Category: Government Actions

PDH: Physicians Answer Questions on COVID-19 Vaccine in New Educational Video Resource (September 18, 2021)

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Director of the Vaccine Education Center and Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Paul Offit developed a video resource for Pennsylvanians answering questions about vaccine safety.

Anyone can access and share this video resource, which already has more than 26,000 views, on Facebook or PAcast.

“The COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, however, it’s normal to have questions about them,” Dr. Johnson said. “With so much information and misinformation out there, access to reliable and trusted sources can help you make the best decision for you and your family. Vaccines are the best tools we have to protect against COVID-19, especially with the delta variant and other strains of the virus. It’s essential that we continue to inform and educate Pennsylvanians about the COVID-19 vaccines, because good information leads to good decisions.”

In this video, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Offit review the vaccine approval process through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including the Emergency Use Authorization. Pennsylvanians requested information on how reporting vaccine data through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System works to enhance vaccine safety. Additionally, discussion includes information on the increasing scientific data on the safety of vaccines for children and pregnant people. They cover another highly requested topic regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine against variants, with a highlighted focus on effectiveness against the delta variant.

“We have our golden ticket out of this pandemic and that’s the vaccine,” Dr. Offit said. “There is no good reason not to get a vaccine. Get it. Protect yourself and those you come in contact with. We can end this and go back to life as we lived it before this pandemic, but not until that happens.”

PDH is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient to all Pennsylvanians by doing the following:

  • All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.
  • Text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible COVID vaccination sites in your area, with phone numbers to call for an appointment.
  • A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.
  • Vaccine dashboard data can also be found on the website to find more information on the doses administered and showcase demographic information.
  • The Unite Against COVID Weekly Update is a round-up of news you can use and answers to your most pressing vaccine questions – delivered directly to your inbox every week.

Frequently asked questions can be found here.

To access the video, please visit PACast or click here to go to the PAPSA website’s “Downloads” page to access this and other resources.

PDE Informs LEAs Assigned to Cohort 2 of Exit Survey administration for 2021-22 (September 17, 2021)

On September 16, 2021, Carole L. Clancy, Director of the PDE Bureau of Special Education sent a PennLink to all applicable school entities titled State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Survey (Cohort 2 Exit). The memo states that the accountability requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 mandates that each state determine the extent to which students are achieving transition outcomes (State Performance Plan – Indicator 14). To meet the federal reporting requirement, each local education agency (LEA) is mandated to administer Exit and Post-School Surveys to students who have graduated, aged out or dropped out with individualized education programs (IEPs) at a frequency of one time, over a five-year period, based on the LEA’s assignment to a targeted sampling year (Cohort 2).

The following information specifically addresses Exit Survey administration for 2021-22. LEAs assigned to Cohort 2, as listed below, are required to address the following:

  • Participate in the Pennsylvania Post-School Outcome Survey Overview for Cohort 2 webinar, which is scheduled for September 21, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The webinar will provide information concerning the administration of Exit Surveys. Registration is required and may be accessed at: https://www.pattan.net/Events/Webinar/Course-1838/Events/Session-35803
  • Participate in the February 22, 2022, Exit Survey training webinar from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Registration for this event is required and can be completed when registering for the September webinar. Information regarding accessing and entering information into the online system will be presented during this webinar.

The memo is applicable to all LEAs assigned to the 2021-22 Cohort 2.

Governor Proposes Charter School Regulations in Efforts to Benefit Students and Taxpayers (September 17, 2021)

On September 17, 2021, as part of his plan to improve the quality of charter schools and hold them accountable to students, parents and taxpayers, Governor Tom Wolf announced proposed new regulations to increase charter school transparency and accountability.

The proposed regulations clarify six areas of Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law:

Charter school applications requirement: Establishes requirements for applications to open a charter school, allowing school districts authorizing brick and mortar charter schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) authorizing cyber charter schools to hold the schools to high academic, fiscal and administrative standards, ensures charter schools will equitably serve all students; and provides consistent application expectations.

Non-discriminatory enrollment policies: Requires charter schools to post their non-discrimination enrollment policy on their website and in the student application so families and taxpayers know how admission preferences are considered and weighted.

Boards of Trustees ethics standards: Clarifies that charter school trustees are subject to the state’s Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, addresses conflicts of interest, and sets penalties for violations. The same requirements already apply to school districts.

Financial and auditing standards: Requires charter schools to use common accounting principles and auditing standards as school districts already do. This will make reviewing annual reporters and financial records easier for school districts and PDE.

Redirection process clarification: Outlines the process to reconcile disputes over school district payments to charter schools for student tuition.

Charter school employee health care benefits parity: Ensures charter school staff have adequate health care. The charter school law requires charter schools provide the same health care benefits as the authorizing school district. The regulation clarifies that when a charter school serves more than one school district, the school district in which the charter school’s administrative office is located is the district of comparison.

PDE has submitted the proposed charter school regulations to the General Assembly, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and the Legislative Reference Bureau. The package will be published in the PA Bulletin on Sept. 18, 2021, which starts a 30-day public comment period that closes Oct. 18, 2021. The department encourages all interested students, parents, educators, other stakeholders and the general public to submit comments at [email protected].

Following the public comment period, the department will update the proposals and submit a final version of the regulations to IRRC for the last step in the state’s regulatory review process.

The Wolf Administration expects the regulations to take effect before 2023.

New Regulations Will Enhance Proposed Legislation

The proposed new rules are part of the governor’s strategy to address the state’s charter school law, which is regarded by some as the worst in the country. Proponents of the plan say it could save Pennsylvania school districts an estimated $395 million in charter school costs, protect students by holding low performing charter schools accountable, and restore public trust by increasing transparency of for-profit companies that manage charter schools.

According to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), taxpayers spent $2.1 billion on charter schools last year and, between 2013 and 2019, 44 cents of every dollar of new property taxes went to charter schools.

The governor’s legislative plan, SB 27 and HB 272, is purported to save $185 million a year by funding special education in charter schools the same way the state does for all other public schools and $210 million a year by establishing a statewide cyber charter school tuition rate.

Wolf Administration Kicks Off 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15, 2021)

Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs (GACLA) Executive Director Luz Coln was joined by Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Noe Ortega, State Representative Manny Guzman and GACLA Commissioner Delma Lytle-Rivera to officially recognize the start of Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 in Pennsylvania with remarks and the reading of Governor Tom Wolf’s proclamation.

The theme for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” The theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope. It encourages us to reflect on all of the contributions Hispanics have made in the past and will continue to make in the future. It is also a reminder that we are stronger together.

To access photos and video from today’s event, please visit PACast.

Gov. Wolf Urges Congress to Consider Key Priorities in American Families Plan That Will Support Pennsylvanians (September 14, 2021)

On September 10, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation sharing his priorities for Pennsylvania as the US Congress considers major aspects of President Biden’s American Families Plan.

Specifically, Governor Wolf urged Congress to approve such items as universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-old children with strong investments in these programs, access to postsecondary education through investments in the plan’s proposed College Completion Fund, and increased funding that would provide states with enhanced Medicaid funding for home and community-bases services if they carry out certain activities that will support expanding access to these services and strengthen the workforce providing them. Such funding would help provide care to those with disabilities.

Click to access a copy of the letter Governor Wolf sent to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.