On October 7, 2021, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Dr. Noe Ortega visited Yorkshire Elementary School in York Suburban School District to highlight how students in the region are staying healthy and safe during an unprecedented new school year, and encourage them to adopt healthy, lifelong hygiene habits. 

Currently, students 12 and older are eligible and encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19, which is one of the best ways to keep students learning in-person. 

The state Department of Health (PDH) is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable, and efficient to all Pennsylvanians. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you. 

Throughout the 2020-21 school year, PDE regularly provided technical assistance and guidance to local education agencies (LEAs) to support instruction while navigating the pandemic, and PDE will continue to support LEAs as they navigate the 2021-22 school year. This includes through the latest chapter of PDE’s Roadmap for Education Leaders; Accelerated Learning through an Integrated System of Support. This toolkit includes a professional learning series for school leaders and educators to help address students’ learning loss and other issues caused by the pandemic. 

Additionally, PDE has sent regular correspondence to schools with up-to-date processes, procedures, and information as it develops. Those updates can be accessed on the What’s New page on PDE’s website.  

“Over the past year-and-a-half, our students and schools have had to adjust to a new normal and implement new practices to keep themselves and others safe and healthy,” added Sec. Ortega. “Those practices—like frequent hand-washing, cleaning food before consumption, and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze—will help students form lifelong healthy habits, prevent the spread of illness, and ensure that they can remain safely in the classroom, which is where they belong and where they want to be.”

To see the press release, click here.

School Seniors and Eligible Students to Submit College Applications (October 7, 2021)

On October 6, 2021, in an effort to further support academic endeavors on the postsecondary level, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) reminded high school seniors and eligible students to submit their college applications as soon as possible.

“Preparing for college can be an exciting and nerve-wracking time for students, especially those who face barriers or are unfamiliar with the process,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Noe Ortega. “It is critically important for educators to provide them with guidance and resources to submit their applications, ease their anxiety, and help prepare them for a meaningful and successful postsecondary experience.”

October is College Application Month, and the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) seeks to increase the number of students who are applying to college early in their senior year with a focus on first-generation college students, students from low-income families, and students who may not otherwise apply to college.

During the Pennsylvania College Application Campaign (PCAC), students at participating high schools will receive assistance with their college applications during the school day with the goal of each participating student submitting at least one college application. Many colleges will often waive the application fee during the application events. During PCAC, students may apply to any of the commonwealth’s community colleges, independent colleges, and public universities. Pennsylvania schools interested in hosting events can submit a form online. In 2019, PCAC had 35 events, and a total of 2,621 students submitted 2,984 college applications.

ACAC began in 2005 in a school district in North Carolina and soon grew to become a nationwide effort. In 2014, the Pennsylvania joined as PCAC and hosted events in high schools across the commonwealth encouraging students to apply to college. During fall 2020, more than 5,600 high schools nationally hosted college application events resulting in over 363,000 students submitting more than 625,000 college applications.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) recently 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 transitions and how they affect the populations DHS serves.

“Part of DHS’ mission is to ensure that people, regardless of disability, have the resources and information they need to live an everyday life. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused upheaval among individuals, families, and health systems, and that transitions to and from social distancing measures can cause great stress among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “We hope that this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal will provide some insight into best practices and methods so we can all work together to ensure that the people we serve can be better off as we continue to navigate the pandemic and many other life transitions.”

This edition features research and articles on the following:

• Effectively Utilizing the Space Between What Was and What Will Be: This article advocates for a Person-Centered approach to transition planning and provides a case study from the LifeCourse Framework on a successful transition back to community activities following social distancing protocols during COVID-19.
• Using Goal Attainment Scaling to Measure Progress and Make Instructional Decisions: This article reviews the concept of Goal Attainment Scaling for standardizing and measuring outcomes for an individual’s goals, as well as setting reasonable expectations for the progress an individual will make towards achieving that goal.
• Moving in the Same Direction: A Case Study of How Integrated Care Can Support Independence and Community Living for Individuals with Complex Needs: This article highlights the successes that are possible for individuals presenting with complex challenges when stakeholders are committed to open communication and coordination, and when systems support innovation in programming.
• My Life, My Way: After the Pandemic: Let’s Talk with A Self-Advocate: This article includes interviews with 11 self-advocates and four family member-facilitators and encourages self-advocates to use their voices in meetings and events that affect their lives.
• A Win/Win: Using Both Personal Spiritual Strength to Heal and Experiencing Post-Traumatic Growth to Heal with a Transition and Reintegration in Sight: This article looks into the role that trauma plays in transitioning and reintegrating back into the community and how supporting spirituality along with mental health recovery can help individuals.
• Use of Remote Monitoring to Positively Impact Individuals by Removing the Struggle Between the Person and Their Supports: This article highlights how remote monitoring and other positive strategies can be implemented to support people with intellectual disabilities or dual diagnoses.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and collects research on resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities. 

Read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

For more information visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

On October 1, 2021, PDE Bureau of Special Education Director Carole L. Clancy disseminated  PennLink message to local educational agencies (LEAs) titled Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses. The memo states that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will begin accepting applications for the Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses on November 22, 2021. 

The fund’s purpose is to provide additional state funding for the implementation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student with significant disabilities. Interested LEAs will have until January 07, 2022, to apply.

The application and review process for the 2021-2022 school year is specified in the Contingency Funds Guidelines.  Applications for the Special Education Contingency Funds must be submitted electronically through the contingency funds request system website at https://apps.leaderservices.com/cfunds.  LEAs that have not previously used the system may request a password from Leader Services by emailing [email protected].  Once the LEA’s address is verified, a password will be issued, along with the information regarding the primary account.

Questions regarding Special Education Contingency Funds for Extraordinary Expenses should be directed to Janette Fulton, Special Education Adviser, Division of Analysis and Financial Reporting, at 717.425.5442 or [email protected]