To get the most current details go to:  wfis.org/covid-19-updates/

17,334 confirmed cases, 903 deaths.

The NY Times' interactive Map by State for WA with details by county.

Additional information on the spread of the virus: John Hopkins University .



It is not for the faint of heart trying to decipher what your school will need to do to comply with federal regulations if you take the PPP loan.

One regulation you will need to consider is compliance with TITLE IX.

The first aspect is that you must have a staff member designated as the compliance coordinator and that person must be trained on how to be a Title IX compliance coordinator. WFIS hopes to pool schools to offer Title IX compliance training. We will let you know about that next week.

For help with navigating the PPP federal compliance issues.

Also, there are public relations to consider. Parents and the media will want to know how private schools are using the money. It may be not obvious to parents why a school would need them to pay tuition if you are receiving a PPP loan. Staff should direct those questions, or inquiries from the media, to the head of school.

For help with navigating what needs to be considered and communicated.

  

Any school that received more than $2 million dollars will be audited. The deadline for returning the funds was extended to May 14th.

The Professional Educator Standards Board has extended the validity period on certificates expiring June 30, 2020 for one additional year. Certificates will now expire June 30, 2021. This policy change is effective immediately.

This applies to residency, professional, initial, and continuing certificates for all roles, including teacher, administrator, career and technical education (CTE), and all educational staff associate (ESA) roles.

Individuals with certificates expiring June 30, 2020 who already applied for certificate renewal will be granted the same one year extension on their renewed certificates. Individuals with permits are eligible for an additional one-year permit.

Educators do not need to take any action in order to be granted this one year extension.

  

Early learning directors and teachers have many questions about professional requirements, merit star hours, Early Achievers timelines, subsidy payments, and ways to reopen that make learning and playing possible for young children.

Answers are slow coming. Between the DOH Covid-19 page on childcare

and the DCYF Covid-19 page, there are some answers. WFIS is working on getting the rest.

One question we are working on is, can childcare providers license OUTDOOR ONLY PROGRAMS on an accelerated timeline?

Please send your questions and we will help find the person who can answer them.

You may have seen recent articles in the press about the ESSER equitable services guidance. Some public school groups are complaining about the way that the CARES act funding is distributed for private schools. What you should know is that CAPE (with the help of WFIS) worked very hard to make sure that private schools were included in this relief effort and were treated fairly. Private schools are included in this legislation so that every student, every teacher, and every school can be safe to return to as soon as possible. 

This is a great time to get this done!

Clock hour providers must apply each year for approval. Applications are now being accepted through the OSPI certification office, with a deadline of August 20, 2020. Late applications will not be accepted. 

 Apply for approval .

WFIS is not promoting this tool, it's just one we came across. We are sure there are others. There is a free tool from Armanino that enables schools to measure and forecast the impact of COVID-19 on their 2021 operating budget. It is important for schools to tell the financial story for 2021 to all parents, administrators, and board members in a way that is easy to understand.

No update on what is allowable beyond the Governor's sequence of stages.

Private Schools are getting creative. Some are waiting until the end of summer in hope of holding a more traditional graduation celebration, some are bringing small groups together using appropriate social distancing guidelines, some are doing drive-thru graduations.

It is suggested that before you decide on a graduation scenario, check-in with your Seniors. They may have an opinion!

If your school needs to close, please fill out this paperwork. If you cannot answer the question about where the permanent records will be filed, get the paperwork in and let the State Board know you don't have an answer for that question yet.

Certainly every school should run new policy by a lawyer and insurance agent. But to help you get started with creating updated protocol that covers Covid-19 safety for staff and students, NPIP has shared 4 templates HERE which outline key tops and language for employees and students.



Would you like to join the weekly conversations WFIS is hosting between K12 school leaders and / or the Early Learning programs? Details below:

WFIS Leadership Meeting, K12 - Fridays at 2pm

WFIS Early Ed Teachers and Administrators - Thursday at Noon

Email [email protected] with your request to be added to either weekly Zoom invitation.

WFIS is hearing from schools and early learning programs every day. Your questions and feedback guide the topics of our weekly meetings with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the State Board of Education; The Department of Children, Youth and Families; The Department of Health, Higher Education Officials; The Council for American Private Education; and many others.



We will help you get your questions answered. [email protected]