Coming Back to Breath + The unbearable grief of Black mothers – Parenting for Liberation #ICantBreathe #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #justiceforfloyd #BlackLivesMatter

Coming Back to Breath – Parenting for Liberation

Coming Back to Breath

Yesterday while I was still reeling from the fact that George Floyd, yet another loved one , has been taken by an act of police cruelty, my soul brother Eric Darnell Pritchard began sharing this poem as a resource. I wrote this poem in 2014 and first shared it at the BOLD national gathering as part of a Black Feminist Breathing activity to center us and bring us back to our breathing in the aftermath of our collective witnessing of a police officer choking Eric Garner to death while he cried out for help. I don’t want us to need this ceremony anymore, but we still do. This is a poem to bring you back to your breathing, to remind us all of the sacredness of breathing. I recommend listening to the audio version and breathing along at the stanza breaks. Your breathing is sacred. Our breathing is sacred. I love you.– Alexis Pauline Gumbs

Alexis Pauline Gumbs · C(h)ant. Breathe.: Returning to Breath for Eric Garner and Many More

Coming Back to Breath – Parenting for Liberation

The unbearable grief of Black mothers

“Black mothers require these healing resources because of the pre-existing disparities in access to both physical and mental health resources, coupled with the added pressures of round-the-clock caregiving, financial uncertainty, school closures, and social isolation that is uniquely impacting Black mothers,” – Trina Greene Brown

Please read this important piece by A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez #freeblackmotherhood

Read Full Vox article here

SHARE THIS: The unbearable grief of Black mothers – Parenting for Liberation - https://wp.me/p7fXox-1CA on @wordpressdotcom

JONATHAN KANTROWITZ: Remote Learning is Failing Our Most Vulnerable Students - Jonathan Kantrowitz

Remote Learning is Failing Our Most Vulnerable Students - Jonathan Kantrowitz

Remote Learning is Failing Our Most Vulnerable Students

Source: ParentsTogether Action

As schools prepare for distance learning to continue in some form, Congress must provide resources to prevent low-income students and students with learning challenges from falling further behind

ParentsTogether Action, a national parent-led organization with over 2 million members, has released the results of a survey of more than 1,500 families around the country regarding the impact the coronavirus crisis is having on kids’ education. The results reveal huge disparities in the success of remote learning depending on family income, and show that remote learning is jeopardizing the education of our most vulnerable students. This crisis has exposed and exacerbated existing inequities and millions of families have been left without the resources they need to help their kids succeed.

According to parents, children from low-income families and those who should receive additional support through Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) are facing particular challenges with distance learning. For example, kids from homes with incomes of less than $25,000 a year are ten times more likely to be doing little to no remote learning than their peers from homes making more than $100,000 a year. 13% of those from low-income homes have either no device or no internet, compared to 1% of families with incomes greater than $50,000. And nearly 40% of parents whose kids should be receiving individualized support say they are not receiving any support at all.

“This pandemic has turned the cracks in our education system into an abyss that threatens to swallow our most vulnerable kids. As school closes for summer, Congress must take urgent action to give students access to the resources they desperately need before school begins again in the fall,” said Justin Ruben, Co-Director of ParentsTogether Action. “As state budgets are slashed, our schools are having to cut programs and teachers at an alarming rate. Without a vast increase in federal funding so our schools can provide vital services, an entire generation of kids are going to be left behind.”

To address this crisis, ParentsTogether Action is supporting a call by dozens of organizations representing teachers, principals, and parents for at least $175 billion more for K-12 schools.

Below, please find topline findings from ParentsTogether Action’s survey of 1,594 parents, which was conducted via Facebook Messenger:

• Comparing responses of parents with a household income of less than $25,000 a year vs. those who make more than CONTINUE READING: Remote Learning is Failing Our Most Vulnerable Students - Jonathan Kantrowitz

California students to wear masks, get daily temperature checks under Newsom rules

California students to wear masks, get daily temperature checks under Newsom rules

California students to wear masks, get daily temperature checks under Newsom rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening guidelines for schools include recommendations that students and teachers wear face coverings and receive daily temperature checks, according to a summary of the not-yet-released state guidance.

A summary of the guidance obtained by POLITICO suggests keeping desks six feet apart or creating partitions between desks and staggering arrival and drop off times to minimize physical contact. It also includes considerations for increased sanitation and portable hand washing stations.

Newsom is expected to release the guidelines publicly on Friday.

The guidance recommends that individually plated or bagged meals be served in classrooms instead of cafeterias and that students remain with the same small group of classmates and teachers as much as possible.

Cloth face coverings would be used by staff at all times, and would be most essential for students when physical distancing is not possible, according to the guidelines.

Schools would implement screening of all staff and students before they enter campus and monitor signs of illness throughout the day, sending any students with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, a cough or other Covid-19 symptoms home.

Both school staff and parents would need training on how to use masks and increase sanitation, with the possibility of standardized videos and online training CONTINUE READING: California students to wear masks, get daily temperature checks under Newsom rules

Randi Weingarten: Despite coronavirus, how schools can reopen safely: Teachers' union

Despite coronavirus, how schools can reopen safely: Teachers' union

Coronavirus anxiety is real, but schools have to try to reopen: Q&A with teachers' union
It’s not good for kids to be home like this, says Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers.

This week, as U.S. coronavirus deaths topped 100,000 and President Donald Trump tweeted that “schools in our country should be opened ASAP,” the USA TODAY Editorial Board spoke with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. The teachers’ union has issued detailed guidelines for reopening schools. Questions and answers have been edited for length, clarity and flow:

Q. Do you agree with President Trump that schools should reopen as soon as possible?

A. Trump has created this false narrative that people either want to stay in place, locked down, or you open things up as if it was last June. So, no, I don’t agree with him. I’m actually less sanguine this week about opening than I was three or four weeks ago (based on) what happened at Lake of the Ozarks (in Missouri) and other places. Because if we have community spreaders and a second wave (of infections) before the summer ends, then I think all bets are off.

Q. What have we learned about online education?

A. Remote-only education is something that we all know has not been good for kids. People have tried really hard, and they’ve worked really hard, and they’ve turned on the dime in amazing ways. I think people really respect teachers now for what they’ve tried to do. But (online education) is not a substitute for the relationship building and the alchemy that happens in schools and in classrooms. Even though you’ll probably find a kid or two who will excel in it, this remote way of educating kids is not great.

Q. Is there a point this summer when we should know whether schools are going to open on time for the fall semester?

A. A lot of schools in the South start opening Aug. 1. So you’re going to see schooling. I think your question is, what’s going to happen in terms of school buildings? And I think we’re going to know that based upon two facts. Will we get this (financial aid) package (from Congress)? Because if we don’t get that package, then school buildings are not going to reopen in the way that they need to. The second real issue, which is a big uncertainty, is whether there’s going to be a second wave. If a second wave crops up that you can’t contain, then schools won’t open in September. I want schools to open safely and responsibly, and as a union, we are doing everything in our power to prepare people to do that and to try to make it work.

Q. Tell us about AFT’s plan for reopening.

A. We talked to a bunch of epidemiologists and people from (foundations). We talked to doctors. We had our members involved. And we realized that there is a CONTINUE READING: Despite coronavirus, how schools can reopen safely: Teachers' union

Rumors of Public Schools' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated - Teacher Habits

Rumors of Public Schools' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated - Teacher Habits

Rumors of Public Schools’ Death Are Greatly Exaggerated

These are scary times for those who support public schools. Legislators in most states are preparing the public for deep funding cuts. The federal government does not seem to be in a hurry to bail out states. The Secretary of Education continues her crusade to ram her personal affinity for private schools down everyone’s throats. There’s concern about just how many parents will feel comfortable sending their children back to brick-and-mortar schools. And on top of all of that, it’s likely that schools will be instituting changes to their operations, some of which will depress attendance and most of which will cost additional money that they will not have.

Enemies of public education smell blood, and they’re positively giddy about the prospects of a weakened public school system. Ryan McMaken, in an article titled “The School Closures Are a Big Threat to the Power of Public Schools,” tries to argue that emergency learning has exposed just how ineffectual and oversold our education system is. Based on the article’s comments, Ryan is hardly alone in his wishful thinking. McMaken starts by crediting COVID-19 for exposing the truth about school: It wasn’t actually “all that important after all.” His evidence?

“Yes, the schools have tried to keep up the ruse that students are all diligently doing their school work at home, but by late April it was already apparent that the old model of “doing CONTINUE READING: Rumors of Public Schools' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated - Teacher Habits

Betsy DeVos Ignores Congress: Orders Distribution of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools Instead of Public Schools Serving Poor Children | janresseger

Betsy DeVos Ignores Congress: Orders Distribution of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools Instead of Public Schools Serving Poor Children | janresseger

Betsy DeVos Ignores Congress: Orders Distribution of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools Instead of Public Schools Serving Poor Children

On April 30, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos released informal guidance directing federal Covid-19 stimulus funds to private schools at the expense of the public schools that educate 50 million American children and adolescents.  DeVos is using the pandemic crisis to promote her own agenda supporting the privatization of American public education.  Her recent action also undermines one of the most fundamental purposes of the U.S. Department of Education for which she is responsible.

On Wednesday, the NY Times‘ Erica Green described DeVos responding to criticism from the Council of Chief State School Officers: “Ms. DeVos accused the state education chiefs of having a ‘reflex to share as little as possible with students and teachers outside of their control,’ and said she would draft (a final) rule codifying her position to ‘resolve any issues in plenty of time for the next school year.’ The proposed rule would need to go through a public comment process before it could take effect.”

But the issue is far more complicated than what DeVos claims is public schools’ selfish unwillingness to share.

In the CARES Act, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Education to distribute $13.5 billion to the nation’s public schools according to the principles of the Title I formula.  The Title I formula represents—more than any other policy or program—the very role of the federal government in U.S. public education.  Public schools are created and funded under the 50 state constitutions, but in 1965, when Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty, the federal purpose was to support the education of impoverished children and confront unequal access to education across the states.

Jack Jennings, founder and retired CEO of the Center on Education Policy, describes the CONTINUE READING: Betsy DeVos Ignores Congress: Orders Distribution of CARES Act Dollars to Private Schools Instead of Public Schools Serving Poor Children | janresseger

What do you think? Are charter schools public schools or small businesses? - Network For Public Education

What do you think? Are charter schools public schools or small businesses? - Network For Public Education

What do you think? Are charter schools public schools or small businesses?

What do you think? Are charter schools public schools or small businesses?

On her recent blog, Diane asked an important question.

“Are charter schools public schools or small businesses with government contracts? They claim to be public schools, even though they have private, unelected boards and private management.”

Diane is outraged, as we all should be because charters took CARES Act funding for public schools, and then some double-dipped into Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection  Program (PPP) funds intended to keep small businesses from shutting down.

Read what happened here in The Washington Post where we explain what we uncovered.

Then share the story on social media with this link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/27/did-some-charters-schools-double-dip-federal-coronavirus-relief-funding/

NPE’s Marla Kilfoyle has been diligently collecting the names and the amounts that charter schools have received from the SBA. It has not been easy because charters do not want to admit they are taking these funds.

Will you lend Marla a hand? Check the board minutes of your local charter schools during April and May and see if the charter Board approved applying for and accepting PPP funds. If you find any, send the name of the school, amount and a link to the board minutes to marlakilfoyle@networkforpubliceducation.org.

On Wednesday evening, please join Diane and her guest community leader and public school advocate Jitu Brown for an important discussion about equity and civil rights. Register for this important event here.

What do you think? Are charter schools public schools or small businesses? - Network For Public Education

Nutrition CARES Act Guidance - FEMA Deadline Extension - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

Nutrition CARES Act Guidance - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

Nutrition CARES Act Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

On May 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provides funding to Child Nutrition Programs to assist with the impact of COVID-19. The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is providing clarification on how the CARES funding can be used.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has instructed us that these funds can only be used for paying reimbursement claims for actual meals served to eligible children in the National School Lunch Program, Summer Seamless Option, and School Breakfast Programs, Special Milk Program, Child and Adult Care Food, and Summer Food Service Programs, and therefore cannot be used to offset revenue loss. In addition, these funds can only be used for claims during the time period March through September 2020.

The CDE NSD is committed to advocate and support your needs. We are seeking additional flexibility for the use of CARES Act funds for child nutrition programs to ensure students continue to receive nutritious meals during this difficult time.

Please note, these funds cannot be used for Child Care Audit, Child Care Sponsor Administration, Summer Food Service State Administrative Expenses or Health Inspections.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Mike Salazar, Financial Management Unit Manager, by phone at 916-322-3287 or by email at msalazar@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

Nutrition CARES Act Guidance - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)

FEMA Deadline Extension

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that the deadline for Reimbursement of Purchases and Distribution of Food, FEMA-4482-DR-CA (COVID-19) has been extended until June 10, 2020.

FEMA’s March 19, 2020 Fact Sheet describes emergency protective measures in more detail.

Resources

• FEMA Coronavirus Pandemic: Purchase and Distribution of Food Eligible for Public Assistance: FEMA Policy FP 104-010-03 web page (PDF)..
  
  
• FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide: FP-104-009-2 web page.
  
  
• The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has information and training for local governments (including local educational agencies) on the request for public assistance (RPA) application process and federal procurement rules on their COVID-19 recovery web page.
  
  The COVID-19 Application Overview session will cover:
  • COVID-19 process flow
  • Streamlined Project Application in Grants Portal
  • COVID-19 documentation and forms
  
  The Grants Portal Application Basics will cover how to:
  • Register and set up a new Grants Portal account
  • How to Submit an RPA
  • Upload documents and create tiles

Contact Information

Please direct any questions related to FEMA training sessions to FEMA-Recovery-PA-Grants@fema.dhs.gov or call the Grants Manager/Portal Hotline at 1-866-337-8448.

LEA questions about FEMA Public Assistance and the RPA deadline can be directed to Cal OES at PAProcurement@caloes.ca.gov.

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609

FEMA Deadline Extension - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) - https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/femadeadlineextension.asp

School Custodians Are Essential Frontline Workers For Our Students

School Custodians Are Essential Frontline Workers For Our Students

School Custodians Are Essential Frontline Workers For Our Students

Juan Ramos has been a school custodian and union member for nearly 30 years. His father was a custodian before him, and Ramos spent summers helping his dad starting out when he was just fourteen-year-old. With that much experience under his utility belt, Ramos definitely has the know-how to protect students and educators from coronavirus, but only if he and his colleagues have the equipment and staff-power necessary to fight the deadly virus.

School custodian Juan Ramos

“Custodians are on the front line of defense at school,” says Ramos, who works at Maple Brook Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois. “We need to make sure our schools are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day, after the students leave, and before they come each morning — now more than ever in history.”

It’s not just hand sanitizer, hand washing and social distance that will keep schools safe, he says, but sophisticated cleaning equipment designed to take on the deadly virus.

“Custodians will need electrostatic sprayers to make sure that we hit high touch surfaces with the right chemicals for fighting the virus, we need hospital grade, which is the best there is,” Ramos says.

The sprayers should use a solution that is EPA registered for use against the cause of COVID-19 and should be applied to all touch and hard surfaces, door handles, furniture, floors – everything. The solution takes about 10 minutes to activate so it can’t be rushed and will need to be used in hallways, bathrooms and classrooms CONTINUE READING: School Custodians Are Essential Frontline Workers For Our Students

NANCY BAILEY: Beware of Education Frenemies!

Beware of Education Frenemies!

Beware of Education Frenemies!

Frenemies are everywhere when it comes to public education, while many of us fear disaster capitalism as the future of public schools.

Dictionary.com defines frenemy as a person or group that is friendly toward another because the relationship brings benefits, but harbors feelings of resentment or rivalry.

What makes an education frenemy and not an enemy, is that frenemies pretend to care about public education and children, while instituting harsh education reforms to end the schools children need. Education frenemies are masters of gaslighting. They might seem like they understand, might even be nice on other issues, but they are intent on ending democratic public schools.

Education enemies are different. They will say outright, “Public schools suck! We need to get rid of them all!” At least you know where they stand.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos tried to be a frenemy at first. But her actions even before her appointment were too obvious. Few were deceived by her plans, and she’s CONTINUE READING: Beware of Education Frenemies!