COVID-19

New Updates

• On May 15, The US House of Representatives passed HR 6800, the “HEROES Act.” by a largely partisan vote of 208-199.
  • A summary of the provisions can be found here.
  • Specifically related to children, the First Five Years Fund has created this resource. The bill includes:
    • $7 billion for CCDBG
    • $500 billion in state assistance, $375 billion in local government assistance
    • $200 billion for hazard pay grants
    • Extends pandemic unemployment through January 31, 2021
    • Another round of direct rebate payments
    • $10 billion for SNAP
    • Student loan forgiveness expansion
  • The Senate is expected to begin negotiations by possibly forming and releasing their version of a “Phase 4” in June. At this point, it’s unlikely an agreement by the House and Senate would be reached prior to mid-June.
  • Our partner at Empower Missouri has created this page to take action and encourage Congress’ passage to help families and children

Previous Updates

• The US Treasury updated guidance and an FAQ as of May 5 on its website

“Phase 3.5” Passes Congress

• • Congress reached a compromise and passed HR 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday and the House on Thursday; President Trump will likely sign the bill into law today (4/24).
    • $484 billion package overview from Roll Call
      • $310 billion for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
      • $75 billion for hospitals and healthcare providers
      • $50 billion for the small business economic injury disaster loans
      • $25 billion for national testing
    • US Treasury Department issued guidance on the $150 billion in state aid included in the CARES Act, saying that the funds could only be used to cover costs that are:
      • Necessary expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
        • May not be used to fill shortfalls in government revenues. Revenue replacement is not a permissible use of Fund payments.
      • Not accounted for in the budget most recently approved prior to the effective date of the CARES Act.
      • Incurred between March and December of 2020.

“Phase 3:” Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act:

• • Signed into law on Friday, March 27
  • The Missouri Budget Project released a report on how Missouri benefits from the CARES Act’s various economic relief initiatives
  • Overview of child care provisions from the First Five Years Fund
  • Overview of homeless youth provisions from SchoolHouse Connection
  • Georgetown University Health Policy Institute blog on health care and the CARES Act
  • Overview of K-12 education provisions from Education Week
  • Missouri Dept. of Labor COVID-19 resource page for unemployment insurance

Missouri General Assembly:

• Policy
  • The General Assembly approved SS SCS HCS HB 1414 as amended, which:
    • eliminates of duplicate of background checks for child care providers, saving them money;
    • allows youth who are homeless to access birth certificate at no cost;
    • allows youth who are homeless to access mental health services;
    • protects providers who serve in-good-faith youth who are homeless;
    • allows youth who are homeless to access Medicaid pending federal approval; and
    • creates a temporary alternative placement agreement to ensure accountability for those families who are on safety plans
  • A summary of most of the provisions can be found here. The Senate made the following adjustments to the bill which received final approval:
    • • Added HCS HB 2202
      • SA 1 (Koenig – foster care clarification), SA 2 (Arthur-DSS waiver) , SA 3 (Nasheed-removal of guardian ad litem language)
      • When debated on the floor, Democrats and Republicans lauded the bill, which heads to Governor Parson’s desk.
  • The General Assembly also approved SS SCS HCS HB 1682 as amended, which includes the “Postpartum Depression Care Act,” encouraging DSS to seek a waiver for extending treatment for mental health services to twelve months postpartum.
• Kids Win Missouri’s Press Release on the passage of HB 1414
• Kids Win Missouri’s Press Release on the passage of HB 1682

• Budget
  • This week, Governor Parson had a conference call with superintendents from across the state to inform them that tough decisions would need to be made for the remainder of this fiscal year and would impact all districts. Additional withholds may come from the transportation budgets and/or the foundation formula. An announcement on the withholds could come as early as today (Friday, May 22).
  • On that same call, Governor Parson indicated that the FY 2021 budget likely needs to be approximately $1.2 billion less than his initial budget request. While very early in the process, the legislature’s approved cuts to the initial January-proposed budget equate to approximately $700 million from the state’s traditional revenue sources (the legislature’s budget includes funding for some items, pending additional state fiscal relief from the federal government. An additional $500 million in funding may be withheld in the early part of FY 2021, which is set to begin on July 1.
  • The FY 2021 budget was agreed to on Friday, May 8. You can find budget background information here.
  • Highlights around children’s issues include:
    • Full funding for the K-12 education foundation formula
    • K-12 Transportation funding core was cut $7 million with a $4.9 million restoration in the NDI for a net decrease of approximately $2 million. Total funding for FY 2021 is $105.3 million.
    • Preschool Development Grant funds are included ($11.2M).
    • Quality Assurance Report core cut ($200,000) but program will continue through Preschool Development Grant activities and a small core funding
    • Flat funding for Parents as Teachers at $21M.
    • Missouri Preschool Program funding was reduced by $875,283.
    • Early Literacy Program New Decision Item of $250,000.
    • Higher education institutions received a 10% core cut, but funds were appropriated as a new decision item based on the potential that the 6.2% FMAP increase is extended.
    • Flat funding for the Children’s Division Home Visiting Program plus a $907,000 increase in CARES Act funding.
    • New $3 million federal authority for Medicaid home visiting reimbursement.
    • Child Care
      • Acceptance of approximately $11 million in new federal funds (Pre-COVID 19).
      • Acceptance of approximately $66.5 million in CARES Act (COVID-19) funds.
      • Decrease of approximately $20 million in TANF funds.
      • Total budget of: $273 million
        • After removing 1-time stimulus funds, this line saw approximately a $9 million reduction in spending.
      • $3 million increase in foster care children’s account due to increased children in CD care.
      • $10.1 million for Family First Prevention Services’ Act infrastructure transition funding

FY2020 Missouri Budget

Through close of business on Wednesday, May 20, year to date revenues have declined by 8.61% ($737 million). Isolating May revenues, year to date revenues, revenues have declined 45% ($249 million). The state’s fiscal year ends June 30. Between the economic impacts of COVID-19 and moving tax-day to July 15, it’s difficult to make an accurate comparison regarding this year’s revenues to last year’s at this time.

New Updates

• On May 19, DSS sent this update to child care subsidy providers regarding an update on April, May, June payments
• Child Care Subsidy providers are required to sign a new 3-year contract to renew with the state. The contract needs to be signed and returned by June 30. The contract can be found here and the checklist is available here. Policy changes include:
  • not requiring providers to use the electronic time and attendance program for their private-pay children;
  • allowing but not requiring adoptive parents to pay a co-pay; and
  • updated disclosures.
• On May 21, the Office of Head Start issued updated guidance for utilization and distribution of CARES Act funding
• The Clark-Fox Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis published this op-ed around the fragility of our child care infrastructure during and coming out of the pandemic on May 20
• On May 20, the St. Louis National Public Radio’s On The Air show aired this segment on how child care is navigating social distancing guidelines
• On May 14, the Office of Child Care issued an updated Form 696 for state CCDF administrators to use

Previous Updates

Missouri

• Child Care Licensing
  • KCUR published a story on May 12 on access to child care while returning to work. Kids Win Missouri, Child Care Aware of Missouri, and The Family Conservancy were all interviewed.
  • Kids Win Missouri and our partners have released the “Preparedness and Planning for Child Care Programs Guide” the week of May 11
  • On May 4 DHSS SCCR sent this email to providers with some FAQ regarding school closures
  • On April 28, HRSA sent this information to mitigate risk for home visitors and families as services begin to be re-established in-person.
  • On April 29, the Office of Child Care issued a memo with guidance regarding funding from the CARES Act.
  • On April 30, DHSS SCCR sent this email to child care providers around guidance for re-opening which includes an FAQ document.
  • Missouri’s DHSS Section of Child Care Regulation sent this email to child care providers updating them on new (as of April 21) CDC guidelines for child care providers who remain open.
  • DHSS has published a website, where they are placing COVID-19 licensing updates.
    • DHSS is issuing temporary emergency licenses.
    • The website has a survey for child care providers who have made the decision to close.
    • DHSS’s Section for Child Care Regulation has released a communication on how stay-at-home orders impact licensed child care providers.
  • Child Care Aware of Missouri is updating this GoogleMap twice daily on licensed child care closures.
• Missouri Child Care Subsidy
  • Details of Gov. Parson’s CARES Act Child Care Plan can be found here. It includes 6 components:
    • Temporary, 90 day child care benefit for those searching for work
    • Expanded and simplified transitional child care
    • One-time grants to providers remaining open, providing services to essential employees
    • Stipend for providers providing non-traditional hour care (regardless of subsidy or not)
    • Paying child care providers on authorizations regardless of attendance
    • $10 million for one-time grants to higher ed institutions for child care programs on campuses
  • On May 7, Kids Win Missouri issued this press release in partnership with MASN and Aligned
  • Children’s Division sent multiple communications on the issue:
    • An email regarding the announcement to providers and stakeholders
    • An email to providers with payment details
    • An email press release to spread the word of expanded eligibility
  • Child Care Aware of Missouri created this flier to send to those seeking child care as they return to work
  • Children’s Division’s Early Learning Section is placing updates on the DSS COVID-19 website.
  • Child care providers who see a decline in attendance in subsidy children would see no less than the three-month average of their payments from December 2019 through February 2020.
• Preschool Development Grant
  • The federal government approved the strategic plan that was part of Missouri’s Preschool Development Grant B-5. The plan is going through final branding edits before public release.
• Home Visiting
  • The Office of Administration’s “Bidboard” showed an addendum on the Home Visiting RFP (Solicitation #: RFPS30034902001544)
  • DESE has provided this guidance to continue delivering Parents as Teachers services.

National

• Child Care
  • This decision tree was released on May 14 by the CDC for child care providers who were closed and considering reopening.
  • Melinda Gates penned this op-ed last week on the importance of including caregivers, including child care in future stimulus packages
  • On May 5, CLASP released this brief regarding unemployment compensation for child care stakeholders
  • On May 6, the National Women’s Law Center released this resource for child care providers and workers navigating financial supports during COVID-19
  • The national Office of Child Care released this powerpoint on Spotlighting Innovative State & Local Solutions on the Quick & Affordable Child Care Supply/Demand Matching Strategies.
  • On April 22, Child Care Aware of America released a resource guide of the types of cash help for providers during the pandemic.
  • Senator Roy Blunt announced that Missouri was receiving $66.5 million in funding for the CCDBG grant. Following Congressional announcements, the Office of Child Care released funding allocations publicly for reach state on Wednesday, April 15.
  • The Office of Child Care released slides from an April 9 presentation with CCDF administrators with relevant information about flexibilities allowed under the pandemic.
  • Unrelated to COVID-19, on April 9, the Office of Child Care released supplemental information on additional funding from natural disasters from 2019. Missouri is due to receive $128,724 from these additional funds.
  • The First Five Years Fund released this brief on April 14 discussing Unemployment Benefits for child care providers.
  • The Committee for Economic Development has created updated resources including a podcast for how child care businesses can survive COVID-19.
  • On April 6, The Office of Child Care provided guidance to CCDF administrators on the increased funding and the flexibilities given with the CARES Act funds.
  • The National Conference of State Legislatures offered this webinar on child care guidance variances across the country.
  • The CDC offered updated guidance for schools and child care programs.
  • On April 2, CLASP published a fact sheet for state CCDF administrators with an overview of federal flexibility.
  • On March 30, the Administration for Children & Families offered additional clarification on the flexibility they are offering to states and grantees.
  • Office of Child Care has provided guidance allowing for flexibility of Child Care Development Block Grant funding.
  • CLASP published a fact sheet to help child care owners navigate the small business loans made available from the federal CARES Act. Many of these loans are forgivable if the funds are used to keep staff employed and operations afloat.
  • First Five Years Fund also has this great resource available for child care centers (and other small businesses or non-profits) with information on all of the loan programs available through the federal relief programs.
  • Child Care Aware of America has published a website with resources including:
    • Webinar on COVID-19 and how child care providers can react
    • Flow-Chart on: Should I close my child care program?
  • The National Association of Education of Young Children has published a website with resources including:
    • A survey for Child Care programs
    • An online community for child care providers to interact around COVID-19 concerns
    • How to talk to children about COVID-19
• Head Start
  • The National Head Start Association (NHSA) has created and released a state policy agenda in the wake of COVID-19, for how states can support their Head Start programs.
  • National Head Start Association has released a COVID-19 Policy Resource guide for parents and caregivers.
• Home Visiting
  • The Center for American Progress has published a blog on Home Visiting needs as Congress begins to consider “Phase 4” of COVID-19 relief. Kids Win Missouri signed on to the Home Visiting Coalition’s letter to Congress encouraging the action items in the blog.
  • The Home Visiting Model Alliance released a joint resource for guidance on all home visiting models
  • HRSA provided updated guidance to the home visiting community on March 25
  • Child Care Aware of America: Emergency Funding Resources that Child Care Providers Can Use Now
  • Parents as Teachers National Center has released a blog on turning to telehealth to provide support to families during the pandemic.
  • HRSA has indicated that during the emergency, MIECHV funded home visiting programs may use telehealth methods of contacting families.
• Other Resources
  • Alliance for Early Success resources by topic
  • SchoolHouseConnection has posted an article about homelessness or at risk young children and COVID-19.

Kids Win Missouri Activities:

• Kids Win Missouri sent this letter to Governor Parson, urging action on policies relating to child care, health care, SNAP, and WIC. Missouri is not maximizing all the flexibility allowed by federal law.
• Kids Win Missouri submitted this letter to budget writers, suggesting legislative language on the FY2020 supplemental budget.

• An additional 2.43 million Americans filed for first-time traditional unemployment last week. These numbers do not include those applying for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which included an additional 841,995 first time claims. The Dept. of Labor indicates the seasonally adjusted uninsured rate for the week ending May 9 was 17.2%, an increase of 1.7% from the previous week.
• In Missouri, individuals filed another 26,029 first-time claims last week. It is the fifth-straight week of declining first-time applicants. However, in the last 9 weeks, 564,000 first-time claims have been filed, more than three times the total number received for all of 2019.
• The Congressional Budget Office released updated interim economic projections for 2020 and 2021 on May 19. The CBO estimates GDP will decline by 11% in the second quarter (April-June).

New Updates

• On May 15, CMS updated their COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers & Flexibilities document
• On May 14, CMS responded to Missouri’s March 1135 Waiver request in the blanket waiver regarding changes in the Home & Community Based Services program to accommodate circumstances in which an individual requires relocation to an alternative setting to ensure continuation of services.

Previous Updates

Missouri

• The Dept. of Social Services released their April caseload counter. MoHealthNet saw an increase in coverage of children by more than 22,000.
• On April 30, DSS posted a public notice for MoHealthNet Program benefits for FQHC’s
• Missouri’s Dept. of Mental Health has provided family mental health resources here.
• ParentLink WarmLink is a resource to assist families with stress management, child development, and other questions.
• The DHSS COVID-19 website is updated daily with testing results.
• On April 7, the Dept. of Social Services launched the “Missouri Services Navigator” as a resource to Missourians in need of health care, counseling, child care, financial services, and more.
• DSS’s “Provider Hot Tip” website includes changes/updates for health providers regarding telemedicine, e-prescribing, and more.
• The DSS COVID-19 website is updated with FSD, Child Care, MoHealthNet, Children’s Division, and Division of Youth Services.
• On April 9, DSS announced that the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project was statewide and utilizing telemedicine to help children with behavioral health issues
• DHSS announced on April 13 that patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are encouraged to donate plasma to treat current patients
• Division of Developmental Disabilities
• DMH’s Division of Developmental Disabilities has provided this guidance for their providers.
• The Department of Mental Health has this dedicated website for guidance for those with developmental disabilities.
• Missouri’s 1135 Waiver was approved by CMS on March 25. Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families has a 1135 Waiver tracking page comparing states’ requests.
• From our partners at Youth In Need and the Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies this was created of how to best identify and respond to children’s mental health needs during the pandemic.
• Governor Parson announced on March 30 that he has approved reciprocity agreements for health care providers, expanded flexibilities for APRNs, and provided an update on the state’s efforts to procure personal protective equipment (PPE).

National

• The Centers for Disease Control issued decision trees to consider as facilities re-open.
  • Child Care
  • Camps
  • Schools
• On May 4, CMS approved Missouri’s State Plan Amendment, submitted on April 29, to provide 12-month continuous eligibility for children during the crisis, effective March 1
• On May 7, Senator Roy Blunt introduced bipartisan legislation to expand mental health services for foster children, ensuring that foster children receive a mental health screening within 30 days within coming into care
• On April 30, DSS posted a public notice for MoHealthNet Program benefits for FQHC’s
• On April 30, CMS updated their blanket waiver and flexibility for health care providers
• On April 19, CMS provided these recommendations for re-opening facilities to provide essential non-COVID19 healthcare
• On April 21, CMS updated their list of blanket waivers during the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
• On April 23, CMS updated their state Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit
• Webinar on health considerations for re-opening schools mentioned on our weekly call
• On April 13, CMS posted an updated FAQ on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• On April 13, CMS posted an updated FAQ on the CARES Act
• CMS published this FAQ for Medicaid Programs & CHIP agencies.
• CMS will be updating their COVID-19 partner toolkit.
• The Georgetown Center for Children & Families has released this FAQ for what states can do.
• Kaiser Family Foundation released: How Can Medicaid Enhance State Capacity to Respond to COVID-19?
• Georgetown Center on Children and Families also published detailed information on how “Phase 2” of COVID-19 relief helps states, people, and public health.

New Updates

• On May 21, DSS announced that the Pandemic-SNAP assistance was extended through the end of June
• On May 19, DSS announced federal approval of the Pandemic-EBT program. The MPCA began working with schools to ensure parents and families have access to the program.

Previous Updates

Missouri

• On May 14, DSS announced approval and implementation efforts for buying groceries online with SNAP EBT cards
• Kids Count released a story map tool to show county-wide statistics on child population, food insecurity, SNAP benefits, child abuse and neglect cases, and visits to the ER for asthma attacks. This data from the past few years, will prove as a baseline to measure the impact of COVID-19 on children
• Missouri KidsFirst released this interview with Office of Child Advocate director Kelly Schultz on the importance of self care while parenting during COVID-19
• Children’s Division has updated their “Temporary Policy” for foster parents, caseworkers, and resource providers. This new policy is effective May 16.
• The Columbia Missourian published an article on May 12 regarding the decline in child abuse and neglect cases and how COVID-19 is difficult for foster families
• With support from the Children’s Trust Fund, this video was released to support and encourage parents and familes to use the ParentLink Warmline during the crisis.
• On April 27, DSS released an RFI regarding “Foster Care Prevention Services” as the state works to create a plan to access Family First Prevention Services Act transition funding available from the federal government
• Kids Win Missouri joined other child welfare organizations to sign a letter on April 29 to Gov. Parson and legislative leaders encouraging support of our foster children and their supports during and after the pandemic
• Missouri has submitted a multi-department request to USDA for a plan to distribute EBT cards for the P-EBT program. The application process is not yet availale, but once approved, question will be taken through the Family Support Division.
• You can find all of Missouri’s USDA’s WIC-related waivers here.
• On April 9, the USDA approved Missouri’s waiver request to distribute food disaster packages due to COVID-19.
• Missouri KidsFirst has launched the #Essential4Kids campaign to spread the word to protect children from abuse during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Children’s Division issued this guidance for resource parents on March 24
• Children’s Division issued this guidance for viritual visits for their staff on March 24
• Children’s Division leaders are concerned with a 50% decline in child abuse and neglect hotline calls and asking for extra vigilance
• Children’s Division has a memos website where you can find updates with case management providers
• DSS created this FAQ for SNAP beneficiaries, with details on how families are elgibile for the maximum benefit during March and April.
• Children’s Division’s memo sent to caseworkers, investigators, and case managers on March 19 as a response to COVID-19
• Jefferson County’s Court Order to partially suspend in-person contact as of March 19.
• The Department of Social Services created this flyer to help families determine if they are eligible for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and Child Care benefits and this flyer to help families access benefits.

National

• The federal Children’s Bureau released this message on May 4
• On May 8, the Positive Parenting Program submitted a letter to Congressional leaders regarding child welfare needs in the next COVID-19 relief package. Kids Win Missouri and the Children’s Trust Fund were among the signers
• On April 28, DSS announced that the USDA approved their waiver to extend P-SNAP benefits through May 2020.
• On April 23, the Children’s Bureau issued guidance about seeking personal protective equipment for child welfare workers
• On April 21, Missouri was added by the USDA to the pilot purchasing of online food to SNAP households.
• On April 20, the Children’s Bureau issued guidance regarding the use of federal funds for cell phones and personal protective equipment
• On April 16, the Children’s Bureau offered guidance to states regarding fingerprint and caseworker visit requirements during the COVID-19 response
• On April 16, the Children’s Bureau offered guidance from the Capacity Building Center for Courts to describe best practices for remote/virtual hearings in child welfare cases
• On April 13, the Children’s Bureau extended the March 18 announcement of the postponement of Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews and National Youth In Transition Database reviews.
• On April 6, federal child welfare administrators wrote this op-ed on family integrity and child welfare.
• On April 1, the ACF announced it was eliminating the separate application process for the FFPSA funding and will be working to get the funds to states as soon as possible.
• In a March 25 update, the USDA issued a nationwide waiver to allow parents and guardiance to pick up meals for children
• No Kid Hungry is responding by offering emergency grants to ensure food security for children
• The USDA has released this website on Food & Nutrition
  • Missouri has applied for the ability to serve meals in non-congregate settings
  • Missouri has applied for a waiver for flexibility for quality control interviews for SNAP

New Updates:

• On May 20, MSBA’s Center for Education Safety updated their report: Pandemic Recovery Considerations: Re-Entry and Reopening of Schools
• DESE has suggested resources for social and emotional health for children of various ages
• On DESE’s specific CARES Act website, districts can find resources and guidance on these funds

Previous Updates

Missouri

• With the State Board of Education voting on March 12 to grant exemptions to the school start date law, DESE will be creating an online submission form for districts in the coming days and weeks.
• On May 4, DESE released this memo to school districts regarding claiming hours for summer school
• On April 30, DESE posted an update that they are submitting final paperwork for districts to begin receiving the $208 million in funding for pandemic-related expenses.
• On April 23, DESE released an administrative memo on how schools can best develop summer school plans.
• On April 21, DESE released this administrative memo around expenditure restrictions. For transportation, districts will see the majority of the adjustment in their May and June payments. For the foundation formula, the SAT payment for prior year corrections will be paid out at $6,291 instead of the full SAT of $6,308.
• On April 23, DESE received a letter from the US Dept. of Education regarding the CARES Act funding. DESE is developing an application process and can be used for funds incurred by an LEA on or after March 13, 2020.
• DESE has published this website as guidance for school districts. This website includes updates on special education, First Steps, use of buses, viritual education food and nutrition and more.
• Governor Parson announced on April 9 that all schools would be closed through the end of the school year. DESE along with school superintendents recommended the closures.
  • Following the closure announcement from Gov. Parson, the Missouri State High School Activities Association canceled spring post-season events.
  • DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven announced on DESE’s Facebook page that Missouri is cancelling statewide required assessments for the school year.
• On April 9, DESE issued initial guidance to schools on funding becoming available through the CARES Act. Also, DESE released this administrative memo on waiving of other statutes regarding screening for dyslexia, teacher contracts, and more. Lastly, DESE released this administrative memo sharing with schools that a waiver was approved around fund flexibility and professional development.
• Missouri School Boards’ Association has created a resource list for school districts
• MOREnet is ensuring school districts are aware they have access to remote learning opportunities including: Zoom, magazines, eBooks, and online practice tests.
• DESE shared a PowerPoint with school leaders on April 1 as part of a webinar and was followed-up with an email. The document includes an update on the CARES Act, information on statutory waivers, food and nutrition updates, childcare for health professionals, school closure, and more
• On March 27, an administrative memo was released by DESE on calendaring and attendance, and notifying districts of possible future withholding.
• MOREnet is ensuring school districts are aware they have access to remote learning opportunities including: Zoom, magazines, eBooks, and online practice tests.

National

• ACT has announced on April 16 that they will offer ACT-at-home online testing and additional flexibilities for high school students.
• The College Board announced on April 13 that they are offering programmatic changes to Advanced Placement testing including free, online AP classes and take-at-home AP exams for high school students.
• On April 3, ChildTrends published ways to promote children’s resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• EdWeek is tracking national school closures.
• The US Department of Education issued supplemental guidance on providing appropriate education to students with disabilities during the pandemic and the Education Law Center posted an update with commentary on the guidance.