More Than 70 Oklahoma Districts To Have Access To COVID-19 Testing In Schools

In an effort to identify COVID-19 within the classroom, the state health department and some school districts are joining forces to step up testing.

Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye said 78 school districts across the state have now applied to receive grant funding for an optional in-school COVID-19 testing program.

"We're excited to continue to work with OSDE and local districts to provide schools with free voluntary testing to help prevent outbreaks and keep our kids learning safely in person," said Frye.

The state program gives districts who opt-in the ability to randomly test students and teachers, who also must opt-in, weekly to identify asymptomatic cases.

Frye said the grant funding for it continues to increase.

“This accounts for a little over $12 million in grant funds that will go into testing supplies and other resources," said Frye.

Tulsa Public Schools was one of the first districts to implement a similar program in early March.

While separate from the state's, its program is an agreement with Project Beacon and a partnership with THD and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Students and staff who voluntarily opt-into their program are also randomly selected for testing.

Broken Arrow, Union, Owasso and Jenks Public Schools all tell News on 6 they are not a part of the state program.