March 7, 2017

Delaware News

Education Week
States wrangle over K-12 funding formulas
Because education funding can account for up to half of states’ budgets, the debate over how much schools get tends to dominate legislative sessions, which are now in full swing. The debate is especially heated in states looking to overhaul their education funding formulas, some in response to court rulings. And in some states, the picture is complicated by budget shortfalls that threaten deep cuts for K-12 education. Delaware is among the states to keep an eye on this year as they look to make fundamental changes to their funding formula.

Rodel Blog
The dangers of chronic absenteeism
Blog post by Shyanne Miller, policy associate at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
If students are not in school, they are not learning. That is the main issue behind chronic absenteeism, which has serious implications for student success. Students that are chronically absent are at a higher risk of failing academically or dropping out. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10 percent of instructional time within one academic year. Chronic absenteeism is not the same as truancy (three days of unexcused absence) or average daily attendance (ADA).

The Milford Beacon
IRSD referendum passes with largest voter turnout in district history
So many people came out to vote in the Indian River School District referendum on Thursday, March 2, that the polling machines at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View “filled up” and paper ballots had to be used. According to district officials, the referendum had the greatest turnout in IRSD history, with 12,389 people voting. Prior to that, a May 2000 referendum held the record with 8,437 voters.

The News Journal
“Sportsmanship” and our divided community
Opinion by Adriana Bohm and Tizzy Lockman, parent advocates and Red Clay residents
A few weeks have passed since the incident which occurred at the Alexis I. duPont High School versus Delaware Military Academy basketball game that resulted in the cancellation of the AIHS team’s season, Senior Night, a place in the DIAA State Tournament, and eligibility to participate in the Blue and Gold Game. While the school’s decision and the district’s support of that decision are final, AIHS parents continue to pursue their grievance against the Red Clay Consolidated School District for failing to comply with due process in determining their penalty.

Town Square Delaware
Rep. Short: Consolidating school districts not so easy
School district consolidation is a topic that’s been discussed for decades in Delaware and it is easy to see why. Delaware has 19 public school districts serving about 137,000 students.  By contrast, a single school district in Maryland – Montgomery County Public Schools – serves more than 159,000 students. Over the last 10 years, teachers and other educational employees have been a major driver of state personnel costs.

National News

Associated Press
Flip the script: Cursive sees revival in school instruction
Cursive writing is looping back into style in schools across the country after a generation of students who know only keyboarding, texting and printing out their words longhand. Alabama and Louisiana passed laws in 2016 mandating cursive proficiency in public schools, the latest of 14 states that require cursive. And last fall, the 1.1 million-student New York City schools, the nation’s largest public school system, encouraged the teaching of cursive to students, generally in the third grade.

Education Week
An unwavering advocate for racial equity in schools
Unapologetic. Anyone who listens to John D. Marshall, the chief equity officer for the Jefferson County, Ky., school district, will eventually hear that word as he advocates for students of color, those who are homeless, and the disadvantaged in the 101,000-student district. He feels empowered to ask for—even demand—what those students need. “You are speaking for those who might not be able to speak up,” he says. “I’m the inside agitator who is never satisfied.”

The 74
South by Southwest Education: 10 new ed tech startups about to grab the spotlight in Austin
As the ed tech industry continues to expand, breaking into the game means facing stiffer competition from companies keen on occupying the same space. But as teaching, student learning, and the delivery of educational content continue to evolve, there has never been a greater opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the students. Few arenas spotlight, critique, or celebrate the newest ed tech efforts quite like the South by Southwest Education Conference & Festival.

The New York Times
Kansas Supreme Court says state education spending is too low
The Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the state’s spending on public education was unconstitutionally low, dealing a new blow to Gov. Sam Brownback, who is facing a rebellion from his own Republican Party over his trademark tax-cutting doctrine. In a unanimous ruling, the court said black, Hispanic and poor students were especially harmed by the lack of funding, pointing to lagging test scores and graduation rates.

The Washington Post
Congressional Republicans poised to overturn Obama-era education regulations
Congress is pushing to overturn as early as this week regulations that outline how states must carry out a federal law that holds public schools accountable for serving all students. Leaders of the Republican majority claim that the rules, written during the Obama administration, represent an executive overreach. Democrats argue that rescinding the rules will open loopholes to hide or ignore schools that fail to adequately serve poor children, minorities, English-language learners and students with disabilities.