Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. The next 24 hoursWhat is changing in the next 24 hours?
Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: RestaurantsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you dine in at a restaurant? We last looked at restaurants in the July 15th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no states have opened or closed dine-in services at restaurants. California and New Jersey remain the only two states that do not allow indoor dining at restaurants.
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![]() This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Tennessee’s reopening guidanceThe Tennessee Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 8. The guidance is presented as “a framing document and not an implementation document. It is intended to provide broad questions and considerations for local districts.” The guidance is split into an overview document and several toolkits focused on specific areas that require consideration in crafting a reopening plan. On March 16, Gov. Bill Lee (R) ordered public schools to close by March 20 and remain closed until March 31. On March 24, the Department of Education extended the closure through April 24. Lee closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on April 15. Tennessee does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Tennessee traditionally start the academic year from late July to early August, with the exact date varying by district. Context
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Both local districts and individual schools are tasked with developing their own reopening plans. The guidance does not say whether the plans need to be approved by the state or posted publicly. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The guidance lays out four different scenarios that schools should prepare for, and recommended several options for how the school could function in each of those scenarios. The scenarios are:
Mask requirements The guidance refers to recommendations released by the Tennessee Department of Health on June 30 for managing COVID-19 in schools. The Department of Health recommended the following for face coverings:
In-person health recommendations and requirements The guidance offers the following recommendations when schools are operating with students physically in the building:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The guidance’s transportation toolkit published as part of the guidance does not include a recommendation or requirement on the use of face coverings on buses. Instead, it asks local districts to consider whether or not drivers and students should wear cloth face coverings and whether the district can provide these coverings. The toolkit recommends that districts follow CDC guidelines on social distancing between the driver and students. It recommends taping off every other row and allowing only one student per seat. To support contact tracing efforts, the toolkit recommends that districts use assigned seats. Texas’ SY 20-21 Public Health Planning GuidanceOn July 7, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released a framework for returning students to classrooms in the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance, a mix of requirements and recommendations, covers health and safety procedures for students, teachers, and staff, and provides guidelines for the length of time schools can offer distance learning before reopening classrooms. The Texas Education Agency released updated guidance on July 17 allowing schools to limit in-person instruction during the first four weeks of the school year. The guidance states that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so. Under the original guidelines released on July 7, that transition period had been limited to three weeks. The guidelines state that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so. When the original guidelines were released, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said, “Both as Commissioner and as a public school parent, my number one priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff. That is why the guidance laid out today will provide flexibility to both parents and districts to make decisions based on the ever-changing conditions of this public health crisis. The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students, while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families.” Gov. Greg Abbott (R) first ordered schools to close on March 20. He extended the closure on March 31 and ordered schools to stay closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the year on April 17. Texas does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, the school year typically starts in August, with the exact date varying by district. ContextTexas is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Schools are required to develop and publicly post a plan for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 based on the guidance developed in the Texas Education Agency’s framework. The plans must be posted on the system website at least a week before the start of on-campus activities and instruction. Schools are not required to submit the plans to the TEA or any other government agency. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The latest guidance says that schools may limit in-person instruction at the beginning of the school year for up to four weeks. During that time, most students can engage in distance learning. Schools must provide in-person instruction to students who do not have access to the internet or computers. Schools can delay returning most students to physical classrooms for an additional eight weeks with the permission of the local school board. The guidance allows parents to decide if their children will learn remotely or on-campus and provides them with the option of transitioning between one form of instruction or the other at different points during the school year. The Texas Education Code requires that students attend 90% of the days a course is offered to earn credit, but this requirement can be satisfied through virtual instruction. Mask requirements Students, teachers, staff, and visitors, must follow Gov. Abbot’s July 2 executive order mandating face coverings in indoor and outdoor areas in counties with 20 or more coronavirus cases. In-person health recommendations and requirements The guidance provides a list of recommendations for reducing the spread of the virus when students are on-campus. The list includes some of the following:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The guidance includes the following transportation recommendations:
Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Trump raises $20 million during virtual fundraiser
July 22, 2020: Donald Trump raised $20 million during the campaign’s first virtual fundraiser. Joe Biden launched a $15 million advertising campaign across six battleground states.
Notable Quote of the Day
“Most concerning are the deep fakes that could occur around the 2020 presidential campaign and election, particularly as voting patterns shift due to COVID restrictions. Messages about polling places, voting methods (mail-in, etc.) and whom to vote for are already ripe for disinformation campaigns from our adversaries looking to sew chaos. But imagine a deep fake campaign in which the voices Americans trust – governors, state officials, prominent community leaders, faith leaders, veteran journalists – are hijacked and swapped out for alternative messages. A campaign to trick voters into casting their ballots incorrectly – or at the wrong place or time – could disenfranchise large numbers of Americans.”
– Jeremy Bash, managing director at Beacon Global Strategies, and Michael Steed, founder of Paladin Capital Group
Election Updates
- Joe Biden said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was still in contention to be his running mate on Tuesday.
- The Biden campaign launched a $15 million advertising campaign across digital, radio, and print in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The campaign, which includes English- and Spanish-language ads, will run for a week.
- Biden hired new senior directors and 114 additional staff members in North Carolina, including Kate Hendrickson as state political director. Hendrickson previously worked as the North Carolina political director for Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign.
- Donald Trump raised $20 million from 300,000 donors during the campaign’s first virtual fundraiser. Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle, the national chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, hosted the event.
- The Trump campaign released a Spanish-language ad in the Miami media market focused on criticizing the Goya Foods boycott and comparing Biden to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- Newsweek interviewed Howie Hawkins and Jo Jorgensen in an article about Green and Libertarian inclusion in general election polls.
- Kanye West filed to appear on the Illinois ballot as an independent presidential candidate on Monday.
What We’re Reading
- Associated Press: Elizabeth Warren’s new role: Key Joe Biden policy adviser
- The Hill: Deepfakes threaten the 2020 election
- NBC News: Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick will be deeply consequential. That is far from the norm.
Flashback: July 22, 2016
Hillary Clinton announced that she had chosen Sen. Tim Kaine as her vice presidential running mate.
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Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: July 21, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: Indoor gathering limitsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: what is the indoor gathering size limit in each state? We last looked at indoor gathering size limits in the July 14th edition of the newsletter. Since then, the following changes took place:
The following is an overview of gathering limits by state:
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This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year.
Reopening Pre-K to 12 Schools in PennsylvaniaOn June 3, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released preliminary guidance to assist schools in reopening for the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance applied to school districts, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units. It was informed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) phased, color-coded reopening plan. On July 16, the Department of Education released updated guidance. In a press release announcing the updated guidance, Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said, “The health and safety of students, teachers and staff must be paramount as schools prepare for the upcoming school year. The Department of Education has been focused on supporting schools with resources and best practices to help school leaders make informed decisions within their local contexts and in response to evolving conditions.” The Pennsylvania Department of Education must approve district plans to reopen. Direct governing bodies (like school districts) must approve individual school plans to reopen. On March 13, Wolf first ordered schools to close on March 16. He extended the closure on March 23 and again on March 30, before announcing on April 9 that students would not return to physical classrooms for the remainder of the academic year. Pennsylvania does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, school districts in Pennsylvania traditionally select the start of the academic year, which can vary from late August to early September. ContextPennsylvania has a divided state government. Democrats hold the governorship, while Republicans have majorities in the House and Senate.
DetailsDistrict and school reopening plans Before resuming in-person instruction, all local education agencies in Pennsylvania must submit a Health and Safety Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All plans must follow Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine’s July 1 order mandating universal face coverings. Similarly, individual schools must also develop Health and Safety Plans before returning students to physical classrooms. A school’s governing body must approve the individual plan, and it must be made available to the public online. The plans should consider how schools can pivot to remote learning when necessary with minimal disruption to student learning. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The Phased School Reopening Health and Safety Plan Template that schools and Local Education Agencies must fill out includes four options for reopening. Schools can determine which options to adopt based on local conditions and the county’s current designation under the state’s reopening plan:
Mask requirements On July 1, Health Secretary Rachel Levine issued an order requiring individuals to wear face coverings outside of the home, including on school property. The order applies to all individuals aged two and above. All students, staff, and visitors are required to wear a face covering while on school property. Details include:
In-person health recommendations and requirements The guidance calls for all schools to implement social distancing strategies for adult and staff interactions, as well as for students in hallways and classrooms. For adult and staff interactions, the guidance calls for some of the following:
When students are in classrooms, the guidance calls for students to be seated at least six feet apart and facing the same direction. Additionally, the guidance recommends holding classes in gyms, auditoriums, or outdoors, where physical distancing can be maintained, when possible. The guidance recommends the following for hallways:
The guidance recommends some of the following for meals and cafeterias:
For outdoor playground spaces, the guidance recommends students be grouped within a cohort, and that the size of groups should be limited at any one time. Students and staff should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after playground use. Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The following guidance is included for transportation and busing. This is not a complete list.
Nevada’s Path ForwardThe Nevada Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 9. According to the plan’s introduction, “This document is designed to help districts and schools make community-based decisions regarding the re-opening of school buildings and builds on their unique strengths to address local challenges. We hope the Framework will serve as a starting point for conversations. It is not formal guidance or a directive. While we hope that the Framework will be a valuable resource, districts and schools may apply the concepts and guidelines of the Framework at their discretion and as relevant to local circumstances.” On the day the Department of Education released the guidance, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) issued a directive requiring school districts, charter schools, and private schools to develop individualized reopening plans. The plans must be made public and approved by a district or school’s governing body at least 20 days before the 2020-2021 school year begins. On March 15, Gov. Sisolak closed public schools through April 6. The state extended the closure on March 21 and again on April 1. Sisolak ended the public school year on April 22. Nevada does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen, but they have been allowed to reopen since June 10. According to EdWeek, public schools in Nevada traditionally start the academic year between mid- and late August, with the exact start date varying by district. The plan encourages decision-makers to refer to the CDC’s school reopening decision tree in assessing whether or not they should resume in-person operations. ContextNevada is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2019. The following tables show public education statistics in Nevada, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Districts, character schools, and private schools are required to develop their own specific reopening plans. The plans have to be publicly available and approved by the body governing the district or school at least 20 days before the school year begins. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The plan recommends schools reopen using a hybrid schedule that incorporates online and in-person learning. However, the plan suggests local schools and boards work with local health authorities to develop an appropriate schedule using the online and in-person resources at their disposal. Mask requirements The guidance recommends that schools require students and faculty to wear masks whenever feasible. The document says mask-wearing is especially important when social distancing cannot be maintained. In-person health recommendations and requirements The reopening plan recommends schools develop answers to the following questions to ensure general in-person operations resume safely:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions Nevada’s reopening plan suggested schools and boards answer the following questions regarding busing and transportation:
Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Trump campaign spends $50 million in June, Biden $37 million
July 21, 2020: The Trump campaign spent $50 million in June, which was roughly twice its expenditures in May. Republican John Kasich is expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention. |
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Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: July 20, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened Thursday? Click here. Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: Face coveringsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states must you wear a face covering in public? We last looked at face coverings in the July 13th edition of the newsletter. Since then, Alabama, Arkansas, and Colorado have instituted statewide face-covering requirements.
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![]() This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. New Mexico’s Reentry GuidanceThe New Mexico Public Education Department released phased school reopening guidance on June 23. According to the plan, “A phased entry approach will allow the state to collect and analyze data on the impact of a controlled start on the spread of the virus. This information will be essential to ensure that the state is able to move toward the goal of returning all children to a full school schedule as soon as it can be safely accomplished.” The guidance permits schools to open on a hybrid schedule that allows public schools to comply with social distancing and other requirements as early as Aug. 3. School districts are allowed to set their own reopening dates. According to EdWeek, public schools in New Mexico traditionally start the academic year between early and mid-August, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 12, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) closed public schools through April 5, effective March 16. Lujan Grisham ended the public school year on March 27. ContextNew Mexico is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2018. The following tables show public education statistics in New Mexico, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans School districts are not required to develop individualized reopening plans or submit plans to the state. Districts and schools must comply with the state’s eight minimum reopening requirements. In-person, hybrid, and online learning New Mexico’s reopening plan contains a red phase, yellow phase, and green phase. State health officials are responsible for determining what phase is appropriate based on regional and statewide data. In the red phase, most instruction would be conducted remotely, though schools may make exceptions for small groups of K-3 students. New Mexico public schools are starting the year in the yellow phase of reentry, which uses a hybrid schedule to limit classrooms to 50% capacity and ensure six-foot social distancing can be kept at all times. In the green phase, schools can reopen at full capacity, five days per week, with heightened sanitation and hygiene standards. Mask requirements Masks are required for students and faculty except when they are eating, drinking, or exercising. In-person health recommendations and requirements New Mexico’s reopening plan contains the following guidance for schools in the yellow phase of reopening to limit community spread:
In the green phase, the following guidance applies:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions New Mexico’s public school reopening plan contains the following guidance for transporting students to and from school and activities:
Oregon’s Ready Schools, Safe LearnersThe Oregon Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 10. The document contains recommendations for schools, which are responsible for creating individual reopening plans. Each public and private school must submit an Operational Blueprint for Reentry to their local public health authority. On March 12, Gov. Kate Brown (D) closed public schools from March 16 through March 31. On March 17, Brown extended the closure through April 28. Brown closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on April 8. Oregon does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Oregon traditionally start the academic year from late August to early September, with the exact date varying by district. Context
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Each individual school is responsible for submitting an Operational Blueprint for Reentry to their local public health authority. The health authority must approve the plan before a school can reopen. Reopening plans must be made available online by Aug. 15. On June 10, Department of Education Director Colt Gill said, “We understand and honor the importance of local voice, leadership and control. These individual plans will reflect the distinct strengths and needs of each district and community.” In-person, hybrid, and online learning Each individual school will decide whether to use in-person teaching, online learning, or a hybrid model. Schools choosing to only offer online learning must explain why they are not offering in-person teaching or hybrid learning. Mask requirements Face coverings are required for staff who are regularly within six feet of students or staff, bus drivers, staff preparing or serving meals, front office staff, and school nurses when providing direct contact care. All adult visitors are also required to wear face coverings. Face coverings are recommended for all staff (based on local public health and CDC guidelines) and students in 6th-12th grade. Conditions under which children should not wear a face covering are:
In-person health recommendations and requirements The plan suggests that schools develop plans that incorporate the following recommendations:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The plan offers the following suggestions for transportation:
Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of activities by other federal, state, and local governments and influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Kanye West holds first campaign rally in South Carolina
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Michigan Civil Service Commission approves union dues deduction rule change
Michigan Civil Service Commission approves rule change for deducting union dues from employee paychecks
On July 13, the Michigan Civil Service Commission voted 3-1 in favor of a rule change requiring unionized state employees to authorize union dues deductions from their paychecks on an annual basis.
What is at issue?
Rule 6-7 of Michigan’s Civil Service Rules had allowed for the deduction of union dues from workers’ paychecks, subject to their consent. The rule did not establish an expiration date for dues deduction authorizations:
“If agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement, the state may deduct the dues or service fee of a member of an exclusively represented bargaining unit through payroll deduction. An appointing authority cannot deduct membership dues or service fees unless the employee has made a voluntary authorization. The director shall establish the exclusive process for employees to authorize or deauthorize deduction of dues or fees.”
Under the rule change which takes effect Sept. 1, workers must consent to dues deductions annually. If a worker does not authorize dues deductions between now and Sept. 1, dues deductions will be automatically cancelled.
What is the Michigan Civil Service Commission, and how did the vote split?
The Michigan Civil Service Commission is a state agency that regulates all conditions of employment for classified state employees. The governor appoints the commission’s four members to staggered eight-year terms.
Gov. Rick Snyder (R) appointed all four current members of the commission. Three members – James Barrett, Jase Bolger, and Jeff Steffel – voted to approve the rule change. Commission chair Janet McClelland voted against it. Bolger and Barrett are registered with the Republican Party. Steffel and McClelland are registered independents.
What are the reactions?
Support
- Bolger said the rule change is a “protection of rights” for state employees: “I do not agree with claims that it impacts rights to collective bargaining. Instead, unions will be able to make their case, but I do believe it protects individual workers’ rights. Workers will remain free to make their choice.”
Opposition
- Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), said, “This action has no other purpose than to impose arbitrary hardships on bargaining units, create turmoil in workplaces during a historic pandemic and a global recession, and disrupt the work that unions do on behalf of these state workers. It’s unconstitutional, it’s unsupported by any recent laws or court decisions, and it’s just plain wrong. They should be ashamed.
Relation to Janus v. AFSCME
- Vincent Vernuccio, senior fellow for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, discussed the rule change in relation to the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME: “In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the [Janus] decision that did two things, both of which are being updated for the rule change here. The first, it basically gave right to work for state employees throughout the country. The second, in what Justice [Samuel] Alito called ‘affirmative consent,’ it required an opt-in provision to protect the public employees’ First Amendment rights.”
- Chuck Browning, director of the United Auto Workers Region 1A, disputed the application of Janus as a justification for the rule change: “As the court itself noted, ‘States can keep their labor relations systems exactly as they are.’ Only that they don’t have to force non-members to subsidize public sector unions. Janus, therefore, does not justify the proposed rule change.”
What we’ve been reading
- Lexology, “Virginia General Assembly makes pro-employee changes to state laws,” July 15, 2020
- Washington Examiner, “Ohio public employees win settlement in ‘limited window’ union dues case,” July 15, 2020
- In These Times, “The Public Sector’s Right to Strike Is Left Behind in Biden-Bernie Task Force Compromise,” July 9, 2020
The big picture
Number of relevant bills by state
We are currently tracking 97 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here for a complete list of all the bills we’re tracking.
Number of relevant bills by current legislative status
Number of relevant bills by partisan status of sponsor(s)
Recent legislative actions
No legislative actions have been taken on relevant bills since our last issue.
Bill Stepien replaced Brad Parscale as Trump campaign manager
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Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: July 16, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. The next three daysWhat is changing in the next three days?
Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: Nursing home visitsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you visit someone in a nursing home? This does not include end-of-life or other emergency-related visits. Visits limited to family members only, or that are only allowed outdoors, are counted as “visitors allowed” in the chart and map below. We last looked at nursing home visitation in the July 8th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no new states have allowed or restricted visitation.
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![]() This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Louisiana’s reopening planOn July 14, the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously approved Superintendent Cade Brumley’s proposed reopening guidelines. Brumley said that the guidelines were “minimum health and safety standards for every school in the state,” while allowing local districts to create their own specific plans. On March 13, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) issued an executive order closing K-12 schools until April 13. On April 2, Edwards extended the closure through April 30. On April 13, Edwards made the closure effective for the remainder of the school year. Louisiana does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Louisiana traditionally start the school year in early August, with the exact start date varying by district. ContextLouisiana has a divided government. The governor is a Democrat, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had a divided government since 2016. The following tables show public education statistics in Louisiana, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Under the guidelines, school districts are responsible for creating their own reopening plans in accordance with the guidelines. Brumley said each district must submit its plan to the state for approval, but did not say whether the plans had to be posted publicly. In-person, hybrid, and online learning Under the guidelines, school districts must decide whether students will learn face-to-face, remotely, or using a hybrid model. Individual students may be considered for remote or hybrid learning based on academic, social, emotional, familial, or medical needs. Mask requirements The guidelines state that adults and students in grades 3 through 12 must wear face coverings to the greatest extent possible. In-person health recommendations and requirements The guidelines place a limit on the number of individuals who can gather in a single room or outdoors at one time depending on the state’s reopening phase. During Phase One, 10 individuals can meet at one time. That limit expands to 25 during Phase Two and 50 during Phase Three. In a presentation on the guidelines, Brumley laid out how schools would respond to positive cases. If a school becomes aware of a presumptive case, the individual in question should not attend school until determined to be non-infectious by their doctor. School superintendents will be given authority, in consultation with the Office of Public Health, to determine whether a school must close if it becomes a coronavirus hotspot. Brumley said that one positive case did not mandate the closure of a classroom or school. Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions As with meeting size limits, the guidelines determine bus capacity by the state’s reopening phase. During Phase One, buses may operate at 25% capacity. That capacity expands to 50% during Phase Two and 75% during Phase Three. Considerations For Reopening Mississippi SchoolsThe Mississippi Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 8. The document contains recommendations for schools, school districts, and school boards, which have the final say on reopening decisions. Department of Education representative Jean Cook said the plan is “intended to be used as a resource and starting point for districts to consider local needs in collaboration with stakeholders.” On March 19, Gov. Tate Reeves (D) closed public schools until April 17. Reeves ended the public school year on April 21. Mississippi does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Mississippi traditionally start the academic year in early August, with the exact date varying by district. ContextMississippi is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Republican trifecta in 2018. The following tables show public education statistics in Mississippi, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans School districts are not required to develop individualized reopening plans or submit plans to the state. Districts and schools have full discretion in implementing the state’s recommendations. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The school reopening plan allows districts to choose between an in-person, hybrid, and fully virtual learning schedule at their discretion. The state recommends districts consider the circumstances of their students, noting that schedules that integrate online work and attendance could cause problems for students in rural areas without consistent internet access. Mask requirements Mississippi’s plan does not require students or teachers to wear masks, but schools still must comply with state and local health orders. Schools are encouraged to contact the Department of Health before reopening to obtain mask-wearing guidance. In-person health recommendations and requirements The plan suggests schools using an in-person schedule develop and implement the following general procedures:
Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions The plan suggests considering the availability of bus capacity before committing to a specific schedule type (such as hybrid or fully in-person). For schools using buses for fully in-person and hybrid schedules, the plan recommends the following:
Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of activities by other federal, state, and local governments and influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic. Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland announced it will remain fully remote through at least January. The district is the second-largest in Maryland and one of the 25 largest in the country. |
Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: July 15, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: RestaurantsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you dine in at a restaurant? We last looked at restaurants in the June 10th edition of the newsletter. Since then, seven states (Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, and West Virginia) have allowed for indoor dining at restaurants. One state (New Jersey) moved from allowing no dine-in services to allowing outdoor dining. One state (California) moved from allowing indoor dining to allowing only outdoor dining.
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![]() This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Hawaii’s Return to Learn planThe Hawaii Department of Education released school reopening guidance on July 2. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said, “We know that the delivery of instruction in Hawaiʻi, the nation and the world, is going to look very different. Our HIDOE ʻohana has been diligently working on plans for the new school year, growing from this experience and applying lessons learned toward our commitment to equity of access and quality education.” On March 16, Gov. David Ige (D) extended spring break through March 27. On March 19, he closed schools through April 6. He extended the closure on March 24 through April 30. On April 17, the Department of Education closed schools for the rest of the school year. Hawaii’s 2020-2021 school year is scheduled to start on August 4. According to EdWeek, traditional public schools in Hawaii typically start the academic year in early August. The state’s school guidance is tied to the state’s general reopening plan. In-person instruction cannot fully reopen until the state enters the Recovery phase of reopening. The school plan contained the following graphic: ContextHawaii is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2011. The following tables show public education statistics in Hawaii, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Hawaii’s school reopening plan does not discuss a need for school districts to develop their own plans or submit such plans to the state. Schools must reopen in compliance with the state’s plan. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The Department of Education said instruction will be delivered through in-person, blended, and online channels, depending on the threat presented by the coronavirus and the department’s resources. The Board of Education passed a resolution on June 18 asserting online and hybrid attendance is equivalent to in-person attendance for the purposes of fulfilling the state’s 180 instructional day requirement. Parents of children from grades 6-12 will be able to select a virtual-only learning option. The state is still developing a virtual solution for grades K-5. Full details are not yet available. Hawaii’s three multi-track schools (Mililani Middle, Kapolei Middle, and Holomua Elementary schools) will convert to a traditional, single-track schedule at least through the Fall semester. Mask requirements Students and faculty are required to wear masks when they are not in the classroom. Students and faculty generally are not required to wear masks in classrooms, but staff and other adults are required to wear masks when they are within three feet of each other or a child. For students, “Masks should be worn when keeping six feet apart is not possible, or when children face each other and interact in similar ways. However, if students are sitting three feet apart, and facing the same way, wearing a mask is not required.” In-person health recommendations and requirements The state outlined the following general guidelines for schools:
For comprehensive guidelines, click here. Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions The Student Transportation Services Branch is working with school administrators and bus contractors to develop adjusted, school-specific arrival and departure schedules. All bus passengers will be required to wear masks. No more than two students will be able to sit in the same bench seat, and seating will be assigned. Heightened cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented between bus trips. Georgia’s Path to Recovery for K-12 SchoolsOn June 1, the Georgia Department of Education, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Health, released “Georgia’s K-12 Recovery Plan,” a set of guidelines to help schools reopen for the 2020-2021 school year. State School Superintendent Richard Woods said, “We created these guidelines, in partnership with Dr. Kathleen Toomey and her team at the Georgia Department of Public Health, to give school districts a blueprint for a safe reopening that is realistic in the K-12 setting. We have a responsibility to keep our students, teachers, school staff, and families safe and to provide the best possible education for our children. I’m confident these guidelines will help schools accomplish both of those objectives.” The guidance was revised and re-released on July 13 at the request of the Georgia Department of Health. Governor Brian Kemp (R) first closed K-12 schools on March 18. He extended the closure through April 24 on March 26 and announced on April 1 that schools would remain closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. According to EdWeek, school districts in Georgia typically begin the year in early August, but the specific start date varies by district. The recovery plan states that the guidance for schools is not mandatory. Local school districts in Georgia can decide when and whether to return students to physical classrooms. ContextGeorgia is a Republican trifecta, with a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The following tables show public education statistics in Georgia, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans The plan does not require school districts to submit reopening plans to state authorities. The guidance in the document states that “Local school districts have the authority and flexibility to meet their individual needs and be responsive to their communities. School leaders should engage and communicate with their students, staff, and communities in the development and implementation of their plans.” The guidance is “designed to help districts prioritize the health and safety of students and teachers as they open school buildings and deliver instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.” The guidance includes a District Decision Tree that provides districts with different options under scenarios that range from the temporary closure of school buildings to a traditional arrangement of students in classrooms. The original version of the document released on June 1 called the three scenarios “Substantial spread,” “Minimal/Moderate Spread,” and “Low/No Spread.” In the revised document released on July 13, the three scenarios were changed to “Temporary Closure(s),” “Enhanced Mitigation Measure,” and “Preventative Practices.” In-person, hybrid, and online learning The guidance lays out the instructional model districts should adopt under the three different scenarios.
Mask requirements The plan states that face coverings are not mandatory but are strongly recommended where social distancing is difficult to accomplish. The plan recommends that school districts provide information to staff, students, and families on the proper use of cloth face coverings. In-person health recommendations and requirements The plan recommends that school districts conduct regular screening for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout the day and participate in contact tracing efforts as directed by local health officials. Under all three scenarios, school districts should communicate regularly with local and state Department of Health Officials. Districts should also post signage around schools designed to communicate how students and staff can prevent the spread of the virus. In-person recommendations under the Enhanced Mitigation Measures scenario include:
In-person recommendations under the Preventative Practices scenario include:
Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions Under the Temporary Closure scenario, the plan recommends that buses be used to deliver up to a week’s worth of meals to students and families on a designated day of the week. Under the Enhanced Mitigation Measures scenario, districts should consider the following:
Under the Preventative Practices scenario, districts should consider the following related to transporting students:
Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of activities by other federal, state, and local governments and influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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