New York schools can’t mandate coronavirus testing consent, state says Updated Feb 17, 2021; Posted Feb 17, 2021 State education officials said New York schools can't make consent to coronavirus testing a condition of students learning in-person. (Staten Island Advance file photos) Facebook Share STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York schools and school districts can’t require students to consent to coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in order to attend in-person instruction, state education officials said Tuesday in a new directive. Kathleen DeCataldo, assistant commissioner at the New York State Education Department (NYSED), sent the directive to superintendents and administrators of schools across the state, explaining that school districts can’t make consent to testing a condition for children attending in-person school and extracurricular activities.