[EdNews Round Up Update] COVID-19 and Education Impacts III

No one knows better than educators about the importance of staying up-to-date. The recent reports of COVID-19, or coronavirus, across the U.S has led to the closure of many schools and districts globally. We stand with you, focused on building school around the student, especially during times where access to quality instruction is restricted. We are actively monitoring the situation and have a dedicated team in place to help us better respond to the needs of educators however we can. In these situations, online learning is more relevant and important than ever, and we want to help so that you can continue to meet your learners' academic needs.

In this special edition of Edmentum’s News Round Up, you’ll find the latest news we have gathered pertaining to COVID-19 and the impact on U.S. education. Of course, you can find the latest updates and data on COVID-19 on the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization websites as well as helpful resources. 

Trump Signs Coronavirus Bill With Provisions on Paid Leave, Student Meals
EdWeek
President Donald Trump has signed emergency coronavirus legislation that eases rules for meals schools provide to students, and provides certain leave benefits related to schools.

Exercise Tips To Help Kids, Teens and Families Stay Balanced at Home
MindShift 
It’s no mystery that exercise boosts mental health and cognitive function in kids. A nine-month study of children aged seven through nine found that kids who were active could think more clearly.

Panic-gogy': Teaching Online Classes During The Coronavirus Pandemic
NPR
As colleges across the country pivot online on very short notice, there are a host of complications — from laptops and Internet access to mental health and financial needs. Digital learning experts have some surprising advice: do less.

As Schools Close, Educators Move Quickly To Assist Every Student
NEA
The coronavirus pandemic has underscored equity challenges across U.S. public schools. "We're all grappling with the unknown," says high school teacher.

The Real Lesson of the College Closures
The Atlantic 
Outside the Ivy League, students who go home for the semester are at risk of leaving school for good.

Teacher, Interrupted: Leaning into Social-Emotional Learning Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
EdSurge
What can we do to support ourselves and our students in getting through these difficult times? We need to look to social and emotional learning (SEL) for evidence-based practices to help us now and to support us when we eventually return to school.

What Should Schools Do to Help ‘Flatten the Curve’ in Fighting Coronavirus? A Lot of What They’re Already Doing
The 74
The past week brought an unprecedented set of actions designed to “flatten the curve” in the fight against the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Understanding the urgency requires understanding the natural trajectory of the spread of any infectious disease.

A day without school: What life looks like across America when children stay home
Chalkbeat
Over the past week, officials nationwide made the agonizing decision to close schools in response to the worsening coronavirus. Some governors made sweeping statewide decrees. Elsewhere, decisions rested with mayors, superintendents, and charter leaders.

Ready or not, a new era of homeschooling has begun
The Hechinger Report
As coronavirus concerns shutter school around the world, will poor students be left behind?

When Colleges Shut Down, Some Students Have Nowhere To Go
NPR
Lee Myers is a senior at Berea College in Kentucky. Up until March 14, he was living in a dorm called Deep Green, majoring in philosophy with a minor in economics, and looking forward to a future career in social justice. Now that the campus has closed and graduation is canceled due to coronavirus, he and his classmates have bigger things to worry about.

Prioritizing Human Connection When Social Distancing Is the New Norm
EdSurge
School leaders and administrative teams across the country are weighing alternatives and contingency plans for combating the spread of COVID-19.

Present and accounted for? Closures create attendance challenges
Education Dive
Experts say regardless of the method used to track e-learning participation, ongoing contact with students will be essential.

States suspending standardized tests as schools close
ABC
Closing schools to combat the spread of the coronavirus has prompted several states to cancel the standardized testing that is dreaded by students and teachers alike.

Coronavirus Closes Schools for Half of All Kids In the U.S., Now What?
U.S. News
School is closed for more than half of all children in the U.S. in response to the rapid spread of coronavirus – an unprecedented moment in the nation's history that's likely to have major and long-lasting implications for the country's K-12 education system.

If you are concerned about your students being able to access quality instruction and resources for an extended period of time, please stay tuned as we announce upcoming webinars in the coming weeks to learn more about how Edmentum can help support you and your students.

We have also developed a number of free K-12 e-learning resources that are available to you, designed to help as you plan, and in the unfortunate event that your school or district closes. These resources include math, language arts, science, reading and literacy activities from a variety of our online programs, access to program specific resources, school closure best practices, webinar updates, and more.