Last week, the Department released the second volume of its K-12 COVID-19 Handbook, providing additional strategies for safely reopening all of America's schools and promoting educational equity by addressing opportunity gaps that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Building off the first volume, which focused primarily on health and safety measures that schools can use to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) K-12 Operational Strategy, Volume 2 focuses on research-based strategies to tackle the social, emotional, mental health, and academic impacts of the pandemic on students, educators, and staff, such as how to address anxiety or depression as a result of the pandemic and over a year of remote learning.

The strategies described in Volume 2 can be supported by funding under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Each section identifies strategies and considerations for meeting the needs of underserved students. Sections include:

• providing school meals, regardless of educational setting;
• meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students;
• providing all students with access to a safe and inclusive learning environment;
• accelerating learning, through in-classroom instructional approaches, tutoring, and expanded learning time;
• supporting equitable access to and effective use of technology for teaching and learning;
• using data about students' opportunities to learn to help target resources and support;
• addressing resource inequities;
• stabilizing a diverse and qualified educator workforce; and
• supporting educator and staff well-being.

As part of the launch of Volume 2, Secretary Cardona held a virtual roundtable with a diverse group of students and parents, discussing how the pandemic has affected their education and their lives and how the resources and tools in Volume 2 may help assist schools and communities in addressing their needs.

The Secretary was also active on social media (see Twitter thread).

In related news:

• The Department issued monthly data from the 2021 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) School Survey. Survey results are available on an interactive dashboard where one can explore data for participating states and districts. The dashboard will be updated every month until the end of the 2020-21 school year.
• The Department also hosted the latest in its "Lessons from the Field" webinar series, running bi-weekly through June and focusing on key topics across early childhood, K-12 education, and postsecondary education: safe and healthy environments; providing supports for students; and teacher, faculty, and staff well-being, professional development, and supports. This second webinar, "Guidance for Early Childhood Education Programs and Providers," offered a brief overview of CDC's mitigation guidance in early childhood care and featured a panel of practitioners sharing lessons learned and challenges overcome to sustain safe operations. (Reminder: The agency is seeking information submitted to bestpracticesclearinghouse@ed.gov for its Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse.)
• The CDC announced that nearly 80% of pre-K-12 teachers, school staff, and child care workers had received at least their first shot of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) developed a Safe Opening and Operation Work Eligible for Public Assistance Interim Policy to implement the increase in assistance authorized by President Biden for the safe opening and operation of facilities (including schools!) across COVID-19 emergency and major disaster declarations for state, local, tribal, and territorial government entities.

In the meantime, Secretary Cardona continued his "Help is Here" School Reopening Tour, visiting schools that have successfully reopened and stayed open to spotlight best practices and discuss how schools can advance equity.

On April 6, he traveled to Pennsylvania for multiple stops. In Philadelphia, he toured an elementary school and held a roundtable discussion with school leaders, teachers, and students. In Upper Darby, he toured a middle school and met separately with high school students and parents.

Then, on April 13, he traveled to Prince George's County, Maryland, where he visited another reopened elementary school and held a roundtable discussion with local educators and parents.

Also, video is now available from his earlier stop at Laurel Elementary School in Delaware.

The Secretary is sharing what he learns with other states and districts, as well as across the Administration, to help more schools reopen quickly and safely and reach the President's goal of reopening the majority of K-8 schools within the first 100 days.

The Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced a comprehensive review of the agency's regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, in direct response to President Biden's March 8 Executive Order on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity.

In a letter to students, educators, and other stakeholders, OCR outlined plans to solicit input on the regulations, leading to possible revisions through a notice of proposed rulemaking.

"Building educational environments free from discrimination, where our nation's students can grow and thrive, is a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration," noted Secretary Cardona. "Today's action is the first step in making sure that the Title IX regulations are effective and fostering safe learning environments for our students, while implementing fair processes. Sexual harassment and other forms of sex discrimination, including in extracurricular activities and other educational settings, threaten access to education for students of all ages. As Secretary, I will work to ensure all students – no matter their background, who they are, or how they identify — may succeed in the classroom and beyond."

OCR wants to hear from as many interested parties as possible. It plans to hold a public hearing to receive views through oral comments and written submissions. More information on this public hearing will be posted in the coming weeks in OCR's News Room.

Moreover, to assist all parties in better understanding OCR's expectations with respect to compliance with Title IX and the 2020 amendments, it will issue a new question-and-answer document.

The Department discharged approximately $1.6 billion of debt for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) participating in the HBCU Capital Financing Program. This action provides relief to 45 HBCUs — 13 public institutions and 32 private institutions.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, signed into law last December, provided the authority and funding to discharge capital financing debts held by HBCUs.

Discharging these debts helps enable HBCUs to focus their resources on supporting students, faculty, and staff for the duration of the COVID-19 national emergency. They can dedicate more funds to innovating the academic experience, supporting the socio-emotional development of their students, and continuing as the leading producers of Black doctors and teachers during a time when the country needs them the most.

President Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 topline budget proposes $102.8 billion for the Department of Education, a 41% increase compared to current funding. It prioritizes the nation's most vulnerable students, including a $20 billion boost for high-poverty schools, a $2.6 billion increase for special education and related services, and a $400 increase to the maximum Pell Grant. It also asks Congress to allow students protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program access to Pell Grants. (Note: Later this spring, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will release the President's full budget proposal.)

• The Biden-Harris Administration announced six initial actions to address the public health epidemic of gun violence.
• While in New York City last week, the Secretary met with Al Sharpton about ensuring equity and transparency in school reopening and getting ARP resources to underserved communities.
• The Department shared additional political appointees that will lead various parts of the agency.
• A detailed Homeroom blog post urges high school seniors to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form today.
• In his latest blog posts (parts 1 and 2), Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Director Mark Schneider looked back at some high points of the first three years in this current role and outlined the challenges IES will be taking on for the remaining three years of his term.

"There is simply no substitute for in-person learning. But as schools reopen their doors, we must also make sure that we are meeting students’ social, emotional, physical, mental health, and academic needs, as well as addressing gaps that existed before — and were exacerbated by — the pandemic. This is an opportunity for us to not only reopen our schools safely, but to make sure our education systems are truly serving all our nation’s students"

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is a twice-yearly event that allows for individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications for free. This year's spring date is Saturday, April 24, and there are collection sites throughout the country (see site locator online).

President Biden accepted the Speaker of the House's invitation to address a joint session of Congress on April 28.

Schools and communities are encouraged to celebrate College Signing Day throughout the month of May by posting on social media using #CollegeSigningDay.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, the ED Games Expo (June 1-6) has moved online. Attendees will have the opportunity to demo learning games and technology and interact with developers virtually.

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