On the same day that the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report that showed K-12 African-American students, male students, and students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos personally met with educators, including NEA representatives, who either supported or opposed previous guidance issued by both the USDE and the US Department of Justice. DeVos will decide whether to discard, keep, or alter the 2014 guidance warning that schools could be found in violation of federal civil rights laws if they intentionally discriminate against students on a racial basis.
Category: Government Actions
Congress Passes Spending Plan Increasing Money for Education, School Safety (March 24, 2018)
Congress has agreed on a fiscal 2018 spending plan that includes funding for school safety measures and does not include several changes and cuts sought by President Trump, who had called for a $9.2 billion cut in discretionary education spending. The approved plan would increase spending by $2.6 billion over previous 2018 fiscal year levels. Increases will be seen in Title I programming; Special education grants; Title IV block grant funding that could be used for, among other things, school safety; funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, charter school aid, and additional investments in early childhood programs. Funding for Title II programs that provide for professional development for educators is level-funded. There is no funding for either a proposed $250 million private school choice initiative or a $1 billion program to encouraged open enrollment in school districts. The spending plan also includes provisions under the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act, providing $75 million in funding for school safety purposes such as metal detectors, lighting, locks, and other safety and security tools, including school safety assessments.
School Breakfast Grants Available Until April 6th (March 24, 2018)
PDE is now offering mini-grants of up to $5,000 to help schools start or expand participation in the School Breakfast Program. Research shows that students benefit when eat a nutritious breakfast, but only about 50% of students that are receiving free or reduced lunches are also receiving breakfast. Schools can use grant funds for such things as equipment, staff training, program implementation, learning and building support, and marketing. The deadline to apply for these mini-grants is April 6, 2018. Grant awards will be announced by May 11th and will be available for use during Ā the 2018-19 school year.
Governor and Auditor General Start School Safety Task Force (March 24, 2018)
Governor Tom Wolf and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale have announced the creation of a School Safety Task Force to discuss ways to improve school safety and security. The task force will include government officials, school officials, teachers, parents/guardians and students. A series of regional meetings will be held across the state over the next few months to explore concerns with safety and potential policy changes. There will also be significant changes to how school safety is reviewed. School safety objectives will be included in all school audits and review and the distribution of confidential school safety audit results will be expanded beyond the current distribution to school superintendents and school safety officers and will include the Pennsylvania State Police, the Attorney General, and local police departments. The auditor general will also examine how the school construction and renovation process incorporates school safety concerns in the planning for such projects.
PDE Releases Guidance for Medical Exemptions from State Assessments (March 14, 2018)
According to guidance released from PDE for medical exemptions from state assessments, generally, if a student can receive instruction, then they are also able to participate in state assessments. However, the health and well-being of students should take priority in determining whether they can participate. Students may receive a medical exemption if they cannot participate in a state assessment during the testing window, including make-up dates, due to a significant medical event.Ā Examples include, but are not limited to, a student who is 1) receiving short-term medical treatment due to a medical emergency; or 2) seriously ill or has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving instruction during the testing window. A medical emergency is defined as a circumstance in which a student cannot take or finish taking the assessment during the entire testing window, including make-up dates, because of a recent significant medical event just prior to or during the annual testing window.Ā Examples of medical emergencies include, but are not limited to: serious injury; concussion; confinement to home or hospital with an acute condition, not a long-term home instruction or hospital instruction situation; the inability to interact with others without serious risk of infection or contamination; pregnancy with significant health complications or delivery just prior to or during the testing window; and a mental health crisis that prevents a student from receiving instruction. A note from a physician dated at least two weeks within the start of the testing window must be on file at the school. These records must be retained for three years. A serious illness or medical condition is defined as one in which the student is receiving active treatment for a life-threatening illness or medical condition and/or the associated recuperation.Ā A note from a physician must be on file at the school and must be retained for three years. To account for a student with a medical exemption, as defined above, the āMedical Emergencyā bubble on testing documents should be used. Note: An assessment of a studentās medical condition must be made annually at the testing window for each content area.