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Accommodating Students with Long-Haul COVID

(from NBC News) As long-term COVID-19 continues to linger in thousands, young people suffering from its residual effects will undoubtedly return to schools and colleges needing more support and accommodation, but with di

IRS Clarifies Qualified Sick Leave Wages Reporting

(from Journal of Accountancy) On September 7, the IRS detailed how employers must report qualified sick leave wages and qualified family leave wages for leave provided to employees in 2021. Under Notice 2021-53, employer

Delta Variant Poses New Employer Challenges

(from Lockton Companies) The rise of the Delta variant has posed new challenges to employers, which may include more complex, high-cost claimants; potential for business disruption and increased absenteeism due to "long

I-9 Remote Review Extended

(from Society of Human Resources Management) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended its temporary policy allowing employers to inspect Form I-9 documents virtually through Dec. 31. The policy was fir

Schools Brace for Bus Driver Shortage

(From NPR) In a new nationwide survey, half of student-transportation coordinators described their school bus driver shortages as either "severe" or "desperate." The survey found that every region of the country is curre

Only Half of Parents Plan to Vaccinate Their Children, New Poll Finds

(From Forbes) A growing number of K-12 parents have or intend to vaccinate their children against Covid-19 as a new school year gets underway amid the delta variant surge, a new Gallup poll finds — but approximately 46%

4 Tips for Marketing To Gen Z Audiences

(From Inside Higher Ed) With a spending power of up to $143 billion, Gen Z accounted for an estimated 40% of global customers in 2020. When it comes to communicating with Gen Z audiences, rather than focusing on leadersh

Education Department Opens Civil Rights Probe Over Bans on School Mask Mandates

(From The Washington Post) The Education Department opened civil rights investigations Monday into five states for policies banning school districts from requiring masks, explaining that their policies prevent districts

School Mask Rules Spark Parent-Teacher Violence

(From NPR) While the majority of Americans support the mandates, back-to-school confrontations across the U.S. have have disrupted and derailed education board meetings nationwide this summer as local officials have soug
  • Regulatory Updates

Regulatory Update: IRS Provides New Deadline, Guidance on COBRA Subsidies

(From Venable LLP) At the beginning of the year, the federal government, under the American Rescue Plan Act, created a subsidy for COBRA premiums. This subsidy will come to an end on September 30, 2021. Employers are req

Breakthrough Cases Disrupt School Openings

(from NPR) Nationwide between August 5 and 12, about 121,000 children tested positive for COVID-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association. That's a 23% increase over the

School Leaders Wrestle with Culture Wars

(from the New York Times) As schools reopen across the country this month and next, they are at the center of debates that are more than divisive, that threaten to tear their communities apart. Issues that range from pan
  • Regulatory Updates

FDA Fully Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

(from the Hill, Washington Post and NBOA) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday granted the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine full approval for those 16 years and older in a highly anticipated move that’s expec

Strict Vaccination Requirements for School Employees

(from NPR, CNN and the 74 Million) All K-12 teachers and staff in Washington state, including public, private and charter school employees, could be fired if they aren't fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18. Wash

OSHA Updates Workplace Guidance

(from Venable) As the Delta variant upends employers' return-to-office plans, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued updated guidance concerning the mitigation and prevention of COVID-19 in t

Treasury Widens Paid-Leave Tax Credit To Promote Vaccinations

(from Society of Human Resources Management) Employers with fewer than 500 employees can now claim tax credits based on the wages of employees who take time off to help family or household members, or others who look to
  • Regulatory Updates

IRS Issues ERC Guidance

(from PKF O’Connor Davies and NBOA) Earlier this month, the IRS issued guidance on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). Here are the highlights of this guidance for independent schools:

Fake Vaccination Cards Sought and Seized

(from the Associated Press and the Washington Post) A growing number of colleges and universities are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students to attend in-person classes. But the new mandate has opened the d

Decreased Bullying, Cyberbullying in Pandemic Learning

(From K-12 Dive) Prior to the pandemic, the rate of cyberbullying was on a steady incline, with the number of reported incidents rising from 11.5% to 15.3% between 2015 and 2017, according to U.S. Department of Education

Nonprofit Boards Improved Effectiveness, Engagement During COVID, Research Shows

(From Associations Now) Over the past 18 months, school boards have found new and creative ways to connect and conduct their business in a virtual setting. Two studies released last month suggest those efforts have paid