All Denver Public Schools students may now get a free COVID-19 test before returning to school for in-person learning later this month.

DPS has expanded its partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado to offer the tests for free at several sites for students, their family members and DPS staff.

Students and DPS staff should use the district link to register for a test, and family members should continue to register using the community link. To access the registration links, visit the DPS website at www.dpsk12.org. Scroll to the article titled DPS Public Service Announcement: Free COVID-19 Testing for DPS Students and Staff, and select `read more.' This will take you to a page with the full announcement text. The hyperlinks are near the end of the text, and once clicked on, will take you directly to a registration webpage.

The district recommends that students and staff get an initial test before returning for in-person learning, and students and staff now have the opportunity to get ongoing tests for free. The district recommends its students and staff get tested every other week.

Tests will be administered via nasal swab or saliva sample, and test results will be returned within 36-72 hours.

The DPS announcement mentioned above also has a link to find an updated list of testing sites, with several of the sites open on the weekends as well as the weekdays.

DPS students in grades ECE through fifth grade, and secondary students in special education and Newcomer Centers, go back for in-person learning starting Jan. 11. In-person learning for all other secondary students will begin Jan. 19-29, depending on the student's school. Some schools may return to in-person learning on a hybrid schedule, based on the current health guidelines to limit class sizes.

Families who selected the 100% online option will continue to attend classes virtually.