Educators have navigated uncertainty and unprecedented challenges since March 2020, even as most other sectors of the economy shut down completely. Earlier this month, President Biden directed all states to prioritize teachers, school staff, and childcare workers for COVID-19 vaccination, to vaccinate with their first shots by the end of March, marking this month School and Childcare Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Month. Currently, the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program is prioritizing the vaccination of all teachers, school staff, and childcare workers, and new CDC resources are available to provide vaccination information here. Yet as the COVID-19 vaccine does gradually become more widely available, polling data continues to show that a significant percentage of Americans prefer not to receive a shot, research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 28% of U.S. workers are willing to lose their job rather than get vaccinated. The risk of future in-person learning disruption or shutdowns due to increased COVID-19 infection in classrooms is of great concern moving forward, as various districts staff and students have faced multiple rounds of quarantine because of illness or exposure. However, in-person school attendance “is not a primary driver of community transmission” according to the CDC, which states that, “the science has demonstrated that schools can reopen safely prior to all teachers being vaccinated.” So, how do educators navigate this latest challenge on the road to recovery, while ensuring school staff, students, and families feel safe and secure? Read on for the latest guidance.

Can an employer make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for workers?

ANSWER: In December, the federal agency focused on workplace discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said because the vaccination itself is not a medical examination, employers could make COVID-19 shots mandatory for their workers. Keep in mind that if employees have medical or religious reasons that prevent them from taking a coronavirus vaccine, employers could be legally required to give the workers some reasonable alternative to continue to work. Also, for employers with a unionized workforce, the employer must consider bargaining requirements before implementing a mandatory vaccine policy.

Can an employer ask an employee if he or she has already received the vaccine or require proof of vaccination?

ANSWER: Generally, yes. However, that inquiry can only be made, according to the EEOC, if the question is “job-related and consistent with business necessity” as provided under the ADA. To meet this job-relatedness standard, the employer will need to establish that the worker’s failure to be vaccinated would pose a “direct threat” to the well-being of that employee or others with whom the employee would have contact as part of his or her job duties. No states are publicly reporting the percentage of teachers and school staff that have been vaccinated, according to a Johns Hopkins University analysis.

Can an employer fire an employee who refuses to be vaccinated?

ANSWER: Possibly, in limited circumstances. The EEOC guidance reminds employers that it will need to make reasonable accommodations to employees seeking an exemption due to disability-related reasons or religious objections and will need to follow the established reasonable accommodation process under either the ADA or Title VII before taking any adverse employment actions. The EEOC cautions employers that if it can establish that an employee who is not vaccinated poses a direct threat (that cannot be accommodated without undue hardship), the employer can exclude the employee from the worksite, but the employer cannot terminate the employee without further consideration of the employee’s legal protections or other possible accommodation, including whether the employee can perform his or her job remotely.

It is important to remember that the EEOC guidance is only that—guidance—and not a law. Consequently, some employees may legally challenge mandatory vaccination programs therefore, many employers may opt to strongly encourage vaccination without requiring it. A recent survey found that while most employers have no plan to create a mandatory vaccination process, many do plan to encourage employees to get the vaccine. Nearly 90% said they would provide information to employees (e.g., how to get vaccinated, the benefits of doing so) and nearly 40% said they would offer vaccine administration at their facility to increase convenience – even though this may be easier said than done. A third said they would offer paid time off for employees to receive the vaccine and/or recover from any side effects. According to New York State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker, 17% of the population is currently completely vaccinated.

We hope this summary provides some helpful information for your school to consider as you navigate this complex issue. Pursuing a mandatory vaccination program ultimately requires management, together with its legal and HR teams, to engage in significant planning and develop a program detailing how the process will work from beginning to end. If your team would like to talk to our firm, please contact us today. Additionally, if you have HR questions, please reach out to our wholly-owned subsidiary Visions HR, and connect with Janet Giannetta.

Sources: PBS, AARP, NY.Gov, SHRM, JHU

In a virtual world full of digital events and Zoom lectures, college students are dreaming of the return of normalcy. Simple activities we took for granted, like strolling the campus grounds on a sunny day, hurrying to class with friends, or entering a crowded dorm at the end of a long night to catch a few hours of sleep, seem a distant memory. Soon enough, in-person classes will resume, and students will once again fill bustling campuses. But for a long time, many community college students didn’t have an option to enjoy campus living, with many working entirely from home long before the rest of us learned to adjust to remote scheduling. So, as we have all been forced to step away from campus living, what can we learn from the community colleges that have shifted to a dorm experience structure in recent years? And as we long to connect in person, could restructuring other community colleges mean a boost to enrollment and a shift in public perception?

Benefits of Campus Living

Every college is unique, and if your school is more focused on adult and graduate students, investing in a campus living plan may not make sense. But many community colleges are integrating some of the campus living benefits that four-year colleges take advantage of:

• Better proximity to college resources like the library and recreation center
• Exposure to international lifestyles that comes from living near fellow students
• The ability to fully immerse oneself in the college experience
• Apartments or dormitories are often fully furnished and affordable, students don’t have to deal with the hassle of paying separately for utilities and amenities, providing an economic housing option to cash-strapped students

According to a recent poll conducted by the American Association of Community Colleges, the number of community colleges that offer on-campus housing in the United States has risen dramatically in the past two decades, with about 25% of community colleges currently offering this option. In fact, 15 community colleges across New York feature on-campus housing, including Dutchess Community College as well as Sullivan County Community College right here in Hudson Valley. Some other successful New York on-campus community colleges include Tompkins Cortland, Herkimer, and Onondaga.

Two-year colleges serve diverse populations ranging from high school students in dual-enrollment courses to senior citizens, working adults, and traditional-age students, and experts say COVID-19 is accelerating the challenges community colleges faced before the pandemic and intensifying the competition. Fall enrollment at community colleges was down 10 percent from a year earlier, according to National Student Clearinghouse data from mid-December. While dorm life isn’t for everyone, it can provide additional resources and strong recruiting incentives to attract students with a range of needs. If you haven’t explored this consideration, it’s worth surveying your student population especially as incoming students consider their future educational options. Our dedicated team is here for you to answer financial planning questions you might have about your path ahead.

As we continue to combat the health crisis and navigate the unorthodox and at times disorganized COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, many parents are wondering what the future holds. For months, parents of school-aged children have been faced with extreme pressure. As we are sure you are acutely aware, some are coping with the emotional toll of having lost a loved one to COVID-19. Some are dealing with chronic symptoms after their own recovery, or are juggling telework schedules while supervising children who are receiving remote or hybrid curriculums. Others are navigating job loss or substantial income depletion, waiting for stimulus money to make ends meet.

A lot remains uncertain – including that magical date when parents can anticipate sending their kids back to a safe, normal in-person school setting. While our guess is as good as yours with fluctuating federal and state guidelines, no concrete plans for children to receive vaccinations, and new virus strains popping up, we’d like to help you assist parents as they navigate COVID-19 remote-learning fatigue. These times are not without moments of overwhelming emotion and frustration, but we believe together we can support our communities to remain strong, safe, and successful!

Keep Communication Open

If we’ve learned one thing about living in a pandemic, it’s that information is constantly changing and sometimes it’s hard to keep up. Take one extra weight off of a parent’s shoulders by removing the guesswork from the unique remote-learning model your school has established. Make sure that your school website is updated frequently to avoid confusion or misinformation. Consider establishing a weekly newsletter or text alert system to enable families to review changes that are coming so they have time to prepare and keep their kids in the loop. Ensure that teachers and other relevant school staff members are connecting with parents, especially if they have concerns about a particular student’s ability to keep up with assignments or activities. While this arrangement has stripped away much of the reliable consistency of a “normal” academic year, you can still set students and parents up for success by regularly communicating plans.

Provide Free Resources

We know that many school systems are dealing with stretched budgets and financial challenges as adjustments to adhere to safety policies and procedures have cut into funding. We also know that parents still rely on your educators to help them make sense of the remote learning model. Maybe a household has a range of kids, from pre-k to college-aged students, all trying to learn under the same roof. What can you do to go above and beyond, to set your students up for success? Reach out to staff and brainstorm a list of favorite apps, websites, or digital resources you can compile to address parent’s needs. For your convenience, check out this short list of free, quality classroom resources for each grade band and subject area. Each tool has scored well on independent nonprofit Common Sense Media’s research-based ratings rubric. More importantly, each tool is something we think would work well given the unique circumstances of the pandemic.

Bring Empathy

To create a loving, ethically sound community, we need empathy to exist at the core of all of our actions and behaviors. We are all experiencing heightened stress and emotions, and while parents are tuning in to assisting their children, they need to feel supported, too. All educational policymakers should continue to come from a place of empathy for parents and caregivers, students, and teachers. Remember, parents aren’t trained teachers, and even trained educators are juggling teaching their students and sometimes their own children. Lean in to support families in any way you are able to during this unprecedented time. Maybe for your community, that looks like organizing a virtual book club, hosting virtual meditation or yoga classes, or recruiting the help of a professional therapist to host group sessions for struggling parents. Additionally, direct parents to reliable resources that can help them cope. Check out the Child Mind Institute’s supportive resources here, to remind them they aren’t alone.

By helping you to help the parents and caregivers in your student’s lives, we hope we are easing some of the daily pressure your dedicated staff members are up against. We admire and appreciate the endless commitment of Hudson Valley’s educators, and hope we can assist your future professional needs. Please don’t hesitate to contact our team members today to discuss how RBT can help your team succeed.

As our homes have transformed into our offices, daycare centers, and classrooms, it can feel difficult to disconnect from the all-pervasive technology that creeps into every aspect of life. But while most of us are on our devices 24/7 to get work done quickly and efficiently, it’s easy to take for granted that thirty years after the debut of the World Wide Web, some families are still unplugged, putting some kids at a direct disadvantage when it’s time to log on for a Zoom lesson or turn in a research paper.

According to the most recent federal data, about 14% of households with school-age children do not have internet access.

Most of those are in households that make less than $50,000 a year, and many live in rural areas.

Among those who do have access, not all have a broadband connection. Specifically here in New York, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the need to address digital equity. So how are districts coping with the wide technology gap that exists in some households, with remote or hybrid school schedules? Below we’ll explore options you can take advantage of to help all of your students succeed, in 2021.

Two key factors play into measuring the divide between those who have sufficient internet availability and those who do not: access and affordability.

In comparison with the other fifty states, New York is the second most well-connected state in the US. Overall, counties throughout New York State are fairly evenly connected, with the exception of Hamilton County, which has significantly lower coverage than the rest. In New York, the current average state-wide download speed is 190.5 Mbps (bits per second), according to the independent broadband availability data collector, broadbandnow.

As for accessibility, there are currently 307,000 New York residents who do not have access to a wired internet option capable of 25 Mbps download speeds. Download speeds less than 25 Mbps are too slow to be considered broadband and with these speeds, users may experience connectivity issues like buffering when streaming video or difficulty connecting multiple devices. Additionally, 112,000 New Yorkers have no wired internet services available at home, causing enormous disruption for remote-learning environments.

Affordability data from Q4, 2019 reveals that 70% (13.7 million people) have access to a wired internet plan that costs $60 or less per month. In this regard, New York State is well ahead of the nationwide statistics, which show that only 51.5% of consumers have access to the same. But what about those who can’t afford the cost? As thousands of students are expected to keep up with the curriculum remotely or with hybrid schedules, how can you help to level the playing field? Below are a few statewide funding resources to consider:

• The Smart School Bond Act (SSBA) provides funding for district technology and community connectivity projects.
  • The Community Connectivity category involves partnerships between school districts and communities. It could, for example, be used to supply Wi-Fi access points or computing devices to public libraries or community centers.
• The Broadband for All program is awarding $500 million in grant funding to support projects that deliver high-speed Internet access to Unserved and Underserved areas of the State.
• The FCC’s Lifeline program provides low-income families with a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on a phone or broadband service.
• Additional resources include:
  • The Regional Information Center (RIC) in your area or
  • The Office of Educational Design and Technology

While not all broadband, high-speed internet connections are made equal, it’s clear there is a connection between academic success and internet access. We hope the resources above can be a jumping-off point for your administrators to ensure no child is left behind because of digital inequality. As always, our dedicated team is committed to keeping you informed and providing helpful resources to your educators as you shape the next generation of New Yorkers. Want to connect? Contact us today.

In many economic downturns, cost-conscious families turn to more financially feasible options. With the average cost of college enrollment now climbing over $41,000 a year, community college is an accessible alternative, especially as travel restrictions mean more young people staying closer to home. But new research released in December 2020 reveals startling statistics, and an alarming trend for community colleges, as higher education institutions around the country grapple with the ongoing challenges the pandemic presents. Across the country, postsecondary enrollments declined 2.5% in fall 2020, nearly twice the rate of enrollment decline reported in fall 2019. But even more striking is the decline in community college enrollment – a 21% enrollment decrease on average, falling at a rate almost 20 times higher than pre-pandemic decline. The statewide drop New York is experiencing means community colleges need to get creative to appeal to students.

Creative Recruiting

Traditionally, the college application process can be a major source of stress for students. But with fewer students opting to pursue higher education some schools like Clinton Community College (CCC), are going after students to boost engagement. The Albany Times Union reports that if CCC gets federal approval, it will launch a program that would allow inmates at nearby Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora to take classes remotely. This would offset the community college’s loss of about 45% of its student enrollment over the last decade. They’re not alone in needing to fill class spots. New York’s 64-campus State University system opened this semester with 5.7% fewer students than it had one year ago according to data released by SUNY administrators. Several campuses offering graduate programs have seen a significant drop of 20% in the number of international students they attract. The statewide drop has been paced by a decline of some 10% in enrollments at SUNY’s community colleges. Expanding outreach and offering remote access to nontraditional groups is one creative option to offset costs and create sustainable growth in the coming years.

Keep Connected

Without in-person events, campus tours, or high school counseling sessions, students can start to feel disconnected from their education path. The National College Attainable Network suggests the administration should continue contact with students from the class of 2021 regularly so kids know where to turn when they need support. That means keeping email addresses, phone numbers, and other communications avenues updated so that as opportunities to get back on a postsecondary pathway arise, students can stay in the know. Additionally, the NCAN recommends adding more postsecondary on-ramps for the class of 2021. That might look like increasing support for national service programs like AmeriCorps and strengthening the college and career readiness programming they provide. Did you know that parents are the top influencer when it comes to students’ enrollment decisions? Students who provide parent contact information permitting schools to contact parents directly are 53% more likely to submit a college application according to EAB data.

Unfortunately, even in a pre-pandemic world, community colleges were facing challenges. A survey of college and university admissions directors completed by Inside Higher Ed revealed that 84% of community colleges have seen enrollment declines over the past two years. The implications of this new “lost class” are expected to be felt on a wide basis as young adults enter the workforce out of high school. While some are opting to take a gap year and resume education when in-person learning resumes, research shows students who delay enrollment are 64% less likely than their “on-time” peers to complete a bachelor’s degree and 18% less likely to complete any college credential. As we begin to feel the impact of the rollout and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, a return to normalcy is on the horizon. Student outreach is the most important part of the next few months to increase awareness and encourage enrollment.