The New Mexico Department of Health designed the School Year 21-22 to provide the utmost flexibility for schools and districts during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. All schools throughout the state of New Mexico were eligible for the program, although only K - 12 schools could receive direct funding. Public school districts must apply on behalf of their schools.
The federal grant that enables the NM DOH to provide this level of support is the 2019 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease (ELC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ELC grant - Reopening of Schools (NU50CK000548-02-06) is part of a financial assistance award totaling $63 million dollars for New Mexico schools and federal funds made available from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117- 2 The NM DOH is distributing over eight five percent of this award to support school access to COVID-19 testing providers and services, in addition to direct funding. The NM DOH and the NM PED are partnering in this effort.
Options in School Year 2021-2022
A. Full-Service Testing - Vendor Only
Connection to a full-service screening and diagnostic testing program vendor at no cost. Schools and public districts may use only vendor staff.
B. Full-Service Testing - School Staffing
Connection to a full-service screening and diagnostic testing program vendor at no cost. Schools and public districts may supplement their own testing personnel with that of the vendor or solely use their own staff, provided that they have completed the requirements for Point of Care (PoC) testing.
C. School-Administered Rapid Antigen Test Kits
Schools and districts will be able to order rapid antigen testing kits at no cost, provided that they have completed the requirements for Point of Care (PoC) testing.
D. School Award
Direct support for schools’ testing and screening program, including reimbursement for your CLIA Wavier licensing fee, biological waste management service fees, required equipment and other related costs.