October 22, 2012
Local News
DFM News
Race to the Top funded early childhood education reform coming into focus
Education reform fueled by Race to the Top funding is well underway in Delaware K-12 classrooms, but now early childhood learning is also getting a fresh look, taking a “whole child” approach. Delaware has been in the front of the line in every phase of the Race to the Top federal grant program, including last December when it was awarded $49.9 million in the Early Learning Challenge phase. The grant came after Gov. Jack Markell set aside $20 million of the state’s budget for early learning programs.
The Smyrna-Clayton Sun Times
Nemours gets two federal grants for healthier communities
Nemours, a children’s health organization, will receive two federal grants totaling nearly $6 million to help build healthier communities. Nemours received a five-year cooperative agreement from the Centers of Disease Control to support healthy lifestyles for young children in child care under the Taking Steps to Healthy Success: Early Care and Education Learning Collaboration program. During the first year of funding, they will receive $4.2 million to help early care and education providers adopt nutrition, breastfeeding support and more.
The News Journal
Delaware schools awarded for healthy initiatives
Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which was founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, recently awarded six Delaware schools: McKean High, Bayard Middle, Gauger-Cobbs, Morris Early Childhood Center, and Richardson Park.
WDEL
Kirk Middle School turns on the lights
Kirk Middle School celebrated the 13th annual Lights On Afterschool program Thursday evening with students, parents, and community members. The Lights On Afterschool Program is organized by the Afterschool Alliance. This rally was just one of the more than 7,500 events taking place nationwide. The program is not only free, but it keeps children safe, healthy, educated. Lights On Afterschool also relieves the stress of parents and guardians when their children’s school day is over.
National News
Huffington Post
College courses in high school yield students more likely to attend, graduate from college
A Jobs for the Future report urges policymakers to expand dual-enrollment programs given their success in boosting college completion. The report’s findings show that Texas high school students who completed a college course before graduation were nearly 50% more likely to earn a college degree from a state two- or four-year college within six years than students who had not participated in dual enrollment.
Education Week
IES to seed new methods for studying schools
The Institute of Education Sciences is crafting a new research program, called “continuous improvement research in education,” to go beyond “what works” and add more context to education findings. The IES would offer grants to researchers to focus on supportive school climates, high school transitions, or access to postsecondary education.
Greenville Daily Reflector
Gov. Perdue moves $20M to expand NC pre-K to 6,300 more
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced she is shifting $20 million in projected spare funds to accommodate up to another 6,300 4-year-olds in the state’s pre-kindergarten academic enrichment program. The legislature this summer reversed controversial changes that cut program funding by 20% and limited the number of slots for at-risk 4-year-olds.
Baton Rouge Advocate
BESE OKs new rules for aid
Louisiana’s school board approved new rules for voucher and other private and parochial schools to qualify for state tax dollars. The new reviews would allow nonpublic schools accredited annually by two national organizations to qualify for a five-year approval from the board. Schools accredited by other third-party groups could qualify for one year of good standing.
Related Topics: Education Philanthropy, Expanded Learning Time, Governor Markell, Grants