Update: July 13, 2021

Update: Aug. 27, 2022

By providing consent, you are consenting to sharing test results with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and Howard County Health Department (HCHD) for contact tracing purposes only. Disclosure of this information is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act* and requires your consent before it can be shared.

Rapid antigen test results will be entered into the Chesapeake Regional Information System for Patients (CRISP) for MDH and HCHD to view. 

Full details on providing consent are available online.

For students under age 18, parents/guardians can provide consent by completing the following steps:

The COVID-19 Testing Program is voluntary and consent is required. If a school-based staff member or student develops COVID-like illness or are identified as close contacts while they are in a school building, they will be sent home regardless of whether or not they consent to the test.
 

An antigen test is frequently referred to as a rapid test. This test detects protein fragments specific to the Coronavirus. Turnaround time for results is usually very quick and in some cases, results can be reported within 15 minutes.

Update: Aug. 27, 2022

HCPSS is offering a voluntary K-12 COVID-19 Testing Program that will provide free COVID-19 tests for students and school-based staff who develop COVID-like symptoms while they are in a school building. Parents/guardians should not send their children to school, and staff should not report to work if they are presenting COVID-like symptoms. 

The program includes two components:

Yes; students who are interested in the HCPSS JumpStart dual enrollment program may do so through Howard Community College. Students enrolled in the Digital Education Center will not have access to JumpStart courses with teachers at their designated home school.

When families complete the enrollment commitment form in the late spring, they are selecting the virtual option for the entire 2021-2022 school year to allow for planning and staffing. Once the commitment form has been submitted, the DEC will begin creating a schedule for the student. The family will be asked to review and confirm the child’s schedule prior to receiving a letter enrolling the student in the DEC.