COVID-19 Policy Update #146
COVID-19 Policy Update
TUESDAY 11/10
TOP THREE
Rethinking Education: Henry Smith via EdSurge: "Now, in 2020, as educators struggle to cope with the pandemic that forced K-12 schools to deliver instruction online, we should, like the leaders in New Orleans, take this tragic opportunity to think entrepreneurially about reopening public schools."
School Wasn’t So Great Before COVID, Either: Via the Atlantic.
"A good start would be to include a broader and deeper curriculum with more chances for children to explore, play, and build relationships with peers and teachers. Schools should also be in the business of fostering curiosity and a love of learning in all children, or at a minimum not impeding the development of those traits."
"What if we give every kid in kindergarten through sixth grade in America the option to spend the academic year engaged primarily outdoors in a kind of “pandemic camp” instead of traditional school?"
"If the parental frustrations kindled by pandemic schooling can be converted into political energy, that could ultimately yield much-needed reforms in both schools and their surrounding communities, the health of which is essential to children’s growth."
Children Lose Basic Skills Under Virus Restrictions: Across the pond, the UK's Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills published five reports based on findings from more than 900 visits to education and social care providers across England since September.
Older children have lost stamina in their reading and writing, some have lost physical fitness, others show signs of mental distress, including an increase in eating disorders and self-harm
Some young children, who were previously potty-trained, have lapsed back into nappies, particularly those whose parents were unable to work flexibly.
FEDERAL/TRANSITION
Agency Review Teams: The Biden-Harris Transition Team announced members of the the agency review teams:
Education:
Linda Darling-Hammond, Team Lead Learning Policy Institute
Ary Amerikaner, The Education Trust
Beth Antunez, American Federation of Teachers
Jim Brown, United States Senate, Office of Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (Retired)
Ruthanne Buck, Self-employed
Norma Cantu, University of Texas at Austin, School of Law
Jessica Cardichon, Learning Policy Institute
Keia Cole, MassMutual
Lindsay Dworkin, Alliance for Excellent Education
Donna Harris-Aikens, National Education Association
Kristina Ishmael, Open Education Global
Bob Kim, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
James Kvaal, The Institute for College Access & Success
Peggy McLeod, UnidosUS
Paul Monteiro, Howard University
Pedro Rivera, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Roberto Rodriguez, Teach Plus, Inc
Shital Shah, American Federation of Teachers
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap, American Federation of Teachers
Emma Vadehra, The Century Foundation
Also - Rocio Inclan-Rodriguez from NEA is part of the DOJ review team. And Robert Gordon - alum from Obama OMB, ED and College Board - is the team lead for HHS.
Election Decks:
MultiState's 2020 Elections (Governors, State Legislatures, Ballots)
10 Lessons: What 2020’s Elections Say About Our Nation & Future - another great one from Bruce Mehlman
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Hospitalizations Are Up: U.S. hospitalizations overall have nearly doubled since late September.
Vaccine Polling: Survey showing that nearly two-thirds reported they would get a vaccine if the shot lowered their risk of contracting the coronavirus by 75%. Only 56% of those between 18 and 34 years old are likely to get vaccinated if a shot would decrease the odds of becoming infected by half. This rose to 64%, though, when a vaccine would reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus by 75%.
Diversity and Inclusion In Clinical Trials: The FDA issued its final guidance for improving diversity and inclusion in clinical trials of therapies and medical products. The guidance includes recommendations to industry for expanding eligibility and enrollment of historically underserved groups such as pregnant women, some ethnic groups, and those with milder forms of physical conditions.
Minority Contact Tracers Build Trust in Diverse Cities: Great article from the AP. "Beyond language, knowing what things individual communities care about makes a difference absolutely and is necessary for this work,” said Matt Leger, senior director of CONTRACE Public Health Corps, a consulting firm launched six months ago to help communities set up contact tracing programs."
Lingering Effects: One in five COVID-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days. Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients in the study who developed mental health problems. The researchers from Britain’s Oxford University also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition.
Vaccine Hesitancy: 1 in 5 children have vaccine-wary parents according to the CDC.
STATE
California: Los Angeles County Officials may use schools as vaccine sites.
DC: 70 charter school leaders and board members call for equitable funding and resources and access to school nurses and testing
Hawaii: 140 page report found that Acellus Online Curriculum violated religion, discrimination policies. “Viewed through the lens of BOE Policy 305-10 … the identified discriminatory content rises to the level of being severe, pervasive and persistent."
Maryland: Begins reporting coronavirus cases in schools.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
JOLTS Report: Job openings increased less than expected in September while hiring fell. There are now 2 unemployed persons for every one job opening, down from the pandemic high of 4.6 earlier this year.
States Most Likely to Increase Businesses Taxes: MultiState's forecast. And full report here (along with revenue forecasts).
“Highest risk” — California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York, and Oregon.
“Significant risk” — Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.
Inclusive Growth: How Cleveland’s innovation district is advancing equity through a new kind of anchor institution.
Political-Economic Divide: Brookings analysis found that Biden captured virtually all of the counties with the biggest economies in the country (depicted by the largest blue tiles in the nearby graphic), including flipping the few that Clinton did not win in 2016. By contrast, Trump won thousands of counties in small-town and rural communities with correspondingly tiny economies (depicted by the red tiles). Biden’s counties tended to be far more diverse, educated, and white-collar professional, with their aggregate nonwhite and college-educated shares of the economy running to 35% and 36%, respectively, compared to 16% and 25% in counties that voted for Trump.
LEARNING PODS
When the Point of the Pod Is Equity: How small grants are empowering parents of underserved students to form microschools.
RESOURCES
Chief Innovation Officer: NewSchools Venture Fund and The Broad Center released a Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) Toolkit.
Education Data Legislation Review 2020: Report from DQC. 242 education data bills were introduced in 41 states. 43 of these bills were signed into law in 22 states.
Enrollment: Public school enrollment plummets as private schools see gains
Grit! Resiliency! Problem Solving! All demonstrated in this single video.