New CDC reports find "test to stay" policies can help children stay in school, but barriers exist

Schools that allowed unvaccinated students exposed to COVID to stay in school as long as they continuously tested negative and followed mitigation measures were able to reduce the time students lost in the classroom and limit the spread of the virus, according to two reports released by the Centers for Disease Control Friday. 

The practice — commonly known as "test to stay" — is designed to limit the number of kids who have to stop in-person learning and quarantine by allowing students to stay in school if they're exposed to a positive case as long as they consistently test negative for the virus. 

In one report, the agency assessed the use of the practice in Lake County, Illinois, from early August through October. During this period, more than 250 positive cases were identified, resulting in more than 1,000 close contacts that qualified for the "test to stay" program. Nearly 97% of students who qualified for the program participated.