Ashland Public School will follow the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines and protocols for COVID-19, as outlined below. The goal is to ensure the safety of our staff and students and to minimize disruption to learning for our students, and we need your help to achieve this goal.

Individuals who test positive

• Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least five full days. To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the day the positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.  
• If individuals do not have symptoms or symptoms are resolving, and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to school on Day 6 and must wear a high-quality mask through Day 10.
• Please notify the school nurse of a positive test result.
• Retesting is not required to return to school. 

Individuals with symptoms at home or school  

• If the symptomatic individual is at school when symptoms develop, they will be evaluated by the school nurse. If a student or staff member has symptoms at home, they should stay home. 
• Schools will no longer be testing in the health office.
• Symptomatic individuals should use a rapid antigen self-test kit to determine if their symptoms are related to COVID-19. If the test is negative and symptoms are mild, they may return to school as long as they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and they are feeling well. 
• If an individual tests positive, please notify the school nurse.

Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19

• If a student or staff member is exposed to COVID-19 (regardless of their vaccination status), they no longer need to quarantine and may attend school/work as long as they do not have symptoms. 
• Masking is required through day 10 after exposure. 
• Taking a home rapid antigen test on Day 6 after exposure is recommended. 
• If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals.