COVID-19 Policy Update #193
COVID-19 Policy Update
THURSDAY 2/4
TOP THREE
Learning Loss: New report from Ohio State: "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Student Achievement onOhio’s Third-Grade English Language Arts Assessment"
Average decline of achievement on the Ohio Third-Grade English Language Arts (ELA) assessment was equivalent to one-third of a year’s worth of learning.
Black students experienced test score declines that were nearly 50% larger than white students—for a total decline of approximately one-half of a year’s worth of learning.
Over 10 percent of districts (over 60 districts) experienced no test score declines during the pandemic.
Achievement declines were more pronounced among districts that began this academic year using fully remote instruction compared to districts using either hybrid instruction or in-person instruction.
COVID Testing in Schools: Reports from Mathematica and RAND on early pilots of COVID testing at schools based on testing protocols developed by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. WSJ story. Some highlights:
Weekly screening testing of all students, teachers, and staff can reduce in-school infections by an estimated 50 percent.
Screening only teachers and staff is less effective, with estimated reductions in in-school infections ranging from 5 percent for monthly testing to 20 percent for twice weekly testing.
The logistical and regulatory requirements for conducting screening testing in schools are complex and challenging to navigate, and schools would benefit from substantial support and coordination from local, state, and national education and public health authorities.
Community engagement in program design is essential for acceptance.
Clear communications about the testing program, delivered by trusted messengers, is needed to help school communities understand the strengths and limitations of the program and encourage them to participate.
White House Details their $130 Billion Request for Education: The White House is circulating a document detailing the $130 billion request for education and why it is needed to reopen schools. Some elements:
$50 billion for social distancing
$60 billion to avoid lay-offs and close budget gaps
$3 billion for health staff
$9.5 billion for PPE and other materials
$29 billion for Extended Learning Time & Support for students (tutors, summer school)
$10 billion for school counselors
$7 billion for the digital divide
$2 billion for the COVID-19 Educational Equity Gap Challenge Grant
FEDERAL
White House: During today's White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary Psaki was pressed on the CDC director's statement that it is possible to reopen schools without teachers being vaccinated. Psaki said that the CDC Director was speaking in "her personal capacity" and that the White House was waiting to receive revised guidance. Here's the segment on reopening schools.
Cardona Confirmation Hearing: He did well during his hearing which featured a number of questions on school reopenings, charter schools, student loan debt forgiveness, transgendered rights, and assessment waivers.
Recaps from EdWeek, NPR, Washington Post, Politico.
ED: Announced additional Biden-Harris appointees (bios here):
Joanna Darcus, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel
William Desmond, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel
Michelle Asha Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education (will serve as acting Assistant Secretary)
Julie Margetta Morgan, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary
Melanie Muenzer, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary
Ramin Taheri, Chief of Staff, Office for Civil Rights
Jessica Cardichon, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development
Nick Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development
Tariq Habash, Special Assistant, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development
Chauncey Alexander, Special Assistant, Office of Communications and Outreach
Una Corbett, Confidential Assistant, Office of the Secretary
Philip Kim, Deputy White House Liaison, Office of the Secretary
Sara Garcia, Special Assistant, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development
Broadband: Good summary of all the broadband provisions in the Dec. package.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
COVID-19 and Schools—Known Unknowns: The BMJ hosted a two hour webinar covering a lot of territory and studies from around the world. Summary blog post but also well worth watching the recording.
Vaccine Hesitancy: Verywell poll of 1,000 individuals finding that many are not familiar with the vaccine specifics and are persuaded by friends, family, and healthcare workers. 32% of parents do not plan to vaccinate their children.
COVID-19 Rarely Spreads Through Surfaces. So Why Are We Still Deep Cleaning?: Nature looks into the issue and its complexities.
Mixing Vaccines: A UK trial is exploring if giving people different COVID vaccines for their first and second doses works as well as the current approach of using the same type of vaccine twice.
Vaccine Distribution: Washington Post dives into why some states are doing better than others.
"West Virginia has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the United States — along with some of the highest levels of chronic illnesses — but it has been among the most prolific in protecting its residents against the novel coronavirus. As of Wednesday, 11 percent of the state’s residents had received at least their first shot, the second-highest rate in the nation."
"In many states governors delegated the vaccination process to a web of county health departments, hospitals, pharmacies, HMOs and doctor’s offices. Each has devised its own sign-up system and made its own rules for who can get vaccinated and when."
West Virginia has sought to avoid that by creating a uniform statewide process.
"West Virginia also has leaned heavily on the National Guard, using its expertise in logistics management to ensure that vaccine distribution is well organized."
Rural Residents More Vulnerable to Serious Infection or Death From COVID-19: USDA study.
Strategies for Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines: From the National Academies. Well worth reading the entire doc.
Nine Communication Strategies
Meet People Where They Are, and Don’t Try to Persuade Everyone
Avoid Repeating False Claims
Tailor Messages to Specific Audiences
Adapt Messaging as Circumstances Change
Respond to Adverse Events in a Transparent, Timely Manner
Identify Trusted Messengers to Deliver Messages
Emphasize Support for Vaccination Instead of Focusing on Naysayers
Leverage Trusted Vaccine Endorsers
Pay Attention to Delivery Details That Also Convey Information
STATE
California: Parents upset when a school opens up for children to participate in filming a movie, but not for class.
Florida: Parents could let children repeat a grade after COVID disruption under Senate proposal
Illinois: CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union continued negotiating late Wednesday but still hadn’t come to agreement on how or when to reopen schools as a “48 hour cooling-off period” was set to expire at the end of the day. Unresolved issues include work-from-home accommodations, a potential phased-in return of grade levels, and vaccinations.
New York: At the heart of the Buffalo Teachers Federation’s lawsuit to stop Buffalo schools from reopening. The head of the union asked for 21 categories of data for each school and said they have not received answers.
North Carolina: Story on how Charlotte-area Catholic schools were able to reopen and lessons learned.
Oregon:
10 questions parents have about school re-entry during COVID-19
A federal judge in Portland ordered that prisoners be included in Phase 1A of the state's vaccine distribution plan, placing them ahead of senior citizens and teachers.
Tennessee: Shelby County Schools reported that since the introduction of online learning, only about 28% of students scored at or above grade level in English and math. Middle School students have shown the most struggles with only about 8% of middle schoolers proficient in English and 10% in Math.
RESOURCES
National Urban League Unveils New Framework To Bridge Digital Divide: Detailed plan that includes recommendations for addressing the homework gap.
Half of States Allow Teachers to Receive Vaccines: Trackers of which states offer vaccines for teachers: NYT, EdWeek, JHU.
Kids of the COVID Generation: A developmental psychologist explains what adults can do to protect children from long-term harm.
Emergency Actions to Counteract the COVID-19 Slide for Postsecondary Transitions: Deck from Education Strategy Group.
COVID Learning Loss and The First Rule of Holes: Blog post from AEI's Nat Malkus and Matt Rice.
School Buildings of the Future: Lessons from the Pandemic: Paper from the Charter School Facility Center.
Accelerating High Dosage Tutoring: New EdResearch for Recovery paper.
The Tragedy of the Schools: Danniel Henninger column:
"Many parents are losing faith in their closed public schools—and are looking for alternatives."
"Data released this week show enrollment in California’s K-12 public schools has dropped by 155,000 students, a record. Enrollment in New York City is down 43,000, and about 25% of schools have lost 10% or more of their enrollment. In Virginia, it’s down 45,000 students. Enrollments have fallen in Texas, notably in progressive Austin, down nearly 7%."
"For the Democratic Party, the political implications are grave."
The East Coast is Still Digging Out from the Blizzard: Shoveling is hard work.