October 9, 2015
Delaware News
WHYY
Delaware bill would raise drop-out age
Delaware lawmakers unveiled a bill Thursday that would require students to attend school through age 18. At present, the state only requires children go to school from ages 5 to 16. The bill, if it passes as written, would increase the mandatory attendance age to 17 in 2016-17, and then up to 18 the following year.
The News Journal
Committee targeting racial disparities to hold hearings
A committee charged with finding ways to reduce racial disparities in Delaware’s criminal justice system will be seeking public comment at a series of hearings planned for this year. The committee’s approach to the issue is broad. It is looking at all potential causes for the disparity, from education and poverty to policing strategies and sentencing decisions.
Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Delaware’s Student Success 2025 plan: Swinging for the fences but falling short of a home run
Yes, it sounds like Shangri-La; but as master plans go, this one seems fantastic. It’s both coherent and complete, and it comes with tremendous buy-in from the start. A swing for the fences. But more explanation is required on the part of the Vision Coalition of Delaware as to why citizens should support a reform plan that leaves out so many, even if it sounds like Shangri-La.
The New York Times
Dual-language programs are on the rise, even for native English speakers
“I want two things,” said Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware, a Democrat. “I want students from Delaware to be able to go anywhere and do any kind of work they want to do, and I also want to attract businesses from around the world, to say, ‘You want to be in Delaware because, amongst other things, we’ve got a bilingual work force.’ ”
WDEL
University of Delaware cuts ribbon on JP Morgan Chase expansion on campus
Officials from the University of Delaware and the state on Thursday cut the ribbon on the expanded JPMorgan Innovation Center, which has tripled in size since opening in 2011. The 13,000 square foot facility allows space for 90 undergraduate students to participate in internships with JP Morgan Chase. Ten doctoral students also participate in programs at the center, which is adjoined to Purnell Hall on the school’s campus.
Delaware Public Media
JPMorgan Chase expands its research facilities at UD
In 2009, Chase and UD established a partnership to collaborate on research projects and recruit talented students with an interest in technology. In 2011, Chase and the university opened a research facility at UD’s main campus in Newark, called the JPMorgan Chase Innovation Center. The Innovation Center has now quadrupled its original size, spanning 13,000 square feet and four stories.
National News
Philly Magazine
Philly’s charter school system is falling apart
Opinion by Helen Gym, co-founder of the Public School Notebook and Parents United for Public Education and Philadelphia City Council candidate
The district’s top-down mandate to create more charters leaves out a key component for sustainable school transformation — community engagement. It’s not just that community engagement is democratic and responsible; community engagement helps us make better decisions in a school reform experiment that is still largely unproven.
Chalkbeat New York
Will John King’s last effort to desegregate New York’s schools work?
A grant program he launched aims to help struggling schools improve by enrolling more affluent students. Even experts who back the plan say success isn’t guaranteed.
Cleveland.com
Ohio passes major charter school reform bill; pension controversy to have more study
After the vote, other state officials and education advocates lined up to cheer a bill that ended with the strong support of both parties and from charter school backers and opponents alike. After the vote, other state officials and education advocates lined up to cheer a bill that ended with the strong support of both parties and from charter school backers and opponents alike.
The Hechinger Report
A technology team from Facebook works to serve classroom teachers
If an education technology solution is to have any chance of success, it must first be embraced by teachers, students and parents. A logical way to achieve this is to allow educators to take the lead on the development of high-tech tools. That’s what happened at Summit Public Schools, a California-based charter network, where teachers created a prototype of a new tool that would enable them to customize each school day for each student.
Education Week
New Jersey education officials loosen grip on state-controlled district
The New Jersey Board of Education has voted unanimously to return more control of Jersey City’s public school system back to the local school board after more than a quarter century of state oversight.The panel supported state Education Commissioner David Hespe’s recommendation to return control of Jersey City’s personnel and operations departments back to the local school board. The state had previously given the local board control of school governance and finance.