COVID-19 Testing

CPS has partnered with Thermo Fisher to offer free, regular testing to students and staff for COVID-19. Regular testing means that testing is offered to everyone on a weekly basis, even if they don’t have symptoms of COVID-19.

Please go to the Color website at color.com/readycheckgo-cps and select whether you are registering for a staff member or student. You can then search for your school name for your school's unique sign-up link. Please fill out the information required to sign up. City Wide employees should search "City Wide Employees" and use that link to register.

Yes. Testing consent forms from last year have expired. You must fill out a new consent form at color.com/readycheckgo-cps for this year. Once consent is given using this form, the individual will remain consented to testing until they leave CPS.

No, COVID-19 tests are optional, although strongly encouraged, especially for those who are unvaccinated. Students will not be tested without both the student and guardian giving their consent.

Please stay home and isolate from others for at least five days after the positive test. If fever-free after day five, students and staff can return to school wearing a mask for days 6-10 after their positive test. If a fever remains after day five, please continue to isolate until symptoms resolve, then return to school wearing a mask until day 10 after the positive test. Note: If your student or you test positive for COVID-19 through the in-school testing program, you do not have to report the case to CPS; the case is automatically reported through the program.

You will be notified if you or your child is deemed a “close contact” of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Those who are deemed to be close contacts will be able to stay in school, but will be required to wear a mask for 10 days following exposure. CPS will provide any CPS staff or student who has been identified as a close contact with two rapid at-home COVID-19 tests; CPS strongly recommends testing on the immediate Monday and Thursday following exposure. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, please refer to the previous question.

Testing will be offered to all staff and students weekly.

CPS will offer testing on-site at schools during the school day on a weekly basis.

The COVID-19 tests will be free to students and staff. You will never receive a bill, and your insurance will not be charged.

The test will involve a nasal swab. It is a quick and easy test. This nasal test gently swabs the inner part of the lower nostril. The test is not painful. We do not use the longer swabs that reach higher into the nose. There will be medical personnel on site to supervise swabbing and support students if needed.

Collection of samples (swabbing) will be conducted by students/staff unless participants need assistance. In this instance, the onsite medical staff, which are experienced medical clinicians can administer sample collection.

Testing will take place at school in a location designated by the school principal where social distancing can be easily observed. Each school principal will receive a notification from Thermo Fisher with the date and time and will share this information with the whole school community. Dates and times for weekly in-school testing can be found here by searching your school. 

The results of the test should be available within 24-48 hrs.

Our testing program uses a PCR test, which does not provide immediate results because it is sent to a lab for analysis.

Parents/guardians and staff can visit color.com/readycheckgo-cps to register and sign a virtual consent to be tested. Please reach out to your school principal or covidtestingcps@cps.edu if you did not receive a link or would like to request a paper copy.

No, once you have registered and consented once, you do not need to resubmit registration before testing each week. Consent will remain in place until a student or staff member leaves CPS.

Email readycheckgo@color.com with subject line “Testing Opt Out” and the information below.

Student: 

• First Name, Last Name, DOB, School Name
• Parent/Guardian First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone Number

• First Name, Last Name, DOB, School Name

No. For the health and safety of the entire school community, anyone with COVID-like symptoms should stay home and contact their primary care provider for a test or use an at-home rapid test. Screening testing is only for asymptomatic individuals. 

If you or your student have tested positive, testing again for the illness is unnecessary. A negative test is not required to return to school after isolation.

If you have an exposure within 90 days of testing positive, you should use rapid tests to see if you have contracted COVID. However, PCR testing is generally not recommended for 90 days after testing positive unless symptoms develop. This is because COVID-19 antibodies can remain in the body for up to 90 days after contracting COVID and may produce a false positive test.

Regular testing is a safe, effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help keep our schools open for in-person learning. Many people with COVID-19, especially children and teens, don’t have symptoms but can still spread the virus, so regular testing helps find infections before they can spread to others. Regular testing will help us keep students and staff in the classroom and allow students to take part in the other activities they love.

Positive results will be shared with the principal at the school or a staff member’s direct supervisor so they understand why you are going home and can put in place classroom coverage and the communications protocol as needed.

Results of the PCR test are shared with the person who tested, the district for contact tracing purposes, and state health authorities as required by law.

Chicago Public Schools will follow precautions prescribed by public health agencies. All testing staff will perform hand hygiene before testing and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes an APR or N95 mask, face shield, gloves, and medical gown for healthcare staff assisting with specimen collection, and face masks and additional items for other team members. All PPE and testing-related materials will be properly disposed of once testing is completed, followed by additional hand hygiene. Hand sanitizer is available to everyone who participates in testing, and the testing team has access to a handwashing facility with soap and water.

A student can refuse to be tested even if their parent has consented. They can simply decline the test when it is offered to them during the school day. 

No, testing shouldn’t interfere with your student’s school schedule. The test is quick and easy, and students will be able to fit the test into their day without disrupting learning. The entire testing process should take approximately five minutes.

Your school is responsible for providing supervision for your classroom during your ten-minute testing window.

• Phone: 844-658-0388, Option 1
• Email: readycheckgo@color.com
• Daily, 8:00am - 7:00pm CST