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COVID testing requirements for students in DC, Montgomery Co., and Fairfax Co

Winter break won’t be over for D.C. public school students until they take a COVID-19 test. Meanwhile, kids in neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland, and Fairfax County, Virginia, are being strongly encouraged to do so.

D.C.

The test confirming D.C. children aren’t sick needs to be taken on Monday Jan. 2 and submitted by 9 p.m. that night to the District’s online system.



Tests were made available before the break, but can still be picked up at any one of the city’s COVID-19 centers located in each of the eight wards.

Additional details on testing can be found on the DCPS website.

Montgomery County, Md

In Montgomery County, the school system’s chief medical officer strongly encourages staff and students to test prior to returning from the holiday break, especially if they have any symptoms of, or a potential exposure to COVID-19.

“Staff or students testing positive for COVID-19 must report their result through the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form and follow CDC isolation guidelines. Cases that are self-reported through the reporting tool are reflected on the MCPS COVID-19 Dashboard,” the school system said in a statement.

Fairfax County, Va

In October, Fairfax County Public Schools stopped its requirement of testing students who are asymptomatic for COVID-19 .

However, beginning on Tuesday afternoon, FCPS encourages students and staff to take advantage of free diagnostic testing, which is available without an appointment. They will need to register first in the school system’s online portal.

Students eligible for testing need to either be exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case.

You can find additional details on the FCPS website.

National Museum of the American Latino to be housed in historic Smithsonian building

The Smithsonian Institution has decided to put the National Museum of the American Latino into an existing, historic building, rather than constructing a new one. The Smithsonian Board of Regents on Monday designated the Arts and Industries Building, a 145-year-old redbrick Victorian structure located between the Smithsonian Castle and the Hirshhorn Museum, as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino, which Congress authorized in 2020. In 2022, the Smithsonian narrowed its survey for permanent locations for the National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women's History Museum to four locations near the National Mall on land owned by the National Park Service. The Arts and Industries Building, located at 900 Jefferson St. SW, was one of the four sites. New construction on National Park Service land would require congressional approval. However, since the Smithsonian already owns the Arts and Industries Building, the institution can place the National Museum of the American Latino in the existing building without additional legislation.
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