July 6, 2015
Delaware News
The News Journal
Concord students have a sharp idea for hospital safety
A team of students from Concord High School developed a system to improve safety at Christiana Care in Delaware.
WDDE
Enlighten Me: Summer camps keep STEM in the mix for younger grades
The state has funded new science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM classes in high schools — and is pushing districts to write more STEM into younger grades, too. Education officials are proud of their early successes — but what happens when school’s out for summer? It’s up to summer camps to keep STEM on kids’ minds — especially concepts like coding, which they’ll soon see at almost all grade levels.
Cape Gazette
Cape Community bookmobile ready to roll
Cape Henlopen’s Community bookmobile is back for its second summer with a new addition: Dinner. Donna Kolawski, supervisor of elementary education, said the district has teamed up with the Department of Education summer food service program to coordinate books with meals.
Delaware Department of Education
Free and reduced price meals available
A press release
The Delaware Department of Education today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and After School Snack Program. Each participating school and its administrative office have copies of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.
WDEL
Stories come alive with Delaware’s summer reading program
Delaware’s summer reading program includes live theatre in libraries up and down the state in conjunction with the Delaware Division of Arts. Act!vated Story Theatre will make stories come alive for library patrons, complete with audience participation, comedy, and imaginative props. In addition, ventriloquist Tom Crowl will bring his friends to help kids use their imagination to become out-of-the-ordinary super heroes fighting evil.
National News
New York Daily News
NY to target students on verge of homelessness
The New York City Education Department is teaming up for the first time with the Department of Homeless Services to target students who are at risk for becoming homeless. Workers from both agencies are visiting 25 of the city’s most at-risk schools this week to raise awareness of available services.
U.S. News & World Report
Federal education funding is plummeting
Over the last five years, Congress has cut federal funding for K-12 education by nearly 20 percent, about five times more than overall spending cuts, according to a new report.
WHYY Newsworks
Judge: PA Ed. Dept. on hook for curriculum deficiencies
Following budget cuts started in the 2011-2012 school year, parents in Philadelphia filed 825 complaints to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. A Commonwealth Court judge shared an opinion on an ensuing lawsuit supporting some of the parents’ complaints and moving the case forward.
Washington Post
No cushion for more low-income students
Nearly three-quarters of the 8.6 million students who received the federal Pell Grant to attend college last year reported having no savings or other cash on hand. That compares to 60 percent of federal grant recipients five years earlier.
NPR
CA votes to remove vaccine exemptions
The California Assembly has joined the state Senate in voting to approve a controversial bill requiring all children attending school to be vaccinated against measles and other common, preventable illnesses — effectively eliminating so-called “personal belief exemptions” that allowed parents to opt out.