May 21, 2015
Delaware News
Newsworks
New bill proposes tough criteria for Delaware Secretary of Education
Commentary by John Watson
In spite of what Sen. Townsend says the new requirements should be, Murphy seems to me to be well qualified for his position. It’s reported by the News Journal that he spent three years teaching physical education, third grade and special education. In addition, he was in charge of the Vision Network, a coalition of 26 Delaware schools, before the governor picked him as the secretary of education.
The Washington Post
Delaware board of education eyes Wilmington school districts
Delaware’s state Board of Education is holding a special meeting to discuss a process for changing boundaries of school districts serving students in Wilmington.
The News Journal
Christina School District gears up for second tax vote
With the possibility looming that their schools could face teacher and staff layoffs, larger class sizes and cuts to after-school programs, some Christina School District parents and teachers are urging fellow citizens to approve a property tax increase.
Passing Christina referendum will help students
Opinion by Eve Buckley, Mary Schorse and Christy Mannering, Christina School District parents and members of the volunteer referendum committee
The Christina School District (CSD) is holding an operating referendum on May 27. Voters will decide whether to support an increase of 37 cents per $100 of assessed property value. In the interest of all Christina students and to maintain a thriving local community, we urge residents to vote for the referendum on May 27th.
Newark Post
170 Christina teachers could lose jobs
A total of 170 Christina School District teachers may lose their jobs as the district struggles to recover from a budget deficit. However, officials say many of the teachers will be spared if Tuesday’s referendum passes. Superintendent Freeman Williams said this week he is “very optimistic” that some of the teachers will be hired back.
National News
Education Week
Poorest students often miss out on gifted classes
A combination of factors keeps academically talented, low-income students from getting the advanced instruction they need to reach their full potential.
Michigan Senate approves new educator evaluation standards
The bill headed to the House would initially base 25 percent of an evaluation on student growth and testing data, increasing it to 40 percent in 2018-19 and beyond.
Chalkbeat Indiana
National dropout expert: ‘Cultural change’ needed to improve graduation rates
John Bridgeland, one of the nation’s leading researchers on high school dropouts and graduation, said that “the secret sauce” to improving the nationwide graduation rate lies in districts that change their culture dramatically to focus on early detection and intervention.
Chalkbeat Tennessee
Most Common Core standards are keepers, according to Tennessee’s public review
Tennessee’s six-month-long public review of the Common Core State Standards garnered more than 131,000 reviews of various academic benchmarks — with more than half favoring K-12 standards currently in place, according to numbers released this week by the State Board of Education.
CBS Minnesota
Dayton rejects education bill; special session ahead
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton didn’t get the money for pre-kindergarten programs he wanted, so he made good on his threat to take down the $17 billion education bill. It forces a special session, but Dayton said he won’t call one until Republicans give him the pre-kindergarten programs he wants.