Category: Government Actions

PCCD Announces the Availability of State School Safety and Security Funds (September 10, 2020)

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee has announced the availability of state School Safety and Security funds to implement projects to address violence in Pennsylvania’s communities.  One aspect of Act 44 of 2018 provided for up to $7.5 million in funding for local efforts to reduce and/or prevent violence for certain specific purposes.  These purposes include: 

  • Increasing access to quality trauma-informed support services and behavioral health care by linking the community with local trauma support and behavioral health systems; 
  • Providing health services and intervention strategies by coordinating the services provided by eligible applicants and coordinated care organizations, public health entities, nonprofit youth service providers and community-based organizations; 
  • Providing mentoring and other intervention models to children and their families who have experienced trauma or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who are low-income, homeless, in foster care, involved in the criminal justice system, unemployed, experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse disorder or not enrolled in or at risk of dropping out of an educational institution; 
  • Fostering and promoting communication between the school entity, community and law enforcement; or 
  • Any other program or model designed to reduce community violence and approved by the committee.  

For FY20-21, the School Safety and Security Committee (SSSC) has prioritized applications that intend to utilize evidence-based or evidence-informed programs to reduce or prevent community-based violence (e.g., gun violence, gang violence, etc.) in areas identified with high-violent crime rates using Uniform Crime Report offense data or similar local crime statistics.  This prioritization does not preclude any other application for any other type of community violence prevention but does mean that applications collectively addressing these areas will receive priority in the review process. 

Applications are due in PCCD’s Egrants System by November 10, 2020.  Recommended applications will be approved at the January 2021 School Safety and Security Committee meeting, and all projects will have a targeted start date of February 1, 2021.  For full application requirements, applicants are encouraged to read and print the narrative funding announcement and use it as a guide to complete their applications in the Egrants System.  

Click here for more information or visit: https://www.pccdegrants.pa.gov/Egrants/Public/OpenAnnouncements.aspx

Agencies Express Concern Over FEMA Plan to Cut COVID-19 Reimbursement (September 5, 2020)

On September 1, 2020, a number of national organizations sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to express concern with recent information from FEMA indicating the agency intends to eliminate personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants as eligible reimbursable expenses under Public Assistance for COVID-19.

According to the letter, “[a]ll plans for schools to reopen include built-in requirements for PPE. PPE is a fundamental element of any COVID-19 operation.” However, the letter states that FEMA is planning a policy guidance change that would remove PPE and disinfectants as eligible reimbursable expenses for COVID-19, which the organizations call a continuation of “a troubling pattern of shifting costs and responsibilities onto state and local governments, including state and local education agencies, when they can least afford it.”

The letter also goes on to say that “changing policy guidance in the middle of a pandemic is impractical, sows confusion, unnecessarily complicates the process of reopening, and disrupts daily operations for all those impacted, including our schools”…and that…”FEMA and the Administration have long maintained that every disaster is federally supported, state managed, and locally executed. We ask FEMA to waive the state cost share for COVID-19 assistance,to maintain thecurrent guidance on emergency protective measures, and encourage the Administration to provide clear guidance on eligibility of funding streams from across the federal government.”

Thus far, there has been no response from FEMA.

To view the letter in its entirety, click here.

BSE Announces Important SBAP Training Session (September 4, 2020)

On September 4th, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy,  disseminated a PennLink memo titled 2020-21 School-Based ACCESS Program Statewide Training Sessions that, on behalf of  the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), announced the schedule for annual statewide training sessions offered to all participating School-Based Access Program (SBAP) teams.

This year, all training sessions will be held virtually on September 29, 2020 via Schoology. Local educational agencies (LEAs) will be able to view a pre-recorded session for each of the four training areas and then participate in a live Q&A with the speakers via Zoom. Registration is required; see instructions below. Participation is strongly encouraged. LEAs are encouraged to assign at least one representative to attend the training in order to receive important SBAP information. No downlink sites will be available.

Trainings will include:

  • SBAP General Session led and presented by DHS. DHS team members will review policy highlights of SBAP, updates to the Provider Handbook, SBAP annual performance and claiming levels, and other important information and reminders. The DHS team will address flexibilities within SBAP to help navigate through the ongoing public health emergency.
  • Compliance Session led and presented by DHS. DHS team members will review common errors found during SBAP record reviews, allowable telehealth services, and how to determine if your provider is currently licensed. 
  • Optimizing Your SBAP Potential While Functioning in a Virtual Setting –  During this session, Public Consulting Group will focus on assisting participating LEAs in achieving compliance within the SBAP and managing operational changes associated to virtual participation.  LEA responsibilities impacting compliance include: Related Service Documentation: Ensure monitoring of service log entry, compliance information, and reimbursement levels; Random Moment Time Study: Ensure quality of staff pool positions, moment responses, and shifts; and Medicaid Administrative Claiming: Impact of annual Unrestricted Indirect Cost Rate.
  • Understanding the SBAP Cost Reconciliation/Cost Settlement Process – During this session, Sivic Solutions Group will provide an overview of the cost reconciliation/cost settlement process. Cost-based reimbursement ensures that LEAs are appropriately reimbursed for the actual costs for the delivery of direct medical services to Medicaid eligible children. This training will emphasize 1) Accurate reporting of costs; 2) Guidelines for entering depreciation costs; 3) Understanding tuition reimbursement methodology; 4) Emergency preparedness recommendations; and 5) Potential impacts on Fiscal Year 19-20 cost settlement from the COVID-19 public health emergency.

These sessions are intended for ACCESS coordinators, special education directors and supervisors, business managers, and anyone else involved in SBAP.

Virtual training will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 from 9AM to 3PM. Registration is required. Register online via the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) Training Calendar at http://www.pattan.net.  Contact Sharon Kennedy at [email protected] with any registration questions.

For content questions, contact DHS’ vendors at [email protected] or [email protected].

BSE Issues PASA Training Info (September 4, 2020)

On September 4, 2020, Carole L. Clancy, PDE Bureau of Special Education (BSE) Director, issued a PennLink memo titled Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA): New 2020-21 Assessment Vendor and Training Announcement to provide school administrators and staff with details regarding important changes to the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) for the 2020-21 school year and a series of trainings to support the transition to the new alternate assessment.

 BSE has selected Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) Alternate Assessment System Consortium at the University of Kansas as the new PASA assessment and vendor for the 2020-21 testing cycle. Because the alternate assessment and vendor are new for this coming school year, it is imperative that school administrators, assessment coordinators, and teachers who work with students taking the PASA review the updated PASA DLM calendar, understand the new test design and training requirements, and participate accordingly in order to enroll and assess students through the new assessment system this year. To that end, the following trainings will be offered virtually for school administrators and teachers who work with the PASA.  It is imperative that school administrators share this information with PASA Assessment Coordinators and assessors to ensure participation in required trainings accordingly.  Details are included below:

  • PASA Getting Ready is a virtual training provided by BSE and Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) staff for Special Education Administrators and PASA Assessment Coordinators.  This annual training provides relevant updates regarding the PASA, and the federally mandated 1.0 percent threshold compliance and submission requirements for the 2020-21 school year.  The webinar will be available beginning September 25, 2020, and can be accessed on the PDE website at Bureau of Special Education Alternate Assessment.
  • Getting to Know DLM for District Test Coordinators/Assessment Coordinators is a required training series for all PASA Assessment Coordinators to introduce the new assessment.  If the PASA Assessment Coordinator is not the Special Education Administrator, the Special Education Administrator also should participate.
  • Getting to Know DLM for Test Administrators/Assessors is a required training series for all teachers who will administer the PASA.  PASA Assessment Coordinators are advised to view this training as well. This virtual training is designed to introduce the teacher to the new assessment design, system, and features.  The Getting to Know DLM training series for Assessment Coordinators and Assessors is intended to familiarize relevant personnel with the new assessment system.  Both webinars should be completed prior to enrolling students and engaging in the other DLM trainings. These pre-recorded trainings will be available beginning September 28, 2020 on the Pennsylvania DLM webpage.  All participants must register at PaTTAN Training Calendar.  Act 48 credit will be available.
  • PASA DLM Test Administration Training is the annual required training that all teachers who administer the PASA must complete prior to administering the PASA.  This training will be available Monday, October 12–February 19, 2021 through the DLM Kite Portal.  Assessors looking to earn Act 48 credit must register through the PaTTAN Training Calendar.   

The 2020-21 PASA online enrollment window in the new DLM system will be open from October 19, 2020 through December 11, 2020.  To view the full PASA DLM Calendar for 2020-21 and other pertinent PASA information, visit the BSE Special Education Assessment page at Special Education Assessment.  Statewide assessment information for students with significant cognitive disabilities is available at PaTTAN PASA. Questions regarding these training opportunities may be directed to Ron Logan, PaTTAN Educational Consultant, at [email protected].

BSE Releases Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses Memo (September 1, 2020)

On September 1, 2020, PDE BSE Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink titled Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses. The memo states that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will begin accepting applications for the Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses on November 23, 2020.  Interested local educational agencies (LEAs) will have until January 8, 2021 to submit applications.

The application and review process for the 2020-21 school year is specified in the Contingency Funds Guidelines.  Applications must be submitted electronically through the contingency funds request system website at https://apps.leaderservices.com/cfunds.  LEAs that have not previously used the system may request a password from Leader Services by emailing [email protected]. The LEA’s address will be verified and a password will be issued, along with the information regarding the primary account.

 Questions regarding Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses should be directed to Janette Fulton, Division of Analysis and Financial Reporting, at 717-425-5442 or [email protected].