Bladen County charter school chosen to participate in statewide COVID-19 testing pilot program Bladen charter school is selected to participate in COVID-19 testing pilot program By WECT Staff | December 17, 2020 at 12:18 PM EST - Updated December 17 at 7:26 PM RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) - The Emereau Bladen Charter School in Bladen County has been chosen to participate in a statewide pilot program to deploy COVID-19 rapid testing in K-12 public schools where any in-person instruction is happening. N.C. Department of Health and Human Services officials say 17 school districts and 11 charter schools will take part in the pilot program. “The goal of the rapid testing program is to slow the spread of COVID-19 by quickly identifying students and staff who may have the virus, especially after the holiday season. Schools and districts selected for the program are offering full in-person instruction (Plan A) or hybrid remote and in-person instruction (Plan B),” according to a news release by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.