Category: Government Actions

FDA Warns of Teen E-Cigarette Use Epidemic (September 29, 2018)

The FDA put the vaping industry on notice this month, issuing warning letters and fines to five major manufacturers and more than 1,300 retailers who have illegally sold e-cigarette products to minors. The move by the FDA stems from the agency’s identifying signs that youth use of electronic cigarettes has reached epidemic proportions.According to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, “We have data to show that use of e-cigarettes, while potentially posing much less harm than combusting tobacco, is not benign. It causes its own health effects. And nicotine use by kids is dangerous. It causes direct effects on their health and their brains.”

The American Lung Association has also identified a lack of government oversight of e-cigarette products and expressed its concern as to the possible health risks involved in their use.

 

PA State Police to Up Presence at Schools (September 28, 2018)

As per new rules originating from Governor Wolf’s School Safety Task Force, PA State Police will now be visiting schools in areas that don’t have their own police departments and for which the State Police provide primary coverage. State Police barracks will now send someone to do a check once per shift, which results in visits occurring at least three times per day to schools in nearly 1,300 PA municipalities, most of them rural. State Police may also make visits to schools in areas that have their own police forces.

Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) Offers Training for Assessment Coordinators (September 17, 2018)

A live webinar training entitled “2019 PASA Getting Ready” will be held on September 25, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  This training is sponsored directly by the PA Bureau of Special Education and is separate from the PASA Test Administration training provided by the assessment vendor.  LEAs and service providers are strongly encouraged to ensure participation of the PASA AC in this training.  The PASA AC receives important assessment announcements through electronic mail from the PASA vendor and serves as the point of contact with the PASA vendor and BSE.  Please ensure that contact information in the PASA digital system is current. PASA ACs and special education administrators responsible for the implementation of the PASA may register for the training session via the following link: https://paiu.zoom.us/j/766271721. This webinar will be presented through Zoom.  The training will be recorded and posted on both the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network websites following the training for staff who are unable to attend. Questions regarding this training opportunity may be directed to Lisa Hampe, Special Education Adviser, at [email protected] or 724.425.3000; or Lynda Lupp, Statewide Assessment Coordinator, at [email protected] or 800.441.3215, ext. 7233.

The Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) enrollment window is from October 1, 2018 through November 16, 2018 and will not be available after the latter date.  Only students newly identified as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and PASA eligible or new to the service provider may be enrolled through the PASA vendor after November 16, 2018.  All other requests to enroll students outside of the enrollment window will be directed to the Bureau of Special Education (BSE). The PASA test administration window is from February 25, 2019 through April 12, 2019 for all content areas.  The service provider may determine the schedule for test administration within this window, including the order in which the subject area assessments are administered.

Center for Safe Schools Promotes PCCD Grant Opportunity (September 17, 2018)

The Center for Safe Schools is promoting a new funding opportunity available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) entitled School Safety and Security Grant Program. Act 44 of 2018 established the School Safety and Security Grant, which provides strong support for schools and districts to ensure a safe and secure environment for students in Pennsylvania. A total of approximately $52.5 million in state School Safety and Security funds are supporting this initiative. Applications are due on or before October 12, 2018. Complete grant information is available at School Safety and Security Grant Program.

 

State Board Provides Notice of Chapter 16 Roundtable Discussions (September 14, 2018)

At its September 12, 2018 meeting the PA State Board of Education provided public notice regarding the State Board of Education’s Committee on Special and Gifted Education scheduled series of public roundtable discussions on the current Chapter 16 (Gifted Education) regulations. The notice  can be viewed at: https://www.stateboard.education.pa.gov/Documents/About%20the%20Board/Hearings%20and%20Roundtables/Chapter%2016%20Roundtable%20Announcement.pdf

Roundtable sites include Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 (October 3rd), Montgomery County IU #23 (October 9th), and PDE (November 1st).

Roundtable meetings provide an informal but structured setting for open discussion and dialogue.

Persons interested in participating in one of the roundtable meetings should register with the State Board office at (717) 787-3787 or [email protected] no later than the deadline dates and times listed in the notice.