Schools Receive $2.7 Million For COVID Testing

Together with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced last week that the state distributed $2.7 million in federal funding to public and private schools this fall to help them remain open during the ongoing pandemic.

“We prioritized getting this funding out the door as quickly as possible to ensure staff and students were safe at schools this fall,” Gianforte said. “Since we first began distributing funding for rapid testing in the late summer, DPHHS has distributed $2.7 million to help minimize the spread of COVID in schools.”

The funding is part of a federal school reopening program to provide all the resources necessary to operate a successful screening testing program. The program is designed to test students and staff to identify potential cases of COVID-19, prevent outbreaks and allow schools to remain open.

To date, funding has been awarded to 75 total public and private school districts. This includes a total of 223 schools with an enrollment of more than 78,000 students.

All Montana K-12 public school districts and private schools are eligible for this funding.

To participate in the COVID-19 Screening Testing Program, public school districts and private schools can complete a brief online application to receive up to $45,000. The average award amount thus far is $36,394 per school. Additional funding is available to schools to support this effort throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

For more information on how to order test kits, contact Dana Fejes at dfejes@mt.gov or 406-444-5520.