Monday, March 16, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 16: Continuing Coronavirus Coverage


Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, Wolf education transition team members, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

These daily emails are archived and searchable at http://keystonestateeducationcoalition.org
Follow us on Twitter at @lfeinberg


PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 16, 2020

All K-12 schools in Pa. ordered closed for 2 weeks because of coronavirus concerns
Penn Live By Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com Updated Mar 13, 2020; Posted Mar 13, 2020
Gov. Tom Wolf this afternoon announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16. The administration has been working with school districts as well as state and local officials to gather input on this decision. The Wolf Administration will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the commonwealth and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed.
Gov. Wolf made the following statement:
"We understand that these are trying times and recognize the impact of the coronavirus on our students and communities. "First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities. "As such, I am ordering that all schools in the commonwealth close for the next two weeks. "Be aware that no school district will be penalized if it fails to meet the 180 day or school hours requirements. "The Department of Education will work with intermediate units and other stakeholders to support school districts with any continuity of learning plans they may be pursuing.

Gov. Wolf, Congresswoman Houlahan, Sec. of Health, Sec. of Education Outline COVID-19 Mitigation Guidance for Pennsylvania Schools and Additional Closures in Bucks and Chester Counties
Governor Wolf’s Website March 14, 2020
Governor Tom Wolf, United States Representative for Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District Chrissy Houlahan, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, and Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera this afternoon provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including further guidance for schools following Governor Wolf’s announcement yesterday of the closure of all Pennsylvania schools beginning Monday, March 16. Schools to be closed include public K-12 schools, including brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, career and technical centers (CTCs), and intermediate units (IUs). All other schools – including private, parochial, and institutions of higher education – should be consulted directly for the most current closure information. Gov. Wolf also announced mitigation efforts expanding to Chester and Bucks counties beginning tomorrow, March 15. The governor previously announced mitigation efforts in Montgomery and Delaware counties. The total number of positive cases in Pennsylvania as of 1:15 p.m. includes two new cases: two adults in Allegheny County, bringing the state’s total to 47, with six of those cases confirmed by the CDC.

Coronavirus, kids and school closings: Four questions answered | Monday Morning Coffee
PA Capital Star By  John L. Micek March 16, 2020
Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
The bad news is that school students from Pittsburgh to Perkasie will be staying home from class for the next 10 days starting this Monday morning. The good news? Disney+ released “Frozen 2” ahead of schedule to provide some diversion during the difficult days ahead. We’re being a bit flip, but we’ve always believed that a wry smile is the best medicine at times of trial. But for those of you who need some extra-strength advice as you and your children stare down two weeks — and perhaps more — of enforced confinement, we’re turning to an expert to get the week going. Aubree Gordon, a professor of public health at the University of Michigan, wrote the piece below for The Conversationwhere it originally appeared.

White House: More drive-through coronavirus test sites to open this week
The sites each will be able to screen 2,000 to 4,000 people per day.
WITF By Bobby Allyn and Mara Liasson/NPR MARCH 16, 2020 | 5:30 AM
With our coronavirus coverage, our goal is to equip you with the information you need. Rather than chase every update, we’ll try to keep things in context and focus on helping you make decisions. See all of our stories here.
(Washington) — States hit hardest by the spread of coronavirus will see drive-through and walk-through testing sites set up this week, the White House said on Sunday, a shift that will provide more information about how widely the virus has spread across the country. The sites each will be able to screen 2,000 to 4,000 people per day, with priority given to health care workers, first responders and people age 65 and older with respiratory symptoms and fevers above 99.6 degrees. The Trump administration has been criticized for the lack of testing, which public health experts have said has masked the prevalence of the virus. Early on, there was a problem in test kits distributed to labs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which slowed efforts to make testing more widely available. President Trump declared the virus a national emergency on Friday, a move that freed up billions in funding and also activates the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help set up testing sites and field hospitals.

Schools across Pa. close due to coronavirus
WHYY By Avi Wolfman-Arent March 13, 2020
Pennsylvania will close all of traditional public schools and charters for the next two weeks due to coronavirus, Governor Tom Wolf announced Friday. The governor also said that school districts and charters will not be penalized if they cannot meet the state’s requirement to hold 180 instructional days this school year. “First and foremost, my top priority as governor – and that of our education leaders – must be to ensure the health and safety of our students and school communities,” Wolf said in a statement. The federal government has cleared Pennsylvania to serve meals to low-income students in “non-congregate settings” while the closures persist, Wolf added — meaning that children who rely on free lunch and breakfast may still have opportunities to receive food during this shutdown. State officials also insinuated that the sudden closures could cause them to delay or cancel the standardized tests students take annually. Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said the state plans to apply for a waiver to the federal law that mandates annual testing if the feds makes those waivers available

All Pa. school districts closing for 2 weeks over coronavirus fears
Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer Mar 13, 2020
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all public schools in the state to close for the next two weeks as the state seeks to curb an outbreak of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19. The order — which came as confirmed cases in the state reached 41, none of which are in Lancaster County — applies to the state's 500 public school districts, plus brick-and-mortar charter schools. Cyber charter schools will be considered on a case-by-case basis, Wolf said, and private schools are encouraged to close. It capped off a frenetic Friday afternoon that began with Lancaster County school districts initially announcing they would shut down for a week starting Monday. Schools are now expected to reopen March 30.  One-by-one starting around 2 p.m. Friday, school districts began announcing plans to close school and cancel activities. A statement posted 45 minutes later by School District of Lancaster confirmed 16 county school districts made the choice.  Shortly after SDL's announcement, Wolf made his.

Fact Sheet: Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and Accountability under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
U.S. Dept. of Education March 12, 2020
This fact sheet discusses the potential implications of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on State assessment and accountability systems. This fact sheet also addresses other considerations regarding the use of Federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). We know that you are doing all in your power to support your districts and schools to ensure the health and well-being of students and educators. Like you, we are closely monitoring the situation around the country and will provide additional information as warranted. We encourage you to review information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department’s) COVID-19 website at: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus. In particular, the CDC has issued interim guidance to help K-12 schools and childcare programs plan for and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students and staff. See Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/specific-groups/guidance-for-schools.html

Wolf orders restaurants to close dine-in facilities in 5 counties as coronavirus tightens grip on Philadelphia region
Inquirer by Anna Orso and Erin McCarthy, Updated: March 15, 2020- 11:09 PM
News about the coronavirus is changing quickly. Go to inquirer.com/coronavirus for the latest information
Public officials on Sunday said the Philadelphia region should expect another week of increasingly stringent policies as health authorities grappled with how to confront the new coronavirus that may be spreading through people who aren’t showing symptoms. On Sunday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all bars and restaurants in Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Delaware and Allegheny Counties to end dine-in service for two weeks starting Monday. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he will unveil plans Monday to close all schools. Many churches were empty. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended canceling or postponing all gatherings of 50 people or more, across the county, for the next eight weeks.

For now, COVID-19 waits outside the door of much of rural Pennsylvania
KRIS B. MAMULA Pittsburgh Post-Gazette kmamula@post-gazette.com MAR 15, 2020
The new coronavirus that has been seeding sickness around the globe knocks outside the door in many rural parts of Pennsylvania, places like Fayette County, where Spotto Ace Hardware has been a fixture in Connellsville for generations. “We’re trying to keep things in perspective,” said manager Sam Spotto, 55, whose grandfather opened the store 82 years ago. “I’m not seeing anything extreme yet, but that could change.” Anything extreme includes a rush to buy things like disinfectant wipes, he said, though sales of the wipes at his store ticked up in recent weeks. About two weeks ago, N95 face masks, usually worn to protect workers’ lungs during dusty cleanups, sold out and so did Mr. Spotto’s supplier. The masks provide some protection against viruses. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no reported COVID-19 cases in Western Pennsylvania. By Saturday, there were three — two in Allegheny County and one in Washington County. By Sunday at noon, that number increased slightly to four — three in Allegheny and one in Washington. Mr. Spotto, like other business owners in Connellsville, is keenly aware of the virus’ spread as he considers what’s ahead for his store and for Fayette County.

Pittsburgh Public Schools activates emergency response plan amid school closures
Trib Live by TEGHAN SIMONTON   | Sunday, March 15, 2020 8:39 p.m.
Pittsburgh Public Schools has activated its emergency response plan because of the state-ordered closure during the covid-19 outbreak, the district announced Sunday. “As a large urban district, we have to be prepared for any public safety crisis. Fortunately, significant planning has been underway in anticipation of the need to close school to stop the spread of covid-19,” district Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said in a statement. Student meals will still be available at 54 school locations, as well as the district’s two alternative schools and stand-alone Early Childhood Education Centers. According to a news release, meals will be distributed between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, until March 20. Food service workers will be on-site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday this week. The district will evaluate student participation in the first week of closure, to determine regional sites for the second week. The district will also provide optional grade-level activity packets starting Wednesday. The packets will be available on Schoology, the district’s online education portal.

Philadelphia public schools’ breakfast, lunch pickup locations during coronavirus closure announced
Inquirer by Sean Collins Walsh, Updated: March 14, 2020- 2:15 PM
An inaccurate map had circulated on social media recently, Hite said. He cautioned residents against misinformation from nonofficial sources during the coronavirus pandemic. The city also will be opening 50 locations, in recreation centers and other city-owned facilities, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday to “provide safe spaces where students can drop-in for activities.” The locations will serve meals at 3 p.m. Managing Director Brian Abernathy also announced Saturday that the Free Library of Philadelphia will close to the public at the end of the day. All Free Library locations will be closed through March 29, at which point officials will reevaluate.

Starting Monday, meals available at 30 Philly schools and 50 recreation sites
Designated rec centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Libraries will be closed to the public.
the Notebook March 14 — 12:56 pm, 2020
City and District officials Saturday released a list of 30 schools and 50 recreation sites at which families can access meals for the two weeks that schools will be closed. Breakfast and lunch will be available for pickup at schools between 9 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday. In addition, recreation facilities and gyms will be open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Children under 18 can come for some organized activities and receive a meal. Officials stressed that these centers “are not a day care substitution,” but a place for children to stay occupied and have a meal. Libraries will close to the public at the end of today, said Managing Director Brian Abernathy. At a briefing, City Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said that there are now four positive novel coronavirus cases in the city, and that of the 15 test results yesterday, 12 were negative and three positive. He could not say how many test kits are available, but said the number is increasing and that in addition to Quest and LabCorp, CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital have some testing capacity. He could not say how the supply compares to the demand.

Here is where school meals will be available in Lehigh Valley during coronavirus closures
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO and MICHELLE MERLIN THE MORNING CALL | MAR 14, 2020 | 9:33 AM
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that all school districts will shut down for two weeks because of the coronavirus that continues to spread across Pennsylvania, Many students and families are dependent on the meals that schools provide. The state said federal officials granted approval for schools to serve meals and snacks at no-cost to low-income studentsHere’s where students can receive meals. The Morning Call will update this information as more districts post their locations:

Three Pa. special elections will go on as planned Tuesday despite the coronavirus
Inquirer by Gillian McGoldrick of LNP | LancasterOnline, Updated: March 14, 2020
This story was produced as part of a joint effort between Spotlight PALNP Media GroupPennLivePA Post, and WITF to cover how Pennsylvania state government is responding to the coronavirus.
HARRISBURG — Despite concerns over the coronavirus, a special election in Bucks County will go on as planned Tuesday, a top state House official has announced. Both Gov. Tom Wolf and local officials had called for the special election in the 18th House District to be postponed, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the county rose to three. On Saturday, Wolf expanded a voluntary shutdown of nonessential businesses to the area. “We are concerned with both being able to staff that election as well as people’s comfort with being able to come out and vote, given the situation and the social distancing recommendations," Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, chair of the Board of Bucks County Commissioners, said Saturday. But in a statement, House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny) said the Bucks County special election as well as two others — one in Westmoreland County and the other in a district that includes parts of Butler and Mercer Counties — would go on as planned.

A plumber and a funeral director face off in a bellwether special election
WHYY By Katie Meyer March 16, 2020
Voters in District 18 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, will choose between Republican K.C. Tomlinson (left) and Democrat Harold Hayes in a special election Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Harold Hayes says that in the last few months he’s walked so many miles knocking on doors,  he’s lost over twenty pounds. Hayes, who usually goes by Howie, is running in a special election for an open State House seat in the 18th District, in Bucks County. On Tuesday, voters there will decide who they want representing them in Harrisburg: Harold Hayes, a union plumber and Democrat, or Republican K.C. Tomlinson, a local funeral director. Their pick won’t just affect the district. It could help determine control of the House — and be a key indicator of which way Pennsylvania will swing in November.

Coronavirus school closures raise many questions such as what happens with the PSSAs
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO and ANDREW WAGAMAN THE MORNING CALL | MAR 15, 2020 | 6:00 AM
Hours after Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all public schools will close for two weeks as the coronavirus spreads across Pennsylvania, Jennifer Ortiz contacted her daughter’s second grade teacher for some reading and math activities. “My daughter is already a little behind in math and reading, and I thought about her getting further behind without being in school,” she said. Ortiz, of Allentown, understood the governor’s decision and was relieved that her daughters, 7-year-old Gianna and 5-year-old Isabella, would be home safe with her. But she wondered what effects academically the two weeks would have on the girls. During the closure, she’ll have Gianna work on lessons that her Sheridan Elementary School second grade teacher provided. School districts will not require any formal lessons to be completed because superintendents understand that not every child has access to a computer or internet at home. But districts across the Lehigh Valley will provide families with online activities and workbooks that students can access for enrichment.

Unanimous: All 18 of Pa’s U.S. House members vote for COVID-19 relief package
WASHINGTON — In a rare display of unity, all 18 members of Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation joined with a majority of their colleagues to approve an emergency stimulus package to combat the coronavirus pandemic after President Donald Trump signaled his support for the bill. The early Saturday vote authorizes a multi-billion dollar package aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, and mitigate its economic effects as fears of recession loom. The bill — the Families First Coronavirus Response Act — passed 363-40, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The 40 votes against the bill were all Republicans. The House’s only independent lawmaker, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, voted “present” on the bill. Another 26 lawmakers did not vote. Passage came hours after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the pandemic, freeing up as much as $50 billion to help the country weather the pandemic and waiving restrictions on health providers and facilities. The House bill would provide free access to tests for the virus, including for those without health insurance. It would also give workers affected by the virus paid family and sick leave, boost unemployment benefits, strengthen government food programs for children, older people and those with low incomes and help states meet expenses for Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced changes to allow schools to serve free and reduced lunches to children outside of school. Pennsylvania was one of nine states approved by the department to serve meals outside of a group setting, the USDA said. “We are working to ensure children who are affected by school closures continue to get fed,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement Thursday. “We intend to use all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve those affected by the outbreak.”
CDC awards $17 million in COVID-19 funding to Pennsylvania
DANIEL MOORE Post-Gazette Washington Bureau MAR 12, 2020 7:22 PM
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has awarded nearly $17 million to Pennsylvania, and an additional $3.5 million to Philadelphia, to help confront the widening threat of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has sickened more than 1,000 nationwide, including 21 people in Pennsylvania. Yet Pennsylvania state health officials on Thursday were still waiting for its portion of the federal dollars and determining how to dole it out.   “We know that the federal government is moving quickly on this, but since it is coming from them, we don’t have a timeframe,” said Nate Wardle, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Some of the funding will be used for lab equipment, protective clothing for health workers and overtime pay, Mr. Wardle said, while some will be provided to the state’s 10 county and municipal health departments as part of their responses. Mr. Wardle said state officials were still working through how much to distribute to the local departments. 

Key Education and Community Organizations Come Together in Support of School Closures Ordered by Gov. Wolf
HARRISBURG, PA (March 13, 2020) – Leaders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA), Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the Pennsylvania Principals Association issued the following statement today supporting and praising the decisive actions of Gov. Tom Wolf in ordering the closure all Pennsylvania schools in order to assist in containing the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. The spread of coronavirus across Pennsylvania, the United States, and across the globe is unprecedented and has required difficult decisions to be made. The immense challenges presented by this virus have forced difficult and necessary decisions to ensure the health and welfare of the commonwealth’s citizens. Together, our organizations present unified support and appreciation for the governor’s leadership and actions in safeguarding the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s students, school staffs and their families and communities.

Letter to the Editor: More needs to be done on education
Delco Times Letter by Renee Burgos, Lynn Oberfield, and William Oberfield, Providence Friends Meeting, Media March 14, 2020 
To the Times: We applaud the editorial that appeared last week about funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. It was heartening to see the deep concern on the part of the Delaware County Times for the adequate and equitable funding of education. However, there is more to say. House Bill 961 directs all Pennsylvania state education funds through a fair funding formula. This balanced formula, recommended by the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC), removes politics from state school funding decisions, directing money to school districts based on objective factors, such as student enrollment, the needs of the student population, and school district wealth and capacity to raise local revenues. At present, this formula is used for “new appropriations” only, which amounted to a mere 11% of the state’s basic education budget in 2019-20. Delaware County communities are hurt by the lack of an equitable system for funding education. We thank Reps. Kirkland, Davidson, Zabel, O’Mara, Vitali, Donatucci, Quinn and McClinton for co-sponsoring this legislation. We’re still waiting for Reps. Delloso, Krueger and Barrar to stand with us for the children of Delaware County and all of Pennsylvania. We encourage Delco residents to write, call, or visit their Pa. state representative and ask them to champion the passage of HB 961, leaving a legacy of fair education funding.

Doubts raised about school active-shooter drills
ANDREW GOLDSTEIN AND LAUREN LEE Pittsburgh Post-Gazette MAR 15, 2020 12:16 AM
Schools across the nation increasingly have introduced active-shooter training over the past two decades to the point that the practice has become nearly as universal as fire drills. According to the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, 95% of American public schools had drilled students on some form of lockdown procedures in the event of a shooting by the 2015-16 school year. Although the practice is widely accepted in the U.S., some have started to question the way the drills are performed as well as their effectiveness in preventing gun violence in schools.    A white paper released in February by Everytown for Gun Safety and the nation’s two largest teachers’ unions identified concerns about active-shooter drills, noting that the drills could risk traumatizing participants. The report added that there was “scant evidence” that the training was effective at preventing deaths in school shootings. The white paper laid out six recommendations intended to improve school safety while making active-shooter training less traumatic for students and teachers.

Public School Is a Child’s Right. Should Preschool Be Also?
Some Democrats, including Bernie Sanders, say the government-financed care and education of children should start at birth instead of at kindergarten.
New York Times By Claire Cain Miller March 15, 2020
In the United States, the chance that a child attends a high-quality preschool — which research has shown sets them on a more successful life path — often depends on whether the parents can afford it. But what if government-funded care and education of children started soon after birth? There’s a growing movement to do so, particularly among Democrats. But they differ on how far they want to go. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders pushed universal birth-to-kindergarten plans during the race for the Democratic nomination. Joe Biden has said he would work with states to provide pre-K at age 3, but he has not offered details, and has not proposed universal child care. Mr. Sanders, who says his plan would help fight family poverty, suggested that he would challenge Mr. Biden on the issue in the debate on Sunday. The Sanders and Warren proposals — she introduced a bill last June — would raise taxes on the very wealthy, then give the money to existing and new child care providers, via state or local agencies, as long as they met quality and teacher compensation standards. Every child would be guaranteed a spot.

School Closures for Coronavirus Could Extend to the End of School Year, Some Say
Education Week By Madeline Will on March 15, 2020 12:26 PM
UPDATED: As national fears swell over the coronavirus outbreak, more than a dozen governors called for school closures on Sunday. Now, more than 30 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have closed schools for at least two or three weeks. Some officials have predicted even longer shutdowns that could stretch through the end of the school year.   "This may not peak until the latter part of April or May, so we've informed the superintendents while we've closed schools for three weeks, the odds are that this is going to go on a lot longer, and it would not surprise me at all if schools did not open again this year," said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, on CNN's State of the Union.  In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered public schools in New York City to close until April 20, despite Mayor Bill de Blasio's concerns over the impact of an extended closure.


EdVotersPA: Take action now to support charter school reform in PA!
Education Voters PA Published by EDVOPA on February 25, 2020
We have helped build a movement to fix Pennsylvania’s worst charter school law in the nation in every corner of the commonwealth. Now it is time to take this movement to Harrisburg!
Please click HERE and sign a letter to your state representative and senator calling on them to support charter school reform. Ed Voters’ volunteers will hand deliver each constituent letter to state lawmakers’ offices in mid-March. Make sure yours is included!
We will need to deliver thousands of letters to send a strong message that Pennsylvanians expect lawmakers to take action this legislative session.

PSBA Board Presidents Panel April 27 & 28; Multiple Locations
Offered at 10 locations across the state, this annual event supports current and aspiring school board leaders through roundtable conversations with colleagues as well as a facilitated panel of experienced regional and statewide board presidents and superintendents. Board Presidents Panel is designed to equip new and veteran board presidents and vice presidents as well as superintendents and other school directors who may pursue a leadership position in the future.

PSBA: Coronavirus Preparedness Guidance
In the last few weeks, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has become a topic of concern nationwide. Although the virus is not widespread in Pennsylvania at this time, that status could change. Being proactive is key to prevention and mitigation. Below, you will find a list of resources on all aspects of preparedness, including guidance on communication planning, policy, emergency management and disease control. Use these resources to help you make decisions regarding the safety and health of those in your school district.

Bucks County Intermediate Unit: FLU AND CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
Resources for School Leaders; Bucks County Intermediate Unit Website
This page contains a collection of news articles, health agency resources, and school system templates related to the Flu and Coronavirus.  This page is by no means exhaustive and in no way serves as an endorsement for specific resources.  Instead, it serves as a collection point for school leaders seeking resources and exemplars.  Please contact Dr. Mark Hoffman with any additional documents or links to post!

Blogger note: support Governor Wolf’s proposed charter reforms:
Reprise: PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb 10, 2020
1. Adopt resolution for charter funding reform
2. Ask your legislators to cosponsor HB2261 or SB1024
3. Register for Advocacy Day on May 11th

Adopt: the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform
PSBA Website POSTED ON FEBRUARY 3, 2020 IN PSBA NEWS
In this legislative session, PSBA has been leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.

Cosponsor: A 120-page charter reform proposal is being introduced as House Bill 2261 by Rep. Joseph Ciresi (D-Montgomery), and Senate Bill 1024, introduced by Senators Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny). Ask your legislator to sign on as a cosponsor to House Bill 2261 or Senate Bill 1024.

Register: Five compelling reasons for .@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders to come to the Capitol for Advocacy Day on May 11th:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON

These meetings will be converted to digital meetings. Details will be forthcoming.
Hear relevant content from statewide experts, district practitioners and PSBA government affairs staff at PSBA’s annual membership gathering. PSBA Sectional Advisors and Advocacy Ambassadors are on-site to connect with district leaders in their region and share important information for you to take back to your district.
Locations and dates

Sectional Meetings are 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (across all locations). Light refreshments will be offered.
Cost: Complimentary for PSBA member entities.
Registration: Registration is now open. To register, please sign into myPSBA and look for Store/Registration on the left.

All school leaders are invited to attend Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) are partnering together to strengthen our advocacy impact. The day will center around meetings with legislators to discuss critical issues affecting public education. Click here for more information or register at http://www.mypsba.org/
School directors can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you need assistance logging in and registering contact Alysha Newingham, Member Data System Administrator at alysha.newingham@psba.org

PSBA Board Presidents Panel April 27, 28 and 29; Multiple Locations
Offered at 10 locations across the state, this annual event supports current and aspiring school board leaders through roundtable conversations with colleagues as well as a facilitated panel of experienced regional and statewide board presidents and superintendents. Board Presidents Panel is designed to equip new and veteran board presidents and vice presidents as well as superintendents and other school directors who may pursue a leadership position in the future.

PARSS Annual Conference April 29 – May 1, 2020 in State College
The 2020 PARSS Conference is April 29 through May 1, 2020, at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in State College. Please register as a member or a vendor by accessing the links below.

Register today for the 2020 PASA/PA Principals Association PA Educational Leadership Summit, August 2-4, at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square 
(hosted by the PA Principals Association and the PA Association of School Administrators). Participants can earn up to 80 PIL hours (40 hours for the Summit and - for an additional cost of $50 - 40 hours for EdCamp) for attending the conference and completing program requirements. Register early to reserve your seat! The deadline to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount is April 24, 2020.   
Click here to register today!

Network for Public Education 2020 Conference in Philly Rescheduled to November 21-22
NPE Website March 10, 2020 7:10 pm
We so wanted to see you in March, but we need to wait until November!
Our conference will now take place on November 21 and 22 at the same location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please read the important information below.
Registration: We will be rolling over our registration information, so there is no reason to register again. You will be automatically registered for the November dates. If you cannot attend in November, we ask that you consider donating your registration to absorb some of the costs associated with rescheduling the conference. If you feel you cannot make such a donation, please contact: dcimarusti@networkforpubliceducation.org


Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization that I may be affiliated with.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.