COVID-19 Policy Update #265
COVID-19 Policy Update
FRIDAY 5/25
TOP THREE
CDC. Revised guidance on masks and camps:
If everyone is fully vaccinated prior to the start of the program, the camp can return to full capacity without mask or social distancing requirements.
At camps where not everyone is vaccinated, inoculated people do not need to wear face coverings, but unvaccinated people are "strongly encouraged" to wear masks indoors. They should also wear masks outdoors when in close proximity to others.
If there is no way to know who is and is not vaccinated, camps can defer to previous guidance recommending masks for all.
"Although people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks, camp programs should be supportive of campers or staff who choose to wear a mask," the CDC said. The guidance is intended for "all types of youth day and overnight camps."
AAP on Masks and Kids: "Children Ages 2 and Up Who Aren’t Fully Vaccinated Should Continue to Wear Face Masks"
Not everyone agrees: for example or here or here.
The Pandemic and the Great Unbundling (and Rebundling) of American Schools: Via WFF's Bruno Manno
"Families were compelled to think differently about school, to recreate school. The boundaries between home, school, and other local institutions became more elastic, even porous. The result is that families, students, teachers, and taxpayers have created a more parent-directed, pluralistic K-12 system."
"Typically, we think of school as a place—a building on a piece of land—where adults offer young people a package of services—primarily teaching and learning, but other amenities like meals, recreation, tutoring, and after-school care."
"COVID-19 separated these bundled services into discrete ones—e.g., regular teaching and learning via computers at home; meals provided by community organizations like United Way; tutoring organized by homeschool co-ops."
"San Francisco opened 84 pods called community learning hubs run by the city, Mayor London Breed’s response to a dispute with the school district’s closing policies. The hubs served around 2,400 children, about 96 percent racial minorities."
"Evidence suggests some of these changes will stick beyond the pandemic. Lawmakers in nearly a third of the states have proposed bills to establish or expand a variety of taxpayer-funded programs to continue these new approaches."
FEDERAL
ED: The President nominated Lisa Brown to serve as the General Counsel
President's Budget: Released today and coming in at $6 trillion.
ED budget: $102.8 billion in new discretionary budget authority, a $29.8 billion, or 41% increase above the fiscal year 2021
DOL budget: $14.2 billion
Interesting note: The Administration has relatively modest economic growth expectations. In 2023, their GDP forecast is 2% followed by 1.8% for a few of the out years. For context, the average GDP growth was 2.3% from 2010-2019.
Intrigue: WSJ says the President's Budget wants to raise taxes retroactively. More at Axios
"Biden's expected $6 trillion budget assumes that his proposed capital-gains tax rate increase took effect in late April, meaning that it would already be too late for high-income investors to realize gains at the lower tax rates if Congress agrees, according to two people familiar with the proposal."
Smart take: Presidential budgets are statements of priorities and principles. Congress takes it under advisement but more often than not, sets out to develop their own budget priorities and appropriations.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Said that it is legal for companies to require workers to get coronavirus vaccines.
Companies can also offer unlimited rewards to workers to get vaccinated, as long as the employer doesn’t administer the vaccine.
More from the EEOC here.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Vaccine Hesitancy: Many holdouts still waiting for full FDA approval, according to the latest KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor.
32% of unvaccinated adults, including 44% of those identified as being in the "wait and see" group, said they'd be more likely to get a shot if it received full approval."
Mask Guidance Sparked Interest In Vaccines: Via CNN: Interest in vaccinations increased after CDC announced new mask guidance.
"On the afternoon of May 13, just after Walensky's announcement, the number of visits to the site started to climb, hitting its second highest number of visitors since the website was launched on April 30."
Study Sheds Light on Why Children May Not Spread The Virus As Much: Children produce fewer ‘aerosol’ droplets that spread Covid than adults. Study here.
School Clinics: Walmart partners with schools to open COVID-19 vaccine clinics for adolescents
Rare Condition With Children's Vaccinations: FDA official says heart issue possibly linked to Covid vaccines is rare, would inoculate own kids
STATE
Arkansas: The Arkansas Board of Education approved online instruction plans from 20 of 152 school systems that have submitted proposals and asked for waivers of some state laws and rules to carry them out.
Bentonville School District, K-12
Bergman School District, 9-12
Berryville School District, K-12
Bryant School District, 6-12
Fort Smith School District, K-8
Gentry School District, 7-12
Hamburg School District, 7-12
Harrison School District, 3-12
Jacksonville/North Pulaski County School District, K-12
Jasper School District, 9-12
Pea Ridge School District, K-12
Rogers School District, K-12
Russellville School District, K-12
Springdale School District, K-12
Texarkana School District, K-12
Trumann School District, K-12
Valley Springs School District, 7-12
Westside Johnson County School District, K-12
West Memphis School District, K-12
Massachusetts: Via CRPE: Think Forward New England: Profiles of Innovation | Map Academy
Michigan: Gov Whitmer announces funding priorities for $1.7 billion in federal funds:
Closing the funding gap between schools in lower and higher-income communities with a $262 million investment
Investing funds in students who need them the most through a weighted funding formula
Allocate monies to support at-risk students ($20.4 million), special education ($60 million), and English language learners ($12.2 million)
$6 million of the $60 million for special education would be used for pre-employment training, expanding a remote learning library, and hiring more qualified personnel for children with disabilities
$500 million for districts to hire and retain more educators, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses.
$50 million to double funding for Career and Technical Education, vocational, and skilled trades programs
$55 million to expand dual enrollment and early middle college programs
$100 million to hire more guidance and career counselors
$500 million for school infrastructure
$402 million to increase the foundation allowance by 4% ($163/$326 per pupil)
$350 million to stabilize enrollment over two years for districts after COVID-related unpredictability and pupil losses
$41.5 million for literacy coaches, an increase of $10 million
$50 million for ongoing student mental health programs.
A 2% operational funding increase for community colleges
New Jersey: Janellen Duffy Op-Ed: Support is here for accelerating education past the pandemic
Ohio: Covington Independent Public Schools is doubling the amount it pays summer school teachers in an effort to keep them on board.
Washington: How school districts responded to Inslee’s school reopening order.
INTERNATIONAL
Australia: A Royal Children’s Hospital poll on remote learning found more than 50% of Victorian children suffered deteriorating mental health while away from school last year.
Another report found that of 1 million enrolled students in Victoria, 337 or 0.03 per cent had a coronavirus infection linked to a school outbreak last year, while 1,635 infections were linked with childcare and schools in some way.
Canada: Top doctor wants London schools to reopen, but union cautions over safety concerns
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
State Solutions For Supporting The Return To Work And Filling Open Jobs: Great list from NGA
Policy Considerations for Wired Broadband Connections: Via Bipartisan Policy Center
RESOURCES
Systemic Solutions: Via Christensen Institute: "6 guiding principles for spending federal recovery dollars on systemic solutions"
Make investment decisions based on circumstances, not what works on average.
Rather than raising recurring staff costs, fund innovation teams that are temporary by design.
Before staffing up, invest in existing human resources—including students.
Use flexible state funding to set up infrastructure for scaling innovation.
Pause. Take a breath. Make a plan—but not a conventional one.
___. Inspired by Michael Trucano’s common practice on his World Bank EduTech blog, I’m leaving this sixth principle blank because these ideas are necessarily incomplete.
Memorial Day: Team Rubicon greyshirts reflect on those who served before them and why it’s important to keep living in their memory. And Black Rifle Coffee posted their own unique (but on brand) tribute.