It has been an interesting week. Negotiations between the Congress and the White House in Washington DC over providing additional federal aid to schools, state and local governments, small businesses and more remain stalled. House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and the Trump Administration remain at odds over the size and content of the potential aid package.
As these talks stalled last week, President Trump signed several Executive Orders in the hopes of pressuring Congressional Democrats on several key issues at the center of the negotiations (issues mostly unrelated to K-12 education). These actions did not have the desired effect and most lawmakers in both chambers have returned to their states and districts as part of a previously planned August recess. It appears unlikely progress will be made over the next couple weeks as neither party wants to overshadow its national convention where they will want the spotlight to be on the presidential nominees.
We’re still waiting for information at the state level, too. Still no official word on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted state tax collections, A report from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has been expected sometime in “mid- to late-August.” As mid August approaches, we are still waiting to find out how declining state revenues may affect the state’s prior commitments to fund K-12 education.
Additional health-related guidance from the state Department of Health Services to local health departments and school leaders that was expected to be released last week remains tangled up in the bureaucratic and political review process. Guidance had been expected on: the advisability of the use of student learning models (in-person, hybrid or virtual) based upon the level of viral activity in school communities; what to do (e.g. isolation or quarantine) if a student of staff member tests positive for COVID-19 or presents with symptoms; and whether or how to safely proceed with high school athletics. The Governor’s office is said to be reviewing the guidance before it is released. Stay tuned…
Reminder: New Title IX Regulations for Schools Take Effect Today
The U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX regulations take effect today after a last-ditch effort seeking intervention by the courts failed. The new rule directs how schools respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence. Every school district must have new policies and procedures in place, paired with required staff training, to ensure compliance with the changed regulations.
