Improving Education in Western New York Through Advocacy, Community Engagement, & Partnerships

Test-To-Stay Programs Can Keep Kids In Schools Safely

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, USA, September 7, 2021 /EINPresswire.com/ -- WNY Education Alliance, a non-partisan education non-profit organization, has issued an open letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul urging state and local health officials to use “Test-to-Stay” and “Test-to-Play” programs in schools and youth sports in lieu of class closures, quarantines, and pauses in extracurricular activities to protect the health of students and avoid a third straight year of disruptions.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

In the letter, WNY Education Alliance writes that class closures and unnecessary quarantines for close contacts in schools have been largely ineffective in reducing transmission of Covid-19 and highly disruptive for students and families across New York State.

The organization goes on to point out that these disruptions have deprived “children of the important educational, social, and emotional benefits associated with being at school, interacting with peers, and participating in extracurricular activities.” In addition, WNY Education Alliance notes that “school closures and quarantines have pushed many women out of the work force,” creating financial strain for families throughout New York.

WNY Education Alliance highlights the fact that “Test-to-Stay” programs have been used effectively in the U.K. and several states in the U.S. to protect the health of unvaccinated students and to allow asymptomatic close contacts to continue to attend school and participate in extracurricular activities.

Given the availability and effectiveness of vaccines and tests, the relatively low risk that Covid-19 represents for most children under the age of 12 that cannot be vaccinated yet, and the known harms created by less effective mitigations such as school closures and unnecessary quarantines, WNY Education believes that “Test-to-Stay” programs should be used alongside other mitigations to avoid quarantining close contacts and shutting down classes and extracurricular activities again in 2021-22.

Previously, WNY Education Alliance started #The180DayProject, a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of keeping students in school for 180 days this year.

About:
WNY Education Alliance is a non-partisan organization committed to improving education in the Western New York area through advocacy, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.

Tarja Parssinen
WNY Education Alliance
+1 716-406-2324
email us here
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