COVID-19 Policy Update #253
COVID-19 Policy Update
WEDNESDAY 5/12
TOP THREE
CDC: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) panel endorsed Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. (Yes: 14; No: 0; Recused: 1 because of conflict of interest).
FCC: Officially opened the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program for enrollment. More than 800 broadband providers are participating. The program offers:
Up to $50 a month discount on service and associated equipment
Up to $75 a month discount on for households on Tribal lands
A one-time discount of up to $100 on a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer
Impact of COVID-19 on Parents’ Educational Spending: New report from Tyton and WFF.
Parents and caregivers took greater responsibility for school decision-making. More than 15% switched their child’s school for the 2020-21 academic year, which is estimated to be 2.5 times higher than behavior pre-pandemic.
School enrollments shifted with public and private schools experiencing an estimated decrease of 2.6 million in student enrollment; charter schools, homeschooling, learning pods, and microschools all realized net increases.
The pandemic catalyzed growth of supplemental learning pods – defined as cohorts of students gathering in a small group – with adult supervision and outside the framework of their traditional physical or virtual classroom – to learn, explore, and socialize.
Households spent an estimated $20 billion more on an annualized basis on education-related activities, primarily stemming from the emergence of supplemental learning pods.
Five activities independently correlated with a parent’s positive perception of their child’s learning experience during COVID-19.
Limited awareness of, and access to, alternative and emerging learning models significantly hindered parent agency, particularly for parents at lower-income levels.
FEDERAL
ED: Released $36 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds for postsecondary education.
Infrastructure Bill: Earmark tally for Highway Bill Is $14.8 billion.
“In all, 318 members of Congress submitted 2,380 projects for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to consider in its upcoming surface transportation bill… Of those requests, 1,775 came from Democratic members and 605 came from Republican members.”
COVID-19 RESEARCH
American Kids Can Wait: The U.S. should delay shots for children until global vaccine-manufacturing capacity significantly expands and the crisis in India subsides
"But in the name of global equity, Americans should delay vaccination of our own children until global vaccine-manufacturing capacity significantly expands and the crisis in India subsides. Such a delay would mobilize tens of millions of additional doses, which could be used almost immediately in hard-hit regions overseas."
STATE
Arizona: Avondale district continuing online option after remote learning success.
California: Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District announced it plans to offer students full in-person learning along with a virtual option in the upcoming 2021-22 school year.
Illinois: Gov. Pritzker unveils $225 million COVID testing program for middle and high schools.
Maryland: COVID testing program helping Baltimore City school system track and contain infections.
Minnesota: Schools step up COVID testing, despite some parental pushback
North Carolina: House Bill 934 would create the Student Success Program. Eligible families would receive $1,000 per student, and up to $3,000 per household. They can spend the funds on things like summer learning or after school programs.
Virginia: Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) is launching the BCPS Virtual Academy for the fall.
Washington: State health leaders said that K-12 schools should prepare for full-time, in-person learning this fall.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
WorkRise: Will invest up to $2.5 million to support rigorous research that advances knowledge on strengthening economic well-being and accelerating economic mobility for workers earning low wages, particularly workers of color and others who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 economic crisis.
RESOURCES
Telecom Operators Expect Fiber to Reach More than 50% of the U.S. by 2025: Via IIA
The Data Moment Has Arrived: Via DQC's Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger
Covid Fears Keep Many Latino Kids out of Classrooms: Via KHN
Why Some Families Still Prefer Remote School: Via NYT
A School Reopening Success Story: Via Secretary Cardona
"While we've made significant progress, anything less than 100% of students being offered the option to return to in-person learning full-time is not enough."
"In speaking with educators, parents, and students, we know there are many reasons why some families are hesitant to return to in-person learning. Fears around transmission of the virus, especially in multi-generational households, have driven some of the conversation. But we must be honest with ourselves and with each other in listening to families who have said that schools weren't working for their children in the first place, or that they don't trust that the school system is safe for them due to the virus, violence or harassment, or any number of other reasons."
Chilling: Like a bear on a hammock.