White House boosts COVID tests for schools amid case surge – The Vacaville Reporter

By John Woolfolk

With schools across the country straining to stay open amid a crush of COVID-19 cases, the White House announced Wednesday it will provide for an additional 10 million tests a month for the virus to help students, teachers and staff avoid spreading the highly contagious virus on campuses.

The additional testing capacity will more than double the volume of testing that took place in schools across the country in November 2021, the most recent data available, the administration said. The move comes amid frustration and criticism over widespread shortages of at-home and laboratory tests nationally as cases soar.

“Today the Biden-Harris Administration is doubling down on our commitment to keeping all schools safely open for full-time in-person learning by taking new action to increase access to COVID-19 testing in schools,” the White House said in a news statement.

Source: White House boosts COVID tests for schools amid case surge – The Vacaville Reporter

Ed Dept says it will issue a new Title IX regulation | Higher Ed Dive

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf

DeVos’s rule, which took effect in August 2020, was loathed among advocates for sexual assault survivors. It transformed colleges’ Title IX processes into judiciary-style procedures requiring both parties to be able to cross-examine the other through a surrogate. It also limited the sexual violence cases institutions would need to investigate, including many off campus.

Biden on the campaign trail promised to strike down the rule and has taken steps to do so. He released an executive order in March calling for a review of the Title IX regulation. This month, the Education Department held five days of virtual hearings to accept feedback on the administration’s approach to Title IX.

Source: Ed Dept says it will issue a new Title IX regulation | Higher Ed Dive

Senate confirms Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary | Higher Ed Dive

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf

President Joe Biden’s selection of Cardona fulfills his pledge to pick an Education Secretary with a background working in public schools. Cardona became the head of Connecticut’s K-12 schools in 2019, after many years as an elementary school principal.

He does not have extensive higher education experience, but was nevertheless lauded by many industry groups for his work helping students of color and those who are low-income. Cardona has had some exposure to postsecondary education as a University of Connecticut trustee, which gives him a “clear view” of institutions’ challenges, American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell told Higher Ed Dive in December.

Source: Senate confirms Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary | Higher Ed Dive

Kairos eighth-graders witness a moment in history – The Reporter

By Joel Rosenbaum

As he stood on the western steps of the United States Capitol with the eyes of the world on him, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke of uniting the country.

Locally, the eighth-grade students of Jason Railing’s United States History class at ​Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy watched in rapt attention as the newly sworn-in president delivered his inauguration address Wednesday morning proclaiming that “democracy has prevailed.”

What Railing wanted his students to take away from the inauguration and the speech was the message of unity.

Source: Kairos eighth-graders witness a moment in history – The Reporter