South Queens, NY – On Tuesday, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) sent a letter urging the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to change their policy regarding randomly testing students for COVID-19, in response to numerous concerns from parents. The NYC DOE has rejected the option for students to be tested at any off-site COVID-19 testing site besides the student’s school. Unless consent for testing is given by parents or guardians, students are currently forced to learn remotely, thereby being denied the opportunity to attend school in person.

“Parents have a voice in this process, and I believe that our students have the right to be tested for COVID-19 with the comfort of having their parents present. I also support the right of a parent or guardian to be there for their child during a medical test,” Pheffer Amato said. “This is not a matter of getting tested or not, we cannot move forward without more testing – this is about giving families the choice to get tested in an environment where they are comfortable, and where the student feels safe.”

Pheffer Amato has requested that students are allowed to test off site with their parent or guardian present, or that the DOE allow non-consenting parents the opportunity to make a standing appointment, where their children are tested in school with the presence of their parent or guardian.