COVID-19 Policy Update #248
COVID-19 Policy Update
WEDNESDAY 5/5
TOP THREE
Vaccine for Children:
The Administration said they were ready to make the Pfizer vaccine available at 20,000 pharmacy sites across the country ready to vaccinate adolescents as soon as the FDA grants its approval.
Canadian regulators approved the Pfizer vaccine for teens 12-15
Pediatricians: We need to bust these myths about kids and COVID vaccines
US parents excited over prospect of virus shots for children
What Teen Vaccines Mean for School Reopenings: Via NYT
60% of School Apps Are Sharing Kids' Data With Third Parties: A new report from Me2B Alliance found the majority of school utility apps were sharing some amount of student data with third-party marketing companies. More from Gizmodo.
Some Black Parents Say Remote Learning Gives Racism Reprieve: Via The AP
"As schools reopen across the country, Black students have been less likely than white students to enroll in in-person learning — a trend attributed to factors including concerns about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color, a lack of trust that their schools are equipped to keep children safe, and the large numbers of students of color in urban districts that have been slower to reopen classrooms."
"But many Black parents are finding another benefit to remote learning: being better able to shield their children from racism in classrooms."
FEDERAL
White House: Fact Sheet: President Biden to Announce Goal to Administer at Least One Vaccine Shot to 70% of the U.S. Adult Population by July 4th.
Infrastructure Packages: President Biden told reporters he was “willing to compromise” on how to pay for his infrastructure proposals.
“But I’m not willing to not pay for what we’re talking about. I’m not willing to deficit spend. They already have us $2 trillion in the hole.”
Federal Judge Vacates CDC’s Nationwide Eviction Moratorium: 20 page order.
"A federal judge ruled that the CDC overstepped its legal authority by issuing a nationwide eviction moratorium."
"“It is the role of the political branches, and not the courts, to assess the merits of policy measures designed to combat the spread of disease, even during a global pandemic,” the order states. “The question for the Court is a narrow one: Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium? It does not.” More at the Washington Post.
CDC/AFT Debate:
The White House downplayed criticism that the CDC sought input from a top teachers union in developing its school reopening guidelines.
"It’s actually longstanding best practice for the CDC to engage with organizations, groups that are going to be impacted by guidance and recommendations issued by the agency," press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. "It doesn't mean they are taking everything they want, or even a percentage of what they want."
WSJ Editorial Board: The Centers for Politics and Unions
GAO: Issued a report: Indian Education: Schools Need More Assistance to Provide Distance Learning
"The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), within the Department of the Interior (Interior), has not provided BIE-funded schools with comprehensive guidance on distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic."
"None of the laptops Interior ordered in early September 2020 arrived in time to distribute to students by the start of the school year in mid-September;"
"By the end of December 2020, schools had not distributed over 80 percent of the student laptops Interior ordered; and"
"As of late March 2021, schools had not distributed about 20 percent of the student laptops Interior ordered."
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Moderna: Released new data showing it's third booster shot increased neutralizing antibody responses against the original virus as well as B.1.351 (South African variant) and P.1. (Brazil variant)
Pfizer: New study showing the vaccine provides almost complete protection against severe disease caused by the coronavirus, including B.1.351 (South African variant) and B.1.1.7 (U.K. variant). More via NYT.
Vaccine Hesitancy: Video from a great webinar from Echelon Insights on vaccine hesitancy and messages that persuade skeptics.
STATE
California: Students in wealthier schools 3 times likelier to be back in school full time
"EdSource found that two-thirds of students in district schools with the largest proportions of low-income families were in distance learning, compared with only 43% of students in schools with the fewest low-income families — a disparity that may partly explain a widening learning gap between wealthy and poor students that researchers and teachers suspect the pandemic has enlarged."
Illinois: ‘Vaccine field trips’ and school shot events are among ideas for getting more Chicago students and their families inoculated
Maryland: Baltimore schools see positive results in virtual tutoring districtwide
INTERNATIONAL
India: "Who to be saved, who not to be saved should be decided by God. We are not made for that – we are just humans, Rohan Aggarwal, Doctor at Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi. More via Reuters.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
College Requiring Vaccines: Is up to 200. Lists are available here and here.
Credential As You Go: Aims to make it easier for students and workers to earn recognition for their learning—in increments smaller than the colossal college degree.
"Its goals include creating a national credentialing system designed around what the journey through higher education and job training actually looks like for many people: intermittent, nonlinear and unpredictable."
"So far, with help from a grant from the Lumina Foundation, they’ve built a qualifications framework for incremental credentials. They’re seeking additional funding to test it out with state education systems in Colorado, North Carolina and New York by asking faculty teams to use the model to develop recognition for smaller segments of learning."
Bridging the Digital Divide for Underserved Communities: New report from Deloitte.
"Our models indicate that a 10-percentage-point increase of broadband penetration in 2016 would have resulted in more than 806,000 additional jobs in 2019, or an average annual increase of 269,000 jobs."
"A 10-percentage-point increase of broadband access in 2014 would have resulted in more than 875,000 additional US jobs and $186B more in economic output in 2019."
RESOURCES
The Pandemic’s Remote Learning Legacy: A Lot Worth Keeping: Via The 74
5 Steps for Building & Strengthening Students’ Networks: New report from the Christensen Institute.
Schools Using Virtual Classrooms as Punishment: Via NBC News
How the Pandemic Could Personalize Education: Via Axios
Starlink: Elon Musk said they have 500,000 pre orders of the Starlink satellite internet service.
The Education Data That Matter Most to Parents and School Stakeholders: New CAP report
Parents or other caregivers value data on students’ opportunity to learn, including information about school climate and the supports and services available to students—especially students with disabilities. They also want to see school data on report cards broken down by demographic groups, laid out visually, and explained in plain language.
School and district leadership value state performance data in informing long-term performance.
Teachers and school leaders want more timely information, such as student readiness data and other nonacademic data on students, to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools in real time.
School systems need to collect and distribute data that are useful to the purposes of daily teaching and learning guided by families, educators, and school leaders in the community.
Vaccine Greeters: Breaking out the dance moves to get people excited. (P.S. This is not a side effect of the vaccine)