COVID-19 Policy Update #123
COVID-19 Policy Update
THURSDAY 10/8
TOP THREE
Phase 4:
Two days after calling off negotiations on a comprehensive bill, Trump said during an interview on Fox News that talks have restarted and "that there was a good chance a deal could be reached."
Axios is reporting that President Trump phoned House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and indicated he was worried by the stock market reaction and wanted a "big deal" with the Speaker. In addition to airline relief, the President signaled support for additional PPP funding.
Speaker Pelosi reiterated that she would not pass a stand alone airline package. She would only consider it if there was a guarantee for working on a broader comprehensive deal.
Given the rapidly changing circumstances we've engaged an AI government affairs tool to help with projections.
$30 Billion: JPMorgan Chase pledged $30 billion over the next five years to address the racial wealth gap Part of the investment will include $14 billion for new housing loans, $8 billion to increase affordable housing and homeownership in underserved communities; $4 billion for mortgage refinancing; $2 billion for small business lending; and $2 billion in philanthropic capital.
NEJM: In a first, the NEJM weighed in on a Presidential election. They said the Administration “took a crisis and turned it into a tragedy.” It also noted that "Many of our children are missing school at critical times in their social and intellectual development." They go on to say, "Our leaders have largely claimed immunity for their actions. But this election gives us the power to render judgment. ... our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent. We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs."
STATE
California:
The state has implemented a new health equity requirement on the state's 35 largest counties. In order to advance to the next phase of economic reopening, these counties will need to reduce the levels of the virus in their most vulnerable communities — by meeting certain test-positivity goals as well as showing targeted investments in resources such as more increased testing, contact tracing and education.
EdSource poll finds 75% of registered voters, including parents, say that distance learning is worse than in class instruction. Only 2% say it is better. Over 70% worry about learning loss for all or most children, as well as the lack of social interaction with other children. 79% of parents say keeping children motivated and a similar proportion point to sustaining their interest as their biggest challenges.
California school districts spurn 'back-patting' Trump food box letter
Colorado: As school districts search for students, some advocates worry about tactics. Also - Colorado Youth for a Change will place up to 30 new AmeriCorps members in Front Range school districts this school year to help them engage with students.
Georgia: The Georgia Association of Educators filed a lawsuit arguing that Governor Kemp, state education officials, DPH Commissioner Kathleen Toomey and Paulding County were reckless with reopening schools.
New Jersey: The Collingswood, Oaklyn and Woodlynne public school districts are testing all students in their districts for the coronavirus for free.
Oklahoma: Gov. Stitt announced an extension for all Oklahoma school districts to claim funding for virtual learning resources through the program Learn Anywhere Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Supplemental Online Course Program will proactively reach out to districts.
South Carolina: Maryland Teacher Tutors is expanding its teacher-led program to South Carolina. Maryland Teacher Tutors employs more than 150 tutors serving 500-plus families in the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas.
Utah: Launched a dashboard to track COVID cases in schools.
Virginia: Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Superintendent Gregory Hutchings has withdrawn one of his children from ACPS—which remains all-virtual, to the frustration of many parents—and instead enrolled the child in a private Catholic high school currently following a hybrid model. The news became a bit of a viral sensation among Alexandria parents yesterday.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Jobless Claims: First-time claims for unemployment benefits totaled 840,000 last week, higher than the 825,000 Wall Street estimate.
Eviction: Neighborhoods at risk for COVID see disproportionately high eviction rates.
Paid Leave: New AEI paper outlining a way to design a public paid family leave program that supports low-wage working parents, limits private-sector benefit crowd out, and reduces the regressivity of funding.
EdX Launches Scholarship Campaign: The organization announced plans to raise $10 million for a new scholarship campaign called Access for All. Scholarships will cover 100 percent of the cost of an edX course or program, including options offered for credit such as MicroMasters and MicroBachelors.
VR For Training: The U.S. Space Force will create a VR training simulator in partnership with The Third Floor, a Hollywood VFX firm that worked on “Gravity,” “The Martian” and “The Mandalorian.”
RESOURCES
Public Education Opportunity Grants: CAP released a $63.4 billion proposal that would provide eligible districts with $12,330 for each student living in poverty. The program provides incentives for states and districts to improve their funding systems and requires eligible districts to conduct equity audits in order to identify gaps in opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and other non-Black people of color (BIPOC) students, students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and English language learners.
Homeschool Surge: Via The 74: In San Antonio, one organization saw its “new to homeschool” information requests jump from about 20 per month to over 200 in August, and it's not just happening in the Lone Star State, where the Texas Home School Coalition reported a 1,500 percent uptick in families using its online withdrawal form in the days after the state announced its school reopening plans. Nebraska reports a 56 percent increase in families officially registering to homeschool, and North Carolina’s numbers have tripled over last year's.
"Remote Learning Is a Catastrophe. Teachers Unions Share the Blame": Jonathan Chait: "Years from now, when we look back at the coronavirus pandemic, it is very possible that the most damaging element we will identify is its catastrophic effect upon public education. The devastation will be social and economic, permanently degrading the skill base of the workforce and robbing a generation of children, especially low-income students, of any chance to enter the middle class. And the question we will have to ask is whether the tragedy was truly necessary."
College Crisis Initiative: Davidson College students launched the initiative to collect data on higher education institution responses to crisis situations to help researchers, policymakers, students, and their families.
Remind Coaches: Remind announced a new service that connects certified teachers with students for 1:1 sessions.
Rural Internet: Long Verge piece on how distance learning shows how badly rural America needs broadband
Misinformation: Gallup/Knight Foundation poll finds that nearly 6 in 10 Americans said President Trump is spreading misinformation about the election, protests and the coronavirus.
Parent Concerns: Gallup survey showing that 45% of parents report they are "very worried" that their children will contract COVID-19 at school or in childcare facilities.
EdChoice/Morning Consult Survey: Most recent data is out. Notable: 35% said they're participating in a pod; 18% were looking for oneNearly 70% of teachers in their sample expressed at least some interest for teaching in a learning pod. Charter teachers 2x as likely as district teachers to have strong interest.
Handy Dads:
White House Raccoons: Over the course of the last several days, White House correspondents have been tormented by a gaze of raccoons. The Secret Service tried without success to wrangle the critters (perhaps they should use night vision goggles next time). But the standoff escalated this week when they confronted CNN's Joe Johns during a segment. As of the sending of tonight's daily, the raccoons are still loose on the White House grounds.