diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b7adde45..3e49a496 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -71,14 +71,6 @@
     "webpack": "4.44.2",
     "webpack-cli": "3.3.12"
   },
-  "jest": {
-    "collectCoverageFrom": [
-      "src/**/*.{js,jsx}",
-      "!src/index.js",
-      "!**/node_modules/**",
-      "!**/tests/**"
-    ]
-  },
   "peerDependencies": {
     "@edx/frontend-platform": "^1.5.2",
     "@edx/paragon": "^14.5.0",
diff --git a/src/course-search/SearchBox.jsx b/src/course-search/SearchBox.jsx
index 4121590f..947a4ab6 100644
--- a/src/course-search/SearchBox.jsx
+++ b/src/course-search/SearchBox.jsx
@@ -1,23 +1,22 @@
-import React from 'react';
+import React, { useContext } from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
-import { useHistory } from 'react-router-dom';
-import qs from 'query-string';
 import { SearchField } from '@edx/paragon';
 import { connectSearchBox } from 'react-instantsearch-dom';
 
-import { updateRefinementsFromQueryParams } from './data/utils';
+import { deleteRefinementAction, setRefinementAction } from './data/actions';
 import { STYLE_VARIANTS } from '../constants';
+import { SearchContext } from './SearchContext';
+import { QUERY_PARAM_FOR_PAGE, QUERY_PARAM_FOR_SEARCH_QUERY } from './data/constants';
 
 export const searchText = 'Search courses';
 
 export const SearchBoxBase = ({
   className,
   defaultRefinement,
-  refinementsFromQueryParams,
   variant,
 }) => {
-  const history = useHistory();
+  const { dispatch } = useContext(SearchContext);
 
   /**
    * Handles when a search is submitted by adding the user's search
@@ -25,12 +24,8 @@ export const SearchBoxBase = ({
    * existing query parameters must be preserved.
    */
   const handleSubmit = (searchQuery) => {
-    const refinements = { ...refinementsFromQueryParams };
-    refinements.q = searchQuery;
-    delete refinements.page; // reset to page 1
-
-    const updatedRefinements = updateRefinementsFromQueryParams(refinements);
-    history.push({ search: qs.stringify(updatedRefinements) });
+    dispatch(setRefinementAction(QUERY_PARAM_FOR_SEARCH_QUERY, searchQuery));
+    dispatch(deleteRefinementAction(QUERY_PARAM_FOR_PAGE));
   };
 
   /**
@@ -38,12 +33,8 @@ export const SearchBoxBase = ({
    * from the query parameters.
    */
   const handleClear = () => {
-    const refinements = { ...refinementsFromQueryParams };
-    delete refinements.q;
-    delete refinements.page; // reset to page 1
-
-    const updatedRefinements = updateRefinementsFromQueryParams(refinements);
-    history.push({ search: qs.stringify(updatedRefinements) });
+    dispatch(deleteRefinementAction(QUERY_PARAM_FOR_SEARCH_QUERY));
+    dispatch(deleteRefinementAction(QUERY_PARAM_FOR_PAGE));
   };
 
   return (
@@ -69,7 +60,6 @@ export const SearchBoxBase = ({
 };
 
 SearchBoxBase.propTypes = {
-  refinementsFromQueryParams: PropTypes.shape().isRequired,
   defaultRefinement: PropTypes.string,
   className: PropTypes.string,
   variant: PropTypes.oneOf([STYLE_VARIANTS.default, STYLE_VARIANTS.inverse]),
diff --git a/src/course-search/SearchHeader.jsx b/src/course-search/SearchHeader.jsx
index b04a81f4..20100f4a 100644
--- a/src/course-search/SearchHeader.jsx
+++ b/src/course-search/SearchHeader.jsx
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ const SearchHeader = ({ variant, containerSize }) => {
             <SearchBox
               className="mb-4"
               defaultRefinement={searchQueryFromQueryParams}
-              refinementsFromQueryParams={refinementsFromQueryParams}
               variant={variant}
             />
           </Col>
diff --git a/src/course-search/tests/SearchBox.test.jsx b/src/course-search/tests/SearchBox.test.jsx
index b34d34b0..9eab9234 100644
--- a/src/course-search/tests/SearchBox.test.jsx
+++ b/src/course-search/tests/SearchBox.test.jsx
@@ -3,15 +3,13 @@ import { screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom/extend-expect';
 
 import { SearchBoxBase, searchText } from '../SearchBox';
-
-import { renderWithRouter } from '../../utils/tests';
+import { renderWithSearchContext } from '../../utils/tests';
 
 const TEST_QUERY = 'test query';
 
 describe('<SearchBox />', () => {
   test('renders with a label', () => {
-    const refinements = {};
-    renderWithRouter(<SearchBoxBase refinementsFromQueryParams={refinements} />);
+    renderWithSearchContext(<SearchBoxBase />);
 
     // assert the Paragon <SearchField /> component renders
     expect(screen.queryByRole('search')).toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -22,26 +20,14 @@ describe('<SearchBox />', () => {
   });
 
   test('renders with an initial value', () => {
-    const refinements = {
-      q: TEST_QUERY,
-    };
-    const Component = () => (
-      <SearchBoxBase
-        refinementsFromQueryParams={refinements}
-        defaultRefinement={TEST_QUERY}
-      />
-    );
-    renderWithRouter(<Component />);
+    renderWithSearchContext(<SearchBoxBase defaultRefinement={TEST_QUERY} />);
 
     // assert the Paragon <SearchField /> component renders
     expect(screen.queryByRole('searchbox')).toHaveAttribute('value', TEST_QUERY);
   });
 
-  test('handles submit', () => {
-    const refinements = {};
-    const { history } = renderWithRouter(<SearchBoxBase
-      refinementsFromQueryParams={refinements}
-    />);
+  test('handles submit and clear', () => {
+    const { history } = renderWithSearchContext(<SearchBoxBase />);
 
     // fill in search input and submit the search
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByRole('searchbox'), { target: { value: TEST_QUERY } });
@@ -50,31 +36,12 @@ describe('<SearchBox />', () => {
     // assert url is updated with the query
     expect(history).toHaveLength(2);
     expect(history.location.search).toEqual('?q=test%20query');
-  });
-
-  test('handles clear', async () => {
-    const refinements = {
-      q: TEST_QUERY,
-      page: 2,
-    };
-    const Component = () => (
-      <SearchBoxBase
-        refinementsFromQueryParams={refinements}
-        defaultRefinement={TEST_QUERY}
-      />
-    );
-    const { history } = renderWithRouter(<Component />, {
-      route: '/?q=test%20query&page=2',
-    });
-
-    // assert query initially exists in url
-    expect(history.location.search).toEqual('?q=test%20query&page=2');
 
     // clear the input
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('clear search'));
 
     // assert query no longer exists in url
-    expect(history).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(history).toHaveLength(3);
     expect(history.location.search).toEqual('');
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 92125011..2b9d137f 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export { default as SearchHeader } from './course-search/SearchHeader';
 export { default as SearchPagination } from './course-search/SearchPagination';
 export { useNbHitsFromSearchResults, getCatalogString } from './course-search/data/hooks';
 export { SEARCH_FACET_FILTERS, SHOW_ALL_NAME } from './course-search/data/constants';
+export { renderWithSearchContext } from './utils/tests';
 export {
   addToRefinementArray,
   deleteRefinementAction,
diff --git a/src/utils/tests.jsx b/src/utils/tests.jsx
index 2c98b5cf..1dd0550a 100644
--- a/src/utils/tests.jsx
+++ b/src/utils/tests.jsx
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { Router } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { createMemoryHistory } from 'history';
 import { render } from '@testing-library/react';
-import { AppContext } from '@edx/frontend-platform/react';
+import SearchData from '../course-search/SearchContext';
 
-// eslint-disable import/prefer-default-export
 export function renderWithRouter(
   ui,
   {
@@ -25,28 +24,8 @@ export function renderWithRouter(
   };
 }
 
-/* eslint-disable react/prop-types */
-export const FakeAppContext = ({
-  initialAppState = {},
-  children,
-}) => (
-  <AppContext.Provider value={initialAppState}>
+export const renderWithSearchContext = (children) => renderWithRouter(
+  <SearchData>
     {children}
-  </AppContext.Provider>
+  </SearchData>,
 );
-/* eslint-enable react/prop-types */
-
-/* warning, this store may not be complete, please add to it as needed */
-export const fakeReduxStore = {
-  courseEnrollments: {
-    courseRuns: [],
-    error: null,
-    isMarkCourseCompleteSuccess: false,
-    isMoveToInProgressSuccess: false,
-  },
-  offers: {
-    loading: false,
-    offersCount: 0,
-    offers: [],
-  },
-};