COVID-19 Policy Update #298
COVID-19 Policy Update
MONDAY 7/19
For all those that celebrate, yesterday was National Ice Cream Day. We have quite a long update tonight thanks to some news from the AAP, the UK, and a bunch of districts releasing their ARP spending plans. So grab a pint of Jeni's (I recommend the Peach or Gooey Butter Cake) or make some yourself using a mason jar (get the kids to do the "vigorous shaking" and now you have a STEM lesson). For those disappointed that there isn't a cocktail pairing tonight, fear not! Ice Cream Jubilee offers a Gin & Tonic sorbet as well as a Dark and Stormy ice cream.
TOP THREE
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Masks in Schools for Everyone Over 2, Regardless of Vaccinations: Updated guidance.
They cite as reasons for recommending masks: "a significant proportion of the student population is not yet eligible for vaccination; masking protects those who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 and reduces transmission; and potential difficulty in monitoring or enforcing mask policies for those who are not vaccinated."
This puts the AAP at odds with the CDC who advised that fully vaccinated students, teachers and staff don't need to wear masks at school. There are already news reports of pressure mounting on the CDC to revise their guidance.
Additional highlights:
"In addition, SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged that may increase the risk of transmission and result in worsening illness. However, the AAP believes that, at this point in the pandemic, given what we know about low rates of in-school transmission when proper prevention measures are used, together with the availability of effective vaccines for those age 12 years and up, that the benefits of in-person school outweigh the risks in almost all circumstances."
"It may become necessary for schools to collect COVID-19 vaccine information of staff and students and for schools to require COVID-19 vaccination for in-person learning."
"Schools must continue to take a multi-pronged, layered approach to protect students, teachers, and staff (ie, vaccination, universal mask use, ventilation, testing, quarantining, and cleaning and disinfecting). Combining these layers of protection will make in-person learning safe and possible."
"Although many questions remain, the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection"
"Schools are a vital resource to continue to address and provide resources for a wide range of mental health needs of children and staff. The emotional impact of the pandemic, grief because of loss, financial/employment concerns, social isolation, and growing concerns about systemic racial inequity—coupled with prolonged limited access to critical school-based mental health services and the support and assistance of school professionals—demand careful attention and supports in place during all modes of learning, whether remote or in-person"
"This digital divide is a critical component to be addressed in schools even as children return to in-person learning as they navigate the increasing digital learning environment, academic recovery, and extended home learning materials. Access to both reliable high-speed internet and adequate devices beyond a smart phone are critical to promote equity and support academic success."
UK Will Not Offer COVID Vaccine to Children Unless They Are Vulnerable: Children in the UK will get a Covid vaccine only if they are over 12 and extremely vulnerable, or live with someone at risk.
"Sajid Javid, the health secretary, said he accepted the advice of scientific advisers that only children over 12 with severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities should be allowed to get the Pfizer vaccine."
"Children over 12 who live in the same house as people who are immunosuppressed will also be eligible for jabs."
"School leaders warned of more disruption to education next autumn. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, acknowledge the need for caution but said it “leaves us with the potential for very high numbers of infections among children in the autumn term particularly given the relaxation of wider restrictions in society”.
"The decision has split scientists, many of whom had expected the Pfizer vaccine to be given the green light for over-12s."
"The decision not to vaccinate most young people puts the U.K. at odds with France and several other European countries, which have decided to vaccinate adolescents as young as 12."
"Until more data become available, JCVI does not currently advise routine universal vaccination of children and young people less than 18 years of age."
“The health benefits in this population are small, and the benefits to the wider population are highly uncertain. At this time, JCVI is of the view that the health benefits of universal vaccination in children and young people below the age of 18 years do not outweigh the potential risks."
Thoughtful Thread: From Will Hoenig: "I don't think leaders here have wrapped their heads around the impact of Delta in the US. This is a new era: A) A bad phase of the pandemic for unvaccinated adults and B) The beginning of the endemic reality for vaccinated people. Policy responses require a new paradigm." Read more.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
A Federal Judge Upholds Indiana University’s Vaccination Requirement for Students: Via NYT
"The Fourteenth Amendment permits Indiana University to pursue a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the legitimate interest of public health for its students, faculty and staff,” his ruling said, also noting that the university had made exceptions for students who object."
Any COVID Infection Leaves Strong Antibody Levels in Kids: Duke University School of Medicine study
"Found that the children and adolescents who previously had COVID-19 developed antibody responses that were capable of neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Further, these responses were comparable or superior to those observed in adults."
Half of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients Experience Complications: Study from the UK.
These complications occurred regardless of age group: For instance, 1 in 4 adults ages 19-29 developed complications, as did 1 in 3 of those aged 30-39.
Complications affecting the kidneys and respiratory system were most common, as were liver injury, anemia, and arrhythmia.
And while almost 50% of white people had complications, that figure among Black individuals was 58%.
"The Flimsy Evidence Behind the CDC’s Push to Vaccinate Children": Dr. Makary, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School OpEd in WSJ
"A tremendous number of government and private policies affecting kids are based on one number: 335. That is how many children under 18 have died with a Covid diagnosis code in their record, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet the CDC, which has 21,000 employees, hasn’t researched each death to find out whether Covid caused it or if it involved a pre-existing medical condition."
"My research team at Johns Hopkins worked with the nonprofit FAIR Health to analyze approximately 48,000 children under 18 diagnosed with Covid in health-insurance data from April to August 2020. Our report found a mortality rate of zero among children without a pre-existing medical condition such as leukemia. If that trend holds, it has significant implications for healthy kids and whether they need two vaccine doses."
Unvaccinated States Feel Brunt of Delta-Led Covid Uptick: Via NYT including some great visualizations comparing low vaccination rate states with higher vaccination rates.
STATE
Alabama: Is sponsoring a TikTok competition to promote vaccines among young people ages 13 to 29 in the months leading up to the start of schools.
"To participate, contestants are to submit a TikTok video showing themselves getting vaccinated or include a creative message explaining, “This is why I got vaccinated.” All videos must tag @alcovidvaccine, #getvaccinatedAL and #ADPH.”
Arkansas: Arkansas Children's Hospital reported 11 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday along with several more suspected. "About half of those are critically ill. They’re in our ICU requiring ventilator support or really have COVID-pneumonia," said Dr. Rick Barr, Chief Clinical Officer at Arkansas Children's. Barr said the hospitalizations are about two to three times more than they saw back in the winter months with COVID-19.
Delaware: State selects Quidel for COVID-19 testing program at schools
Georgia: How Cobb Schools plans to use it's ARP funding:
$28.3 million to be used to offset the state of Georgia's austerity cuts to the Quality Basic Education formula;
$4.4 million for sanitation and cleaning of facilities to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission;
$6 million for food and nutrition services;
$100,000 for employee training;
$1 million for additional Cobb Virtual Academy teachers to accommodate a growth in enrollment; and
$25 million in technology purchases to assist in classroom instruction
Indiana: Attendance dropped at 70% of schools
"At many schools the dip in attendance was modest. But at about 80 schools, attendance rates plummeted by more than 10 percentage points"
Kansas: The Johnson County Health Department said children between the ages of 5 and 17 are making up 30% of the new COVID-19 cases in the county.
"We’re seeing that age group come up having a lot of infections and a lot of them are associated with outbreaks and these include things like child care centers, summer camps, those day summer camps as well as those overnight summer camps,” Holzschuh said. “We’ve seen it in athletic groups as well.”
Ohio: Via The 74: Why Some Ohio Schools Are Adopting a ‘Mastery’ Approach in Hopes of Closing COVID Learning Gaps
Pennsylvania: Franklin Area School District will offer an online option next year.
Tennessee:
OpEd: How in-school COVID-19 testing will make it easy on students and parents
The education department announces 29 new virtual schools bringing the total to 57
Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Innovation Academy, Grades 3-12
Bedford County Schools, Bedford County Virtual School, Grades 3-8
Bristol Tennessee City Schools, Tennessee Online Public School at Bristol, Grades K-5
Campbell County Schools, North Cumberland Online School, Grades 6-12
Cheatham County Schools, Cheatham County Virtual Academy, Grades 9-12
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, CMCSS K-12 Virtual School, Grades K-12
Coffee County Schools, Coffee County Virtual Academy, Grades 6-12
Collierville Schools, Collierville Virtual Academy, Grades 3-12
Dickson County Schools, Dickson County Distance Learning Academy, Grades 4-12
Germantown Municipal School District, Germantown Online Academy of Learning, Grades 6-12
Greene County Schools, Greene Online Academy of Learning, Grades K-12
Greeneville City Schools, Tennessee Online Public School at Greeneville, K-12
Hawkins County Schools, Hawkins County Virtual Academy, Grades K-12
Haywood County Schools, Haywood County Virtual Academy, Grades K-8
Jackson-Madison County School System, Jackson Academic STEAM Academy, Grades K-12
Jefferson County Schools, Jefferson Virtual Academy, Grades 1-12
Johnson City Schools, Johnson City Virtual Academy, Grades 5-12
Knox County Schools, KCS Virtual Elementary School, Grades 1-5
Knox County Schools, KCS Virtual Middle School, Grades 6-8
Knox County Schools, KCS Virtual High School, Grades 9-12
Lenoir City Schools, The iLearn Institute at Lenoir City Schools, Grades K-12
Lincoln County Schools, Lincoln Central Virtual Academy, Grades K-12
Marion County Schools, Marion Virtual Elementary School, Grades K-5
Sevier County School System, Sevier County Virtual Academy, Grades K-12
Sullivan County Schools, Sullivan County Virtual Learning Academy, Grades 6-12
Tullahoma City Schools, Tullahoma Virtual Academy, Grades 9-12
Warren County Schools, Warren Connect, Grades 3-12
Williamson County Schools, WCS Online K-8, Grades K-8
Williamson County Schools, WCS Online 9-12, Grades 9-12
Wisconsin: How MPS plans to use it's ARP funding:
$48 million for air-temperature controls, on top of $2 million from the second installment
$14 million for carpet replacement
$8.5 million to replace lockers
$7 million to build outdoor classrooms
$6 million for windows and doors
$5.5 million to replace drinking fountains
$13.6 million for mental health support, on top of $7.9 million from the second installment
$10 million for physical health and COVID mitigation, on top of $2.9 million
$9.4 million for social and emotional learning, on top of $10.2 million
$2 million for exercise stations and ropes courses
$11.2 million for direct services, on top of $10.5 million from the second installment, primarily to pay teachers to staff programs and tutoring services before and after school, on Saturdays and over summer and winter breaks
$9.1 million for materials, including curriculum and technology, on top of $43.4 million
$8.5 million for professional development, on top of $7.2 million
INTERNATIONAL
France: Thousands protest against mandatory vaccination, COVID-19 passes
UK: The number of children registering for home education in the UK rose by 75% in the first eight months of the current school year, according to BBC research.
"More than 40,000 pupils were formally taken out of school in the UK between September 2020 and April 2021, compared with an average of 23,000 over the previous two years."
RESOURCES
As Schools Recover, We Must Sustain Innovations that Have Proven Successful During COVID-19: Via Jane Swift
"Parental ingenuity, combined with the creativity of our educators, businesses, and community leaders, led to new instructional settings like learning pods. While some philanthropic support extended those innovations to a broad swath of children, we often saw that these effective learning models were not available to those with fewer financial resources."
"Our priority as leaders must be getting the innovations which have proven effective during the pandemic extended to all students and families. Educators will need our support in rebuilding trust with parents as well as centering equity in their policies and practices after a year of both school closures and anti-racism reckoning."
Back to Basics: New America report on Quality in Digital Learning
Steps to Protect Student Privacy & Support Equity in the New School Year: Via CDT
Schools Are Turning Stimulus Funds Into Teacher Bonuses: Via WSJ
Better, Broader Learning: California Education Policymakers Prioritize Bolder Expanded Learning Opportunities: Via LPI
Catholic Virtual Partners with U.S. Dioceses to Create Online Academies for 2021-22: Press Release
EdTech:
LearnWorlds secured $32 million from Insight Partner "Demand for our services almost tripled in March 2020, when lockdowns started across most countries,” chief executive Siozos tells Kathimerini."
Blackstone announced an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Simplilearn Solutions, an online learning 'bootcamp' based in India offering digital skills training and courses to working professionals all over the world.
Go1, which provides curated online learning materials and tools to businesses, with “playlists” that tap content from multiple publishers and silos, has closed a Series D round of $200 million,which values the company over $1 billion
Duolingo is is aiming for a $3.41 billion IPO
Leap, a 'social learning' platform aimed at over 55s, raises a $3.1M Seed round
This Baby Chimp: Was born with broken ribs, had pneumonia, and was abandoned by his own mother. A human couple raised him and today, this is how he reacts whenever he sees them...