Massachusetts K12 Pooled Testing Program

Funded and administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

DESE Program Overview 

 

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will pay for a pooled testing program for all interested districts through the end of the 2020-21 school year, including summer school. Participating districts and schools will be matched with a testing service provider who will provide necessary test kits, customer support, and the testing software needed to track results at no cost to the school. At this time, all the testing providers offer on-site pooled testing with follow-up testing options of BinaxNOW and individual PCR. 


The Shah Family Foundation is available to work with your district and schools on a one-on-one basis to support the implementation of your pooled testing program. You can reach us at CovidEdTesting@shahfoundation.org.

 

What does the district and school do?

  • Deploy/re-purpose staff to act as testing coordinators. See our guide to Identifying Your Testing Team

  • Acquire consent to test from staff, students, and families. Click here for more information and resources for getting consent 

  • Carry out process to collect specimens/swabs from students and staff. If your district needs help with swab collection, testing service providers may be able to provide support.

  • Determine the appropriate pool sizes within limits indicated by testing service provider

  • Monitor the status of pooled test results on provided software platform

  • Conduct individual follow-up testing for positive pools. See our Follow-Up Testing Guide for details. 

  • Report individual BinaxNOW results to DPH on provided software platform

What does the testing service provider do?

  • Conduct virtual or in-person training and provide on-demand support with process

  • Mail specimen collection materials to schools

  • Deliver results of pooled tests 24-48 hours after end of collection day

  • If needed and agreed to, provide contracted staff to assist with implementation of pooled-testing operations

  • Provide access to platform for tracking pooled test results

Source: DESE Implementation Webinar 1.29

 

Testing service providers and Shah Family Foundation staff are available to discuss additional support. Send us an email at CovidEdTesting@shahfoundation.org.

Key documents and more information on DESE’s Pooled Testing Program are available at www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/pooled-testing/

 
 

Applying for the DESE Program

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Once you are approved by DESE as a participating district, you will be matched with a testing service provider. 

To get started with your application, complete the following:

  1. Statement of Assurances

  2. School Spreadsheet: one for each participating school

  3. Online Application; you will need to upload both documents from steps 1 and 2

Use the table below as a guide for additional DESE requirements, once approved. To learn more about the DESE program application process, please visit the DESE pooled testing website.

Guide to DESE Requirements.png

Purchasing tests off of the Prequalified Vendors List

Districts and schools that would like to contract with a pooled testing vendor outside of the state-funded pooled testing program may do so off the prequalified list of providers.

It is the responsibility of the district or school to pay for pooled testing services rendered outside of the state-funded pooled testing program. Please follow your local procurement processes to obtain quotes and contract for services.