Category: State Government Actions

PA State Board Meeting Addresses Amended Regs, Pandemic, Capitol Riots (January 14, 2021)

On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, the PA State Board of Education (Board) met via virtual means. The meeting opened with Board Chair Karen Farmer-White announcing that former state senator Andrew Dinniman will be joining as a member of the Higher Education Council.

The meeting proceeded with a presentation by the Deputy Secretary for Postsecondary and Higher Education, Dr. Tanya J. Garcia. In her presentation, Dr. Garcia spoke of the impact that COVID-19 has had on higher education. One impact has been that, usually during a recession, there is an increase in higher ed. numbers. This has not occurred due to the pandemic. According to Dr. Garcia, emergency educator certification procedures have also been implemented due to the pandemic. With regard to instruction she reported that currently 31% of colleges have in-person learning, 30% are remote learning only, and 39% are using a hybrid instructional delivery (i.e, lab work and/or classroom learning coupled with remote learning).

Higher Ed.Council Chair Dr. Jonathan Peri  commented that the shelf-life of a COVID-19 discussion seems to be about a week. He also reported that the Master Plan for Higher Education is, as per the School Code, to be updated every 10 years by the council and that process will now begin. The last update was in 2005.  

Acting PA Secretary of Ed. Noe Ortega addressed the Board on the effects of the pandemic on preK-12 children and the need to look at ways to safely return to in-person learning and the results of research in this area are being continuously analyzed.  Secretary Ortega also spoke of the DC riots and the importance of education in playing a role in addressing such events. He mentioned teaching civic engagement and outcomes and the appropriate means of civic interaction with an awareness of the importance of altruism, volunteerism, and otherness.

In action items, the Board unanimously approved two items, which were the Board’s Annual Report to the Governor and General Assembly and the Petition of the PA Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) to extend the review cycle for one year.

The meeting concluded with an update on proposed amendments to Chapter 49 regulations (i.e., the public comment period will close on January 17th and the amended regulations will then go to the House and Senate Education Committees) and amendments to Chapter 4 regulations (which are awaiting comment from the Governor’s office).

Department of Human Services Provides Update on Latest Medicaid, SNAP Enrollment Data, Announces Recent Changes to SNAP Benefits and Eligibility (January 12, 2021)

On January 6, 2021, PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller reminded Pennsylvanians that safety-net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid (MA) are available to individuals and families who are struggling to afford food or access health care. Secretary Miller also discussed recent SNAP changes that will help individuals and families amidst the continuing public health crisis and heightened unemployment.

Enrollment statewide for Medicaid has increased by 300,076 people since February 2020, for a total enrollment of 3,131,639 people in November 2020, which is a 10.6% increase.

In addition, Pennsylvanians who have lost health coverage or are currently uninsured and need coverage for themselves or their children may qualify for coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid and CHIP provide coverage for routine and emergency health services, tests and screenings, and prescriptions, and COVID-19 testing and treatment are covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Medicaid and CHIP enroll individuals throughout the year and do not have a limited or special enrollment time, so people needing health coverage can apply for these programs at any time. There are income limits for Medicaid, but all children qualify for comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage through CHIP regardless of their parents’ income. Children who are not income eligible for Medicaid are automatically referred to CHIP for coverage.

Enrollment for SNAP statewide has increased by 96,549 people since February 2020, for a total enrollment of about 1,834,008 in November 2020, which is a 5.6% increase.

SNAP helps more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians purchase fresh food and groceries, helping families with limited or strained resources be able to keep food on the table while meeting other bills and needs. Inadequate food and chronic nutrient deficiencies have profound effects on a person’s life and health, including increased risks for chronic diseases, higher chances of hospitalization, poorer overall health, and increased health care costs. As the nation faces the COVID-19 pandemic, access to essential needs like food is more important than ever to help keep vulnerable populations healthy and mitigate co-occurring health risks.  Congress has temporarily increased the SNAP maximum benefit allotment by 15% through the recently-signed federal government funding bill. This change affects every SNAP recipient in the commonwealth and is effective from January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021. More information, including the new SNAP maximum monthly allotment, can be viewed by clicking here.

Center for Safe Schools Offers Bullying Prevention Third Thursday PD Series (January 11, 2021)

The Center for Safe Schools is pleased to present the Bullying Prevention Third Thursday professional development series. This series is a way for educators, bullying prevention trainers, social workers, after-school professionals and a host of community partners to become more familiar with bullying prevention, social emotional learning, cutting edge research, trauma-informed approaches and many more topics that help support school climate improvement in-person and online. The Center for Safe Schools is pleased to present the Bullying Prevention Third Thursday professional development series. This series is a way for educators, bullying prevention trainers, social workers, after-school professionals and a host of community partners to become more familiar with bullying prevention, social emotional learning, cutting edge research, trauma-informed approaches and many more topics that help support school climate improvement in-person and online.

The series kicks off on January 21, 2021 with Best Practices in Bullying Prevention: Examining a Three-Tiered Approach presented by Jane Riese, Associate Director, Safe and Humane Schools, Mary Dolan, Bullying Prevention Consultant, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Stacie Molnar-Main, School Climate and Social Emotional Learning Consultant, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and Research Associate, Kettering Foundation

REGISTER HERE

BSE’s Clancy Releases Memo: State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Survey (Cohort 1 Exit) (January 11, 2021)

On January 8, 2021, BSE Director Carole L. Clancy released a PennLink memo titled State Performance Plan Data Requirements – Postsecondary School Survey (Cohort 1 Exit). The accountability requirement under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 mandates each state determine the extent to which students are achieving transition outcomes (State Performance Plan – Indicator 14). To meet the federal reporting requirement, each local educational agency (LEA) is mandated to administer Exit- and Post-School Surveys to students (who have graduated, dropped out or reached the maximum age) with individualized education programs (IEPs) once over a five-year period, based on the LEA’s assignment to a targeted sampling year.

For the 2020-21 school year, LEAs assigned to target sampling Year 1 are required to administer Exit Surveys. During 2021-22, these same LEAs will be required to complete the Post-School Surveys. The following information specifically addresses Exit Survey administration for 2020-21.  LEAs assigned to target sampling Year 1, as listed below, are required to address the following:

For questions about the Exit Survey or Indicator 14 process, please contact PaTTAN Educational Consultants Hillary Mangis at [email protected] or Jacki Lyster at [email protected].