Theory….
If you signed any type of consent for testing, covid rules, etc. with the school district, You are possibly signing to allow the NIH to do research for masking and the relationship to the mental health of children and social and emotional learning.
The NIH posted an article titled “How Does Wearing A Mask Affect Children?” In the article it goes on to explain why there is a need for research. The article states, “While masks can protect children from COVID-19 infection, it is unclear how mask-wearing behavior and mask mandates influence children’s cognitive and social development.” This unknown is what justified the research project and funding is provided through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/how-does-wearing-masks-affect-children
The NIH has asked for flexibility with the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which oversees any human research projects in schools. This is the way the NIH can do a massive research project across the nation and have the data all centralized. There is a list you can check out on what institutions use SMART IRB’s. https://smartirb.org/participating-institutions/?asc=true&sortBy=state. In 2018, pre-Covid, the NIH and IRB worked together to create SMART IRB SMART IRB | National IRB Reliance Initiative. This collaboration was formed because applying for a large study at each locations would be time consuming and overwhelming for researchers. Normally, each individual location would need IRB approval. SMART IRB made it possible to cover multiple sites as a blanket “approval.” Here is the SMART IRB Agreement with NIH revisions. https://smartirb.org/assets/files/FAQs_for_FINAL_SMART_IRB_Agreement_V2.pdf
Here is a video for a basic overview of SMART IRB
. Here is another video on how the collection of consent works.
For example University of Pittsburgh was a grant awardee to do covid studies https://ctsi.pitt.edu/.../covid-19-pilot-grant-program.
Pitt can possibly use the Covid Dashboard that schools participate in to collect data on the students. You will have to RTK/FOIA research studies and dig for grants they may have gotten for Covid 19 research. Here is one grant awardee’s study. https://ctsi.pitt.edu/media/2473/dsf-pilot-awardees.pdf
Since parents “signed off” on consent in some fashion and it was mandated by the state to report numbers, Pitt would then be able to collect all kinds of information which would then be reviewed by the NIH through the SMART IRB. The School Superintendents Association (AASA) also supported and influenced Superintendents to work with local universities in collecting data on the students for “Covid” purposes. Here is the link the AASA put out to guide Superintendents on Covid 19 in schools. COVID-19 Resources: Emergency Management, School Safety and Crisis Planning https://connect.aasa.org/communities/community-home...
Screenshot from Shippensburg Area School District Board Docs dated October 26, 2020 https://app.agendamanager.com/sasd/meetings/41324/agendas/44003/agendaitems/4573.
Please DO NOT SIGN any type of consent or agreement to covid 19 mandates, rules, and or testing, collection of data. This is why and how superintendents and solicitors were so confident that they would not be held legally liable. If a parent signs a consent form, even if it’s generalized, then the district is in the clear. If you are not sure about the papers you are signing, ASK for further explanation. You can also send in an opt out form. Examples from two different schools of what you might see below in a student handbook, policy etc. Remember you can always rescind consent and make sure to keep copies of everything you sign. If you signed you will be complying to Covid rules, mandates, or guidelines and you are beholden to that agreement. IF there is another mandate for masking, or a new one for testing, even vaccines you just agreed to follow the Covid “rules.” Sometimes it’s more of what they leave out, then put in. Anything opened ended, like “we can change the health and safety plan at any time,” should be concerning. READ EVERYTHING!
Chart I made early on…
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Good article. Parents need to stop overlooking everything. Seems it's too much work for some.