November 26, 2013
Local News
WDDE
State officials announce grants for after school programs in First State
Governor Jack Markell announced a series of grants for 12 programs Monday funded by $2.1 million set aside in this year’s budget. The 12 programs were selected from a pool of 42 applicants receive at least $20,000 to focus on anti-bullying initiatives, violence and suicide prevention, self-esteem building, academics, arts, music, athletics and more.
Smyrna-Clayton Sun Times
Smyrna high school students participate in College Application Week
Smyrna High School seniors received a helping hand with the world of higher education last week during the school’s College Application Week. SHS is one of 20 schools in Delaware participating in the program this year; Smyrna High School and Lake Forest were the pilot programs last year.
National News
Newport News Daily Press
Virginia Board of Education adopts A-F grading system
The Virginia state board adopted an A-to-F school grading system, which will begin in 2014-15, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The grades will accompany school accreditation ratings and will be closely tied to performance state standards. The system is part of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s All Students 2013 education agenda, which was passed during the 2013 legislative session.
National Journal
States aren’t so sure high schoolers should go to college
New laws in Texas and Florida de-emphasize Algebra 2, the math class required for admission to four-year colleges, placement into college-level math at two-year institutions, and an indicator of college readiness under the Common Core standards. Still, the advantage of state requirements that require advanced academics is that they clearly communicate what top colleges want.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
New Pa. education standards win approval
The Independent Regulatory Review Commission has approved regulations containing the Pennsylvania Core Standards, drawn both from previous state standards and from the Common Core. The regulations also make the end-of-course Keystone exams a graduation requirement, rather than a portion of a student’s grade.
Hechinger Report
Moody’s: College money woes are getting worse
Facing stagnant enrollment and increasingly price-conscious consumers, already cash-strapped universities will continue to see their revenues fail to keep up with inflation, according to a Moody’s Investment Service report. Nearly 30% of public universities will suffer declines in revenue—more than the proportion that experienced this last year, and a sign that the problem is getting worse and not better.
Huffington Post
A third of schools saw scores fall after getting federal grants
After receiving turnaround grants from the federal government for the wholesale overhauling of schools, the nation’s lowest-performing schools have yet to show dramatic improvement, according to results released Education Department. And some have actually shown declines. On average, two-thirds of schools that received funding in the first possible year posted increases.