September 6, 2012
Local News
The News Journal
Classroom spending gets better grades
If all public Delaware schools followed the example of the districts with the highest classroom spending, there would be about $21 million more available for teaching the state’s schoolchildren, according to a report released today by the lieutenant governor. The review uses spending numbers that school districts and charter schools send to the state Department of Education, which then passes the information to its federal counterpart. The report, which has drawn criticism from school district officials who contend the methodology is flawed, compares classrooms and administration spending at charter, public and vocational schools.
National News
Huffington Post
Education funding drops in more than half of states
According to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 26 states will spend less per pupil in fiscal year 2013 than the year before, and 35 are still spending at levels lower than before the recession, after adjusting for inflation. Several states are increasing funds this year over last year, but are, for the most part, not enough to restore the cutbacks from previous years. Delaware slightly increased its funding.
Orlando Sentinel
Time for another test — this one for 180,000 Pre-K children
Youngsters in Florida’s pre-kindergarten program will take a new test of early literacy, language, and math skills. The kids are to take the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Assessment again at the end of their pre-K year. More than 180,000 children are expected to take the test, which will have no consequences for individual youngsters but eventually will be used to help judge the quality of their preschools.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cyber charters in Pennsylvania growing despite issues
Pennsylvania is among the 30 states and District of Columbia to have full-time online schools. The growth of enrollment in cyber charter schools has created tensions with traditional districts, which lose students and tuition dollars to the cyber alternatives. To compete, a number of Pennsylvania districts are starting their own cyber programs aimed at retrieving students and tuition money.
The New York Times
School district bets future on real estate
This tiny farm-country community is having a back-to-school sale, on the schools themselves. Interested in a well maintained, one-owner elementary with playground and orchard view? Or a 1990s charmer, now used for teaching second through fifth grades but convenient to shopping and the Interstate?