TOP THREE
Something to Keep an Eye On: U.K. Covid surge sparks call for probe into Delta Plus mutation
"U.K. reported the highest daily jump in new cases on Sunday since mid-July"
"The delta plus strain includes the K417N mutation, which has stoked concern because that’s also harbored by the beta variant that’s associated with an increased risk of reinfection."
COVID-19 Testing in Schools Works: Science News asks, so why aren’t more doing it? Good piece. Long but worth the read.
‘Still Not Equitable’: How COVID-19 Closures, Differing Safety Policies Are Disrupting School for Many Children: Morning Consult poll
1 in 5 parents said their kids have had to quarantine or miss school because of a possible COVID-19 exposure
1 in 10 said their kids have missed school or quarantined because they got COVID-19.
Nearly 3 in 5 parents said masking is required at their children’s schools, the only safety precaution that polled at over 50%.
FEDERAL
Reconciliation:
“Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has told the White House the child tax credit must include a firm work requirement and family income cap in the $60,000 range,” Axios reports.
"Manchin is also open to Biden's $450 billion plan to subsidize day care and offer free universal preschool."
WSJ reports that Democrats are considering two options for reducing the overall size:
"To get to a lower spending range, some lawmakers, including progressives, are looking at shortening the timeline for the proposed spending, aides said, while others, including some centrists, want to focus the funds on a smaller number of programs."
“There are two options,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.). “You could take pieces out, or you could start a piece in year 2, rather than year 1. Or you do some for five years, not 10, and count on it being so popular that when you come back in year six, well of course we’ll want to do it.”
CTC: Gene Sperling thread regarding the CTC.
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Boosters:
The FDA and CDC will likely allow some flexibility for recipients of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 to mix and match vaccine boosters, Fauci told ABC News' "This Week".
CNBC reports, "Scientists question FDA on ‘scant’ J&J booster data and speedy review."
“What puzzled me was, in the briefing documents and in their presentations today, they spoke repeatedly about data not being verified by the FDA,” committee member Dr. Archana Chatterjee said of J&J. “And the question I had around that is [what is] the reason for bringing this before VRBPAC without being able to verify the data.”
On Covid-19 booster shots, the FDA has overstepped its role, oped in Stat.
"There are also less obvious consequences. Millions of people are getting boosters by claiming to be eligible or simply not disclosing prior vaccination. This “self-help” will often be among the well-educated and well-informed, and thus will increase the large disparities in Covid-19 sickness and death seen so far in the U.S. Moreover, measuring how many people were vaccinated once, twice, or thrice will become a guessing game."
Vaccinating Children: AP reports, "States can reserve COVID-19 shots for younger kids next week."
"To help states and cities prepare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week sent out a seven-page document with guidance on how to set up expanded vaccination programs."
"For example, it notes pharmacies in every state can give COVID-19 shots to children, but it clarifies that only doses prepared and packaged specifically for children are to be used for those under 12."
"It doesn’t speak to some thornier questions, however, such as how much school-based clinics should be relied on or whether kids should be required to get then shots as a condition of school attendance."
State COVID Lotteries May Not Have Worked: According to a new study. More via Axios.
"[O]ur research points to a disappointing outcome—that is, there was no significant association found between a cash-drawing announcement and the number of vaccinations administered after the announcement date."
School Disruptions: Updated Burbio numbers:
605 school districts affected by closures (up from 580) involving 2,319 schools.
STATE
California: Projected K-12 drops in enrollment pose immediate upheaval and decade-long challenge.
The California Department of Finance is projecting an 11.4% decline in statewide enrollment by 2031, a loss of 703,000 students from pre-pandemic 2019-20.
North Carolina: The Department of Public Instruction’s Rethink Education initiative is helping districts across the state prepare for any short- or long-term learning disruptions by developing plans tailored to the specific needs of their school communities.
These partnerships are focused on improving blended learning, which combines face-to-face and online instruction, access and content for students in grades K-8.
Oregon: Over 75% of districts have opted out of the state's Covid testing program.
INTERNATIONAL
Australia: Some Sydney school students return as more COVID-19 curbs eased.
Israel: Israel poised to expand COVID quarantine exemption to all schools, preschools
UK: Falls behind European peers in vaccinating teens.
RESOURCES
Kids Left Schools Last Year Because of the Switch to Remote Classes: Early numbers suggest they may not be coming back soon, via The 74
Family Guides: Supporting Learning: Seek Common Ground and Student Achievement Partners created Family Guides to help anyone supporting a child's learning in the 2021-22 school year learn more about what children should know and be able to do, grade by grade, in math and literacy.
How to Confront COVID-19's Toll on Kids’ Mental Health: Via NatGeo
Honoring Gen. Colin Powell: Who passed away of Covid-19 complications amid his cancer battle. Tributes:
And here's a Conversation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture with Arne Duncan and Colin Powell moderated by Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner, GSV