On May 11, 2021, the Wolf Administration announced that event and gathering maximum occupancy limits will be increased to 50 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 75 percent for outdoor events and gatherings effective Monday, May 17 at 12:01 AM.

“As more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with the commonwealth’s reopening efforts,” said Governor Wolf. “We recognize the significant strain businesses have faced during COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Throughout the last year and half, we have seen businesses continue to put the safety of their patrons first and I believe they will continue to do so even with this capacity increase.”

This update will not prevent municipalities, school districts, restaurants and venues from continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts. Based on current CDC guidance, social distancing is strongly recommended for municipalities, school districts, restaurants, and venues.

An event or gathering is defined as a temporary grouping of individuals for defined purposes, that takes place over a limited timeframe, such as hours or days. For example, events and gatherings include fairs, festivals, concerts or shows and groupings that occur within larger, more permanent businesses, such as shows or performances within amusements parks, individual showings of movies on a single screen/auditorium within a multiplex, business meetings or conferences, or each party or reception within a multiroom venue.

Face coverings are still to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities. The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

“As we continue implementing our reopening plan as quickly as possible, the safety of Pennsylvanians remains at the forefront of our decision making,” said Gov. Wolf. “During the pandemic, all Pennsylvanians have worked collaboratively to stop the spread of COVID-19. We must continue that same mindset during our reopening efforts. I urge each eligible Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated to help protect your neighbors and loved ones as we work to safely reopen our beloved commonwealth communities.”

Currently, maximum occupancy is 25 percent for indoor events and gatherings and 50 percent for outdoor events and gatherings, regardless of venue size and only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

All Pennsylvanians ages 16 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. To find a vaccine provider, visit vaccines.gov. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health’s hotline at 1-877-724-3258.

On May 10, 2021, Acting PA Secretary of Education Noe Ortega released a PennLink communiqué announcing a competitive Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidance. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) grant program is intended to support providers in preparing to serve and enroll children by September 2021. The RFA is being released now to give providers time to conduct outreach to families; recruit, hire and train staff; and plan for implementing the program pending grant approval.Applicants must submit Letters of Intent to [email protected] by 3 PM on June 10, 2021. Only applicants that submit a complete Letter of Intent by the deadline will be permitted to apply for funding.

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts was established by Act 45 of 2007 (and amended in 2008 and 2010). Its purpose is to expand the number of children able to experience a pre-kindergarten program of high quality. The standards for the program ensure a high return on the investment made in preparing young children for school and will help close the achievement gap. Early education through Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts can open the doors of opportunity for every child to do well in school, in the workforce, and in life. Governor Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 state budget includes an additional $25 million for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. With this expansion funding, the state will be able to increase the number of children served in high-quality pre-kindergarten.

RFA Process: OCDEL will use a competitive application process to disperse available state expansion funding to select eligible grantees beginning in FY 2021-22.The ceiling or limit on the potential number of slots that may be awarded to any applicant will depend upon a county’s unmet need percentages and the amount of funding available. Funding is contingent upon approval by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Grants are funded via state dollars and, therefore, carryover funds are not permitted. All grant dollars identified in this FY 2021-22 application must be encumbered or spent by June 30, 2022. Pennsylvania continues to be committed to a mixed delivery system. As such, eligible applicants include existing Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees and new applicants from these five eligible entity categories:

• School districts;
• PDE Licensed nursery schools;
• Head Start grantees;
• Child care centers and group child care homes designated at Keystone STAR 3 or STAR 4; and
• A third-party entity applying for Pennsylvania Pre‐K Counts funding to administer the lead agency responsibilities for entities that are eligible to provide the classroom services under the categories listed above.

Eligible applicants must provide assurance that they operate in full compliance with Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance. Applicants should thoroughly review Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance prior to submission of a Letter of Intent to apply to ensure an understanding of the program requirements and expectations of compliance if an application is successful. The application review process will include evaluation of the extent to which the applicant demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute and Regulations.Applicants must also have the following in place to complete an application:

• REQUIRED Letter of Intent (see below);
• Vendor number (SAP #);
• Administrative unit number (AUN);
• Master provider index number (MPI); and
• Federal ID number or tax ID number.

All information relevant to the application process is available in the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidance. Applicants should review all information in that document before submitting the Letter of Intent.

Required Letter of Intent: Because of the need to establish access to eGrants procurement system, applicants must submit a completed Letter of Intent to apply for funds. The template posted at PKC How to Apply must be used. The Letter of Intent represents the applicant’s intent to apply for Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts funding and includes the legal name of the eligible agency that will apply, the AUN associated with the applying legal entity, preliminary information about requested funding, program model, provider type, and area to be served. Except for the legal entity and AUN, information submitted in the Letter of Intent may be modified in the final eGrants application. Programs interested in applying must submit a fully completed Letter of Intent by 3 pm on June 10, 2021 to [email protected]. Programs that do not submit the Letter of Intent will not be able to access or submit a funding application in the eGrants system. Late submissions will not be accepted. Agencies submitting a fully complete Letter of Intent by the due date will be notified when the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts application is open in eGrants.

At its May 5, 2021 PA State Board of Education (Board) Meeting, the Board took the opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Matthew Stem and to recognize for his work over the past six years as Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary for elementary and secondary education. State Board of Ed. Chairperson Karen Farmer White stated that the Board was accepting Mr. Stem’s resignation with a “heavy heart.” Other Board members took the time to thank Mr. Stem for his “fine work” and to express their regrets regarding his leaving.

Currently the second in command at the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Mr. Stem will become the assistant executive director with the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 effective June 14, 2021. Among his accomplishments while with PDE, Mr. Stem was instrumental in the development of the Future Ready PA Index and the Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Plan.

Also, as a part of his report, Acting PA Education Secretary Noe Ortega asked Mr. Stem to update the Board on the Accelerated Learning Roadmap Series. Mr. Stem pointed out that, as we plan for the 2021-22 school year, PDE, PA Intermediate Units (IUs), and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) are providing the Accelerated Learning Roadmap Series resource bank for school leaders with the goal of helping teachers, support staff, families, and students emerge from these unprecedented times and start a new school year stronger than ever and focused on accelerating learning. Mr. Stem also reported that there are currently 30 webinars available to PA educators.

In addition, according to the PDE website this new series provides a systematic process and technical support for school communities to make key decisions for the start of the new year. It introduces a Cycle of Continuous Improvement mindset that will lead to strategic vision, needs assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, and adjusting. Most importantly, each system supports the success of the others.

To learn more about the Accelerated Learning Roadmap Series, click here.

On May 4, 2021,  the Wolf administration, in coordination with the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force, announced that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 AM. 

The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities.  

“We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts,” ​Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam said. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to take the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated, follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and social distancing.”

Requirements such as testing and reporting ​new cases will remain in place for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Maintaining requirements for hospitals and long-term care facilities wi​ll allow Pennsylvania to continue to closely monitor COVID-19 spread while lifting other restrictions.

The Department of Health recommends that Pennsylvanians refer to CDC guidance and recommendations regarding ongoing COVID-19 safety measures and procedures.

These updates will not prevent municipalities and school districts from ​continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts. 

The governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic remains in place. 

All Pennsylvanians ages 16 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. The provider map is available on the PA Department of Health’s website. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.