July 15, 2014
Local News
Cape Gazette
Cape brings books to neighborhoods
Packed with books of all shapes and sizes, Cape Henlopen School District’s new bookmobile has hit the road. “We have tons of books. Easily 5,000 books between what was donated and what we bought,” said Donna Kolakowski, supervisor of elementary education. “I can’t wait to see who comes out.
The News Journal
NCCo’s Tom Gordon: What does Delaware have?
An editorial
New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon told a room full of businessmen and women at a New Castle County Chamber of Commerce session that the state faces serious economic problems, that government is too costly, and that Delaware has too many school districts. And, he said, it’s only going to get tougher. He also wants to cut back on charter schools. He sees charters sapping money away from more traditional public schools.
DOE puts all the blame on teachers
A letter to the editor by Sheila Weinberg, Wilmington
Mr. Murphy and Mr. Watson raise unrealistic goals; not all students will or can graduate ready for college. Students’ academic success must not only come from teachers, but also the parents and the students themselves.
National News
Washington Post
Md. student test score drop significantly as state shifts to Common Core
Reading and math scores on state tests for Maryland elementary and middle school students have dropped to their lowest levels in seven years, according to a Washington Post analysis of 2014 test data released Friday. Some Maryland officials expected the drop because schools are transitioning to new national academic standards that do not align with the tests.
ABC News
Districts debate merits of master’s for teachers
Efforts to eliminate extra pay for teachers who earn advanced degrees are gaining momentum in a small but growing number of U.S. schools, stirring a national debate about how best to compensate quality educators and angering teachers who say the extra training is valuable.
Education Week
Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst powers down five state affiliates, including Fla.
StudentsFirst, the advocacy group founded by former District of Columbia schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, has expanded at a steady pace into many states over the last few years, but the group has confirmed over the last week that it’s ending the work of paid staff in five states: Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Maine, and Minnesota.
Rocky road foreseen for Newark schools overhaul
Newark schools Superintendent Cami Anderson has a new, three-year contract in hand, but the road from now to 2017 could be extremely bumpy, with obstacles that include a seething teachers’ union, disgruntled parents, and a new mayor whose political campaign practically centered on opposition to her agenda and calls for her removal.
Education Department launches $3 million evaluation of Khan Academy
The U.S. Department of Education has launched a $3 million randomized-control trial to gauge the effectiveness of Khan Academy, the now-ubiquitous online-learning site that popularized the “flipped classroom” model. WestEd’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics division was awarded the grant to study the use of Khan Academy’s online tutoring library in community college math classes.
San Francisco Chronicle
Education leaders propose new testing strategy
Education leaders tried Thursday to broker a compromise with Gov. Bobby Jindal on the standardized tests used in Louisiana’s public schools next year, but they hit resistance in the continuing dispute over the Common Core education standards.