On June 15, 2022 the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education released a PennLink to all LEAs with the subject line Driver and Safety Education Portal. The message states that the Driver and Safety Education Portal was opened for mandatory reporting on June 15, and closes on September 15, 2022.
Per section 1519 of the Pennsylvania School Code (24 P.S. § 15-1519), all Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are required to submit driver education program information, using form PDE 4026 Annual High School Driver Education Report via the portal by September 15, 2022. Schools that do not offer driver education must indicate âNo Programâ using the same form.
Schools seeking reimbursement must submit their request using form PDE 3039, Annual Preapproval of Driver Education via the portal no later than September 15, 2022.
Schools that offer driver education by contracting with a Private Driver Training School (PDTS) must identify the PDTS(s) on form PDE 4026.
The portal can be accessed at: MyPDESuite Application Login. Questions may be directed to John V. Kashatus, School Safety Education Advisor, 717-783-4382 at [email protected].
Category: State Government Actions
Gov Wolf Announces New Charter School Regulations (June 26, 2022)
On June 21, 2022, Governor âTom Wolf âannounced that new charter school regulations are ready for publication. According to the governor, those regulations would provide transparency, equity and accountability in implementation of the commonwealthâs Charter School Law (CSL). Previously, the governor vetoed, disapproved, and returned to the General Assembly âa deficient concurrent resolution disapproving the regulations.
In his veto message, Governor Wolf said the concurrent resolution was procedurally deficient because the General Assembly failed to adhere to the timetable outlined in the Regulatory Review Act (RRA) for disapproving a concurrent resolution.
Additionally, Governor Wolf said the final-form regulation is essential as âa critical step forward in increasing transparency, equity, quality, and accountability in the implementation of the outdated Charter School Law, which has not been significantly amended since its passage over 20 years ago.â
The regulations, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), are said to clarify several elements of the state CSL to align public charter school operations and oversight with that of traditional public schools. The regulations were approved in March by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and have been sent to the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
According to a press release, the regulations:
-Provide clear application requirements for entities seeking to open a charter school, regional charter school, and cyber charter school;
-Ensure that all Pennsylvania students are able to access charter schools;
-Clarify the ethics requirements for charter and cyber charter school trustees;
-Require school districts and charter schools to follow the same fiscal management and auditing standards;
-Streamline the process for charter schools to request tuition payments from school districts and the state; and
-Provide a consistent, common-sense method for charter schools to meet the employee health care requirements in state law.
PDE began developing the regulations in August 2019. Nearly 2,000 comments from charter schools, school districts, professional organizations, lawmakers, and the public were considered as part of the process.
Click to view Gov. Wolfâs House Concurrent Regulatory Review Resolution 1 veto message.
Advocates Denounce Legislation to Bring âDonât Say Gayâ Law to PA (June 22, 2022)
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs and education and youth advocates denounced Senate Bill 1278, alleging that it is a copy-paste version of Floridaâs discriminatory âDonât Say Gayâ bill that would harm students and set back human rights in Pennsylvania.
The Senate Bill 1278, which was introduced on June 10, â2022, was approved on June 21st along party lines by the Senate Education Committee and headed to the full Senate for consideration. Subsequently, the bill was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 22nd.
Rafael Ălvarez Febo, executive director of the LGBTQ Affairs Commission stated that, âThis bill, which was introduced in the middle of Pride Month, is a cruel attempt to politicize LGBTQ people and deny their humanity in order to score cheap political points… Even more alarming, these bills have emboldened far right hate groups to mobilize to commit violence against LGBTQ people…While Pennsylvanians are struggling with very real issues such as gun violence, soaring prices and underfunded schools, the General Assembly has chosen to pick on LGBTQ children and teachers to score political points.â
To view the PA Newsroom press release, click here.
To view SB 1278, click here.
PDH Says PA Vaccine Providers are Ready to Vaccinate Children Ages Six Months and Older (June 19, 2022)
On June 18, 2022, following the approval of two vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the PA Department of Health (PDH) says vaccine providers across the state are prepared to begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations for children six months and older beginning early next week.
The federal agencies have approved the use of a three-dose Pfizer vaccine for children under five years old and a two-dose Moderna vaccine for children under six years old. Both vaccines are approved for children as young as six months.
âThe approval of the vaccines for young children across the state and the nation is welcome news for many parents who have been waiting for the opportunity to provide valuable protection for their children from COVID-19,â Acting Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said. âParents can begin scheduling appointments early next week with many vaccine providers, including pediatricians and primary care physicians, who will have the vaccine available for administration as early as Tuesday (June 21).â
The department notes that pharmacists across the state are only allowed to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children ages three and older, so parents seeking appointments for children under three should contact their pediatrician, family doctor or other qualified physicians.
Pfizerâs vaccine requires three doses and is available for children under five and as young as six months. The vaccine uses three micrograms per shot, which is one-tenth of what is used in the Pfizer shot for adults. Children receiving the Pfizer series of shots, should receive the second dose three weeks after the first, and the third shot eight weeks after the second shot.
Modernaâs vaccine requires two doses and is available for children ages six months through five years. The second shot should be administered 28 days after the first dose. Modernaâs vaccine for children under six calls for 25 micrograms per shot, which is one-quarter of the dose given to adults.
âIt is critical for parents to make sure their children receive the complete series of shots for the vaccine to be as effective as possible,â Johnson added. âThe CDC says for the vaccine to reach its efficacy, children need to receive the recommended three doses of the Pfizer vaccine and two doses of the Moderna vaccine.â
To view the PDH press release, click here.
DHS Provides Innovation and Best Practices in Supporting Adults with Autism (June 14, 2022)
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life. This edition focuses on innovation and best practices in supporting adults with autism.
âDHS is committed to making a future that truly includes individuals with autism as fully integrated members of our communities. We work every day to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have what they need so they can live everyday lives, and I hope that the research and articles in this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal will be useful to anyone working to achieve that goal,â said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead.
Articles in this issue highlight issues facing adults with autism, and this edition features research and articles on the following:
- Data Discoveries: This addition to the issue details the data-driven Life on the Spectrum workshop series, led by self-advocates with autism.
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation for Autistic Adults: Pilot Program Development: This article details the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centerâs (UPMC) Western Behavioral Health Psychiatric Rehabilitation (PR) program used to serve autistic adults and outlines the successes and opportunities of the program.
- Autistic and Transgender: Support at the Intersection: This article addresses the needs of autistic and transgender individuals through evidence-based intervention, clinical experience, and lived experience and details the support needs of this community.
- A Reflection on Retirement from Someone on the Autism Spectrum: A Commonwealth employee of 29 years recounts his experience working for DHS and details his transition to retirement.
- Enhancements of Identification and Service Delivery to Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Needs within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC): This article outlines the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOCâs) Psychology Officeâs updates to identifying and treating neurodevelopmental disorders beyond intellectual disabilities, including those individuals living with autism spectrum disorder.
- What Comes Next? Creating Programs and Understanding Priorities for Autistic Adults as They Age: This article details how Pennsylvaniaâs Office of Developmental Programs is a national leader in models and services for Pennsylvanians with autism.
- Reliability of the Temple University Community Participation Measure with Adults with Autism: This article examines a tool developed by Temple University that measures the community participation of adults on the autism spectrum.
The journal is a collaboration of DHSâ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and collects resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities.
Click to read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.