Hello, and thanks for signing the petition to Rescind Mandatory Covid Testing for Athletics/Activities at Atlanta Public Schools!
While other school districts are dropping covid protocols, including mask mandates, APS is digging in. Midtown High School recently posted information online about its upcoming prom. Despite prom being in MAY, COVID requirements are already in place! Students and their dates will have to pass a COVID test to experience this high school rite of passage.
From the Midtown Prom site: "APS issued an event guidance on February 4, 2022 stating that: Negative COVID-19 tests are required. Students should plan to take the test no more than 48 hours prior to the event in order to receive the results in time to attend the event.
Viral Solutions will be testing on campus as usual on Friday, May 13th. Students who test negative at school on May 13th will automatically be allowed into prom. Students who do not test on Friday at school or guests must present a negative COVID test upon arrival to prom.
If you do not already have a permission slip with Viral Solutions to test for COVID at school, be sure to complete it by May 6th using the link below."
Things to consider:
- APS officials have said they will make masks optional when community transmission levels in Fulton and DeKalb counties fall into the “moderate” range for two straight weeks. That means the number of new cases must be below 50 per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period. Does this mean testing will end then too?
- Parents are speaking out against APS covid protocols.
- More parents speaking out.
- My op-ed in the AJC.
- Gov. Brian Kemp's Unmask GA Students Act - does this include ending mandatory covid testing?
Like minded parents and I continue to be baffled by APS' stance on mandatory covid testing. Please continue to write APS and demand that they stop these senseless, wasteful, and outdated protocols. It's time for our kids to get back to normal!