Week of 2-22-2021

Inside this issue

• PSEA continues to advocate for standardized testing waivers despite setback
• House passes Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill
• Want to earn a majorly discounted college credit from Edinboro University?
• Share your ideas for Black History Month instruction
• PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning schedule
• Member Benefits spotlight: Voluntary Vision plan

PSEA continues to advocate for standardized testing waivers despite setback

The U.S. Department of Education’s announcement on Monday that it would not allow states to waive federally required standardized tests despite the extraordinary challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic was extremely disappointing. PSEA has advocated extensively for waivers at the federal and state levels.

In January we joined other Pennsylvania education groups to send a letter to President Biden and his Education Secretary-designee Miguel Cardona as well as Sens. Casey and Toomey requesting waivers.

Also in January our membership sent more than 6,000 letters to our senators and representatives encouraging the same.

Just last Wednesday I had a virtual meeting with Sen. Bob Casey where I advocated again for a waiver.

And we’re not giving up. We’re going to keep the pressure on our elected officials to reverse course and ensure educators and students can focus on teaching and learning rather than on high-stakes standardized testing. This remains a top priority for our Association.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as things develop. And once again, thank you for raising your voices on this important issue.  

House passes Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill

With the U.S. House of Representatives having passed the Biden Administration’s much trumpeted $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill early this morning, it now heads to the Senate where it will likely be passed in some form and arrive on President Biden’s desk by mid-March.

And while some specifics are likely to change in the Senate version, the bill as it now stands includes $170 billion for K-12 and higher education.

Here’s a breakdown of what that means:

• Provides $130 billion to help schools safely reopen and meet students’ academic, mental health, and social and emotional needs. These funds can be used to reduce class sizes and improve social distancing; improve ventilation; hire more janitors and implement mitigation measures; provide personal protective equipment; ensure every school has access to a nurse; hire counselors; and provide summer school or other supports for students to make up lost learning time.

• Reserves a portion of this funding for a COVID-19 Educational Equity Challenge Grant to advance equity- and evidence-based policies and give all students the support they need to succeed.

• Provides $35 billion to expand the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to ensure colleges have resources to implement public health protocols, execute distance-learning plans, and provide up to $1,700 in per-student financial assistance.
  
  
• Provides $5 billion for a Hardest Hit Education Fund for governors to use to support the learning needs of students significantly impacted by COVID-19 in K-12, higher education, or early childhood education programs.

We’ll keep you updated on changes that affect you, so stay tuned.

Want to earn a majorly discounted college credit from Edinboro University?

PSEA has teamed up with Edinboro University to offer you college credit for your hard work!

Here’s how it works:

STEP 1: Explore PSEA/NEA Micro-credentials at www.psea.org/collegecredit

STEP 2: Submit your work

Complete the requirements of the Micro-credential and submit along with the requisite supporting artifacts and evidence to be evaluated.

If your Micro-credential submission is accepted, you can get one Edinboro University credit!*

*The single college credit is offered in lieu of the five Act 48 hours of Micro-credential credit (and equivalent to 30 Act 48 hours) from Edinboro University for a fee of $70 per credit.

Share your ideas for Black History Month instruction

Do you have a lesson plan, guide, activity, or approach you use to teach students about Black history during Black History Month? 

Let us know at https://psea.org/bhm#tellus

PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning schedule

Here’s what’s coming up at PSEA’s Center for Professional Learning:

Webinars

• Schoology in Practice: The Essentials for Intermediate users
  • March 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Formative Assessments
  • March 9, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Math at a Distance: Best Practices
  • March 16, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Phenomena-Centered Science in your (virtual) Classroom
  • March 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Maximizing Google Classroom for Remote Learning
  • March 30, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Leveling Up Seesaw
  • April 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Google Classroom (Advanced)
  • April 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
• EdTech Pedagogy in Early Childhood
  • April 27, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Screencasting: Loom, Screencastify, Google Meet
  • May 4, 6-7:30 p.m.

Book Discussions

• Book 1 - John Lewis & Andrew Aydin
  • March 10, 5-6 p.m.
• Refugee - Alan Gratz
  • April 7, 5-6 p.m.
• Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper
  • May 5, 5-6 p.m.
• New Kid - Jerry Craft
  • May 19, 5-6 p.m.

Wellness Sessions

• Mindfulness for Members 2021-V – This session includes mindful practices for experiencing joy.
  • March 8, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-VI – This session includes mindful practices for experiencing calm in the chaos.
  • March 22, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-VII – This session includes mindful practices for preventing burnout.
  • April 12, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-VIII – This session includes mindful practices for experiencing gratitude.
  • April 26, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-IX – This session includes mindful practices for healthy minds.
  • May 10, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-X – This session includes mindful practices developing awareness.
  • May 24, 5-6 p.m.
• Mindfulness for Members 2021-XI – This session includes mindful practices for experiencing calm, joy, gratitude, self-compassion, and resilience.
  • June 7, 5-6 p.m.

Member Benefits spotlight: Voluntary Vision plan

The PSEA Voluntary Vision Plan offers low monthly payments, great frame and contact lens allowances, exam coverage, fitting fee coverage for contact lenses, and offers the choice of 12-month or 24-month coverage. The plan is available to all PSEA members and eligible dependents to age 26. Enrollment opens the first of each month.

The 12-month plan highlights include a $250 frame allowance or $150 contact lenses allowance with monthly premiums of only $12 for single coverage, $24 for two party and, $35 for family coverage.

The 24-month plan highlights include a $250 frame allowance or $175 contact lenses allowance with monthly premiums of only $8 for single coverage, $16 for two party and, $23 for family coverage.

For more information on the vision program please visit https://pseahwf.org/voluntary_vision/ or call the PSEA Health & Welfare Fund at 800-944-7732 ext. 7024