The School District of Philadelphia has announced updates to their Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Learning on August 31st. All students, staff and visitors, regardless of their COVID vaccination status, will be required to wear masks indoors, according to the revised plan, which follows newly revised guidelines from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) on Philadelphia Schools.

The School District will also have the following safety measures in place when the new academic year kicks off on Aug. 31:

• Continue mandatory weekly COVID testing for all employees. Onsite testing will be available for students who have COVID-like symptoms present during the day.

• Follow a Test to Stay model, where close contacts of positive cases will be tested at least three non-consecutive days within the first seven days following exposure.

• Follow a Test to Play/Perform Model where athletes who play high risk sports and students participating in select performing arts (band and choir) will be tested 1-2 times a week. Vaccinated athletes and performing arts students may opt out of weekly testing with proof of vaccination.

Families for whom a return to in-person learning could pose a significant personal challenge will have the option of enrolling their students into the School District of Philadelphia’s Virtual Academy (PVA).

For more information about the revised plan, visit the School District’s website.