COVID 19 Health and Safety

Unlike last year, the health survey is no longer required every day. However, parents or guardians must complete a survey if their child shows COVID-19 symptoms, was exposed to COVID, and/or has been diagnosed with COVID so we can ensure appropriate contact tracing. Middle and high school students can complete their own survey. To take the survey, register on the TPS Family App.

To keep others healthy, please keep your child home if they are sick, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID HEALTH Survey

Physical distancing will not prevent a school from offering full-time, in-person learning to all students/families in the fall

• Classrooms will maintain 3 feet of distance between students to the degree possible
• Common areas (lobbies, auditoriums, the cafeteria, the gym, etc.) will maintain 6 feet of distance between students to the degree possible.
• Staff will maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and students/ other staff.
• Seating charts must be maintained in the classroom to support contact tracing in the event of a case.
• Extracurricular activities, such as performing arts/sporting activities may have more physical distancing requirements.

Physical distancing guidance applies during the school day as well as during before- and after-school programs with TPS partners.

Contact tracing will continue, with school staff gathering information (including vaccine status) about everyone a student with COVID-19 may have been in close contact with at the school during their infectious period. That information is shared with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. If students must quarantine as a result of being a close contact, school principals will share that information with families.

Close contacts who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine unless they are symptomatic. They are encouraged to get tested 3-5 days after exposure. If your student is identified as a close contact and is vaccinated, you must show proof of vaccination to your school to re-enter.

Close contacts who are NOT fully vaccinated are required by the health department to stay home for a total of 14 days past the date of exposure. Parents/guardians will be notified of this information by their school. If you choose to have your child tested before they experience any symptoms and the test is negative, they must still follow the request to quarantine for the entire 14-day period.

To keep others healthy, please keep your child home if they are sick, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19.

Students: A COVID-19 vaccine is not required for students to attend school at this time. However, there are some required vaccines for school attendance.

TPS-sponsored COVID-19 Vaccination Events

Pierce County COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

All Tacoma Public Schools students will receive free meals during the entire 2021-22 school year. Find more details on our Nutrition Services page.

Each school has a specific plan for lunches based on the number of students and the physical layout of the building. Many schools added an additional lunch period. Schools are utilizing the cafeteria and in some cases the gym and classrooms. Some schools have an option for students to eat outside. And we continue to look for ways to adjust and adapt meal plans.

Tacoma Public Schools conducts routine tests to ensure classrooms have the amount of air flow required by the state Department of Health. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department inspects all TPS sites every other year. If they discover an indoor air quality issue, TPS would get a recommendation to fix the identified issue within 30 days. The district has met and continues to meet or surpass state air quality requirements. 

Current efforts
In addition to routinely meeting or exceeding health department air quality standards, as determined by routine health department inspections, the district also:

• Changes air filters at least 3 times per year compared with the industry standard of twice per year
• Increased fresh air intake into the structures to maximize fresh air capacity at all sites
• Purchased two air monitoring devices identical to what the health department uses so the district can inspect between health department visits and respond to any staff concerns

New efforts
TPS is also working to modify school HVAC systems to reach state health department recommended (not required) modifications to meet even higher standards of air quality. All school sites will be updated to meet this higher recommended standard, unless they already meet the recommendation. This work will be funded with both bond and federal recovery dollars.

Students will need to wear masks during recess and try to maintain physical distance.

They can use outdoor play equipment and toys.

Students do not have to stay in “cohorts” or groups this year (according to health department guidelines).

Tacoma Public Schools is partnering with the Washington State Department of Health to offer free, voluntary COVID-19 tests to students showing symptoms of the virus. Tests will be available in all of our schools shortly after the start of the school year. The brand of test is Curative. It is a diagnostic test. 

TPS staff members have the option of taking a diagnostic test as well. We offer them the Everywell brand test.

Student athletes who participate in high-contact indoor sports take a Binax Now COVID-19 screening test.