COVID-19 Policy Update #205
COVID-19 Policy Update
TUESDAY 2/23
TOP THREE
Rand Report: Stress Topped the Reasons Why Public School Teachers Quit, Even Before COVID-19
At least for some teachers, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have exacerbated what were high stress levels pre-pandemic by forcing teachers to, among other things, work more hours and navigate an unfamiliar remote environment, often with frequent technical problems.
Many early leavers could be lured back to public school teaching. Over half of the teachers who voluntarily left the profession early primarily because of the pandemic indicated that they would be somewhat or definitely willing to return to public school teaching once most staff and students are vaccinated. Slightly fewer of those would return if there was only regular testing of staff and students for COVID-19.
Nearly 25% of teachers under the age of 40 who left did so because of childcare responsibilities.
One in four pandemic teachers said that they did not have reliable high-speed internet access at home and a little more than one in ten said that they did not have an up-to-date computer.
A higher percentage of pandemic teachers who departed from rural schools reported experiencing technical problems daily (18 percent) than their urban counterparts (10 percent).
Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index: Results
56% said they're confident in the administration's ability to get K-12 students back to school in person, while 43% say they're not confident.
63% are confident in the administration’s ability to make the COVID-19 vaccine widely available, and 58% feel the same about distributing the vaccine quickly.
Huge variations among political parties.
How concerned are you that schools in your community re-opening too soon?
Feb 19-22: 56% (Total concerned) / 40% (Total not concerned)
Feb 5-8: 58% / 37%
Jan 29-Feb 1: 59% / 37%
Aug 21-24: 74% / 24%
Aug 14-17: 73% / 25%
Aug 7-10: 73% / 24%
500,000 Deaths: President Biden marked the milestone in a ceremony last evening.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Vaccine Hesitancy:
'We have a right to live': COVID-19 vaccine town hall addresses Ohio's Black population
United States of Care recorded webinar: Increasing COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence: Meeting People Where They Are
Less than half of Georgia school staff want COVID-19 vaccine
CDC partnered with the Discovery Channel for a PSA on masks with some of the crew from Deadliest Catch.
STATE
California:
The Governor touted Long Beach as model for COVID-19 vaccinations, schools reopening
The state released updated Grading Guidance and resources for remote learning.
LAUSD rolled out Daily Pass which was developed with support from Microsoft Corp.
"The app generates a unique QR code for each student and staff member, and that code authorizes entry to a specific LAUSD location for that day only — as long as the individual receives a negative test result for COVID, shows no symptoms and has a temperature under 100 degrees."
Kentucky: Gov. Beshear issued an executive order recommending school districts offer or expand in-person instruction by March 1 or a week after employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,
Massachusetts:
The State aims to reopen schools in April.
A leaked video shows an East Bay teacher discouraging kids from in-person learning
Michigan: Lansing School District is in the process of installing $1.5 million in new HVAC systems and equipment and placing portable HVAC units in each school building before some in-person learning is planned to resume on March 22.
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Public Schools are planning a phased return of students to the classroom beginning April 6.
"Criteria was established by the district to identify students who are struggling most."
"Categories will range from No. 1, with students who show positive progress with virtual learning, to No. 4, which includes those who are not doing well with online education and/or who are enrolled in kindergarten or pre-kindergarten."
"PPS officials said 4,786 students were identified as Support Category 4."
Washington: $714 million will be allocated to schools, but only those that offer plans to bring students back on campus in some capacity.
“Open, get the money. Don’t open, you don’t really need the money in this environment,” state Superintendent Chris Reykdal said.
INTERNATIONAL
Germany: Day care centers and elementary schools in 10 German states reopened
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Early Childhood Workforce Index 2020: Lots of data, state-by-state breakdowns, policy trackers, and recommendations.
Over the course of the first eight months of the pandemic, 166,000 jobs in the child care industry were lost.
As of October 2020, the industry was only 83 percent as large as it was in February, before the pandemic began
Americans Moving Due to Remote Working: Market research NPD Group says:
Nearly 20% of consumers indicated they are working from home full time
28% of Americans have at least somewhat thought about relocating during the pandemic
Households that indicate planning to move in 2021 increased by 20 percentage points from 2020 to 56%.
The Jobs the Pandemic May Devastate: NYT story on a new BLS assessment. Lots of data pointing to a K shaped recovery. And some worrisome trends with big implications for education, higher ed, and workforce development providers.
The Black Experience in the US Private Sector: McKinsey, Walmart, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, PolicyLink report and interactive. Well worth reading the whole report.
RESOURCES
Amir Nathoo: Q&A with the Charles Koch Institute
"Before the pandemic we had 80,000 learners attend Outschool classes, and about a thousand teachers were on the platform. Now we have had more than 700,000 learners take an Outschool class, and 11,000 teachers on the platform."
"We went from 1,000 teachers to 11,000 over the course of the past year."
"I think the future of education is hybrid, in that kids will split their time in person and online. Also, hybrid in the sense that kids will spend time on core curriculum subjects, but there will be more time dedicated to pursuing project-based learning and individual interests."
Pandemic Puts Money, Political Muscle Behind Broadband: Via Axios
"The House Energy & Commerce Committee earlier this month advanced $7.6 billion in funding to expand internet connectivity for students and teachers"
"34 states enacted legislation or resolutions related to broadband development in 2020"
"In Nebraska, 11 bills have been introduced so far to expand broadband access"
"Ohio Gov. DeWine's budget proposal for $210 million toward increasing broadband access has bipartisan support and was fast-tracked by the legislature last week."
"House Republicans have focused on broadband deployment proposals in 28 bills, including deregulatory measures such as imposing deadlines on cities to act on permitting requests or limiting environmental reviews."
Educational Innovation Isn’t Just the Technology, It’s the Teaching. How Educators Are Getting Creative in the Pandemic: Patrick Dobard in The 74.
Dare Mighty Things: JPL engineers hid a code in Perseverance's parachute. Emily Calandrelli breaks down the math.
Father of the Year: New take on interactive television.