November 24, 2015
Delaware News
WHYY
In Delaware, a test students want to take (and districts want to give)
Here’s a rarity for you: A positive story about testing in education. To tell it we head to the Seaford School District in rural, Southern Delaware. Due to an influx of immigrants from Latin America and Haiti, about 11 percent of Seaford’s students are English Language Learners. That’s the second-highest rate among Delaware’s 19 school districts. In 2011, Delaware joined a growing handful of states that offer world language credit based on proficiency. That means students don’t need to take a course to earn credit, but simply have to demonstrate they know a foreign language by taking a test.
Drumline inspires Delaware elementary school students
Music teacher Peter Antony teaches how music can be a pathway to success and college. The Drumline at Elbert-Palmer Elementary School in the Southbridge section of Wilmington is undoubtedly one of the most popular extracurricular activities.
Delaware expands career readiness program
Delaware will more than double a program established earlier this year to boost career and technical education in the First State. Governor Jack Markell, D-Delaware, announced $600,000 in grants Monday for his Pathways to Prosperity program. The money will support 55 pathway programs at 29 high schools, an uptick from the 25 pathways established last year.
Delaware Public Media
Ballooning public school enrollment trend continues
State education officials say public school enrollment totals have surpassed projections once again for the 2015-2016 academic year. During an early budget hearing, the state Department of Education asked for an additional $6.5 million to help pay for the extra students – many of them with special needs.
State to double size of high school career prep programs in 2016
The state Department of Education is expanding its career preparatory offerings for Delaware high school students next academic year. The state is nearly doubling the Pathways to Prosperity tracks that were offered from this year, the first for the program. They’re putting $600,000 behind 55 total pathways programs in 29 high schools.
The News Journal
Education must be part of Wilmington’s solution to crime
Opinion by Theo Gregory, president of the Wilmington City Council
Included among the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee’s recommendations is the creation of an Office of Public Policy and Education within Wilmington city government – something for which I, along with my colleagues on the Wilmington Education Strategies Think Tank, have advocated. This office would ensure that city leaders and residents will have an ongoing voice in the educational process for our children.
Markell expands high school job training program
Gov. Jack Markell will expand a program teaching Delaware high school students the skills they need through hands-on experience to compete for jobs that are in demand. The program, Pathways to Prosperity, arms students with skills to work in fields such as computer science, culinary arts and hospitality management, manufacturing, biomedical science and engineering. Launched two years ago, the initiative is available in 15 Delaware high schools with more than 2,400 students enrolled in the program.
Townsend focused on education
Letter to the editor by Megan Szabo, Camden
A recent News Journal editorial made a compelling argument regarding Delaware’s need for energetic and dynamic new candidates with fresh ideas. Perhaps the best example is Sen. Bryan Townsend, who continues to be a real leader on the issues that affect Delaware classrooms and is running for Congress. From day one, he was among the leading voices for learning-focused education reforms.
Delaware State News
New Delaware education chief calls for spending boost
Delaware’s Education Department is requesting increases of about $87 million for the general operating budget and $5 million more for the capital budget. Education Secretary Steven Godowsky, who officially was sworn in less than a month ago, made the pitch Monday at Legislative Hall as the first round of budget hearings wraps up.
WMDT
600k granted to Pathways To Prosperity in Del.
600,000 dollars worth of additional funding have been announced for 55 public schools in Delaware as a part of the “Pathways To Prosperity” program. Through the program, school districts implement career and technical education which connects students to hands-on industry training. Some programs that are currently in place include culinary arts and computer science.
Office of the Governor
Press release
Pathways to Prosperity grants will support 55 high school programs beginning in 2016
Governor Markell today announced $600,000 in grants for new high school pathway programs to expand a statewide effort that prepares students to excel in key fields that offer good job opportunities in the new economy. Here is the list of second round grant awards.
National News
Chalkbeat Colorado
Report: Colorado taking its “first steps” when it comes to early literacy policy
The state has some key policies in place to promote early literacy, but a new report indicates the state has a long way to go. The state ranked 33rd overall in the “From Crawling to Walking” report released Monday by the New America Foundation, a nonprofit research institute.
Education Week
John King urges state chiefs to seize momentum if ESEA overhaul passes
John B. King Jr., who is set to take over next month as acting U.S. Secretary of Education, told the states’ school chiefs Saturday that a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is long overdue and that he hopes if they are given more authority, state chiefs will continue President Barack Obama’s efforts to improve the quality of the nation’s teachers, identify and work to close achievement gaps, and raise learning standards.
The Hechinger Report
US falls behind other nations in the global knowledge economy, says 46-country report
The United States continues to fall behind internationally in producing a college-educated workforce as other nations send more of their citizens to university. And in the very early years, many countries are now sending a much higher percentage of their kids to preschool than the United States.
The Washington Post
Teachers can make $15,000 more just by moving to the district next door
With 10 years of experience and a master’s degree, a mid-career teacher in Fairfax County can earn $15,000 more by moving slightly east, to Arlington County, the highest-paying suburban school district in the Washington region. In Maryland, the average teacher salary in wealthy Montgomery County is $9,300 more than the average teacher salary in neighboring Prince George’s County. These disparities, highlighted in a report from the Washington Area Boards of Education (WABE), are making it difficult for districts that pay on the lower end of the spectrum to attract and retain teachers, school officials said, especially as the demand for teachers grows in tandem with student enrollment
The Wall Street Journal
Arne Duncan pinpoints where schools fail
In today’s global marketplace, it’s critical for the U.S. to develop in young people the skills that will keep America competitive. But across the nation, says Mr. Duncan, businesses continue having trouble finding enough college graduates with those skills. Mr. Duncan, in discussing the successes and setbacks of his tenure, asked CEOs for help to improve education from top to bottom, and discussed other challenges in an interview with Wall Street Journal Deputy Editor in Chief Matt Murray.