On June 07, 2022, the PA Senate passed SB 1191 to prevent athletes who were male at birth from participating in womenâs and girlsâ school sports. The vote was 30-20. One Democrat and one independent joined all Republicans voting in favor of the bill, which now goes to the PA House for consideration.
It is reported that Gov. Tom Wolf has said he would veto the bill.
The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is focusing on steps schools, colleges, and communities can take to support students with disabilities and students with mental health needs, especially the essential partnership between schools and families to ensure effective implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Thus , the USDE has released new resources for schools, colleges, and communities to promote mental health and the social and emotional well-being of children and students.
According to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. âThe Department stands ready to help educators, school and program staff, and families thoughtfully design learning experiencesâand to ensure students with disabilities continue to have equal access to in-person instruction.â
Resources on Website Accessibility
A new series of âhow-toâ videos on website accessibility covers topics including how people with disabilities use technology, applicable federal laws, and how to identify and remediate technological barriers that can interfere with the ability of parents and students with disabilities to participate in modern American education. OCRâs National Digital Accessibility Team has resolved over 1,000 digital accessibility cases since its formation just under three years ago, making educational institutionsâ online programs, services, and activities more accessible to people with disabilities. The 20-part video series draws from that experience and was released in partnership with the ADA National Network.
Digital Accessibility Compliance Reviews
OCR will soon launch 100 new compliance reviews examining digital accessibility in elementary and secondary schools and districts, postsecondary institutions, state departments of education, libraries, and vocational rehabilitation services. Reviews will cover online learning, public-facing websites, and parent-resource and communications platforms to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Other Actions
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) included $3 billion to help states support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Another $40 billion was provided to colleges through Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds to provide emergency aid to students and meet urgent public health needs related to the pandemic, including providing evidence-based mental health supports.
In addition, the USDE has taken a series of steps to uphold the rights of students with disabilities and support schools and institutions with providing mental health resources to students. These include:
On May 31, 2022, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona released a statement on the National Center for Education Statisticsâ âCondition of Educationâ 2022 report. The report summarizes the latest data on education and includes changes in enrollment from fall of 2019 through fall of 2020, the first year of schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
âWhen I took office, only 46 percent of schools were open for in-person learning. Now, more than 99 percent of schools and colleges are open, and our institutions are beginning to heal. We know COVID-19 disrupted our schools and colleges, and this report serves as an important reminder of the work left to be done on the road to recovery. The Departmentâs urgency has shifted from getting institutions open to, now, keeping them open; providing the necessary academic, financial and mental health supports for students and families; and strengthening our K-12 and post-secondary education systems. Togetherâwith educators, parents, and staffâwe can help schools and colleges recover and thrive.
âConsidering last weekâs tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, this data also shines a light on a dark truthâthe growing prevalence of gun violence in our schools. As I recently said to members of Congress, I am ashamed that we as a country are becoming desensitized to these horrific tragedies. As parents, leaders, and educators, protecting our children is more important than anything else. The time for thoughts and prayers alone is over. We need legislative action. We can do better, and we must do better.â
The Condition of Education report contains key indicators on all levels of education, labor force outcomes, and international comparisons. The indicators summarize important developments and trends using the latest statistics, which are updated throughout the year as new data become available. Spotlight indicators provide more in-depth analyses on selected topics. In addition, the more succinct Report on the Condition of Education, which highlights and synthesizes key findings from the Condition of Education, is also available in PDF format.
Click here to view the report.
Today, U.S Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will lay out his vision for how the nation can support teachers across the country and elevate the teaching profession. During an address and fireside chat at the Bank Street College of New York, Secretary Cardona will discuss how the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), states and districts, and higher education institutions can recruit, prepare, and retain great teachers and, in turn, improve our education system across the country.
Read the press release by clicking here.
The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Education are reminding Pennsylvanians to take advantage of the many summer food assistance programs for students and caretakers across the commonwealth. State and local options are available to Pennsylvania families facing food insecurity this summer.
According to 2019 food insecurity data provided by Feeding America, 10.6% of Pennsylvanians â or 1,353,730 people â did not always know where their next meal was coming from. That number included 383,500 children, 14.6% of all children in the state. When school-based meals end with the school year, addressing child food insecurity can become an even greater challenge.
Options for Pennsylvania caretakers and children experiencing food insecurity include:
Seniors and seniors taking care of children also may be eligible for the following:
Learn more at agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.