SHIELD Testing

Following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as our state and local health departments, District 97 is planning to implement several layers of COVID-19 mitigation strategies to protect our students and staff during the 2021-22 school year. 

Beginning this August, District 97 will partner with SHIELD Illinois (University of Illinois) and will work to provide weekly PCR screening testing to all K-8 students in District 97 schools. This is a non-invasive saliva test that will be conducted on site during the school day. Results will be available to parents/guardians and District 97 within 24 hours when feasible.

Given concerns about the Delta variant and the fact that the majority of our students are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the SHIELD program will provide an additional layer of protection for our schools by helping us promptly identify and isolate positive cases. The program will also provide reassurance to families at no cost—testing will be covered by the State of Illinois and will be completed during school hours (no appointments required). 

Below are links to some general information and frequently asked questions about SHIELD testing, as well as the District 97 testing schedule for the 2021-22 school year. Additional details and information about SHIELD testing will be shared by your child's principal throughout the school year. 

• About SHIELD Illinois
• Frequently Asked Questions

D97 2021-22 SHIELD Testing Schedule

If a school testing day falls on a holiday, the testing day will be skipped and not made up.
The students will test the following week.

This notice provides information about the SHIELD testing program to allow an informed consent for your child to participate in weekly testing.  By sending your child to school without opting out of the testing program as described below, you consent for your child to be tested for COVID-19 infection and to have the results and related information shared with District 97 and public health authorities consistent with IDPH guidance and the Illinois Control of Communicable Disease Code.

To opt out of weekly PCR testing, please complete this form.

The SHIELD program will not take the place of our schools’ health and safety measures, which include wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, cleaning protocols and regular washing of hands—mitigations that already make the risk of in-school transmission low. PCR testing is an additional tool that can help ensure that asymptomatic individuals do not come to our buildings and potentially transmit COVID-19 to others.