submit the vaccination record to community engagement at CE@lausd.net for verification.

No. Students should upload their vaccine card and information into the Daily Pass. Instructions for how to upload can be found here.

“Fully-vaccinated” refers to an individual who has received the first and second doses of the vaccine (or, in the case of Johnson & Johnson, the single required dose) and has completed the two-week period that follows to ensure maximum immunity.

If a student has lost their vaccine record, they can get a digital record at https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.

If a child has concerns, they can talk to their pediatrician or healthcare provider. They can also talk to the school nurse assigned to their school.

Most common reactions to the vaccine include redness/swelling at the vaccine site, fever and muscle aches/body aches. Most symptoms resolve within 48-72 hours. If a child has a reaction to the vaccine, they may take excused absences with the ability to make up their schoolwork for full credit.

Student 5-11 require a parent or guardian to be present at each vaccination dose. Parents and guardians do not need to accompany students 12-17 to be vaccinated. However, parents and guardians are welcome to accompany students for their vaccination, or to designate a responsible adult to accompany their child, and parents and guardians are encouraged to do so if they wish to be vaccinated themselves.

Yes. With limited exceptions for emancipated minors and others legally permitted to self-consent, students age 12-17 will not be vaccinated without written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Los Angeles Unified’s vaccination consent form for minors can be found here. Students age 5-11 require a parent or guardian to be present at each vaccination dose.

While getting COVID-19 may offer some natural immunity from reinfection, it is not clear how long the immunity lasts. Because your child can still get reinfected with COVID-19 and have medical complications, the CDC recommends that those who have had COVID-19 get the COVID-19 vaccine. If your child received monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, it is recommended to wait 90 days before getting vaccinated.

Acceptable proof includes any of the following: CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (White Card), World Health Organication Vaccine Record Card (Yellow Card), documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider or entity that provided the COVID-19 vaccines, or a California Immunization Registry Vaccination Record. The name on the document must match the individual's name.

In order to both protect the health and safety of all students and employees, all Los Angeles Unified employees reporting to work in person are required to be fully vaccinated and upload their vaccine verification into the Daily Pass. Booster shots are not part of the employee vaccination requirement at this time but are strongly recommended.

“Fully-vaccinated” refers to an individual who has received the first and second doses of the vaccine (or, in the case of Johnson & Johnson, the single required dose) and has completed the two-week period that follows to ensure maximum immunity.

Employees will:

• Be allowed to be vaccinated during their workday (up to three hours) including travel time.
• Be allowed time for vaccine reaction, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Be allowed to submit verifiable vaccination documentation from a health care provider.
• Be allowed to take up to three hours during their work day to take a dependent to be vaccinated.
• Notify their supervisor one day ahead (and secure a substitute if applicable) if they are scheduling an appointment during their workday.

Although the District is requiring vaccines for employees, the District will still engage in an interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation exists to permit an employee to continue working who cannot take the vaccine due to disability or sincerely held religious belief.

Although, currently, there is no contraindication to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy or if a person is breastfeeding, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor to determine whether or not you qualify for a medical exemption.

Vaccination information is available at https://achieve.lausd.net/Page/17454. Additionally, an informational video about the COVID-19 Vaccination is available on MyPLN (keyword: Covid Vaccine), where the District’s Medical Director shares information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Educational materials and resources are available in the District’s website at http://achieve.lausd.net/covidvaccine. In addition, the Los Angeles Unified Medical Director will provide clear information about the vaccine through a MyPLN course (keyword: COVID Vaccine).

The process is outlined in LAUSD Policy Bulletin BUL-4569.1.

Yes, you are still required to get vaccinated to be fully protected against getting COVID-19. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, it is recommended you get the vaccination as soon as your isolation is over, and your symptoms are gone.

Yes. Employees who did not receive both doses of their vaccine through the District must upload any external vaccine verification through the Daily Pass. Attachment A provides a job aid on how to upload the external vaccine verification.

The District may take disciplinary action, including but not limited to placement on unpaid leave and/or separation from service.

All mandated leaves remain in effect and any waivers for those on Leaves of Absences will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Employees may receive the vaccine and accompany their child to receive the vaccine during paid working hours.

Yes, all on-campus volunteers must upload proof of full vaccination to the LAUSD Daily Pass. Please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/Page/10443 for more information about the Volunteer Program and view the steps to upload vaccination information to the Daily Pass here.

Yes, employees may use up to 3 hours of MSND for their 3rd shot/booster.

Employees, partners, contractors and other adults who provide services on District property must receive one dose of the vaccine by October 15, 2021 to continue to report to work, and not be subject to separation from District service as long as they receive the second dose by November 15, 2021.

Los Angeles Unified has partnered with a number of community clinics to administer vaccinations to eligible community members at school sites. Community clinic vaccination schedules can be found at: https://achieve.lausd.net/Page/17638

Families can find information about vaccination clinics within Los Angeles Unified at https://achieve.lausd.net/studentvaccine or locate appointments through Los Angeles County at bit.ly/LACountyVaxSites.

Both the LA Unified sites and the community clinic operated sites offer Pfizer for youth. Moderna is offered at some of the community clinic sites.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are absolutely free to the recipient – not even an insurance copay will be charged. You can choose to provide your insurance information when you schedule your appointment.

Everyone age 5 and over in LA County is now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

Minors under the age of 12 must have a parent or guardian present with them in order to be vaccinated. For minors aged 12 to 17, a vaccination consent form is required, unless a parent or guardian is present. If you are getting vaccinated at a site outside of Los Angeles Unified, please check the consent and documentation requirements for that location.

Vaccinating students age 5 and over is an important part of creating the safest possible environment at schools, and protects the student's family members.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that as of April 2022, almost 13 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. COVID-19 cases among children spiked dramatically during the Omicron variant winter surge, peaking at 1,150,000 cases reported in one week. For the week ending April 28th, over 53,000 additional child COVID-19 cases were reported, an increase of about 61% from two weeks prior. It is important to get young people vaccinated to prevent new cases from increasing, starting with our 5 to 18-year-olds.

Tens of millions of children and teens ages 5 through 17 years have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Through continued safety monitoring, COVID-19 vaccination has been found safe for children and teens.

Side effects for young people are similar to those experienced by adults which could include a sore arm, fever, fatigue, chills, headache, and nausea. Some experience more symptoms than others while others have none.

As with any other vaccine, medical experts state that mild symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity and it is important to remember that the vaccines have proven to be safe and effective for all of us.

It is important for those who receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to return for their second dose in order to gain the full protection the vaccines have to offer.

No. According to the CDC, “None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.” It is important to have trustworthy and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html.

No. According to the CDC, “Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​” Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

Trustworthy and factual information is available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

You can read more about vaccines for 12-18 year-olds from the California Department of Health. You can read their FAQ for parents in English or Spanish.

Currently, individuals who receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine need two doses to be considered fully vaccinated. To be considered up to date with the vaccine, a booster dose is needed and can be received at least 5 months after the 2nd dose. Students 5-17 are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccination. The booster vaccine is only authorized for those 12 years of age and older for Pfizer, 18 years of age and older for Moderna. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine can be received by those 18 years of age and above. A single dose of the primary series of Johnson and Johnson vaccine followed by a booster dose at least 2 months later is needed to be considered up to date.

Yes, all Los Angeles Unified students and staff are included in the program, regardless of age or grade level.

Yes, infants participating in the District's infant care program will be required to test if they are symptomatic or identified as a close contact of a positive person. Currently, no at-home antigen tests have been authorized by the FDA for use in children under 2 years of age. After June 30th, families with children under 2 years of age who are required to test due to symptoms or close contact exposure may visit a county testing site for free PCR testing. Families can visit https://dhs.lacounty.gov/covid-19/testing/. When searching for testing locations, families should enter 'tests minors' in the search criteria.

Any information shared with outside parties will be in full compliance with privacy laws and only with consent from any participant in the testing program.

No. A test result is personal health information and is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and an individual does not have to disclose test results.

Yes, please contact the Help Desk at 213-443-1300 and press 2 for Spanish.

The District is only able to provide rapid antigen tests to current Los Angeles Unified students and employees.

Newly enrolling students will not need to test prior to accessing their campus. All students will follow "response testing" protocols, and will only be required to test for COVID-19 if they are experiencing symptoms or have been in close contact with a positive person.

The Daily Pass is an online tool that allows students, parents, employees, and school volunteers to upload test results and submit COVID-19 vaccination records.

In order to enter a school or a District office, employees, students, parents/guardians, and visitors must be asymptomatic and verbally respond to the Daily Health Check screening questions. In addition, all current employees and parent volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated.

The Daily Health Check screening questions ask individuals if they have COVID-19 related symptoms and if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

The information in the Daily Pass will be shared via a dashboard with the school’s administrators, office supervisors, or designees as appropriate.

Yes. As part of the efforts of the Los Angeles Unified School District (District) to provide the safest possible environment in which to learn and work, all District employees, partners, vendors, contractors and other adults who provide services on District property, or directly to District students, must receive be fully vaccinated in order to continue to report to work on District property.

All District Vendors are required to comply with the Los Angeles Unified School District Contractor Code of Conduct, which states: “Health and Safety – Vendors shall provide a safe and healthy work environment and fully comply with all applicable safety and health laws, regulations, and practices.” (Emphasis added.)

“Fully-vaccinated” refers to an individual who has received the first and second doses of the vaccine (or, in the case of Johnson & Johnson, the single required dose) and has completed the two-week period that follows to ensure maximum immunity.

We will not collect, or request to see, individual vaccination records. Rather, Vendors will be required to submit a District Vaccination Certification Form certifying, under penalty of perjury, that every contractor employee or agent who comes onto a District campus or other District site or has contact with District students or staff has been vaccinated.

No. Any costs or time incurred to comply with the vaccination mandate shall not be passed on to the District.

There will be no exemptions if you will have contact with District students or staff. Vendors are expected to comply with applicable laws in providing accommodations for their employees who may request an exemption; however, they will not be allowed to work at our District sites.

No. The vaccination requirement applies only to staff who provide services on a physical L. A. Unified site or otherwise in the physical presence of District students or staff.

Please visit www.vaccines.gov for a comprehensive list of vaccination locations.

Please contact your contract sponsor. The contract sponsor is the school or office that initiated issuance of a contract to your organization or through which you provide, or your company provides, services to the District.

Yes. All persons that visit or work on District sites are required to be fully vaccinated.

Please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/visitorinfo or download a graphic here (Descargar PDF).