Frequently Asked Questions

Parents should fill out the health screener for each child attending school each day before the child arrives to school. Parents will be texted (if they opted-in to receive texts from CPS) a link to the screener for each child at 6:00 a.m. each morning.

Note: The health screener should not be completed the night before as symptoms can change overnight.

If you expect your child to visit multiple CPS schools during the same day, please select all the appropriate schools listed on the screener.

No, your student may not attend school in person without passing the student health screener that morning.

Your student will fail the health screener and be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days if they:

• Have experienced symptoms or a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in the past 24 hours.
• Have been in close contact (less than 6 feet apart for 15 minutes or longer) with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
• Have traveled internationally or to a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 as indicated in the Chicago Emergency Travel Order in the past 10 days.
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
• Are waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test.

Note: 

Your child must isolate for 10 days if:

• they have experienced COVID-19 symptoms such as
• Fever (temperature of 100.4*F or higher) 
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Your child my quarantine for 14 days if:

• has been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days even if they test negative or feel healthy. 

If you do not receive a link to the student health screener, you can access the health screener at cps.edu/healthscreener. Please note that you will need to know either your child’s student ID number or CPS email address and their date of birth. Please contact your school to confirm that they have your most up-to-date contact information. Text messages are sent to the primary contact listed in Aspen and you must opt in to receiving SMS text messages. Standard data rates and charges apply.

Contact your school if you do not know your student’s ID number or CPS email address.

To opt-in to receive text messages from CPS, please call your school to ensure that your contact information and home language are up to date, your child’s schedule information is correct, and the text message opt-in field is checked in Aspen. Standard data rates and charges apply.

If your child arrives at school without having taken the health screener, they must take it upon arrival. You may be contacted to assist with answering the screening questions if your child cannot answer the questions. If the school is unable to contact you, and the student is not able to respond to the questions, they will need to wait in a socially distanced space and will not be able to be in the classroom.

Yes, the State of Illinois requires anyone over the age of two to wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth while in a school building. Masks can be removed for eating and drinking.

Parents or guardians must complete the health screener if they will be staying in the building for more than 10 minutes. When checking in to the front office, visitors will be asked to show their green completion screen before the visitor check-in processes can begin.

No, if your child has a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, they may not come to school and will be sent home.

Bus aides will take your child's temperature and verify with you that a screener has been filled out as your child is boarding the bus whenever possible. Health screeners will be checked at building entrances.

Yes, if you made an error on your student’s health screener form you can resubmit it for that day.

Go to https://www.cps.edu/school-reopening-2020/health-and-safety/ for more information about health and safety measures at CPS schools. You can also learn more about these measures through the video below.

The health screener can be found at cps.edu/healthscreener.

No, you may not enter any CPS school without passing the health screener that morning.

If you expect to visit multiple CPS schools during the same day, please select all the appropriate schools listed on the screener.

You will fail the health screener and be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days if you:

• have experienced symptoms or a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher in the past 24 hours.
• have been in close contact (less than 6 feet apart for longer than 15 minutes) with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
• have traveled internationally or to a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 as indicated in the Chicago Emergency Travel Order in the past 10 days.
• have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days.
• are waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test after possible exposure.

Note: 

You must isolate for 10 days if:

• you have experienced COVID-19 symptoms such as
• Fever (temperature of 100.4*F or higher) 
• Chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

You must quarantine for 14 days if:

• you have been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days even if you test negative or feel healthy. 

Check your temperature twice a day, monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and follow CDPH guidance to protect yourself and others.

If you arrive at a CPS school without having taken the health screener, you must take it upon arrival. If you do not pass, you may not enter the school.

Yes, the State of Illinois requires anyone over the age of 2 to wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth while in a school building. Masks can be removed for eating and drinking.

No, if you are visiting a CPS school campus for less than 10 minutes (e.g. for a delivery) you do not need to complete the health screener.

No, if you have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you may not enter a school.

Yes, if you made an error on your health screener form you can resubmit it once.

Go to https://www.cps.edu/school-reopening-2020/health-and-safety/ for more information about health and safety measures at CPS schools.