Category: Government Actions

PA Provides $20M to Help with Special Ed. Costs (August 23, 2020)

Governor Tom Wolf is dedicating approximately $20 million to help 678 local education agencies, including school districts, to provide education services for students with disabilities who may have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 mitigation efforts and may face additional challenges through the new academic year. The funding includes $15 million from Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and $5 million from the Department of Education’s (PDE) federal funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

“While COVID-19 impacted all students this year, it was particularly hard on our children with special needs, who often require additional support and services to assist their learning,” said Gov. Wolf. “This funding will help schools as they put structures in place to help these students while we work to mitigate the spread of this pandemic.”

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds. The Special Education COVID-19 Impact Mitigation Grant (SECIM) will provide $15 million in financial support ($10M GEER; $5M IDEA) to local education agencies (LEA) to:

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorizes governors to determine the educational use of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds. The Special Education COVID-19 Impact Mitigation Grant (SECIM) will provide $15 million in financial support ($10M GEER; $5M IDEA) to local education agencies (LEA) to:

  • Provide enhanced synchronous (real-time) instruction to bolster remote services and supports for students with complex needs; and
  • Provide services and supports to students with disabilities who experienced a loss in skills and behavior and/or a lack of progress due to the mandatory school closures.

An additional $5 million in GEER grant funding will be available to Preschool Early Intervention programs to provide compensatory educational services. 

“While LEAs transition to implementing reopening plans for the 2020-21 school year, they continue to face challenges in delivering free appropriate public education (FAPE) and providing services to students with disabilities,” said Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera.

“This critical funding will help schools as they work with their students with special needs to rebuild skills and behaviors that were diminished during the COVID-19 shutdown.”

Grant amounts were calculated using an allocation formula based on the number of students with complex special education needs within each LEA. Distribution of funds to Preschool early intervention programs will be made based on identified needs. Grant recipients will receive direct communication from PDE with eGrant application instructions.

To date, the Wolf Administration has awarded $70.5 million in GEER funding to help keep students and educators safe, and meet the unique challenges of COVID-19. In addition to the $15 million for special education, the Wolf Administration has directed $28 million to postsecondary institutions and adult basic education providers, $14 million to K-12 schools to support equity in continuity of education, $10.5 million to Career and Technical Education Centers and $3 million for Preschool Early Intervention Programs.

For more information, please click here.

PA Requests Critical Food Programs for Kids be Extended by USDA (August 23, 2020)

Wolf Administration officials have asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend national waivers due to expire on August 31, 2020 that have allowed Pennsylvania to provide approximately 24 million meals to school children during the pandemic.

If waivers are allowed to expire at the end of the month, it will bring an end to breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks for school-age children and their younger siblings. The Wolf Administration’s request urges the following actions:

  • Allow the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to be used to feed children during the 2020-21 school year. Permitting both schools and nonprofits to continue use of this waiver would significantly reduce administrative burdens, limit confusion of where meals can be accessed, allow meals to be provided at locations most convenient for families, and help to limit overt identification of children from low-income households.
  • Expand the non-congregate and other approved waivers for the National School Lunch Program to the SFSP and SSO to allow these programs to be used to feed children when they are not physically in school. Extending these waivers will allow community-based nonprofit organizations to assist schools in meeting the needs of children at locations that work best for families, particularly on days when children are engaging in remote, virtual learning.
  • Extend the Area Eligibility waiver for SFSP and SSO through the 2020-21 school year. Allowing feeding sites to provide meals in communities that do not meet the 50 percent free or reduced-price threshold for area eligibility has been essential to providing necessary food to children despite the uncertainty and stress that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Waive the Afterschool Activity Requirement for the Afterschool Meal and Snack Programs available through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through the 2020-21 school year. This waiver is critical for CACFP sites to be able to provide access to meals and snacks when providing the activity component isn’t otherwise safe or feasible.
  • Allow those providing meals through the SFSP or SSO to also serve through the Afterschool Meal and Snack Programs. While children receiving meals through SFSP or SSO are only able to receive two meals per day, USDA allowed a third meal to be provided under guidance issued through the unanticipated school closure waiver. This waiver was critical over the past six months in providing three meals a day to children in need of food assistance and will be critical to continue in order for community-based nonprofit organizations to replicate the meal options being provided by schools.

The above extensions will help to make sure that Pennsylvania children under the age of 18 have access to much-needed sustenance regardless of the instructional models used by their schools.

For more information, please click here.

CDC Releases Updated School Opening Guidelines (August 22, 2020)

On Friday, August 21, 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for schools across the nation. The update adds more details to existing guidelines and are designed to provide more information regarding opening schools while limiting risk.

According to the updated guidelines, “The many benefits of in-person schooling should be weighed against the risks posed by Covid-19… which poses low risks to school-aged children – at least in areas with low community transmission.” However, the guidelines note that adults in schools who become infected will “mirror that of other adults in the community.” Regarding children, the guidelines state they are less likely than adults to have severe symptoms.

Schools are advised to develop methods for monitoring local Covid-19 data to track levels of transmission and to enhance their ability to make suitable decisions. Schools are also advised to work closely with local and public health officials if there is an infected person on school premises or conveyances.

The guidelines also advise that accommodations should be made to reduce risks for adults and students deemed to be at higher risk for severe illness. In fact, the revised guidelines have an entire section regarding how schools should accommodate children with disabilities or special health care needs, promoting an individualized approach to meet the needs of such students. Schools are also encouraged to offer remote counseling, insure the continuity of mental health services, and to inform and encourage those who may feel overwhelmed and want to harm themselves or others to call 911 and/or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK and/or the national distress hotline at (800) 985-5990.

Other highlights include:

  • Increasing the frequency of routine cleaning and disinfection of facilities
  •  Insuring that ventilation systems deliver clean air
  • Opening windows and increasing outdoor air circulation in the school
  • Stressing the need for hand hygiene, including washing hands appropriately and/or using hand sanitizer frequently
  • The wearing of cloth face coverings and masks are an “important mitigation strateg[y]” and the use of masks is most important when students and adults are indoors as well as when the ability to social distance is compromised
  • Clear face coverings may be preferable for teachers of young students and those instructing English language learners and students with disabilities when the ability to see the instructor’s mouth is deemed important
  • Learning stations and activities should have fewer students per group and students, when possible, should be spaced at least six feet apart
  • Cafeterias should refrain from offering self-serve food or drinks, meals should be individually plated or pre-packaged, food service items (e.g., trays and utensils) should be disposable, food and/or utensils should never be shared, and schools are encouraged to have children eat outdoors or in their classrooms
  •  Touchless payment methods should be used if possible and hand sanitizer should be abundantly available, including near the checkout area
  • Foot pedal and no-touch trash cans should be employed

For more information, access the revised CDC guidelines by clicking here or go to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html

PIAA Votes to Begin Fall Sports (August 21, 2020)

On Friday, August 21, 2020, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Board of Directors  voted 25-5 to begin the fall sports season on Monday, August 24, 2020. According to a PIAA press release, all sports may begin based on decisions made by school districts and the decision to compete in athletics should be made locally, allowing for each school entity to decide whether to proceed and which sports to sponsor. The PIAA goes on to say that, through each member schools’ adherence to their developed school health and safety plans and the PIAA Return to Competition guidelines, sports can continue.

To view the PIAA Press Release, click here.

BSE Sends Reporting of Expenditures Relating to Exceptional Students Memo to LEAs (August 17, 2020)

On August 17, 2020, Carole L. Clancy, Director of the PA Bureau of Special Education, sent a PennLink communiquĂŠ to all LEAs titled Reporting of Expenditures Relating to Exceptional Students, which states that Act 16 of 2000 (24 PS §13-1372(8)) requires the Reporting of Expenditures Relating to Exceptional Students.  School districts and charter schools must report the number of students with disabilities for which expenditures were between $1 and $26,505.90; between $26,505.91 and $53,011.82; between $53,011.83 and $79,517.74; and $79,517.75 and over for the prior entire school year (2019-2020). This report will be collected at the student level through PIMS using the Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds.  The template will be collected during Collection #1 (opening October 1 and closing with a deadline of October 15, 2020).  Data is to be based on expenditures incurred during the entire 2019-20 school year. Guidelines regarding the Act 16 reporting can be found at Act 16 Information. The Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds can be found in the PIMS manual. LEAs are advised that failure to complete the Student Fact Template for Special Education Act 16 Funds report may have an adverse effect on the LEA’s special education funding. Questions regarding this reporting requirement may be emailed to [email protected].  A copy of this information is being provided to each intermediate unit so they may assist school districts and charter schools with report preparation, as needed.Â