CDC has issued new updated guidance for schools and child care, please click on the links below for details:

• The CDC updated its COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs

• The CDC updated its Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools

• The Illinois Department of Public Health Adopted the CDC COVID-19 Prevention School Guidance; this Guidance emphasizes the COVID-19 prevention strategies most important for in-person learning.

For Immediate Release

May 12, 2021

ISBE announces $10 million available for schools and community organizations to partner on after-school programming

21st Century Community Learning Centers grants can be part of school districts’ plans for post-pandemic learning renewal 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released the fiscal year 2022 Request for Proposals for Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grants. Approximately $10 million in federal funding is available to support students through academically focused after-school programs in schools with a high concentration of low-income students.

The 21^st CCLC programs provide students with art; music; character building; physical education; and supplementary math, English, and science activities outside of regular school hours. The programs also connect students' families with literacy and computer training and other educational services. 

“One of the best ways to support students’ learning renewal after the pandemic is to extend and enrich their education through after-school programming,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers grants will allow even more Illinois schools, particularly those who serve lower-income communities, to make after-school programming a cornerstone of their post-pandemic academic and social-emotional recovery.”

“After-school and enrichment programs add critical learning time for students, which is essential to recovery from the pandemic,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “Research shows that after-school programs can significantly close achievement gaps, improve attendance, and lead to better grades for students. School districts can make 21^st Century Community Learning Centers programs part of their plans for learning renewal.” 

Before- and after-school programs like 21^st CCLC can be a key component to supporting students’ academic and social-emotional recovery from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois P-20 Council’s recently released Learning Renewal Resource Guide includes “out-of-classroom learning experiences through tutoring, after school, summer camps, etc.” as one of 12 strategies that districts and higher education institutions should consider to equitably address the pandemic's short- and long-term impacts. 

According to the most recent statewide evaluation in the 2018-19 school year, 21^st CCLC programs served almost 60,000 students. Most students and teachers participating said the programs helped improve attendance and student behavior.

Public and private entities, including Local Education Agencies, are eligible to apply.

Annual grant awards will be a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $600,000, with individual awards not exceeding $150,000 per site (i.e., the physical location where grant-funded services and activities are provided to participating students and adults). The 21^st CCLC grants are separate from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds provided under the three federal COVID-19 relief packages. ISBE has encouraged school districts to consider braiding all available funding sources to maximize their impact for students’ recovery from the pandemic.

More information is available on the ISBE website. Interested applicants can email 21stcclc@isbe.net or call (217) 782-5270 with any questions. The application deadline is May 28.

For more information:

Jackie Matthews

Phone: (312) 590-4327

Email: press@isbe.net

Dear Colleagues:

The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education today released Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools. This joint guidance from ISBE and IDPH and makes important updates to the essential, layered mitigation strategies that facilitate the safe return to in-person instruction. This updated joint guidance prevails in the event that any of it is in conflict with guidance previously issued by IDPH and ISBE. It reflects what we have learned about the transmission of COVID-19 in school settings, as more students in Illinois and across the country have returned safely to in-person learning during the 2020-21 school year. This joint guidance supports the return to in-person instruction as soon as practicable in each community.

The Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools is precipitated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently released and updated guidance that reinforces that schools are an important part of community infrastructure, that in-person instruction promotes learning recovery along with the well-being of students and families, and that schools therefore “should be the last settings to close … and the first to reopen when they can do so safely.” 

Regardless of the level of community transmission, all schools must use and layer the following five essential mitigation strategies that are key to safely delivering in-person instruction and mitigating COVID-19 transmission in schools:

1. Require universal and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks;
2. Require social distancing be observed, as much as possible;
3. Require contact tracing in combination with isolation of those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and quarantine of close contacts, in collaboration with the local health department;
4. Require an increase in schoolwide cleaning and disinfection and maintenance of healthy environments; and
5. Require promotion and adherence to handwashing and respiratory etiquette.

In-person instruction should be prioritized over extracurricular activities, including sports and school events, to minimize risk of transmission in schools and protect in-person learning. Toward this goal, capacity limits for in-person learning, including non-academic school hour activities such as lunch, are now determined by the space’s ability to accommodate social distancing, and not a set capacity limit number or percentage. Bus capacity remains at no more than 50 people per bus. 

Additionally, IDPH is revising the recommendation for social distancing for in-person learning. Social distance for in-person learning is now defined as 3 to 6 feet for students and fully vaccinated staff. Maintaining 6 feet remains the safest distance, but schools can operate at no less than 3 feet in order to provide in-person learning. Unvaccinated staff should maintain 6 feet social distance as much as possible because adults remain more susceptible to infection than children. Strict adherence to social distancing must be maintained when face masks are removed in limited situations and monitored by school staff.

Further, IDPH and the CDC no longer recommend symptom screenings on the school grounds, but schools may continue this practice if preferred. Schools and districts should require self-certification and verification for all staff, students, and visitors prior to entering school buildings. 

Consistent with the updated guidance from the CDC, families of students who are at increased risk of severe illness (including those with special health care needs) or who live with people at increased risk must be given the option of remote instruction. 

The past year has been a long, challenging road for all of us. In March of last year is when we had to make the difficult decision to suspend in-person instruction statewide. One year later, I am grateful and encouraged to see us rounding the corner. Day by day, more and more districts on our COVID-19 dashboard move into the hybrid and in-person learning columns. More and more teachers are receiving the vaccine, and our positivity rates are below 3 percent. Everyone who works in our schools – you are all heroes for leading us through this pandemic. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carmen I. Ayala

State Superintendent of Education

Illinois State Board of Education

New Forgiveness Application 

for Smaller PPP Loans

Please note: The following information does not constitute legal advice, financial advice, or an endorsement of any service or product referenced herein.

 
New Forgivenss Application for PPP Loans $50,000 and Under
The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released a simple loan forgiveness application for businesses whose PPP loan is $50,000 or less. Businesses that use this form will be exempt from the conditions that would have reduced the forgivable amount of the loan including:

• reductions in FTE’s
• reductions in employee salaries of wages.

 The following links are for documents only related to businesses whose loans are $50,000 or less:

• Loan forgiveness application
• Application instructions

Remember you need to apply for forgiveness within ten months after the last day of your covered period, otherwise you must begin paying principal and interest.   
 
EIDL Loans
If you held off applying for a SBA Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) last spring until you knew more clearly what your enrollment and budget would look like come fall, it’s still possible to apply for an EIDL loan through the SBA. The purpose of the EIDL loan program is “to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.” A summary of the EIDL loan program and loan application can be found here.

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

Please see below for new resources and information that may be helpful.

Creating English Learner Resource Awareness During This Hispanic Heritage Month 

We are in the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month. During this month of national recognition, the Latino Policy Forum is asking all to help spread awareness for the growing number of English Learners (ELs) and new research-based recommendations for their success in this unprecedented era of COVID-19.  

The Latino Policy Forum has developed a digital toolkit to spread the word and an English Learner resource hub for educators, policymakers, and community and school-based leaders. It includes research-based resources, case studies, and policy recommendations focused on investments that will make a meaningful impact for the success of EL students.    

This month, we ask you please use this digital toolkit to share these materials and resources on your platforms and social media to ensure ELs receive the recognition and resources they deserve. Please send any questions to Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro, Director of Education Policy & Research at rvnavarro@latinopolicyforum.org.

New Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document for Home Visiting

MIECHV, DHS, and DFSS (City of Chicago) have released an FAQ document to address questions that funders have received from home visiting programs regarding Restore Illinois. This document will be updated periodically to incorporate new questions from the field.

• MIECHV, DHS & DFSS Restore Illinois FAQ for Home Visiting, Doula, and Coordinated Intake Programs (10/7/20)

Ounce of Prevention, Now “Start Early”

It is exciting to share that as of October 7, 2020 the Ounce of Prevention Fund has adopted a new name—Start Early. The new name, along with the new logo and tagline, Champions for Early Learning, focuses on the idea that starting early and nurturing the attachments between children and adults are essential to a child’s present and future well-being. While the “look” may be changing, leaders and staff remain dedicated to advancing the organizational mission and inspiring others to support the children and families served. Please visit their new website, StartEarly.org to learn more.

Jamilah R. Jor'dan, PhD

Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD

Dear Colleagues, 

I appreciate the many district and regional superintendents who joined me in virtual meetings over the past two weeks to share feedback and ask questions and the many others who have emailed with inquiries and ideas. My message today provides updated information and addresses several pressing topics that we wanted to ensure you had the answers for as soon as possible, rather than in our regular weekly message on Tuesday.  

We received a letter this afternoon from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and wanted to share the news with you immediately. The letter explains that schools should be prepared to administer federally required assessments in spring 2021. In a letter to all Chief State School Officers, Secretary DeVos said, “it is now our expectation that states will, in the interest of students, administer summative assessments during the 2020-2021 school year, consistent with the requirements of the law and following the guidance of local health officials. As a result, you should not anticipate such waivers [that were granted for spring 2020 assessments] being granted again.” 

This federal communication means that our Illinois Priority Learning Standards become even more important. The selected standards align to our state summative assessments. They promote interdisciplinary and/or project-based learning, which can help students learn more and go deeper.  

As your school districts reopen for the school year, new issues arise. We are committed to helping you tackle each one, so I’m going to respond to a few questions here:  

We have received questions about whether it’s possible to use health/life/safety funds to respond to COVID-19, and the answer to that question is no. 

The expanded role taken on by our school bus systems has also generated questions. Way back on March 30, ISBE filed an emergency amendment to Part 120 rules that allows all transportation costs incurred between March 17, 2020, and the end of the 2019-20 school year that involved anything beyond simply transporting students to be reimbursed by the formula under Section 29-5 of the School Code. This amendment covers costs for everything from the distribution of food and student assignments to the use of vehicles to provide WiFi. On April 9, ISBE filed an emergency amendment to that rule in order to further clarify that contracts related to the provision of transportation or a transportation provider, regardless of any service that may be provided, are allowable and reimbursed.  

As you know, transportation reimbursements are based on actual expenditures; therefore, School Year 2020-21 transportation reimbursement will be based on a district's actual expenditures, which may include implementing the Part 3 Joint Guidance for Starting the 2020-21 School Year, such as conducting symptom screenings and temperature checks (or self-certification) prior to boarding a vehicle if students are being transported by the school (page 41). 

We’ve also received questions about conducting safety drills this fall, given most students are experiencing at least some remote learning. if a school district is using only remote learning, drills may be delayed until students return to in-person instruction. However, districts providing in-person instruction or a hybrid model of both in-person and remote learning must still follow the provisions of the School Safety Drill Act. According to the School Safety Drill Act, drills shall be conducted at each school building that houses school children. That means that schools must continue to meet statutory requirements for conducting safety drills, including evacuation, bus evacuation, law enforcement, and severe weather/shelter in place drills, and should implement these drills with COVID-19 safety measures in place. Multiple drills may need to occur and drills may take more time to allow for social distancing.  

Districts have also requested guidance for communicating with students, staff, and families in the event that someone in the school contracts COVID-19. First and foremost, schools must provide relevant information to their local departments of public health to support their efforts in contact tracing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Secondly, school authorities are to handle contacts of infectious disease according to the Control of Communicable Disease Code, which includes informing contacts of infected individuals to prevent the spread of disease. ISBE and the Illinois Department of Public Health provided a template that schools can use as well as answers to related questions in the FAQ issued on Aug. 20 (page 9).  

We continue to encourage close partnerships between school districts and local departments of public health. IDPH is publishing county metrics that include numbers of youth cases. IDPH created this metrics webpage and the adaptive pause and metrics document to guide local departments of public health in advising local school districts about when additional mitigation measures may be necessary.  

Finally, we realize that having reliable internet access is crucial for students during any form of learning. Every school should be aware that the Learning Technology Center of Illinois is available to support you through technology initiatives, services, and professional learning opportunities. Their website is www.ltcillinois.org and their phone number is (217) 893-1431. The Center is headquartered out of Regional Office of Education #9 in Champaign, but its 20 staff members are stationed around the state. A list of the staff and what they do is available at https://ltcillinois.org/about/team. 

Your questions and feedback continue to help me ensure that the agency is responsive to the immediate and long-term needs of our diverse schools across the state. Thank you to the Regional Offices of Education for setting up the virtual meetings over the past two weeks. It was a pleasure to see many of your faces and to have the opportunity to hear your candid perspectives.  

Sincerely,   

Dr. Carmen I. Ayala 

State Superintendent of Education

Illinois State Board of Education

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has announced that free personal protective equipment is now available to nonpublic schools if they are unable to procure PPE through local channels.

Please follow the process outlined at Public and Nonpublic School Ordering Process for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to request PPE. Please note that schools should obtain supplies through normal procurement channels first, and that the PPE available from IEMA is not intended to provide supplies to sustain ongoing operations but rather to meet emergency needs that cannot be met through normal ordering channels and are necessary to start the 2020-21 school year.

Please contact COVID19@isbe.net if you have any questions.

COVID-19 & Other Resources

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

Below please find updated information from the CDC that will impact program policies, as well as two additional resources to support children, families, and providers as we continue to navigate this global pandemic.

Important Update from the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made important updates regarding the discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19 not in a healthcare setting.

Persons with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms may discontinue isolation and other precautions 10 days after the date of their first positive test.

Persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions:

• At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset and
• At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Other symptoms have improved.

More information on these changes can be found here.

Good afternoon,

Today, ISBE published on its webpage a new health-based Frequently Asked Questions document from the Department of Public Health (IDPH). The agency worked closely with IDPH to ensure health-based FAQs were addressed prior to the start of school. The document does not replace the Part 3 Joint Transition Guidance. Rather, it seeks to support schools in knowing what to do if a student displays a COVID-19 related symptom or the school experiences a positive case. The FAQ also addresses many other health-related questions. As always, we recommend a close relationship with your local department of public health.

ISBE will continue working with IDPH to ensure you have the information you need to keep your school safe and healthy during this uncertain time.

Thank you,

Dr. Carmen I. Ayala

State Superintendent of Education

Illinois State Board of Education

Attached is the playbook from the city with guidelines to safely reopen schools. It is accompanied by a video from the Mayor to our communities. 

Deck from CPS town halls: COVID-19 - CPS_townhall_CDPH slides.pptx

All Hands on Deck to Save Child-Care!

It's critical that people contact their Members of Congress this week to ensure child-care receives enough funding in the relief bill being negotiated now. The media is giving a lot of attention to unemployment insurance and the health care community, both of which are important. But it's vital that Congress also feels the pressure the child-care industry is under. Take 5 minutes to call your Members of Congress and share on social media to get others to do the same.

This toolkit assembled by a number of early childhood advocacy organizations has everything you need to know to make phone calls, tweet, and send email. Blast your own social media and get friends and family to call too. Our children are counting on us!
 
SBA Releases PPP Forgiveness FAQ document
Earlier this week the SBA released an FAQ dedicated solely to questions around the PPP loan forgiveness process. The document provides clarity and guidance about calculating forgiveness and is subdivided into four sections:

• General loan forgiveness, which clarifies that a borrower does not need to make any payments on unforgiven amounts until the forgiveness amount is determined by the SBA. It also notes that the borrower is responsible for accrued interest on any amount not forgiven
• Loan forgiveness payroll costs, which specifies when paid or incurred payroll costs are eligible for forgiveness and which health insurance and retirement benefits are included in payroll costs
• Loan forgiveness non-payroll costs, which also clarifies when paid or incurred expenses in this category meet the criteria for forgiveness and provides additional information about utilities
• Loan forgiveness reductions, which elaborates on the impact of reductions in FTE headcount or individual wages/salaries and includes examples

 Will My PPP Loan Be Automatically Forgiven?
As Congress continues to negotiate terms for a fourth Coronavirus relief package, one of the items on the table is automatic forgiveness of PPP loans under a certain threshold (with a requirement to keep documentation regarding compliance with the terms of the loan for a number of years). The Senate HEALS Act proposes that loans under $150,000 be automatically forgiven. However, Congress still has a significant amount of negotiating before them to get to legislation that can pass both the House and Senate and be signed into law, so we are uncertain whether or not this automatic forgiveness provision will remain. If you have a smaller loan, it may make sense to hold off on starting your forgiveness application.
 
Can I Still Apply for a PPP Loan?
The deadline to apply for a PPP loan is August 8^th, so if you can get in touch with a lender and complete the paperwork, you can still apply.

Please note: The above information does not constitute legal advice, medical advice, or an endorsement of any service or product referenced herein.

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

Please see below for new information and resources related to COVID-19.

For All Illinoisans

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recent urgent warning to consumers and health care providers about hand sanitizer products that are labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. All are being advised to check the FDA webpage (which now lists 75 products to avoid) on a regular basis to stay fully informed regarding this important health issue.

• The Governor's Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education and Care Funding is seeking input and feedback from families, providers, and community members on how to ensure better access to high-quality early childhood education and care services for children birth to age five. Click here to share your feedback in English; oprime aquí para compartir sus opiniones en Español.
   

For Child Care Providers

• The Child Care Restoration Grant Applications are now available! To apply, you will need to login to the Gateways Registry and enter your Director Portal. Access the application by clicking on the Child Care Restoration Grants Application box and then click on "Apply Now" to begin your application. For help navigating through the application, view the Steps to Apply. Additional instructions for how to gain Director Portal access can be found here. Applications will be available through August 14th, 2020.

• The FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Homes and FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Centers were updated on 7/29/2020 to include clarifying language on when face shields can be used as an alternative to face masks in child care settings. 

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration of Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) has released the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants. Click here for the application. Click here for the announcement. The closing date is September 21, 2020. 

For All Early Care & Education Providers

• The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released their Fall 2020 Early Learning Recommendations (7/23/2020).

• The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations released The Leadership Team's Guide for Re-Opening Programs, which includes considerations for supporting program and school staff, children, and families; considerations for classroom environments; and considerations for promoting social emotional skills, preventing challenging behavior, and responding to children when challenging behavior occurs. 

For Early Intervention Providers

• EITP - Early Intervention Plan for Resuming In-Person Services: Q&A Information Session Section 1
   
• EITP - Early Intervention Plan for Resuming In-Person Services: Q&A Information Session Section 2

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

FDA Warning about the Dangers of Hand Sanitizers with Methanol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recent urgent warning to consumers and health care providers about hand sanitizer products that are labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination. Methanol (i.e., methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested. As per the FDA news update hyperlinked below, "Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. FDA's investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing. The agency will provide additional information as it becomes available."

FDA updated the original list of more than 24 hand sanitizer products to avoid, now listing 75 such products to avoid on this FDA webpage; those products can be viewed either by clicking on the "Methanol Contaminated Products List" button at the top of the webpage or by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and then by clicking on any or all eight pages listing the 75 hand sanitizer products.

As with the original list of hand sanitizer products to avoid, all 75 products are potentially toxic when absorbed through the skin.  Please see the FDA news update on hand sanitizers with methanol and the current list of hand sanitizer products to avoid for more detailed information. It is urgent that this information be sent to child care providers, parents, those who work in state child care licensing offices, child care professional development agency personnel, and others who can disseminate this information. In addition, everyone should check the linked FDA webpage on a regular basis to stay fully informed regarding this important health issue.

Consumers who have been exposed to a hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate treatment for the potential toxic effects of methanol poisoning, which can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, permanent blindness, and seizures. Although people of all ages are at risk for methanol poisoning, "young children who accidentally ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk."

Contact Congress: COVID-19 Emergency Aid

July 14, 2020

Dear Friends of Religious and Independent Schools:

Congress is working on another package of COVID-19 relief, which is expected to include aid for K-12 education.

Please use CAPE's Legislative Action Center to let your representative and senators know that this aid package should include support for the students who are educated in America's private schools.

Thank you for your swift attention to this matter.

Private Education:  Good for Students, Good for Families, Good for America

Michael Schuttloffel

Executive Director

phone: 844-883-CAPE

web: www.capenet.org 

Greetings Early Childhood Community,  

We have new materials and resources to support your work with children and families.

Illinois Action for Children & COFI to Host a Free Screening of No Small Matter 

On July 15, 2020, from 5-7pm, join Illinois Action for Children for a virtual parent-led panel and a free screening of No Small Matter, a film about the importance of access to high quality child care and education. Directed by an award-winning team of filmmakers, No Small Matter is the first feature documentary to lay out the overwhelming evidence for the importance of the first five years, and to reveal how our failure to act on that evidence has resulted in an everyday crisis for American families and a slow-motion catastrophe for our country. Hear from parent advocates across the state on ways they've gotten involved in inciting change. Plus, hear about a new opportunity to become engaged in the early education system and have your voice heard at the policy making table! Watch the trailer and register for the free screening here. 

For Child Care Providers: 

Child Care Restoration Grant Technical Assistance Webinar*

Register now to join this webinar if you plan to apply for a Child Care Restoration Grant. The webinar will discuss the Restoration Grants and walk providers through how to apply online through the Gateways Registry Director Portal. It will provide information on which documents to collect and what information to have ready before you apply. Register here.   

Date: Monday, July 20, 2020

Two webinar times available: 10:00 AM or 6:30 PM

*If registration fills up, a recording of the webinar will be posted on the Child Care Restoration Grant webpage and the Gateways Facebook page. 

Seminario en Línea de Asistencia Técnica para la Restauración del Cuidado Infantil
Regístrese ahora para unirse a este seminario en línea si usted está planeando aplicar para recibir el Subsidio de Restauración para el Cuidado Infantil. En este seminario, se analizara la ayuda de Restauración y explicara a los proveedores cómo llenar la solicitud en línea a través del Portal de Director del Registro Gateways. Le proporcionara información sobre que documentos debe recopilar, y que información debe de tener lista antes de presentar la solicitud. Registrarse aquí.

Martes 21 de julio de 2020-tiempo de seminario web: 18:30 CDT

Printable Signs for Child Care Providers 

Click here for printable signs in Chinese, English, Korean, Polish, Spanish, and Tagalog for programs following the emergency rules, executive orders, and guidelines issued by the state of Illinois in adherence with the Restore Illinois Plan.

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

New Webinar to Support Child Care Providers 

Erikson Institute's Policy and Leadership Department, in partnership with GOECD and DHS, has produced another webinar in the series to support the provision of child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar: How do I prepare my site for the reopening of child care? is geared towards all child care providers (family child care, center-based, and school aged). The webinar addresses how providers will need to plan for the physical setup of their child care programs in Phases 3 and 4 of Restore Illinois in the areas covered in the Restore Illinois Day Care License Guidance published on 6/24/20 by DCFS, GOECD, and DPH. All webinars in this series can be found here under, "Resources to Support Children & Their Development Under New Health & Social Distancing Requirements". 

FAQs for Reopening Child Care Now Available in Spanish & Chinese

• FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Homes (6/26/2020)

• FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Centers (6/26/2020)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Child Care Providers

IDHS, INCCRRA and the CCR&R System are providing limited cleaning and PPE supplies to child care providers across Illinois. These supplies can be ordered at no cost; however, providers will need to pay the shipping cost by credit/debit card. You must be a child care provider providing care in Illinois or preparing to reopen in Phase 3 or 4 of Restore Illinois. This opportunity is available to licensed centers, license-exempt centers, licensed home/group homes, and license-exempt homes. For more information and to access the webstore, click here. 

Child Care Restoration Grants

The Governor and the Illinois General Assembly have directed at least $270 million of the state's Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency (CURE) Fund to support the economic health of child care providers as our economy reopens in the coming months. As part of CURE, the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) Program is specifically designed to support businesses who endure lost revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Visit the Child Care Restoration Grants web page for the most up-to-date information about the BIG Program, including Technical Assistance Webinars, application release dates, and answers to frequently asked questions.     

Requests for Proposals for the Community Parenting Saturation Project Application is Open

Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) released Requests for Proposals for the Community Parenting Saturation Project, which aims to launch an initiative in two communities (one in the city of Chicago and one outside the city of Chicago) that:

1. Demonstrates what a saturated approach to family engagement strategies within a community would look like; and 
2. Tests whether this approach truly leads to measurable changes in parenting beliefs and skills as well as prepares children for kindergarten. Priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate a strong and compelling need for this project in their community and have an existing early childhood community collaboration.

Click here for more information and for links to the Grant Application Narrative and Grant Application. The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Friday, August 28, 2020. Completed applications must be submitted electronically to choua.vue@actforchildren.org.

Thank you and have a safe holiday weekend,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

ISBE's Weekly Message

The Illinois State Board of Education wishes everyone a safe and happy 4^th of July holiday! Please see below for important COVID-19 resources and agency updates.

COVID-19 – IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Each week, this section will contain a list of the resources and information posted to the COVID-19 webpage over the past week. Please continue to check the COVID-19 webpage on a daily basis for the newest updates and information.

• Special Education

• Special Education FAQ Return to In-Person Instruction – June 30

• Remote Learning & Transition Considerations

• Part 3: Starting the 2020-21 School Year - June 23

• Frequently Asked Questions – Updated June 30
• IDPH Update on Appropriate Use of Face Shields – June 30
• School and District Fall Reopening Toolkit - June 25
• Webinar Presentation - June 24
• Webinar Recording
• School Building Posters – June 23

• Executive Orders

ASSESSMENT

ISBE-PROVIDED FALL 2020 SAT WITH ESSAY FOR 12TH-GRADE STUDENTS | Students classified as Grade 12 in fall 2020 who were required to participate in the state’s final accountability assessments in spring 2020 may choose to participate in the ISBE-provided fall 2020 SAT with Essay to meet the diploma requirement and have the opportunity to receive a timely college- and scholarship-reportable score.

Test Dates for the ISBE-Provided Fall 2020 SAT with Essay for Grade 12 Students:

• Primary Test Date: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020
• Makeup Test Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020
• Accommodations Test Window: Oct. 14-27, 2020

Please contact assessment@isbe.net with any questions.

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UPCOMING WEBINAR: THE KIDS ASSESSMENT POST-COVID-19 – LOCAL PERSPECTIVES | Children beginning kindergarten this fall will have experienced varying degrees of disruption, differing access to technology, and increased levels of stress and trauma due to the COVID-19 pandemic. High-quality early childhood experiences help children build the foundational skills needed to enter school ready to learn; however, this year’s incoming kindergartners will have been away from their teachers and peers for over five months when school begins. Identifying children’s social-emotional needs and skills when they return to school will be essential.

Please join the Ounce of Prevention Fund, ISBE, the McCormick Foundation, the Stone Foundation, and Advance Illinois for a virtual discussion exploring the benefits of KIDS for strengthening kindergarten entry this year. This webinar takes place from 10-11:30 a.m. on July 7. Registration is now available.

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CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

UPCOMING WEBINAR ON FREE STEM CURRICULUM ELEMENTARY RESOURCES – JULY 7 | Educators at elementary schools and districts are invited to join ISBE staff and representatives of the International Technology and Engineering Education Association for a webinar on Integrative STEM Elementary Resources from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on July 7. ISBE wants to help more students be exposed to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and careers they may not otherwise have a chance to experience, so we are offering a pilot this year for elementary schools to receive FREE access to STEM curriculum and other STEM resources.

Registration is now available. Contact Steve Parrott at sparrott@isbe.net for more information.

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DATA REPORTING

NEW! FY 2020 SITE-BASED EXPENDITURE REPORTING WINDOW OPENS JULY 1 | The reporting window for fiscal year 2020 Site-Based Expenditure Reporting opens on Wednesday, July 1 in IWAS. Report submissions are due by Aug. 14, 2020, with an option to edit submissions until Aug. 31, 2020. All Local Education Agencies are required to submit this annual report. Tools and resources are available, including:

• FY 2020 and FY 2021 Site-Based Expenditure Reporting Guidance - Available at www.isbe.net/site-based.
• FY 2020 enrollment reports, optional data calculation template, and optional data import template - Available in IWAS.
• Office hours every Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon - Sign up for a slot at https://calendly.com/site-based.
• Send any questions not addressed by guidance or other resources to site-based@isbe.net.

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EVIDENCE-BASED FUNDING

NEW! FY 2021 EBF APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE | Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 101 – 0637 into law on June 10, 2020. This public act appropriates school funding for FY 2021. There is no new tier funding provided for FY 2021. All organizational units and specially funded units will receive their Base Funding Minimum, which is equal to their FY 2020 Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) distribution. You may view the distribution amounts on the EBF Distribution Calculation sheet.

Contact State Funding and Forecasting with any questions you may have at (217) 782-0249.

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FUNDING & DISBURSEMENTS

STATE AND FEDERAL JUNE 30 EXPENDITURE REPORTS DUE JULY 20 | State and federal expenditure reports for the period ending June 30 are due on or before July 20. As you complete these reports, please keep in mind the following:

• Reports must be year-to-date that reflect expenditures from the start date of the project through June 30.
• Expenditures must be reconciled to the general ledger and align to the approved budget.
• Any amount reported in an expenditure account (cell) not budgeted or not within the acceptable expenditure variance will not be accepted.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

NEW! ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INFORMATION RELEASED FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS | A recent change in Illinois law allows non-professional academic employees at a public or private school (custodian, teacher’s aide, cafeteria worker, bus driver, security staff, clerical worker, etc.) to use their academic wages to establish unemployment benefits during the summer months and during vacation breaks and holidays this year. This change in the law is limited to March 15, 2020, through January 2, 2021.

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MULTILINGUAL

NEW! 2019-20 BILINGUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM DELIVERY REPORT DUE JULY 31 | Districts that received $5,000 or more in state EBF for English Learner services and/or federal Title III LIEP funds in FY 2020 must submit this report in IWAS by July 31. For more information, including a list of required districts to report, visit the ISBE Multilingual Data & Reports website.

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NUTRITION PROGRAMS

NEW! ADDITIONAL USDA FLEXIBILITIES/WAIVERS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2020-21 | The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended four nationwide waivers for school year 2020-21, giving key flexibilities to school districts to provide meals to students with appropriate safety measures. When the new school year begins, school districts will return to participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) with the following initial flexibilities. ISBE will continue to work with USDA for any additional flexibilities needed to provide meals to students.

ISBE Nutrition Department staff is available to assist with questions and concerns from our districts/sponsors. Please reach out to us at cnp@isbe.net. Thank you for all you’re doing to feed students in need during these challenging times.

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APPLY FOR EMERGENCY MEAL DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT GRANTS | Action For Healthy Kids (AFHK) announced the availability of Emergency Meal Distribution Equipment Grants to assist with grab-and-go curbside meal pickups, hot and cold food storage containers, grab-and-go packaging materials, and mobile distribution to families in outlying or rural communities.

The grants are sponsored by ALDI and Cargill. AFHK is working with equipment vendor Hubert to provide selected school districts with equipment credits for $1,000-$2,000 per site to purchase equipment to be used now and into the fall.

For more information, including a link to download the application, visit the Action for Healthy Kids webpage.

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SCHOOL BUSINESS SERVICES

NEW! FY 2020 ROUND 1 SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PROJECT GRANTS QUARTERLY EXPENDITURE REPORTS | All school districts that were awarded a School Maintenance Project Grant will be receiving an email explaining that they will need to complete a quarterly report for expenditures through June 30, 2020. Please follow the instructions found within IWAS or on ISBE’s website to complete the Quarterly Expenditure Report.

All School Maintenance Grants have been approved by ISBE and submitted to the Comptroller’s Office for payments. The payments for the grants have just started to be paid by the Comptroller’s Office. Your district may or may not have received the payment as of this notice. Please know the payments are forthcoming.

Please contact Tiana Mathis with the School Business Services Department at tmathis@isbe.net or SMPG@isbe.net if you need assistance.

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SBA Releases Updated PPP Forgiveness Application and EZ Form

PPP Loan Forgiveness: New Application Forms and Updates
 
Following passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA), the SBA has updated the PPP loan forgiveness form and created an EZ forgiveness application.
 
The instructions for the EZ application note that this form can be used if your business did not reduce the salary or wages of employees by more than 25% (with the exception of employees earning more than $100,000) and did not reduce the number of FTE’s. The EZ forgiveness application and instructions.
 
If you do not qualify to use the EZ forgiveness application you should use the updated regular application and instructions
 
In addition to the new forms, the latest guidance in the form of an interim final rule confirms that the percentage of loan proceeds needed to be spent on payroll costs in order qualify for full loan forgiveness has been reduced from 75% to 60%, with partial forgiveness still available for businesses which spend less than 60% on payroll costs.
 
Since borrowers can now use a 24-week Covered Period instead of an 8-week Covered Period, the guidance also calculates the total cash compensation eligible for forgiveness per employee under either Covered Period as:

• $15,385 for an 8-week Covered Period
• $46,154 for a 24-week Covered Period 

(Note that different calculations apply for owner-employees, outlined in detail in this article)
 
The guidance also clarifies that borrowers may apply for forgiveness before the end of the Covered Period if they have used all of the loan funds, unless they have reduced salaries or wages of any employee by more than 25%, in which case the borrower must account for the salary reduction for the full 8 or 24 week Covered Period.
 
You can read our brief for a full summary of changes rendered to PPP loans by the PPPFA. We will continue to keep you posted as any additional guidance is released.
 
American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance on School Reopening
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released guidance to support educators, public health officials, and policy makers in making decisions about school re-entry. They note that schools go beyond academic instruction in providing social-emotional learning, various therapies, nutrition and more and the document advocates that the goal of any policy conversations should be to have students physically present in school.
 
They have recommendations based on age group and also based on preventive measure (distancing, face coverings, disinfecting, screening etc.)
 
Opportunities for Advancing Racial Equity and Anti-Racism

An Invitation and Call to Action for White Educators
In this op-ed, Kimberly Smith, Executive Director of The League of Innovative Schools, placed a call to action to white educators to become co-conspirators in “creating the conditions for black students to thrive.” They are hosting two webinars for individuals who have signed the call to action, a panel of black education leaders on July 7^th and a panel of white education leaders on July 15^th, both at 5 ET.
 
The Practice of Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism in Schools
Elm City Montessori School is hosting an educator panel on Monday, July 20th at 2:00PM to discuss: How can educators build ABAR (Anti-Bias Anti-Racist) classrooms? The panel will share their stories of self-discovery and how they create youth-led space for conversations about racial identity, racism, and activism. RSVP here.

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

In Loving Memory of Maria Whelan

Maria Whelan, beloved President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), passed away suddenly on June 10, 2020. On behalf of GOECD's staff we extend our thoughts and prayers to Maria's family and the Illinois Action for Children family. Maria will always be remembered as a voice and a force within the early childhood community. View IAFC's tribute video for Maria here. View the Governor's Proclamation "honoring her memory and her impressive legacy" here. 

Resources on Racism, Racial Equity, and Diversity for Families

As adults, we can struggle with a wide range of emotions. If we put ourselves in the shoes of children, these feelings are even more complicated. How do we as parents, caregivers, and early childhood care and education providers support our children? GOECD has compiled resources about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion that may support you, your children, your family, and your community.

Connecting Children & Families to Early Intervention During COVID-19

Early Intervention (EI) continues to serve infants and toddlers with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and can process all types of referrals. Through EI, infants and toddlers receive a comprehensive set of supports that foster healthy development during the first three years of life. Individuals and entities who also engage with young children are an important connector to this vital service supporting their social-emotional, cognitive, communicative, and physical development. This Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document addresses common questions you may have regarding how to connect children and families to EI during COVID-19. Additional questions can be directed to the Bureau of Early Intervention (217-782-1981) or your local Child and Family Connections Office (CFC). Listing and contact information for your CFC can be found here.

For Families Receiving EI Services

• Frequently Asked Questions about Live Video Visits (i.e., teletherapy) for Families of Children Receiving Early Intervention (EI) during COVID-19 (released 6/15/2020 by DHS)

Home Visiting is Essential: Information for Families and Providers During COVID-19

The MIECHV team (with support from the Ounce of Prevention and other Illinois

home visiting funders) developed resource and public awareness documents for families and community referral sources. The primary focus of the documents is to emphasize that prior to the pandemic home visitors were already a critical link for new and expectant parents, providing one-on-one support at no cost to eligible families to promote infant and child health, foster educational development and school readiness, and help prevent child abuse and neglect. Now more than ever, home visiting is an essential service for families as they navigate social isolation, economic uncertainty, the challenge of balancing work without child care, and other unique and heightened stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Home Visiting is Essential - Information for Families During COVID-19  
• Home Visiting is Essential - Referral Guidance for Providers Supporting Families During COVID-19

For Child Care Providers

• DCFS, IDPH, and GOECD issued updated Restore Illinois Licensed Day Care Guidance on 6/24/2020. Available in Spanish and Chinese. 
• As a supplement to the Guidance, GOECD, DCFS, IDPH, and DHS have issued FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Centers and FAQs: Reopening Licensed Child Care Homes to answer questions from child care providers who opened in Phase 3 or plan to reopen in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois. 

Additionally, as noted in both FAQ documents, the CCR&R system is collecting information from programs (centers and homes) that are opening in Phases 3 & 4 of Restore Illinois to connect families that need care to local care that is available. Programs are strongly encouraged to submit their information to Child Care Providers Opening in Phases 3 & 4 of Restore Illinois so parents can be referred to your program.

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

We wanted to make you aware that DCFS, IDPH, and GOECD have released updated Restore Illinois Day Care Guidance (6/24/2020).

Additionally, DCFS has filed emergency rule making on 407. This emergency rule making is effective June 24, 2020, for a maximum of 150 days.  

Additions to the rules includes:

• Centers may choose to staff classrooms with a qualified early childhood assistant for up to 3 hours of their program day and should document such in the program's Enhanced Staffing Plan.
• Staff qualified to work as Early Childhood Teachers in an Emergency Day Care (EDC) and who served in the role from March-May 2020 can continue to work as an Early Childhood Teacher through July 31, 2020, at the same program which has since reverted to their normal day care license.
   

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Dear Colleagues:  

Governor JB Pritzker signed into law today Senate Bill 1569, which includes many education provisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see the Governor’s press release below for highlights from the bill. Importantly, the legislation creates a Blended Remote Learning Day option to gives schools additional flexibility as they develop plans for fall.  

ISBE will release guidance in the next week to support a safe transition back to in-person learning this fall. We will emphasize in-person learning for all students to the greatest extent possible, while realizing that may not be feasible in all situations. Blended Remote Learning Days allow schools to utilize a mix of in-person and remote learning, if needed, to protect the health and safety of students, teachers, and families. Schools that plan to utilize Blended Remote Learning Days should consider equity and prioritize in-person learning for our students with greater needs. 

You may have listened into the ISBE Board meeting yesterday, which included a preview of the preliminary guidance for starting the 2020-21 school year in person. ISBE, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and our 56-member Transition Advisory Workgroup have worked together to develop common and clear requirements, while preserving the flexibility of each school district to implement a reopening plan that meets the needs of the community and the children that they serve. The guidance will include public health requirements for personal protective equipment, including face coverings; capacity limits on individuals in one space; social distancing; symptom screening; and schoolwide cleaning and disinfection.  

Having been a district superintendent in Illinois, I understand the urgency of getting clarity and direction out to all of you as quickly as possible. At the same time, the stakes have never been higher for our guidance to adhere to the best and most current science and data. Meeting this standard has meant deep collaboration with public health experts. I appreciate the patience you have shown as we have sought to meet the high standard necessary to protect the health and safety of our students. 

We hope to release the guidance in the next week and will follow the release with webinars to answer your questions in real-time. We respect the herculean effort required to plan for in-person instruction under the current circumstances, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership.  

Sincerely,  

Dr. Carmen I. Ayala 

State Superintendent of Education 

Illinois State Board of Education

Springfield – To ensure Illinois school districts have the necessary tools to effectively carry out remote learning and other necessary operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 1569 into law to provide support for educators, students, and families. 

"As we face the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois is doing all it can to ensure our students receive the quality education they deserve," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Educators and administrators are doing what they do best, helping students continue to learn, providing meals, and looking out for the wellbeing of our children and families. This legislation will support that critical work and I applaud the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois General Assembly for coming together to support our schools and students across the state.” 

“The Illinois State Board of Education will release guidance in the coming days to support a safe transition back to in-person learning this fall,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “We emphasize in-person learning for all students to the greatest extent possible, while realizing that may not be feasible in all situations. Senate Bill 1569 creates a Blended Remote Learning Day option that gives schools additional flexibility as they develop plans for fall. Schools that plan to utilize Blended Remote Learning Days should consider equity and prioritize in-person learning for our students with greater needs.” 

Due to the disruptions to in-person learning during the pandemic, the legislation allows school districts to use remote learning during a declared public health emergency. The legislation allows remote learning days and up to five remote learning planning days to be considered attendance days. The legislation also waives student assessment requirements if the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education. 

To assist teachers, the legislation provides a year-long licensure extension for those with teaching and education support professional licenses set to expire on June 30, 2020. To address the performance rating system for educators, the law outlines procedures and protections for evaluations, such as carrying over an “Excellent” rating from the previous evaluation period. To support educator recruitment, modifications to the School Code include: 

• Makes licenses endorsed for visiting international educators valid for five years (currently three); 
• Allows career and technical education teachers to renew their licenses with a test of workplace proficiency, not solely educators whose license was issued July 1, 2015 or after; and 
• Updates language to conform with current licensure nomenclature. 

The law also affirms that constitution exams can be administered remotely. 

Building on efforts to provide support for child care providers, the law allows recipients of preschool education grants funded by ISBE to care for the children of essential workers who are under the age of 12 years old. 

For parents, the law expands the requirement that they receive copies of all written materials used during a meeting to determine a child’s eligibility for special education and related services. Additionally, the legislation allows parents to choose how they wish to receive those materials and copies of their child’s school student records prior to the meeting.   

The law ensures graduating high school seniors can graduate and earn their diploma. Additionally, ISBE may adopt rules to modify the requirements of the high school graduation requirements. 

Regarding higher education, the law requires courses taken during the calendar year 2020 to be transferable for students receiving a passing grade and to fulfill the prerequisite requirements for advanced courses. 

“With no time to prepare, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged educators to find new and innovative ways to meet the physical, social emotional, and academic needs of their students.  We are grateful that the General Assembly, working in collaboration with Governor Pritzker, swiftly passed Senate Bill 1569 to codify the flexibility and creativity educators required to provide essential services to our states young people,” said Dr. Jason Leahy, Executive Director of the Illinois Principals Association.  

“Throughout this pandemic, the Governor and State Board of Education have worked to provide guidance to districts and make adjustments to school operations with the primary focus always on serving students,” said Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery. “Through Executive Orders and now the signing of this legislation, the Governor is sending a clear message that in these difficult times our focus should be on meeting the basic instructional, social, and emotional needs of students and not testing and bureaucracy. We applaud this effort.”   

“We are very thankful that lawmakers saw fit to provide guidance in law that allows educators to concentrate on teaching and working to meet the needs of students in an emergency situation, to continue to work toward fixing the teacher shortage and to listen to the concerns of all involved when coming up with these solutions. It's a true testament to collaboration and to what we can do as a state when we pull together in the best interest of students," said Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin. 

"During this unprecedented time in our state's history, SB 1569, the Education Omnibus all is comprehensive legislation to account for and acknowledge the real-time learning progress of our students and provide out entire educational system flexibility needed for successful students outcomes. No matter what the future holds for teaching and learning nationwide, Illinois is now better equipped to address out students' educational needs," said Assistant Majority Leader Will Davis. 

“Teachers and administrators throughout our state stepped up to the plate and performed under extremely unusual circumstance,” said Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “I’m pleased to the Governor is signing our education bill, which allows our schools to serve our students to the best of their ability during these unique times.”   

 SB 1569 takes effect immediately. 

The Governor and the Illinois General Assembly has directed at least $270 million of the state’s Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency (CURE) Fund to support the economic health of child care providers as our economy reopens in the coming months. As part of CURE, the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) Program is specifically designed to support businesses who endure lost revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.  

We know our state’s recovery relies on the economic survival of our regulated child care system.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services is charged to develop the grant program for licensed child care. The Child Care Restoration Grants will be administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA).

The first step is to let us know if you intend to apply for a Child Care Restoration Grant.  Please complete the Intent to Apply Survey. The information gathered here will help to inform the development of the grants program to be released in July 2020. The opportunity to respond to the survey will close on June 19, 2020 at 5:00 pm.

For more information, please visit https://www.ilgateways.com/financial-opportunities/restoration-grants. 

Dear Early Childhood Community,

To say it's been an emotional time is an understatement. Families and the world community are hurting witnessing the murder of Mr. George Floyd. I am the mother of two Black men, a grandmother, and a mother to Black men from other mothers of which I include George Floyd. My heart is heavy for the Black men and women, including Eleanor Bumpurs, Sandra Bland, and Breonna Taylor that have come before him. The list is long and growing. There are many that we will never know their name. My heart is heavy for those who took a seat and a knee for justice who lost their lives and their careers for doing so. 

Recent events remind us that racism is pervasive and deadly. Author, Ta-Nehisi Coates states our phrasing, race relations, racial chasm, racial justice, racial profiling, white privilege, even white supremacy--serves to obscure that racism is a visceral experience, that it dislodges brains, blocks airways, rips muscle, extracts organs, cracks bones, and breaks teeth. We cannot allow systemic racism to go unchallenged. If we don't address history, history will continue to repeat itself. "An America that looks away is ignoring not just the sins of the past but the sins of the present and the certain sins of the future." (Coates) Looking away and silence is not an option.

What we are experiencing is a call to action. We must own our truth and address education policies and practices that have a disparate impact on Black children and families. African American males' education experiences are often negative. They experience injustice at all educational levels and in all areas of education. If you're Black in America and especially if you are a Black man or boy it has been stated you are convicted in the womb. In our preschool classrooms, studies show that Black boys are more likely to be seen as "problem" children than their peers, and they are less likely to be considered ready for school. Teachers spend more time watching Black children than White children when looking for disruptive behaviors. How do we reconcile the over-representation of Black boys as early as pre-K-3 in areas of suspension and expulsion? African American males are suspended more than any other racial group, beginning in preschool. How do we reconcile the special education referral process that results in the misplacement of Black boys in high incidence areas (i.e. learning disability, developmental delay, emotional and behavior disorders)? Terms such as "at risk" and "endangered" have become a proxy for African American males. How schools create welcoming, supportive, and quality early education and care experiences for Black boys is critical. Black boys matter, and they need and deserve nothing less.

Our children are watching and listening to what we stand for during these challenging times. This is not the future we want our children to experience--injustice, indifference and inequality. Individuals are struggling as to what to say or what to do. One can no longer say "I don't see color"; skin color is the measure of one's life and its value. Systemic change requires action. Until there is change there will continue to be a knee on Black peoples' neck. Each person can do something starting with self-reflection, listening to understand, be willing to have the hard conversation, and be a part of the solution at the policy and practice levels. What matters are the actions that are taken. Mr. Floyd's 6-year-old daughter Gianna reminds us "Daddy Changed the World". On behalf of the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development staff we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Floyd family and may Mr. George Floyd rest in peace.

Be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

Additional materials have been developed to support families and providers as Illinois moves further into Phase 3 of Restore Illinois. 

For Illinoisans

• State Announces Community-Based Testing Sites Now Open to All  

For Families 

• Home Visiting is Essential - Information for Families During COVID-19 

For All Early Childhood Education & Care Providers

GOECD, in partnership with the Illinois Pyramid Model State Leadership Team, has developed Social-Emotional Toolkits early childhood providers and leaders can use to manage stressors and promote wellness during challenging times.

• Social-Emotional Toolkit: Resources for Early Childhood Education and Care PROVIDERS
• Social-Emotional Toolkit: Resources for Birth to Five LEADERS

For Child Care Providers

• DCFS has filed emergency rulemaking on 406, 407, and 408. These emergency rulemakings are effective as of May 29, 2020 for a maximum of 150 days. 
• Phase 3 FAQs for Homes and Centers are forthcoming.  

For Home Visiting Programs 

• MIECHV & IDHS released: Home Visiting is Essential-Referral Guidance for Providers Supporting Families During COVID-19.
• Additional guidance for Home Visiting programs is forthcoming. 

For After School Program Coordinators, Managers & Directors

Click here for more information and to register for an upcoming training opportunity, Reimagining Afterschool in Illinois: From State and National Perspectives, hosted by the National AfterSchool Association on June 17, 2020 at 10AM. 

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach to Safely Open Our State is a five-phased plan guided by health metrics to safely and deliberately reopen Illinois. The majority of Illinois will enter Phase 3 of Restore Illinois on May 29, 2020. Chicago will begin cautiously reopening on June 3, 2020: Phase 3 Cautiously Reopen: Industry Guidelines for Reopening.

On Friday, May 22, 2020, Restore Illinois Child Care Guidelines were released to provide an overview of the requirements and recommended practices for child care programs in Phases 3 and 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan.

Additional materials have since been developed to support:

Child Care Providers

• Updated DCFS Rules 406, 407, and 408 will be posted on Monday, June 1, 2020.  
• GOECD & DCFS released Reopening Quick Reference - For Homes and Reopening Quick Reference - For Centers guidance documents to support licensed child care home- and center-based providers as they prepare to reopen their programs in Phase 3 and Phase 4 of Restore Illinois.
• The Resources to Support Providers through COVID-19 page on the GOECD website has been redesigned to feature resources to support child care providers as they consider reopening in Phase 3 of Restore Illinois and as they develop the Agency Action Plans that must be submitted to DCFS before reopening. 

Early Intervention Providers

• IDHS has released two memos:
• • Early Intervention Phased-Open Plan 
  • Update on Early Intervention Evaluations via Live Video Visits

Families

• Reopening Child Care in Illinois: For Families contains responses to frequently asked questions to keep families with young children informed about what the next phase of Illinois' reopening will look like in regards to child care. 
• The COVID-19 Resources for Families with Young Children page on the GOECD website has been reformatted to support Illinois families as the State transitions into Phase 3 of Restore Illinois. 

Below are upcoming Illinois AfterSchool Network webinars that may be of interest:

Supporting Families to help them understand Trauma and the Impact on Youth Behavior and Mental Health  

Date/Time: Thursday, June 4 from 10 until 11:30

Presenter:  Linda Delimata, LCPC, Director of Mental Health Consultation, Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership 

Intended Audience: After School Program Staff and Managers

Register here.

Active Fitness for Youth Quarantine Style!

Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Time: 10 until noon

Intended Audience: Front line staff and Coordinators who work with youth in after school through middle school

Register here. 

Thank you and be well,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Dear Non-Public School Leaders,

The Office of Non-Public Education would like to alert you to the attached letter from the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) regarding the Department’s non-regulatory guidance document – Providing Equitable Services to Students and Teachers under the CARES Act Programs, published April 30, 2020 – and how an LEA determines the proportional share of funds that must be reserved to provide equitable services to non-public school students and teachers under the CARES Act programs. 

We hope this serves to clarify any uncertainty in the field regarding this matter.

Thank you for your efforts to ensure the equitable participation of non-public school students and teachers in CARES Act programs. 

The Office of Non-Public Education

The Illinois State Board of Education has informed the Illinois Coalition of Nonpublic Schools that Illinois will be recording both total enrollment and Title I enrollment in the consulting process around ESSER Funds. The state will be immediately releasing funds to private schools based on Title I numbers and then holding the remaining funds based on total enrollment pending the outcome of the controversy surrounding the USDE guidance. Please do reach out to your school district to make sure your school will have a consultation and the opportunity to participate. See below for an update from MPPI on this topic:

Education Stabilization Fund ESSER Allocations Paused in Many States

There have been some recent twists and turns regarding the disbursement of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) dollars to private schools.

Background
According to the CARES Act, state departments of education receive their allocation of ESSER funds in direct proportion to the number of Title I (low income) students in their state. These funds are then disbursed to local school districts (LEAs) according to the proportion of Title I students in their district. The CARES Act also requires that LEAs distribute an equitable proportion of the funding they receive to nonpublic schools located in their districts in “the same manner as provided under section 1117 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).”
 
That phrase required interpretation by the US Department of Education which released guidance that clarifies that school districts are to allocate funds to non-public schools using a formula based on the total number of enrolled students in those schools as a percentage of total enrollment in the district. Based on that guidance, MPPI published this FAQ that explains more about the process we and other private school organizations anticipated, and which some school districts began to implement with regards to allocating funding to non-public schools.
 
What’s Changed?
Since that guidance was issued, there has been some push-back by public education organizations. In addition, last week the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES) which contained language specifying that equitable services under CARES Act programs only apply to a non-public school’s Title I count rather than to all students. We do not anticipate that the HEROES Act in its current form will be passed by the Senate.

However, due to these developments, states are taking a variety of approaches in terms of allocating funds to non-public schools. A few states are openly defying the guidance issued by the Department of Education and interpreting the equitable services clause in the CARES Act to apply only to Title I student in non-public schools. Several other states are pausing or slowing down their consultation process with nonpublic schools citing the possibility that the HEROES Act or other future legislation may walk back the guidance from the USDE. As such they are first distributing funds to non-public schools based on their Title I counts and reserving allocations based on total student enrollment to distribute later if the original USDE guidance stands.

As a result, you may be getting new or conflicting information or be getting told explicitly by your school district that they are only apportioning funds based on your school’s Title I count. We advise that you reach out to your school district if you have not received any communications from them about consultation for ESSER funds. Also, connect with your state advocacy organization; they may be working with your state CAPE or other advocacy groups to both clarify and expedite the process for non-public schools and advocate for use of the USDE guidance. We are continuing to advocate with colleagues at the federal level and will keep you apprised of any new developments or actions you should take.
 
Re-Opening Child-Care and Schools
As states develop regulations and guidance for the opening of child-care centers, schools, and summer programming, MPPI is posting them on our state by state COVID page. We anticipate that these will continue to be amended and updated by states as more if CDC guidelines change and as more is known about coronavirus transmission.

SBA Releases FAQ #46 With Additional Information on Certification
Good News for Smaller Loan Recipients!

We wanted to get you the latest update about PPP loans released today. The SBA released clarification that PPP loans under $2 million will be deemed to have met the required good faith certification.

Question # 46 was added to the SBA's FAQ document on the PPP program earlier today and states that, "SBA, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has determined that the following safe harbor will apply to SBA’s review of PPP loans with respect to this issue: Any borrower that, together with its affiliates, received PPP loans with an original principal amount of less than $2 million will be deemed to have made the required certification concerning the necessity of the loan request in good faith."

You can read the full text of Question 46 on the FAQ document.

We'll continue to keep you posted as any additional guidance is released.

Education Stabilization Fund Guidance Released

The CARES Act provides for significant funding to states through the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF). On Thursday, April 30^th, the US Department of Education released an FAQ document to clarify how state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) are to provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools. Note, this funding applies only to non-profit private schools; for-profit schools are excluded.
 
As noted in MPPI’s overview of the Education Stabilization Fund, the CARES Act requires LEAs who receive funding either through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) or through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to provide equitable services to non-public schools.
 
How Can These Funds Benefit My School?
There are 12 acceptable uses for ESSER funds outlined in the CARES Act, which we have listed at the end of this document. They encompass purchasing cleaning supplies, purchasing technology, implementing summer learning activities, and professional development among many others. While the focus of this document is on ESF funds available to non-public schools through their LEAs, GEER funds will be distributed at the governor’s discretion and can be used to support early childhood programs among other uses.
 
What Do I Need to Do?
FAQ #6 states that, “an LEA is responsible for initiating the consultation process. It must contact officials in all non-public schools in the LEA to notify them of the opportunity for their students and teachers to obtain equitable services under the CARES Act programs. Through this initial contact, the LEA can explain the services available under the CARES Act programs and how non-public school students and teachers can participate. If non-public school officials have not been contacted, they may contact the LEA or the State ombudsman to inquire about equitable services under the CARES Act programs.”
 
If you know you want to participate or get more information about participation, be on the lookout for communications from your LEA. If you have not heard anything from your LEA in a couple of weeks, contact the LEA to inquire about their timeline for consultation with non-public schools.
 
**Your school need not have participated in any Title programs nor have Title I eligible students enrolled in order to participate. If your LEA communicates either of these stipulations to you, you can refer them to the FAQ document, specifically questions 7 and 8.
 
How Would the Funds Be Given to My School?
An LEA must retain both control of the funds and title to property purchased with the funds, so your school will not simply be given a check. Once you have been allotted your proportionate share of funds, your LEA will likely establish a requisition process through which your school can purchase supplies, contract with service providers or have teachers reimbursed for professional development. It is likely that non-consumable supplies, such as technology purchases would remain property of the LEA, and essentially be “on loan” to your school.
 
Because these funds are controlled by the LEA and not given directly to schools, schools that participate are NOT considered recipients of Federal financial assistance.
 
How Much Money Will We Get?
There is no way to know ahead of time how much money your individual school could receive. First, each state is given a different amount of money in proportion to their number of Title I students. Then the state distributes funds to the LEAs in proportion to their Title I population. The pot of money that any LEA receives is then to be divided proportionally between the public-school students and non-public school students from non-public schools who choose to participate. If your school is located in a school district with a high Title I student count and there aren’t many private schools participating in this funding stream, your allotment will be higher than a school that is in a district with a lower Title I population and/or more non-public schools participating. If your school is located in a district that has no Title I student population, you will not get any allotment.
 
Also note that these funds are designated for K-12 students, so the amount your school is allotted will depend on the number of K-12 students and will not include younger children. In addition, while some authorized activities will apply to your entire school, such as the purchase of cleaning supplies, teachers in infant/toddler programs likely will be ineligible for reimbursement of professional development as they do not have any K-12 aged students in their classrooms.
 
What are My Next Steps?

• Review the list of authorized activities below and determine whether your school could benefit from participating in this funding stream.
• Make a list of possible ways you would use funds, so you have those available to discuss with your LEA once you have your consultation.
• Be on the lookout for communication from your LEA asking if your school wants to participate. If you have never participated in equitable services through the various Title programs, it is possible your LEA may not know your school exists and reaching out to them proactively to express your interest could be advisable.
• Let MPPI or your state advocacy group leaders know if you run into any issues or roadblocks.

Acceptable uses of Education Stabilization Funds outlined in the CARES Act:
“(1) Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Alaska Native Educational Equity, Support, and Assistance Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) (“IDEA”), the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) (“the Perkins Act”), or subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.).
(2) Coordination of preparedness and response efforts of local educational agencies with State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments, and other relevant agencies, to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
(3) Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
(4) Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth, including how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population.
(5) Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of local educational agencies.
(6) Training and professional development for staff of the local educational agency on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
(7) Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of a local educational agency, including buildings operated by such agency.
(8) Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including for how to provide meals to eligible students, how to provide technology for online learning to all students, how to provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) and how to ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all Federal, State, and local requirements.
(9) Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the local educational agency that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.
(10) Providing mental health services and supports.
(11) Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.
(12) Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the local educational agency.”
 
For a more thorough understanding of what might be an activity authorized by ESEA and IDEA (#1 in the list above) you can refer to this chart.

The information above is available in PDF form on our website.

Significant Shifts in Regulations Anticipated as
States Look to Reopen Child-Care and Schools

The COVID-19 crisis blindsided schools and child-care centers with shutdowns, remote learning and financial uncertainty. While programs continue to battle the cascading effects of these initial challenges, they now have the added conundrum of how and when to reopen and welcome staff, families, and children back safely.

Many states created provisions for emergency child-care at the pandemic’s outset and are now beginning the process of drafting new policies and regulations for the re-opening of child-care centers and schools. Your state advocacy group leaders are working to reach out to contacts they have at the state level to inquire about process, timelines, and opportunities for stakeholder input around emerging requirements.

Based on what we are seeing and hearing across the country, MPPI has compiled a list of policy areas that are likely to be impacted and potential new requirements. Much will depend on your state or local landscape, how hard hit it was by COVID-19, and what your state health officials are recommending based on a number of variables in your state. We want you to be aware of what may be required so that you can begin contingency planning in the event that these requirements are put into place in your jurisdiction. We have also included information about existing relief funding and areas where you can advocate for funding relief as programs reopen.

Check out our brief on potential new regulatory requirements.

Greetings Early Childhood Community, 

We have some new information and resources to support you during this pandemic. As always, please feel free to share these widely with your networks. 

• GOECD, DCFS, IDHS, and ISBE have put together Comprehensive Health Guidance for Those Providing Child Care to Essential Workers During the COVID-19 State of Emergency to help programs providing emergency child care minimize the risks of spreading Coronavirus (4/20/20). 
• Click here to read a letter issued on 4/20/20 from Superintendent Ayala with updates from ISBE and links to resources. 
• ISBE also released Frequently Asked Questions for Special Education During Remote Learning on 4/20/20. 
• MIECHV and DHS released updated Illinois Guidance for Virtual or Phone Home Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/22/20). 
• MIECHV and DHS also released Illinois Home Visiting Guidance for Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/22/20).

Erikson Institute is now offering virtual mental health services in English and Spanish for parents and caregivers of young children regardless of their ability to pay. Most major insurances are accepted, and services can also be provided on a sliding scale or pro-bono basis. Parents and caregivers can reach out to set up an appointment through the intake line at 312-709-0508 (English) or 312-934-6446 (Spanish), or by visiting www.Erikson.edu/ccf. Additional information can be found in the press release.  

In case you missed it, last Friday we released two webinars in a series developed by 

Erikson Institute's Policy and Leadership department in partnership with GOECD and DHS. These webinars set the baseline for the provision of emergency child care during this pandemic. 

• Webinar: Health Guidance
• Webinar: Child Development 
• Companion Resource Page 

Finally, though it is not COVID-19-related, we wanted to share with you the resources that have been made available as a result of the Serving Families Together Initiative. The overall goal of this two-year initiative, which began in 2017, was to increase access to Early Intervention (EI) and home visiting services for children and families involved in the child welfare system through building cross-systems knowledge and relationships. A series of webinars and supplemental cross-training materials that offer foundational knowledge for providers who serve families with young children in the EI, home visiting, and child welfare systems in Illinois are now available. 

As always, COVID-19 resources can be found on the COVID-19 for Early Childhood and Emergency Child Care for Communities & Providers pages on the GOECD website. Please revisit these pages often, as they are being updated daily as additional information becomes available.  

Thank you and be well, 

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

More Considerations Around PPP and EIDL,
Upcoming Racial Equity Events and Exploring Reopening

Please note: The following information does not constitute legal advice, medical advice, or an endorsement of any service or product referenced herein.

Additional Funding for PPP and EIDL Signed Into Law
As anticipated, yesterday the House approved and today the President signed into law additional federal funding related to coronavirus, which including additional funds for both the PPP and EIDL loan programs. You can consult our past bulletins with information about both of these programs as you ascertain whether either of these is right for your school. If you’ve already applied contact your lender to inquire about next steps.
 
PPP, EIDL and Being a Recipient of Federal Financial Assistance
As previously mentioned, schools accepting PPP or EIDL loans will be considered recipients of Federal Financial Assistance (FFA), which obligates private schools to adhere to certain federal laws that they are otherwise exempt from. Part II of this comprehensive resource from NAIS gives an overview of federal laws that apply to a private school as a recipient of FFA. This summary from Fisher Phillips law firm offers additional information regarding the various federal laws and how they become applicable for schools.
 
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 may have the potential to have the greatest impact and we highly recommend that you consult legal counsel around how to meet the obligations of Section 504 and other laws to ensure your school is in compliance. SBA guidance notes that “once the loan is paid or forgiven, the nondiscrimination obligations will no longer apply,” so the impact may be short-term if your school applies for and receives forgiveness in the next few months.
 
The law firm of Fisher Phillips is offering a flat rate compliance assistance package and their flier outlines areas schools might need or want assistance in. We are not recommending or endorsing Fisher Phillips, only passing along this information as an example of the kinds of compliance issues you will need to consider and areas of expertise you may need to inquire about with your legal counsel.
 
Schools who have received PPP or EIDL loans may want to work in collaboration with other recipient schools in approaching a law firm to get training and resources around Section 504 compliance.
 
What’s an FTE?
PPP Loan forgiveness is conditioned on maintaining the same number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees. So, what does that mean? FTE is a way of counting numbers of employees in relation to how many hours a week an employee works in comparison to full-time. The number of hours that are considered full-time vary depending on the context and range from 30-40. We are operating under the assumption that for the purposes of PPP, full-time will be considered 30 hours a week based on other SBA programs and on IRS definitions referenced in other provisions of the CARES Act. So for a school, anyone who works 30-40 hours a week would count as 1 FTE. Any staff who work part time would have their hours summed together and divided by 30 to determine how many FTE’s they equal. For example, if you have 3 people who work 10 hours a week and 1 person who works 15 hours a week, together they would comprise 1.5 FTE’s.
 
PPP and Other Financial Decisions
If you are applying for or receiving a PPP Loan, you will  have to certify that “current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.” The Small Business Administration recently updated their FAQ document and #31 expounds on this certification question. It will be important to consult legal counsel and/or your accountant before making other financial decisions related to revenue such as tuition payments.
 
Exploring Reopening
In the coming weeks we will begin to explore shifts in policies and regulations that will impact schools and child-care facilities once they are allowed to reopen and look at how we can collectively advocate. Please let us know what you are hearing in your state or local community with regards to changes in regulations due to COVID19.
 
Mark Your Calendars for Two Events Exploring Anti-Bias Education and Equitable Access

Don’t Look Away: Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms
“The goal of this webinar is to ensure that participants understand and embrace anti-bias and anti-racist teaching approaches by creating affirming culturally-rich classroom environments that protect children from psychological trauma and heals them from the inside out.”

• Presented by Iheoma U. Iruka, Chief Research Innovation Officer & Director, HighScope Educational Research Foundation; Stephanie Curenton, Associate Professor, Boston University; and Kerry-Ann Escayg, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Tuesday, Apr. 28 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time
• Register here

 Elevating Early Childhood Education: The Benefits of Quality Education and How to Make It Accessible to All Children
“The conversation will focus on the importance of high-quality early childhood education to economic prosperity in the United States and what policymakers can do to create a cohesive education system for all young children. In particular, panelists will discuss how citizens can engage with local and federal policymakers to address adequate compensation for early childhood professionals and provide equitable access for young children from underserved, low-income, and ethnic minority families and communities.”

• Featuring Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka, Chief Research Innovation Officer at HighScope, and Stacey Abrams, New York Times Bestselling Author and Political Leader,
• Wednesday, May 13 at 10:30am
• Register here

Additional Loan Funds Soon to be Authorized
plus More Resources Regarding FMLA, Sick Leave, and Unemployment

Please note: The following information does not constitute legal advice, medical advice, or an endorsement of any service or product referenced herein.

• An additional $310 billion for the PPP loan program.
  • Of note, a minimum of $60 billion of this money is to be set aside for smaller lenders such as credit unions and community banks, which could be helpful if that’s where you bank.
• An additional $10 billion for EIDL grants

• 75% of the funds need to have been spent on payroll costs in the 8 weeks following the date of loan origination
• You have to maintain the same number of employees
• No one employee can have their pay decreased by more than 25%

• Remember: you can’t book the same expenses to the PPP loan and EIDL. So, for example, you can’t claim that both were used to support April 30^th payroll, or that both were used for May rent.
• EIDL has broader uses than PPP and PPP has a tighter time horizon. The forgivable period for PPP is the 8 weeks following when the funds hit your account and at least 75% needs to be spent on payroll. So, it is likely best to book allowable expenses to PPP first and then to the EIDL grant once your PPP funds are expended. It will be important to work closely with your bookkeeper and make sure expenses are coded in a way that you can easily trace which funds were spent on what as the burden is on you, the borrower, to prove that they were used on allowable expenses when requesting forgiveness.
• It’s also important to know that if you received an EIDL grant, since those funds are forgivable, they will count against the forgivable amount in your PPP loan. For example, if you received a $10,000 EIDL grant and your PPP loan was $100,000, only $90,000 of that would be forgiven IF all of the other criteria for forgiveness are met (you retain the same number of employees, spend at least 75% on payroll, expend the funds in the first 8 weeks etc.). It will depend on your unique situation whether it makes sense to use the unforgivable $10k remaining from the PPP loan to help with cash flow and pay the 1% interest on it or give it right back to the bank. Work closely with your board, accountant and lender.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced yesterday that nearly $3 billion will quickly be made available to governors to ensure education continues for students of all ages impacted by the coronavirus national emergency. The Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is an extraordinarily flexible "emergency block grant" designed to enable governors to decide how best to meet the needs of students, schools (including charter schools and non-public schools), postsecondary institutions, and other education-related organizations.

“Governors have the opportunity to truly rethink and transform the approach to education during this national emergency and ensure learning continues," said Secretary DeVos. "At a time when so many school boards and superintendents have shut down learning for the balance of the school year, I want to encourage each and every governor to focus on continuity of education for all students. Parents, families, teachers and other local education leaders are depending on their leadership to ensure students don't fall behind."

A local educational agency that receives GEER Funds must provide equitable services to students and teachers in non-public schools located within the LEA in the same manner as provided under section 1117 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), as determined through timely and meaningful consultation with representatives of non-public schools. (Section 18005 of the CARES Act.)  The U.S. Department of Education will provide additional information to LEAs on this equitable services requirement.

We understand that you might have additional questions. We will post answers to frequently asked questions about the GEER Fund on the Department’s website in the coming days.  Additional information and resources, including the Cover Letter to Governors, Notice Announcing Availability of Funds, State Allocations Table, and Certification and Agreement (Application), are available on the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund webpage.

If you have any questions regarding the GEER Fund and the participation of non-public school students, please send them to: GEERF@ed.gov.

Employers are starting to be served with wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits alleging an employee’s exposure to COVID-19 at work should lead to employer liability, despite the general rule that the workers’ compensation system is the exclusive remedy for such claims. Plaintiffs’ attorneys are ignoring or bypassing such statutes to achieve higher and quicker payouts for their clients. As these claims begin to reach the news, you can be sure that an increasing number of lawsuits will be filed in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Employers could face potential wage and hour claims under federal and state law if they do not compensate employees for time spent having their body temperatures checked. While federal COVID-19 guidance allows employers to measure employees’ body temperatures without fear of violating disability law, that guidance does not address wage and hour compliance – and this is definitely new territory for the nation’s employers.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration just issued guidance for enforcing OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements for COVID-19 cases. OSHA recordkeeping requirements mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.

In an increasingly desperate business climate, thousands of businesses are expected to apply for emergency loans created by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) – but unionized employers may want to think twice before walking this path. Certain commitments necessary to secure these loans– including a commitment not to abrogate existing collective bargaining agreements – could impact your labor relations strategy well beyond the course of the COVID–19 emergency.

Greetings,

Please join the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) on Monday, April 6th at 10:00 AM for a webinar on Child Care Business Resources: COVID-19. 

This webinar will feature opening remarks from IDHS's Secretary Hou and GOECD's Acting Executive Director Dr. Jor'dan, as well as important updates on new federal and state resources to support operations during this COVID-19 State of Emergency. Click here to register for Monday's webinar.

Click here for draft slides of Monday's presentation and here for a toolkit of child care provider resources. 

If you are unable to join at the time of the webinar or if the webinar reaches capacity, the final PowerPoint slides, a recording of the webinar, and an updated version of the  toolkit will be posted to the GOECD website after the webinar under "Business Resources" in the "Resources for Child Care Providers" section of the webpage. 

Application information for the Paycheck Protection Program is currently available on the U.S. Department of Treasury website.

Feel free to share this with your networks. 

Congress Takes Action on Coronavirus

In the month of March, Congress passed legislation responding to the coronavirus crisis in three "phases." The phase 2 and 3 bills in particular included language of interest to private schools.

The following are some highlights of what Congress has passed in recent days, but is by no means an exhaustive list of the programs affecting private schools and other employers.

Education Stabilization Fund: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed "phase 3" COVID-19 relief legislation carrying an unprecedented $2 trillion price tag, which is larger than the federal government’s entire annual budget for discretionary spending and is roughly one-tenth the size of the American economy. Included in this package is $13.5 billion in grants to states for K-12 schools, part of a broader "Education Stabilization Fund."

The law requires equitable services to be provided to private schools under this program.

The legislation lists twelve categories of permissible uses of the funds here. State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) should not begin making plans for the dispersal of these funds until the US Department of Education releases guidance on implementation of the new law, which is expected in the coming days.

Education Stabilization Fund: Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund

The Education Stabilization Fund in the phase 3 bill, or "CARES Act," also includes $3 billion for governors to provide emergency support to schools most impacted by coronavirus. The law requires equitable services to be provided to private schools under this program as well. USDE guidance is forthcoming, but in the meantime, private schools should work with their State CAPEs to ensure that governors are aware of their needs.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

One piece of the CARES Act that is receiving a tremendous amount of attention is its Paycheck Protection Program. The new law provides $350 billion for federally guaranteed loans to small employers (under 500 employees), nonprofits are eligible. The portion of the loan used for maintaining payroll has the potential to be forgiven.

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA): "You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020." It is expected that loans will be disbursed on a first come, first served basis. A sample application form can be found here.

Since passage of the CARES Act, private school advocates have argued that Small Business Administration guidance is needed to clarify:

1) Whether use of these loans will lead to recipient of "federal financial assistance" status and the obligations that come with that;

2) Whether these loans can be used to pay the salaries of teachers involved in religious instruction; and

3) In the case of Catholic schools, whether the 500 employee limit will be based on the number of employees at a particular school or the number of employees in the diocese.

On April 2, the Treasury Department released guidance which references certain religious liberty protections (see pages 27-28) and announces that further guidance on religious liberty will be released "promptly."

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)

Congress expanded the already existing Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to include a $10,000 advance. According to the Small Business Administration, "In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid."

In the past, religious organizations have not been eligible for the EIDL program. SBA guidance is needed on this question, as well as whether acceptance of these funds will lead to recipient of "federal financial assistance" status.

This Sherman & Howard one-pager may be of help in distinguishing between the PPL and EIDL programs.

Unemployment Insurance

The CARES Act includes emergency unemployment insurance benefits for individuals affected by the pandemic. If a nonprofit fully participates in its state’s unemployment benefits program, its employees will be eligible for $600 per week in addition to regular unemployment compensation under state law, as well a possible extension of time for provision of unemployment benefits.

If a nonprofit does not pay state unemployment insurance tax, but reimburses the state for unemployment benefits paid upon the termination of an employee, it will be eligible to receive 50% of the amount reimbursed to the state. Its employees will also be eligible for the additional $600 per week, as well as a possible extension of time for provision of unemployment benefits.

If a nonprofit neither pays state unemployment insurance tax nor reimburses the state for unemployment benefits paid upon the termination of an employee, the nonprofit does not receive any benefits under the CARES Act, but its laid-off employees will be eligible to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance from the federal government at no cost to the employer.

Partial Above-the-Line Deduction for Charitable Contributions

The CARES Act permits a deduction of up to $300 for cash contributions to charitable organizations, whether taxpayers itemize their deductions or not.

Emergency Sick Leave and Emergency Family & Medical Leave

On March 18, 2020, the president signed Congress' "phase 2" coronavirus relief bill, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. It creates a national paid sick leave law and expands the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), a CAPE member organization, has posted this very helpful explanation of the new paid sick leave and FMLA provisions.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he will extend the state's stay-at-home order until the end of April as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Read Pritzker's full statement from Tuesday below as provided by the governor's office to NBC5 News:

Good afternoon. I’m joined again today by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and by Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. We also have two special guests with us, Brad Cole, Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal League and Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

To the thousands of people across the state who have been joining us every day via livestream – welcome back. And to anyone joining for the first time, thank you for your desire to get factual information on what’s happening here in Illinois. To our reporters – thank you for your commitment to truth and accuracy.

Folks: I know this journey is an extraordinarily difficult one – personally, financially, emotionally. I know that when I signed our Disaster Proclamation on March 9^th, when restaurants and bars closed on March 16^th, when schools suspended on-site learning on March 17^th, when the Stay at Home order took effect on March 21^st – each step we have been forced to take by this pandemic has made things more challenging for our residents. The cascading consequences of these steps weigh on me every minute of every day.

But as I’ve said since the beginning, my priority through each and every one of these decisions has been – and continues to be – saving as many people’s lives as possible. That’s the one goal I will put above all others, every time.

Most critically, I have let the science guide our decisions. I’ve relied upon the top medical experts, scientists, public health researchers, epidemiologists, mathematicians and modelers, from the greatest institutions in the world like University of Illinois, Northwestern, University of Chicago, SIU, and others whose guidance on infection rates and potential mortalities and protective measures is second to none.

It is based upon that advice that tomorrow, I will be signing an Executive Order to extend Illinois’ Disaster Proclamation, Stay Home order, and suspension of on-site learning at schools through the end of the month of April.

If we can end these orders earlier, I’ll be the first to tell you when we can start to make strides toward normal again.

But that time is not today, and it’s not April 7^th. Illinois has one of the strongest public health systems in the nation – but even so, we aren’t immune to this virus’ ability to push our existing capacity beyond its limits. We need to maintain our course and keep working to flatten the curve.

Here’s what we know: As of March 30, our preliminary reports from hospitals statewide show just 41 percent of our adult ICU beds are “empty” – staffed and ready for immediate patient use, a two percentage point decrease from the moment-in-time numbers I ran you through last week. And 68% of our ventilators are available statewide – a four percentage point drop in a week. That doesn’t mean every hospital has that availability, but collectively that’s what we have across the state.

Statewide, about 35 percent of our total ICU beds are now occupied by COVID patients and about 24 percent of our total vents are occupied by COVID patients. We are still within our capacity, and we are working every day to acquire new vents or convert alternate use vents to increase that capacity – but from all the models that we’ve seen, our greatest risk of hitting capacity isn’t now, but weeks from now. This virus’ spread is growing – so are its risks. We must not let up.

I’ll remind everyone that these interventions don’t work if they’re piecemeal across the state. It was only a few weeks back when we had just a handful of cases all in one county. That’s up to 5994 across 54 counties – and we know that there are even more people out there who have contracted COVID-19 and already recovered without realizing it, or recovered at home and never qualified for a test. That’s true in all 50 states – and that’s the price we all will continue to pay from the lack of early, robust national testing. So we have to stick to the knowledge we have: no community is immune.

To that point, I want to discuss our efforts to keep our Department of Corrections facilities as safe and socially distanced as possible to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Fortunately, DOC is at its smallest population since 1995, with 36,944 individuals. That’s 1,069 fewer prisoners than on February 1. On March 14^th, early in the process of my issuing executive orders addressing COVID-19, to reduce the spread of the virus DOC suspended all visits, moved all facilities to administrative quarantine, and ensured access to hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies to all staff and incarcerated individuals. IEMA and IDPH have made multiple deliveries of PPE to the DOC, totaling over 160,000 N95 masks, over 200,000 surgical masks, and tens of thousands of gloves, and DOC is sending an additional shipment to Stateville today. 

DOC has been reviewing the case files of as many low risk offenders as possible for early release during this crisis, with nearly 300 more released as of 1pm today. This has included some of our female inmates who are pregnant or were in our women and babies program, as well as low level offenders at the end of their sentences. All have been thoroughly vetted to make sure there are no histories of violence and particularly domestic violence, and all had homes to return to. I should note that places to reside for exiting offenders are one of our greatest challenges: we need to ensure that each person released in this manner has a place to return to, and those arrangements are more difficult for exiting offenders during these challenging times.

We are working hard to balance the need to free up as much space in our prisons as possible with making sure we are not releasing those who may pose a risk to their communities.  Every step we take with regards to our prison population needs to solve an existing problem – not create a new one.

Here is the most recent update from CAPE as to the passed federal legislation for COVID-19 relief. Again, thank you to everyone who reached out to your Senators to press for private schools being included in this relief.

Greetings Early Learning Council Members and Friends, 

We have some new COVID-19 information to share with you and your networks. 

• The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) through the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) System is offering funds to assist child care programs that opt to open and provide child care for the children of essential workers. Click here for the Guidelines and Application for Child Care Programs.

• The Emergency Child Care FAQs were updated with new information on 3/29/20. Answers updated since the original 3/25/20 version are highlighted in red within the document.

• On 3/30/20 GOECD, ISBE, DCFS, and DHS released COVID-19: Illinois' Early Childhood Care and Education Response that details everything Illinois has done to date to keep children and providers safe while supporting families' child care options during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

As a friendly reminder, all of these resources can be found on the COVID-19 for Early Childhood and Emergency Child Care for Communities & Providers pages on the GOECD website. Please revisit these pages often, as they are being updated daily as additional information becomes available.  

Thank you,

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Good morning Early Learning Council Members and Friends, 

We hope you and yours are staying healthy during this unprecedented public health crisis. GOECD, IDHS, DCFS, INCCRRA, and other partners throughout the state have developed several important resources we ask that you please share with your networks. 

For essential workers seeking child care:

• A dedicated help line has been created so Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) can help connect essential worker families to emergency child care. Essential worker families should call toll-free (888) 228-1146. The helpline will be available from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday to answer calls, but callers will be able to leave a message 24 hours a day.  
• Click here and here for resources to help promote the helpline.   
• To find emergency child care, essential workers are encouraged to visit  COVID-19 Emergency Provider Search. 

For individuals who want to volunteer to support emergency child care: 

• Qualified volunteers who are willing to temporarily work in an Emergency Child Care home or center should complete an Emergency Child Care Staffing Survey. They will be contacted in case there is a need in their area. 

For child care providers who want to offer emergency child care to essential workers:

• The COVID-19: Emergency Child Care for Communities & Providers webpage contains a listing of important resources for child care providers and is being updated daily with guidance, frequently asked questions, and other materials.
• The COVID-19 for Early Childhood webpage contains a dated list of updates from Illinois state agencies, as well as resources for Head Start/Early Head Start programs and resources for families with young children.  

 Thank you!

Dr. Jamilah R. Jor'dan

Acting Executive Director

Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD)

Contact Congress on COVID-19 Relief
March 24, 2020

Dear Friends of Religious and Independent Schools,

The US Senate is currently considering a coronavirus relief package that includes aid to K-12 schools.  Currently, there is language in the legislation allowing non-public schools to receive relief. However, it appears that some are attempting to remove this language.

Please use CAPE's Legislative Action Center to urge senators to make sure that private schools are not excluded from Congress' COVID-19 relief package.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Michael Schuttloffel