News Digest :: March 15, 2020
Coronavirus Wolf urges nonessential businesses to close in some counties https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/03/14/Wolf-urges-nonessential-businesses-to-close-in-some-counties/stories/202003140074 Coronavirus and closing businesses: Gov. Tom Wolf is urging...News Digest :: March 14, 2020
Coronavirus Gov. Wolf closes all K-12 schools in Pa. for two weeks https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/03/13/Gov-Wolf-closes-all-K-12-schools-in-Pa-for-two-weeks/stories/202003130150 All Pennsylvania schools ordered to close as coronavirus impact spreads...Coronavirus Testing & Treatment in PA to be Covered by All Major Insurance Companies
Philadelphia, March 13, 2020 –Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), PA Senate Democratic Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee, announced today that all major Insurance companies in Pennsylvania will provide comprehensive medical coverage in the commonwealth...News Digest :: March 13, 2020
Legislature Pa. lawmakers plan to meet in the Capitol next week, despite coronavirus concerns https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-lawmakers-capitol-open-closed-coronavirus-20200312.html Can a closed Capitol be transparent? Yes, say experts Can...Gov. Wolf, Sec. of Health Outline COVID-19 Mitigation Guidance for Montgomery County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
News Digest :: March 12, 2020
Legislature Santarsiero proposes legislation to protect workers during public health emergencies https://www.buckslocalnews.com/news/santarsiero-proposes-legislation-to-protect-workers-during-public-health-emergencies/article_0042f5b8-63d3-11ea-b87e-f340da51b275.html...Coronavirus Disease and Schools: Allowing for Online Instruction
| Posted: | March 11, 2020 05:55 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Andrew E. Dinniman |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Coronavirus Disease and Schools: Allowing for Online Instruction |
Let’s face facts. Today, the World Health Organization formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic. All you have to do is read the news from Italy and, in our own nation New Rochelle NY, to see the situation which we in Pennsylvania will be faced with in the weeks ahead. The school districts in my area are already calling me, asking for specific direction from the state and reporting concerns with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) guidance to view the need for extended school closures on a “case-by-case basis”. During this health crisis, school districts need the authority to act in a quick and efficient manner.
My proposal would allow each district to deliver online instruction until the end of the 2019-20 school year. While I realize that many districts in the Commonwealth are not equipped to provide online instruction to all students, we have a responsibility to those that can to be allowed to do so. In districts that do not have the capability to offer online instruction, PDE shall, within two weeks of enactment of this legislation, work with those districts to develop a plan for online/alternate instruction.