September 29, 2017
Delaware News
Delaware 105.9
2 Sussex County schools receive National Blue Ribbon status
Two Sussex County schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017. East Millsboro Elementary School in the Indian River School District and Seaford Central Elementary School in the Seaford School District are among 342 schools that will be honored at an awards ceremony this November in Washington D.C.
Woodbridge School District receives nearly 100k in funding from state grant
Woodbridge School District, along with nine other districts and charter schools across the state, will receive Opportunity Grant funding to support programs that help disadvantaged students and English language learners succeed in classrooms. The grants will help districts and charter schools improve supports for low-income students, students chronically exposed to stress and trauma, and English language learners.
Newsworks
3 Delaware elementary schools National Blue Ribbon winners
Three Delaware elementary schools — two in Sussex County and one in New Castle County — are among the 342 across America named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017. National Blue Ribbon status is bestowed on schools based on its overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups such as low-income students and those of means.
Newark Post
Christina schools cut golf and some other sports programs
All three high schools in the Christina School District have eliminated sports and coaching positions due to budget concerns. District spokesman Wendy Lapham confirmed that all three high schools — Christiana, Glasgow, and Newark — have “discontinued for the year” the sport of golf. In addition, Christiana and Glasgow will not offer the pole-vaulting event within its track-and-field programs this spring.
WBOC
New law gives Del. schools more discretion on weapons discipline
Local schools boards in Delaware are being given more discretion in how to handle incidents involving students bringing weapons other than guns to school. A bill being signed Friday by Gov. John Carney moves away from a “zero-tolerance” approach and gives district school boards and charter school boards more discretion on a case-by-case basis in deciding whether to suspend a student for possession of a deadly weapon other than a firearm.
National News
Education Post
4 ways we can fund personalized learning to create more equitable schools
Budget shortfalls in states are framing a new angle on educational equity conversations. It is no longer simply about what is right, but what is fiscally necessary for a state to grow and thrive. Studies from Erik Hanushek and the National Bureau of Economic Research show, state economies live and die by the extent to which they drive educational success for all their learners.
SDPB Radio
Developing a skilled workforce
After 40 years of work in the food service industry around Huron, Todd Peterson is changing what’s on his menu. “One day I woke up and said, ‘you know what, I just don’t want to do this food service thing anymore.’” In a year, he’ll graduate from Mitchell Technical Institute as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The Build Dakota Scholarship program is paying for Peterson’s education. It pays for his school costs if he agrees to work in the state in his field for three years.
The 74 Million
Montessori was the original personalized learning. Now, 100 years later, wildflower is reinventing the model
For a classroom of a dozen 3- through 6-year-olds, things are surprisingly quiet inside Wildflower Montessori. The most audible sounds, though still hushed, come from two small boys sitting on the hardwood floor next to a tray of wooden cursive letters. The boys are creating their literacy lesson plan for the day: learning to spell “crazyman.” Inspiration comes suddenly and passionately, as the best ideas do. “Can we make ‘crazyman’?” the older boy asks. “I know what C looks like,” the younger one says, sounding out the harsh consonant and picking a C from the box.
The Des Moines Register
Iowa will ask students to critique teachers, classmates to measure school success
Students’ opinions about their teachers, classmates, and schools may be included in measures that hold Iowa schools accountable. The effort to include student voices comes as teachers and parents clamor for ways to measure schools beyond math and reading tests. The state recently submitted its Every Student Succeeds Act plan for federal approval. It replaces the state’s plan under the No Child Left Behind law.
The Hechinger Report
Massachusetts districts now trade notes on best paths to personalized learning
Blended learning was the gateway to personalized learning in the Natick Public Schools, about 20 miles west of Boston. The district made sure each child had a laptop to use in class almost a decade ago, according to the current director of digital learning, Grace Magley. For the last three years or so, however, the focus has shifted.