March 24, 2017
Delaware News
Delaware 105.9
High school graduation rates up, dropout rates down, Delaware Department of Education reports
The Delaware Department of Education’s annual report, presented to the State Board of Education Thursday, heralded rising graduation rates and diminishing dropout rates. Graduation rates hit 84.66 percent, an increase of 84.3 percent in 2015 and 84.4 percent in 2014. Only 547 of the 40,287 public school students enrolled in high school dropped out the previous school year, a rate of 1.4 percent, and a decrease of the previous year’s 2.2 percent.
Newark Post
Downes students pledge to ‘Spread the Word to End the Word’
Downes Elementary School Principal Patricia Prettyman doesn’t believe in the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” “It’s not true,” she said. “Words do hurt.” That was the message behind Wednesday’s school assembly, which aimed to show students that what they say and how they treat others can have a lasting impact.
Department of Education
Delaware dropout rate down, graduation rate up
Press Release
More students than ever are staying in school as the number of high school dropouts continues to decline in Delaware public schools. The annual Delaware Department of Education reports, presented to the State Board of Education today, show 547 of 40,287 public school students enrolled in grades 9 to 12 dropped out of school last year, a rate of 1.4 percent. That is a decrease from the previous year’s rate of 2.2percent and the lowest rate in more than 30 years.
Coastal Point
IRSD considers cuts to teacher raises, club advisors, more
Budget cuts are coming to the Indian River School District. Even with an additional $7.5 million annual income in local property taxes, thanks to the recently passed current-expense referendum, IRSD staff expect to trim at least $5 million from next year’s budget. And that’s in addition to expected state budget cuts. “I’ll be honest — we have cut these budgets to bare bones, because we really need to get it down to a point we can [live with],” said IRSD Business Director Jan Steele.
‘Oh, the places they’ll go’
It’s 8 a.m. at Indian River High School. The bells have rung. The morning announcements have been made. And the River Café is officially open for business. Today, on the menu: coffee, tea and complimentary homemade cupcakes with green icing, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Senior Josh Timmons makes his way down the school’s history-rich hallways in his official green-and-gold River Café apron, pushing his cart, without paying much attention to the cart’s one stubborn wheel, wielding the day’s orders and approaching his first stop.
Speaker tells the students: Share your blessings and have hope
There is something to live and aspire for, said the man from Philadelphia. You just have to be ready when that opportunity comes. He calls himself “Principal El,” and his mission is to motivate, invigorate and inspire students and teachers across the country. The teacher, principal and motivational speaker Salome Thomas-El brought words of wisdom (and a few laughs) to Indian River High School and Selbyville Middle School on March 2.
The News Journal
Delaware 87ers reading program a slam dunk with kids
The Delaware 87ers’ reading program wants to be a slam dunk with kids, showing the importance of youth literacy through basketball. On Wednesday, the organization’s goal for the Education Day game was more just than winning. Kids were offered a unique learning opportunity with educational activities and a basketball. In November, the Delaware 87ers announced a partnership with Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children that works on improving youth literacy and promoting healthy development through reading.
Montessori schooling is the educational experience that many parents would create for their own
Opinion by Christine Carrino Gorowara and Linda Zankowsky
What kind of school would you choose for your children? Most parents would agree: one that could focus on their individual needs, one that fostered their independence and self-direction, encourages their unique interest and helps them develop necessary academic skills. For over 100 years, Montessori education has provided this kind of schooling to millions of children in the United States and around the world.
National News
Chalkbeat
Despite pushback, education panel votes to close five schools in de Blasio’s turnaround program
After outcry from some school communities, and near silence from others, the city’s plan to close five schools in its signature turnaround program was approved Wednesday night. The vote from the Panel for Educational Policy, which must sign off on school closures, came after nearly four hours of angry comments from parents, educators, and elected officials, many of whom said the city had gone back on its promise of giving their schools time to improve.
The New York Times
School choice fight in Iowa may preview the one facing Trump
When she was shopping for a school for her daughter Alma, Mary Kakayo found a lot to like in St. Theresa Catholic, including its Catholic social justice theme, student prayer and hour of religious instruction every day. “Morally, my child knows how to respect others,” said Ms. Kakayo, whose daughter is now in the fourth grade. “She knows when to listen, and when to talk and bring in her ideas.” For Ms. Kakayo and her husband, the best part may be that the school costs them only $85 per month.
The Texas Tribune
Senate Education Committee passes school choice legislation
After little debate Thursday, the Senate Education Committee voted 7-3 to pass legislation that would create two public programs subsidizing private school tuition and homeschooling expenses. Senate Bill 3, a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, now heads to the full Senate, where it’s also expected to pass. Corresponding bills have not been taken up by the House Public Education Committee.
NPR
School suspensions have plunged: We don’t yet know if that’s good news
We are in the midst of a quiet revolution in school discipline. In the past five years, 27 states have revised their laws with the intention of reducing suspensions and expulsions. And, more than 50 of America’s largest school districts have also reformed their discipline policies — changes which collectively affect more than 6.35 million students. A new paper from Max Eden, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute, argues that this is all too much, too soon.