Form open to charges of schools disobeying state orders

A Pennsylvania teachers union this week unveiled an online form where staff, students and community members can report schools that are out of compliance with state health orders.

The American Federation of Teachers of Pennsylvania, which represents 36,000 members at 61 locals, including the Pittsburgh Public Schools, said the tool was intended to ensure that schools are instituting the necessary health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When school districts or administrations don’t follow the rules put in place to keep educators, staff, students, parents and communities safe, they need to be held accountable,” Arthur G. Steinberg, president of AFT Pennsylvania, said in a statement. “This reporting form is a critical first step in ensuring those who have witnessed noncompliance with Department of Health orders have their concerns heard.”

The state Department of Health last month implemented more stringent requirements for schools operating in-person instruction in counties with a “substantial” level of COVID-19 cases, meaning they have an incidence rate of more than 100 in 100,000 residents or a positivity rate greater than 10%.

The requirements directed schools in those areas — which now include all 67 Pennsylvania counties — to follow the state Department of Education’s updated recommendations for tracking COVID-19 cases and implementing universal face covering policies.

AFT Pennsylvania said that since those requirements were released, educators, parents, community members and others have seen potential noncompliance with the orders. The tool will allow witnesses to report complaints of noncompliance at schools by county, district and school building.

A spokesman for AFT Pennsylvania said the form is open to anyone at all schools across the state — not just those represented by the union. The form can be found on the AFT Pennsylvania website.

“While Pennsylvania’s largest school districts have responsibly moved to a fully remote instruction model, it is imperative that districts continuing in-person learning do so in a way that is safe and complies with CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines,” Mr. Steinberg said.