GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — The Erie County Department of Health is moving forward with the ‘Test-to-Stay’ program.

The Grand Island Central School District has been picked as a pilot program candidate.

The district had to meet a series of criteria, including sufficient number of active COVID-19 cases.

The district is working with Buffalo Homecare Inc. to provide staff for testing and data entry.

Here's how it works: students who are not fully vaccinated and had close contact with a COVID positive person at school would have a rapid COVID test before each school day. If the test result is negative, the student would be able to go to school that day.

Students who have been exposed at home would not be eligible.

The health department will provide antigen tests.

'Test-to-Stay' will start as an option for Grand Island students next Monday.