The School Immunization Law Report (SILR) is due to the Division of Immunizations by 12-31-19.  The submission of this report is a requirement as stated in the Pa Code  Title 28 Chapter 23, which can be accessed at http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/028/chapter23/subchapCtoc.html&d=reduce

§ 23.86. School reporting.

 (a)  A public, private, parochial or nonpublic school in this Commonwealth, including vocational schools, intermediate units, special education and home education programs, and cyber and charter schools, shall report immunization data to the Department electronically by December 31 of each year using a format and system provided by the Department.

The SILR Instruction packet can be accessed by clicking here or visiting the following link:

https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Programs/Immunizations/2019-20%20SILR%20instructional%20packet.pdf

The SILR can be accessed at https://apps.health.pa.gov/silr/

On December 16, 2019, Carole L. Clancy, PDE Director of the Bureau of Special Education, disseminated a PennLink memo titled Individualized Education Program (IEP) Alternative Assessment Changes. The memo states that the PA Bureau of Special Education (BSE) has made changes to the administration of the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) for the 2019-20 school year. Details on the specifics of updates to the 2020 test administration cycle will be included in the required PASA digital training modules, which will be available on the PASA digital website for PASA assessment coordinators and assessors from January 13, 2020 through February 21, 2020.

The memo goes on to say that assessors are no longer required to video record and upload the performance of the student into the PASA Digital system. Narrative notes are also no longer required. Assessors will continue to be required to enter student responses online in the PASA digital system. There is no change to the student response entry by the assessor.  Also, to reduce fiscal constraints associated with IEP form changes, LEAs are not required to make changes to the IEP form at this time. LEAs should inform parents/guardians of these changes accordingly. As IEPs come due or are revised, teams may use the language outlined in this Penn*Link to reflect the change. The revised Section IV of the IEP will be available on PDE’s website and on the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) website by February 1, 2020. This revised section of the IEP may be phased in by LEAs but must be fully implemented by September 1, 2020.

In addition, shipment of assessment materials has been reduced. The vendor will not deliver student assessment booklets. If a student requires printed materials rather than accessing the assessment digitally via an iPad or computer, the assessor must download and provide the printed student materials. Student materials must be printed in color.  Questions or concerns associated with printing of assessment materials may be emailed to [email protected]. The vendor will deliver manipulative kits for the mathematics portion of the 2020 assessment. LEAs are not to return the manipulative kits to the PASA vendor.

Lastly, all printed assessment materials must be properly destroyed by the LEA after the conclusion of the assessment to ensure test security. LEAs are responsible for ensuring the removal of assessment downloads from all iPads and computers. Additionally, all test security affidavits will be completed online through the PASA digital website.

All questions should be submitted to Lisa Hampe at [email protected] or Lynda Lupp at [email protected].

On December 10, 2019, Jill Clodgo, RN, PDH Chief of the Division of School Health, released the December 2019 School Health Update. Items in the update include such things as Nursing Services Staffing and Certification, including the hiring of supplemental staff nurses (LPNs or non-certified RNs) to assist the CSN; Student Medication Self-Administration; Fragrances and Essential Oils; School Immunizations; the Provision of School Health Services to Private/Non-public Schools; Continuous Glucose Monitoring; CPR/AED Training for school personnel and students; and other salient issues. To access the 2019 School Health Services Update, click here.

On December 2, 2019, PA Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera and PA Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa D. Miller unveiled the Pennsylvania Family Engagement Birth through College, Career, Community Ready Framework. The “framework” is a collaborative initiative between PDE’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and includes Family Engagement resources and information for local education agencies (LEAs) aligned with The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The framework is a tool to guide learning communities in the implementation of effective practices, use of shared language, and application of a family engagement continuum for families across their child’s educational lifespan.

The purpose of the framework is to iterate that the effective family engagement, beginning with early learning programs through K12, are important to supporting a child’s learning and development. The framework fosters a clear path and identifies a set of common standards of how learning communities can plan and implement family engagement practice.  The intended audience is Pennsylvania’s learning communities, which can employ this framework. A learning community is defined as programs and schools to which PDE, including the OCDEL and OESE provide funding, guidance and monitoring. It also includes LEAs, such as school districts and associated community partners. The goal of the framework is that, regardless of socioeconomic background, when schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children perform better academically, enjoy school more, remain in school longer, and have better long-term outcomes such as higher graduation rates and improved postsecondary educational attainment and career readiness.

Additionally, PDE is collaborating with the Mid Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) to launch a new state family engagement center –  the Collaborative Action for Family Engagement Center (CAFE) – which is an online resource to provide opportunities for collaboration, learning, and to promote high-impact, culturally responsive family engagement. CAFE will serve diverse families who reside in Pennsylvania. More information on CAFE is forthcoming.

More information on family engagement and the framework can be found on PDE’s website or by clicking here.