Kaneland drops SHIELD COVID-19 testing in schools

After providing the sample and having it scanned, a vial is placed in a holder during COVID-19 Shield Illinois testing at Sterling High School.

Kaneland School District 302 no longer will offer the saliva-based SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 testing program in its schools.

According to an email from district administration sent to families Aug. 16, not enough parents expressed an interest in continuing with the optional testing, which had been available at schools last year.

According to a spokesman from SHIELD Illinois, which was developed by the University of Illinois, “For this academic year, all public school districts in Illinois have access to free SHIELD Illinois testing at any level of testing volume with self-collection. $8 per test will be provided to help cover their costs. However, if a district wishes to use an operations partner in collecting and transporting tests, then that minimum of 50 tests per deployment applies.”

The state is providing free rapid antigen tests to schools based on enrollment. Students can request a test kit from their school nurse that can be used at home, while supplies last, according to the email.