April 1, 2014
Local News
U.S. Department of Education
Delaware’s teacher preparation is setting a high bar
A blog post
Frederika Jenner’s (president of the Delaware State Education Association) experience at the beginning of her career is just one reason she strongly supported legislation signed in June 2013 by Delaware Governor Jack Markell to increase the rigor of the process of recruiting and preparing teachers and principals. “Strengthening teacher preparation is very, very important,” she said. “Educators need more meaningful, real world training.”
The News Journal
Delaware charter schools believe in students
An op-ed by Kendall Massett, Executive Director of the Delaware Charter Schools Network
Our mission at the Delaware Charter Schools Network is to promote excellence through autonomy and choice in public education. Our charter schools work hard every day as an integral part of the public school system toward excellence for our children. In a recent Cape Gazette article however, there were misconceptions stated about charter schools and charter education.
Program disproves theory that ‘doing science’ isn’t fun
Most of the 90 youngsters who came out Saturday for Exploring Science Together at First State Community Action Agency in Georgetown had so much fun, they didn’t even realize they were “doing science,” said Joe McCarron, co-coordinator of the La Casita after-school homework program and one of the event planners.
Where has the money for child care gone?
A letter to the editor by Connie Merlet
I am a day care provider. I do not belong to the Stars Early Childhood program. Last week, I attended an Office of Early Learning meeting, and I was horrified at what I heard.
WDDE
Gov. Markell highlights efforts to boost STEM education
The Governor’s weekly message
Markell lauded the state’s STEM Council for establishing an annual educator award last week, which will go to two, full-time First State teachers. Each will receive $7,500 awards.
Cape Gazette
State must address educational inequities
A letter to the editor by Jane Lord, president of the League of Women Voters of Sussex County, and Charlotte F. King, president of the League of Women Voters of Delaware
A page one article in the March 25 Cape Gazette cites the concerns of school officials and citizens in Sussex County that there is need for more diversity in charter and vo-tech schools, as well as more equitable allocation of resources. The League of Women Voters of Sussex County and of Delaware strongly share this concern, particularly since state- level education officials have long been aware of the diversity issues raised in this article.
National News
The Gazette
Colorado high school students earning free college credit
A new report from the Colorado Department of Higher Education shows that 26,900 students participated in a dual enrollment program in 2012-13, or 22 percent of all juniors and seniors attending Colorado public high schools.
Miami Herald
Florida House pushes forward two choice-in-education bills
The Florida House passed two education bills out of the lower chamber. The first would allow home- and virtual-school students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities at the traditional public school of their choice, and the second would require single-gender public schools to have open enrollment.
Associated Press
Oklahoma bill offers flexibility on 3rd grade reading
A bill that adds several ways for students to advance to the fourth grade, even if they didn’t meet all of the reading requirements currently in statute, cleared an Oklahoma Senate committee.
Orlando Sentinel
Should schools change students’ grades based on AP exam scores?
A recent review found that some high schools in Florida raise the grades of Advanced Placement students based on their performance on AP exams. Officials say they are seeking to make grading more consistent.
Chalkbeat Colorado
Study: Colorado school expulsions drop following new law
Fewer Colorado students were suspended or expelled in 2012-13 after school districts across the state abandoned zero-tolerance policies. But schools are increasingly referring students of color to law enforcement officials, according to a statewide report.