WFIS News
Updates on our Legislative, Policy and Committee work
A Big List of Podcasts for Little Kids
Looking for something positive to share with your families?
The NY Time gathered a list of great podcast episodes to interest and occupy kids ages 2 – 6, and their caretakers!
Urgent: Senate CARES Act relevant to private schools
WFIS Educators and Families - your advocacy effort is needed at this time! The big “Phase 3” Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) is at a critical stage of consideration in Congress right now. Currently there is a provision allowing for...
NEW provisions on Paid Sick Leave & FMLA signed by President
Last night Congress passed, and the president signed, a coronavirus aid package that includes provisions on paid sick leave and FMLA. Attached are summaries of each.
FCC suspends E-Rate regulations; allows free internet access to rural communities
After hearing from more than 7,500 district superintendents, school board members, principals, teachers, and families the FCC has agreed to allow the federal E-rate program to fund internet access for more than 50 million students nationwide, as well as hospitals and...
Washington education officials: school must continue, even during coronavirus closures
WA state officials are asking schools to develop weekly plans for students, including those with disabilities, and to contact families on a regular basis. Teachers are expected to monitor students’ progress, help them set goals and offer online or paper-based instruction depending on students’ preferences. They provided educators with a long list of free virtual tools for teachers, students and parents and offered a sample “plan” for how districts could roll out distance learning.
Remote Principal-ing: Day 2
Patrick Russell is the Middle & High School Principal at Mount Vernon Christian School. He shared his Day 2 Principal-ing Video with the WFIS Board today. It conveys Pat’s sweet and clever nature that makes him the beloved school leaders his community adores!
DeVos announces broad flexibilities to cancel testing during Covid-19
Students impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 can bypass standardized testing for the 2019-2020 school year. Upon a proper request, the Department will grant a waiver to any state unable to assess its students due to the ongoing national emergency, providing relief from federally mandated testing requirements for this school year.
Inslee asks schools to provide community support during social distancing
Gov. Inslee has banned gatherings & events of more than 250 amid coronavirus outbreak, while calling upon schools to remain as community support for student social services and prepare for possible closure in coming days.
WHO declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic
While China appears on the verge of stopping its outbreak — it reported only 24 cases on Tuesday — outbreaks are occurring and growing in a number of locations around the world including Italy, Iran and the United States.
People ‘shed’ high levels of coronavirus, study finds, but most likely not infectious after recovery begins
the data in the paper confirm what the spread of the disease has been signaling — “early and potentially highly efficient transmission of the virus occurs before clinical symptoms or in conjunction with the very first mild symptoms.”