Check out the recordings of our previous webinars!
Employment and Labor Considerations During and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
Presented by: Carolyn Flynn, Esq., Associate Attorney, McKenna Snyder LLC
Charter schools have been forced to face a myriad of employment and labor issues due to the spread of COVID-19. This session will review several employment considerations raised during the pandemic including, but not limited to, paid time off and paid sick leave policies, work from home (WFH), unemployment compensation, workers™ compensation, union collective bargaining matters, and the implications of local and federal interim COVID-19 response legislation. We will also discuss the implications for employers of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards related to pandemic and provide employment-related guidance as the schools reopen and the interim COVID-19 legislation expires.
Numerous areas of employment law have been implicated by COVID-19 pandemic-related school and business closures, and impacted or modified by the interim COVID-19 response legislation, including:
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), paid sick leave and expanded FMLA provisions;
- Working from home impacts work hour expectations and reporting; productivity and more;
- Unemployment compensation;
- Workers compensation;
- Union collective bargaining matters and memorandums of understanding due to school closures;
- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); and Pennsylvania’s Act 13 of 2020.
The session will be designed to address the above areas and other employment issues that charter schools, as employers, are facing in this ever-changing pandemic. We will also review the expiration dates of the interim legislation (FFRCA, CARES Act, and Act 13 of 2020 and impacts on the school’s employment law policies.
Click here to review a recording of Employment and Labor Considerations During and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic
Title IX in the K-12 Environment–A New Focus
Presentation Part 1
Presentation Part 2
Presented by: Alan Shuckrow, Esq., Shareholder, Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky; Kathy Clark, Esq., Shareholder, Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky; Pam Connelly, Esq., Shareholder, Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky; James Munnelly, Esq., Attorney, McKenna Snyder LLC
The new Title IX Regulations: A Compliance Overview:
United States Secretary of Education Betsy Devos’ new Title IX regulations, published May 6, 2020 and effective August 14, 2020, will substantially change the requirements for the handling of sexual misconduct claims in all institutions that provide educational programs or activities and accept federal funds. Institutional policies, processes, and practices surrounding sexual misconduct will all be impacted. As a result, litigation may increase, and litigation strategies will evolve.
In this session, leaders from K-12 public charter schools will learn from education attorneys with expertise in sexual misconduct response about the key regulatory changes, creating a compliant Title IX program, balancing the important legal obligations and rights, and other practical tips.
Click here to view a recording of Title IX in the K-12 Environment–A New Focus
Ensuring Schools are Career Ready to Meet PA’s Future Ready Index
Presented by: Shira Woolf Cohen, Educational Consultant (former Charter School Principal)
Pennsylvania has included College and Career Measures as part of the Future Ready Index – the annual evaluation tool for all public schools! Schools are figuring out ways to creatively ensure their students are career ready! In this session, school leaders and academic coordinators will explore innovative ways to incorporate career education activities school-wide and in classrooms K-12. Leave this session with ideas, resources, and planning tools to ensure your teachers are prepared to address meets PA’s career standards benchmark and industry based learning standards!
This session will provide participants with a clear overview of the College and Career Measures of the Future Ready Index. Participants will explore the benchmarks aligned to career standards and industry based learning standards, by identifying how the benchmarks apply to their specific school. Through an approach that describes school-wide and classroom activities from throughout Philadelphia, participants will become familiar with the PA Career Education and Work Standards and create draft plans for their school that meet the standards. There will be a variety of planning tools available for participants to use in their own schools, and a sharing of possible systems that could be used to track student progress towards meeting the benchmarks. Curriculum resources, partner organizations, and organizational tools will be shared as take-aways.
Click here to view a recording of Ensuring Schools are Career Ready to Meet PA’s Future Ready Index
Student Engagement Strategies in an Online Educational Environment
Presented by: Diana Perney, Director of Onboarding and Professional Development, PAVCS, Jennifer Burke, High School Science Teacher, PAVCS, Cindy Willits, Middle School Teacher, PAVCS, Katie Barnett, Elementary School Teacher, PAVCS, Jamie Burrell, Family Support Coordinator, PAVCS
Join with PA Virtual Charter School’s teachers and staff to discover tips and tricks for making the most of your online learning opportunities. PA Virtual has been a leader in cyber education for the past 20 years. With a full complement of educational supports and services for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, PA Virtual strives to provide an individualized educational model for every student. Discover the importance of creating and instilling school culture, developing parent and community partnerships, and insisting on transparent communication across all platforms.
Remote Teaching Through an Equity Lens
Presented by: Tamiko Armbrister, M.Ed, Lauren Vargas, M.Ed, and Sara Jones, M.Ed, EdConnective
Using the Courageous Conversations framework (Singleton, 2014), this session will provide the language necessary to engage in conversations around race and equity in our schools. Grounded in a shared understanding of equity and the importance of doing this work within our current local and national contexts, facilitators will model reframing our thinking about remote teaching. Participants will then apply this thinking to curate actionable steps to uphold access and equity for all students. This one-hour session will lay the groundwork for participants to continue this necessary work as they plan for the upcoming school year and beyond.
NOTE: It would be helpful if participants read Paul Gorski’s “Avoiding Racial Equity Detours” (2019) and complete the Pre-Work Survey at least one week prior to August 5th, if possible. The article and survey will be sent 2 weeks before the training or can be accessed at the above links.
Click here to view a recording of Remote Teaching Through an Equity Lens
Navigating the Next Normal: Safeguarding Schools as Students Return to Class
Presented by: John Suggs, The Student Health Impact Project
John Suggs of DOCS Health and the Student Health Impact Project will speak on best practices, protocols, and policies to implement as students and faculty return to the classroom; along with putting the proper point-of-entry system in place to mitigate risks and spread of infection. The Student Health Impact Project provides school-based health, dental, and vision care for over 300,000 children throughout 10 school districts and charter school networks.
Presented by: Senior Account Executive, Nate Kline, Infradapt
Cyber Security Awareness Training: A Guide For Charter CEO’s, Administrators, & Teachers
Senior Account Executive, Nate Kline, takes a deep dive into the impact that remote learning has on the cyber security posture of the charter school community.
The first half of the presentation will cover the cyber security crisis facing Charter education. This will include a high level overview of current events, the security landscape, cyber threat actors, and more.
We will also include a comprehensive dialogue on the Dark Web and what it means to your school. Details will be provided to obtain your charter’s complimentary Dark Web Analysis.
The second half of the presentation will introduce a key concept referred to as “defense in depth”. This will include actionable items of a layered approach to cyber security that Charters should follow in an effort to keep their environment safe.
While this presentation could be a great tool for cyber security awareness training, it will also outline actionable items for CEO’s, Business Managers, and Tech leaders to shore up their defenses in light of the recent spike in cyber-crime that has targeted the educational sector.
It Starts at the Top: Successful Schools Come from Effective Leadership
Presented by: Mrs. Bonnie M. Schaefer, Chair, Board of Trustees, and Dr. John Chandler, Chief Executive Officer, Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School
Mrs. Bonnie M. Schaefer, Chair, Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, and Dr. John Chandler, Chief Executive Officer, share what they have done to lead their teams to achieve superior results. This highly effective and engaging duo will give practical guidance to board members and CEO’s alike about what they do to build confidence and trust both at the highest leadership level and throughout their organization. You will hear numerous “tips and tricks” on how to foster a quality and productive working partnership between the board and CEO. They will explain how to engage board members yet have them “stay within their lane” to provide meaningful guidance and support to the CEO so that he/she can develop a truly outstanding organization.
Creating A Trauma Informed School: How trauma informed educators elevate all learners.
Presented by: Mike Scheirer, Jen Barrios and Gina Sczepkowski; Agora Cyber Charter School
| Agora Cyber Charter School is currently the only trauma informed cyber school in the nation.
Key components of a trauma informed school will be presented; showcasing research- based practices that empower charter schools to close the trauma gap for students. The presentation will focus on five key characteristics of being a trauma informed school AND offer instructional best practices for replication. The session will highlight how trauma informed charter schools can ensure all school stakeholders will collaborate to establish a safe, authentic, resilient, restorative, and healthy learning environment where all learners can thrive and reach their fullest potential. |
THIS IS AN ONLINE EVENT! Zoom details will be provided in the registration confirmation.
Federal Programs Updates for 2020-21
Presented by: Abby Dubinchik; Charter Choices
Join Charter Choices and PCPCS to discuss upcoming Federal Programs grant requirements, spring Consolidated Monitoring, and ESSER I and II funds. Please bring your questions!
Click here to view a recording of Federal Programs Updates for 2020-21
How Schools Can Realize Savings They Didn’t Know They Had
Presented by: Prelude Solutions
A panel discussion discussing how schools can spend little of their dedicated time and realize savings in their telecom spend they didn’t know they had. The discussion will also feature how to properly evaluate current technologies vs. available options without uprooting the day-to-day operations at the school. Discussion to feature CEO of Prelude Solutions Cate Heaman, Senior Director of Business Development Brett Kahn and Director of Services Chris Achee.
Click here to to view a recording of How Schools Can Realize Savings They Didn’t Know They Had
2021-22: Budgeting During Uncertain Times
Presented by: Kevin Corcoran and Joe Martin; Charter Choices
Federal funds are up, District funding will likely decrease. Meanwhile the Governor proposes to dramatically cut charter school funding……..all in the midst of a pandemic! How to make sense of it all as your charter school plans for the coming year and beyond? PCPCS and Charter Choices will lead a discussion on relevant factors to help school leaders and boards navigate during these uncertain times.
Click here to view a recording of 2021-22: Budgeting in Uncertain Times.
PCPCS is happy to provide video tutorials on some of the most popular learning platforms led by our member schools!
Google Platform Users: Did you miss the webinar hosted by PA Distance Learning Charter School on Google Apps for Education? No problem. You can find the recording HERE. Thank you to PA Distance for offering this wonderful opportunity!
You asked for it! Nearpod is an instructional platform that merges formative assessment and dynamic media for collaborative learning experiences. Join PA Distance Learning as they share a tutorial on this popular engagement platform! View the recording here!
