Schools across Pennsylvania are participating in a free COVID-19 testing program created earlier this year by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH). As of November 13, 2021, the testing partnership between PDH, Concentric, and Ginkgo Bioworks has conducted more than 3,600 PCR and antigen tests. Currently, 424 schools are participating in the program, with 148 schools actively testing and 276 schools in the onboarding process.

PDH also shared testing data – including the number of tests conducted and the number of positive cases found, on the PDH website.

In August, the state Department of Health announced the partnership with the two testing companies to offer Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts the free and voluntary COVID-19 testing program. The no-cost initiative has since been made available to schools statewide, except in Philadelphia, which receives its own allocations from the federal government and has its own health department.

To see which  school districts are participating in the testing program, a list of schools can be found here. This list will be updated by PDH each Wednesday.

Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Physician General, Pediatric Professionals Discuss COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Ages 5 through 11; Parents Encouraged to Schedule Child’s Vaccination Appointment Now

Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson led a discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine available for children ages 5 through 11. The event, entitled Vax Facts: Facts About Pediatric Vaccines, is the latest in a series aimed at providing relevant and accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines and addressing the questions of citizens.

“The Pfizer pediatric vaccine is safe, and it is highly effective at protecting children against COVID-19-related illness, hospitalization, and death,” Dr. Johnson said. “Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is the best way to keep families and communities healthy and safe – while also keeping schools safe and open for in-person learning. To parents with a child age 5 and older, I encourage you to get them vaccinated and give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid.”

Dr. Johnson was joined by pediatricians versed in childhood vaccinations, including the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine, including Dr. Trude Haecker, MD, FAAP, President of the PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and General Pediatrician from Philadelphia and Dr. Swathi Gowtham, MD, FAAAP, board-certified and fellowship-trained specialist in pediatric infectious diseases from Danville.

With parental consent, children ages 5 through 11 are able to receive the free FDA-authorized, CDC-approved and pediatrician recommended Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at pediatrician offices, health centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare provider facilities.

“With at least one quarter of all COVID-19 cases occurring in children, the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 is a huge milestone for some 28 million kids,” Dr. Haecker said. “This vaccine provides the best protection we have against this virus. The pandemic has taken a toll not only on the physical health of children, but also on their social, developmental, and emotional health. Thankfully, this vaccine will move us closer to a return to normalcy for our children, and ensure that they can remain in school, safely. I encourage all parents and caregivers to reach out to their pediatrician or primary care provider with questions and to schedule their child’s vaccination.” 

“The approval of the COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 through 11 assures that these children can now be offered the same level of protection against COVID-19 that has been offered to older children and adults,” Dr. Gowtham said. “The impact of COVID-19 in children should not be underestimated – around 600 American children have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of pandemic. As pediatricians, we want parents and guardians to be comfortable with the medical decisions they make for their children – please reach out to your child’s health care provider about any questions regarding COVID-19 vaccine or any other vaccine. These vaccines give us hope that families can have healthier holiday season this winter, if all those who are eligible get their COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines.” 

The panel also pointed out that children ages 5 through 11 may only receive the Pfizer pediatric vaccine, while children ages 12 through 17 may only receive the Pfizer 12+ vaccine.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) has announced that information on schools participating in a free and voluntary COVID-19 screening testing program, which is available through a partnership with Concentric by Ginkgo Bioworks (Ginkgo), is now available on PDH’s website.

“We are pleased that Pennsylvania schools are taking advantage of this free and voluntary service,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “The testing program is designed to help mitigate the spread and possible outbreak of COVID-19 in schools and further our goal of maximizing in-person learning throughout the school year.”

The information includes the names of schools that are participating in the onboarding process and identifies schools that have already begun testing in the program. Currently, there are 424 schools participating in the program, with 148 schools actively testing and 276 schools in the onboarding process.

The federally funded COVID-19 screening testing is available at no cost to K-12 schools across the state. Schools within Philadelphia County are not included in the list, because they receive a separate federal allocation for testing.

In addition to the names of the schools, PDH will also provide summary state-level data from the testing program, such as the total number of positive cases, the number of tests conducted, the approximate number of people tested and the average turnaround time from the time testing occurs to when results of the testing is available.

“We want to remind school officials across the state that the onboarding process is fluid, so schools can opt into the program at any time throughout the school year by submitting a Statement of Assurances form to the department,” Beam added.

Information on schools participating in the COVID-19 testing program will be updated weekly on Wednesdays.

Last month, the PA Department of Education (PDE) issued a PennLink message to all LEAs. It was titled Supplemental Equipment Grant Applications Available. The message stated that the Bureau of Career and Technical Education is now accepting applications for the 2021-22 Supplemental Equipment Grants. Approximately $5,550,000 in state funds are available for the purchase of equipment and for the purchase of a complete set of tools for use in the hands-on instruction of students enrolled in Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)-approved career and technical education (CTE) programs.

Pennsylvania secondary school districts and career and technical centers with PDE approved CTE programs are eligible to apply for this grant. The equipment and a complete set of tools must be a minimum of $3,000 per unit. The equipment must meet industry standards, and the Occupational Advisory Committee must have recommended each piece of equipment. Each grant will be awarded based on the funding formula. A match of local funds is not required. The 2021-22 Supplemental Equipment Grant guidelines contain the application information and are available at Career and Technical Education Grants. The deadline for applications is November 30, 2021, at 5 p.m.  Applications are submitted through the eGrant system. Application questions should be directed to Janelle Smith at [email protected] or 717-783-6990. Questions related to available funds should be directed to Ben Hanft at [email protected] or 717-787-5423.

Also last month, PDE released a PennLink to School District Superintendents and Charter School Chief School Administrators titled 2021-22 PA Ready to Learn Block Grant (RTL) Application Open in eGrants stating that PDE has released the 2021-22 Ready to Learn (RTL) application in eGrants and all eligible school entities (school districts, eligible charter schools, and eligible cyber charter schools) may apply. The submission deadline is November 30, 2021. 
The 2021-22 RTL Block Grant appropriation is $268 million, equivalent to the amount appropriated for the 2020-21 school year. RTL grants are to assist students enrolled in the commonwealth’s school districts and charter schools with attaining or maintaining academic performance targets. The purpose of this email is to inform eligible school entities how to apply for RTL funding.
 School entities should file an application on PDE’s eGrants system for RTL funding. The application is accessible under the heading Ready to Learn. If a school entity RTL contact does not have an eGrants user ID and password, the school entity’s federal programs coordinator or person who has completed federal grants on the PDE site has the ability as a user/administrator to add the RTL contact as a user.
The 2021-22 RTL Grant Guidelines are posted online: http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Pages/Ready-to-Learn%20Block%20Grant.aspx.
To confirm the amount of your school entity’s RTL allocation for the 2021-22 school year, visit PDE’s website: https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Education%20Budget/Pages/default.aspx. Click on 2021-2022 Ready to Learn Block Grant to open a spreadsheet containing the list of allocations for all eligible districts and charter schools. Eligible school entities will receive 50 percent of funding upon submitting their application in eGrants and the balance following PDE’s approval of their application.
A final expenditure report for 2021-22 RTL grant funding will open Monday, June 28, 2022, and must be entered in eGrants by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2022.
For questions concerning RTL, contact Jim Towse: (717) 783-9542 or mailto:[email protected].

In an effort to support the mental and emotional health and wellbeing of students and educators across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is reiterating the availability of online resources, especially as the holiday season approaches.

“The Wolf Administration is committed to preserving and promoting the health of the whole student, which includes mental health, behavioral health, and emotional health as well as physical,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Noe Ortega. “We encourage schools and communities to use the helpful resources at their disposal and, most importantly, to talk to a trusted adult or peer if they are struggling with their mental health.”

PDE offers a collection of resources and supports on its website on topics that include mental health, social-emotional wellness, self-care, grief and loss, equity and inclusion, managing your youth’s emotions when you’re stressed, and family resources among other topics. 

As part of a larger roadmap for school leaders and communities, PDE developed a Staff and Student Wellness Guide for communicating with stakeholders and selecting universal practices to assess, monitor and support the social and emotional needs of staff and students.

Mental health is as important as physical health and preserving it must be a priority. This time of year can be especially stressful for high school seniors, students returning home from college, and children and families isolated due to weather or illness.

“Feelings of loneliness have been shown to negatively impact the mental well-being of adults and our youth and this has been recently highlighted. With most students back in classrooms, we have seen natural decreases in loneliness as students reconnect to their peers and to educators. Schools are doing an admirable job promoting this connection,” said Dr. Dana Milakovic, Mental Wellness and Trauma Expert at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“As we move into the holiday season, it is important to be aware that our staff, students, and families may have experienced losses or increased stress over the last year that will impact feelings of well-being and can trigger feelings of isolation during holiday breaks from school. During a time of the year when mental health needs rise, it is important to recognize that not only is it okay to reach out for help, but there are resources available to you—even during holiday breaks.” 

Last year, the administration launched Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters, a multi-agency initiative aimed at ending the stigma behind mental health and expanding access to comprehensive support services throughout the commonwealth.

In addition to these resources, there are various state and national support services that can offer help 24/7.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has information on its website to inform individuals on best mental health practices and strategies. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) offers free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) also offers free, confidential, 24/7 national treatment referral and information for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

The Trevor Project  (1-866-488-7386) is a nationwide, confidential, 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention lifeline for LGBTQIA youth aged 25 and younger.

The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is a nationwide, confidential crisis intervention hotline ran by the Trans community assisting Trans people through emotional and financial support.