October 31, 2016

Delaware News

Coastal Point
IRSD: Taxes haven’t kept up with district growth, projects
The Indian River School District has more students and local property taxes than ever before. So why are schools understaffed and why is the district hosting a current-expense referendum, to raise property taxes 49 cents per $100 in assessed value, on Nov. 22 just “to survive”? Short answer: The money isn’t coming as fast as the students are. In some cases, the money has decreased.

Delaware 105.9
Trial begins in disputed Red Clay school tax referendum
A judge is set to being hearing testimony in a lawsuit over a disputed New Castle County school district tax referendum. The trial beginning today (Monday) involves a 2015 referendum approved by residents of the Red Clay Consolidated School District.

Delaware Public Media
Delaware students lagging in science proficiency
Delaware students are scoring lower than the national average on a countrywide science assessment test. The National Center for Education Statistics released the test scores last week. “Delaware does have some challenges here because we’re not seeing much movement here, except for down in grade 4,” said National Center for Education Statistics acting commissioner Peggy Carr.

Office of the Governor
Governor’s weekly message: Honoring teachers for their role in shaping our children’s future
In his weekly message, Governor Markell recognizes Delaware’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Mount Pleasant Elementary Wendy Turner, and pays tribute to the many excellent educators across our state who are helping our children learn and prepare for success.

Rodel Blog
Thinking ahead: Useful resources for post-high school plans
Blog post by Rachel Pleet, policy fellow at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
It’s that time of year again–high school students all across Delaware are kicking off the fall season with exciting explorations of future and postsecondary plans. Finding the right job or college can be stressful, but there are numerous state and federal resources available for both students and parents that can ease the process.

Instructional tech to motivate and engage students
Blog post by Matt Amis, senior communications officer at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
At this year’s Colonial Technology Conference, where the focus was on blended learning, Rodel Teacher Council member Joe Evans brought his signature brand of motivational, tech-fueled energy. Evans, a math instructor and digital learning teacher at Delcastle Technical High School, presented Using Instructional Technology to Motivate and Engage Student Learners during the daylong conference.

The News Journal
Delaware school choice runs Nov. 7-Jan. 11
The first Monday in November and the second Wednesday in January are increasingly important dates for families across the state. They’re the opening and closing days of the window to apply to choice into a public, charter or vocational-technical school other than the one assigned by the district.

School mold protocols sought, but are they necessary?
There are no state reporting requirements for air quality in Delaware schools, and few protocols regarding mold remediation. The state Division of Public Health can close a building with a problem that threatens public health, but it’s up to the schools to discover and disclose mold issues.

National News

ABC
As Pre-K programs grow, demand in Alabama remains high
More boys and girls in Alabama are enrolled in Pre-K programs than ever before in the state’s history, yet demand remains high according to state and local education leaders. Nearly 80 families in the City of Tuscaloosa are on a waiting list to enter a local program said faculty at Verner Elementary School.

Education Week
Map: Tracking the Common Core state standards
Confused about the status of the Common Core State Standards? You’re not alone. Since we published an update last year about the status of the English/language arts and math standards across 50 states and the District of Columbia, there’s been a fair bit of activity regarding the standards.

Phys.org
School environment key to retaining teachers, promoting student achievement, study finds
A school is more likely to retain effective teachers, a new study reports, if it is led by a principal who promotes professional development for teachers, is characterized by collaborative relationships among teachers, has a safe and orderly learning environment and sets high expectations for academic achievement among students, a new study reports.

The Washington Post
Matt Damon explains why he made this surprising new film
“Backpack Full of Cash” is a film title that suggests some untoward money dealings. And a new film by that title is — though the theme is not the traditional movie yarns about arms or drug dealing. Actually, it’s a 90-minute documentary about the real and ongoing movement to privatize public education and its effects on traditional public schools and the students they enroll.

USA Today
White House pushes for STEM education, mentorship
Mathletes and science whizs gathered at the White House Friday evening to discuss math’s role in education in the 21st century and to reflect on The Man Who Knew Infinity, a new film about Srinivasa Ramanujan, an Indian mathematician who made extraordinary discoveries for the field despite no formal training. Ken Ono, a math professor at Emory University, explained that brilliant math minds, like Ramanujan, always need help and support along the way to cultivate the interest in the subject.