On November 19 and 20, 2020, the PA General Assembly passed House Bill 1737, which would provide COVID-19 liability protections for school districts, including limited pandemic liability protections for school districts and other school entities if the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and state health guidelines for efforts to mitigate the disease are followed.  The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.

On November 3, 2020, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 530, now Act 110 of 2020, which protects student victims of sexual assault. A focus of the bill allows schools flexibility in protecting students who are the victim of a sexual assault by another student at their school and ensuring that they are not re-victimized by seeing their attacker every day at school.

To view the act, click here.

On November 12, 2020, Carole L. Clancy, Director of PDE’s Bureau of Special Education, disseminated a PennLink communiqué titled  Training in Response to Recent Changes by the Federal Office of Special Education Programs. According to the memo, the Federal Office of Special Education Programs has oversight of states’ compliance with federal special education regulations and requirements.  The Office of Special Education Programs has incorporated a component of its compliance monitoring verification visits to include a fiscal verification review.  Some components of its fiscal verification review will include a review of the use of funds for coordinated early intervening services, maintenance of effort, and general use of federal, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B), funds.

To assist the local educational agencies in working with these components of the federal on-site visits, PDE is providing training to familiarize special education directors and business administrators with clarifying information.  This training will address three topics: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Fiscal Programming, Contingency Funding, and Approved Private School Electronic Management System.

It is required that each school district and charter school send participants to this training.  Because the training is highlighting the fiscal program data verifications associated with the IDEA-B fiscal reporting requirements, it is strongly recommended that the participants whom you send to this training be your special education director and business administrator.  Also, if a school district or charter school contracts for business services, its contracted business representative should attend.

This training will be held virtually on December 1, 2020.  A recording of the training will be made available following this session.  Please register for the live session at https://www.pattan.net/events/ beginning November 2, 2020.Any questions regarding the fiscal training should be directed to Dr. Del Hart, Chief, Division of Analysis & Financial Reporting, at 717.772.1114 or [email protected].  Any questions about registration should be directed to Karen Weaver at PaTTAN-Pittsburgh, 412.826.6842 or [email protected].

The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) encourages all Pennsylvanians to learn more about the signs of potential abuse or neglect and make a report to ChildLine if they begin to suspect abuse or neglect. Reporters do not have to prove abuse and neglect, and reporting to ChildLine allows trained child welfare and law enforcement professionals to properly investigate cases of suspected abuse.

Signs of potential abuse or neglect can include:
-Numerous and/or unexplained injuries or bruises;
-Chronic, pronounced anxiety and expressed feelings of inadequacy;
-Flinching or an avoidance to being touched;
-Poor impulse control;
-Demonstrating abusive behavior or talk;
-Cruelty to animals or others; and,
-Fear of parent or caregiver, among othersOpens In A New Window.

Pennsylvanians can learn more about the signs of potential abuse at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov.

DHS also encourages parents/guardians and families who are struggling to cope during this time of crisis to reach out for help. Anyone struggling with mental health and in need of referrals to helpful programs can call Pennsylvania’s new Support & Referral Helpline, which is operated 24/7 by skilled caseworkers who can provide emotional support during this difficult period. The number to call is 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600. Another helpful resource is the 2-1-1 hotline operated by the United WayOpens In A New Window, which can connect people and families to local resources that can help during the public health crisis.

On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller recognized and thanked DHS employees who staff Pennsylvania’s hotline for reporting suspected cases of child abuse and neglect for their exceptional contributions and continued sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 74-person ChildLine team has been working remotely since March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  
“When a ChildLine caseworker answers the phone, they know that the person on the other end is likely to report suspected child abuse or general concern about a child’s welfare. This is grueling and emotionally taxing work in the very best of times,” Secretary Miller said. “ChildLine workers also understand that when they answer a phone, it may be the first step in a process that saves a child’s life. Since March, those phones have been ringing in their own homes, around their own families. But they always pick up. On behalf of all Pennsylvanians, I want ChildLine’s caseworkers to know we recognize and appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made to protect children.” 
Throughout the pandemic, state agencies have followed guidance for businesses issued by the Governor and Secretary of Health, including the recommendation for employees to telework, if possible. Approximately one-third of commonwealth employees are either teleworking full-time or splitting their time between telework and working onsite based on their job duties, enabling critical services to continue for millions of Pennsylvanians. 

To read about honorees, click here.