September 30, 2014
Local News
Delaware Department of Education
State wins school climate grant
A press release
The Delaware Department of Education has been awarded a federal grant to improve school climate in buildings across the state. Titled “School Climate and Student Success,” Delaware’s grant has first-year funding of $458,660 and will span five years, with a total potential award of $2, 297,739. Delaware’s grant was among the 130 awards totaling $70 million issued by the U.S. Department of Education as part of four new grant programs under the Obama administration’s “Now Is the Time” plan, which aims to make schools safer, reduce gun violence by keeping guns out of dangerous hands and increase mental health services.
The News Journal
Don’t foul up innovative library plan
An editorial
Mr. Gordon has a daring idea for a library along the Del. 9 corridor south of Wilmington. He wants to build an “innovation center.” It would serve all of the purposes of a standard library and more. The emphasis would be on technology. It would be a library for the future. He should get credit for daring thinking. The world of communications is changing rapidly and a community’s information needs are moving beyond the paper-and-glue books of old.
National News
EdSurge
Education Technology: Could it be different this time?
An opinion piece by Umang Gupta, Advisory Board Member, Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center (APAC)
The United States spends approximately $1.3 trillion in elementary, secondary and post econdary education each year across both publicly and privately funded educational institutions. Only 1 percent of that amount is spent on educational technology.
Inside Higher Ed
An insufficient census
The federal government’s long-awaited data on the students enrolled in distance education courses nationwide provide a dubious baseline, a new study suggests, as confusing instructions, inflexible design and a lack of coordination have led colleges and universities to under- or over-report thousands of students.
NewsOK
Oklahoma shatters degree-completion goal in Complete College America initiative
Oklahoma exceeded its year-two Complete College America goal by more than double, state officials announced. The goal is to increase the number of degrees and certificates conferred annually by 1,700 to reach 50,900 by 2023.
Washington Post
District studies roots of dropout crisis and promises it will work to fix it
Based on trends, a sobering 40 percent of today’s ninth-graders in the District of Columbia will not graduate in four years. A report tries to determine who drops out of the city’s public schools, and why.
Tampa Bay Times
Florida Board of Education approves rules for newest voucher program
With almost no discussion, the Florida Board of Education approved new rules governing the state’s newest voucher program.
Lawrence Journal-World
Kansas officials ready private school tuition program
A Kansas education official says a new tax-credit system to fund private school tuition for low-income students is on track to start in January.