May 6, 2013

Local News

The News Journal
In high-stakes school elections, a few rule the many in Delaware
Low interest in Delaware school board elections has helped create a dynamic where a relative handful of voters decides the outcome of races with millions in educational dollars at stake. That has also opened the door for groups like teachers unions to exert influence over who gets elected.

Delaware Department of Education
Technology students excel at state conference
More than 619 students and advisors from 34 chapters across the state recently attended the 2013 Delaware Technology Student Association State Conference many bringing home honors. This year’s conference had a record registration with more than 1,430 entries in all of the competitive events that are related to technology, innovation, design and engineering. Appoquinimink High School was recognized for its outstanding spirit and honored with the 2013 Delaware TSA Chapter Spirit Award.

The Dover Post
Citizens asked to support Early Childhood Advocacy Day May 8 in Dover
The Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, member organization of early childhood professionals, announces the annual Early Childhood Advocacy Day will take place at Legislative Hall in Dover, from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. The group is asking for citizens to attend to show support for young children, their families, early childhood education and the providers who work tirelessly to provide quality care and education.

WDDE
What the districts seek
After watching their referendums fail at the ballot box in February, Colonial and Appoquinimink school districts are trying again this spring to convince residents to give them additional funds for their operating budgets. Here’s look at what the districts are asking for in their revised referendums.

Districts aim for better outcomes in second tax hike votes
The message defies the basic principles of marketing: “Pay more to get more of the same — or maybe a little bit less.” But that’s pretty much what officials in the Appoquinimink and Colonial school districts are telling their residents as they work to secure passage of tax-hike referendums that are scaled-back versions of proposals voters rejected on Feb. 28.

National News

The Washington Post
Many teachers say they need training in Common Core standards, poll says
Most public school teachers feel unprepared to teach math and reading to the Common Core standards that are rolling out in 45 states and the District, according to a poll of 800 teachers released Friday by the American Federation of Teachers. While a clear majority — 75 percent — of teachers surveyed by the union said they support the Common Core, less than one-third said their school districts have given them the training and resources to teach to the new standards.

The New York Times
With an old factory, Philadelphia is hoping to draw new teachers
A Victorian-era dye factory is taking on a new role to help this city’s troubled public school system attract and retain teachers. Two redbrick buildings in the up-and-coming but still gritty South Kensington section of Philadelphia are being converted into apartments and offices intended to house teachers and nonprofit educational organizations in what the developers hope will become a cohesive community. When the renovation is complete, 60 percent of the buildings’ 114 apartments will be reserved for teachers, who will be offered a 25 percent discount on market rent — paying about $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit in a neighborhood where they typically rent for $1,300. The remaining apartments will be available to the public.

Education Week
States’ online testing problems raise Common-Core concerns
Widespread technical failures and interruptions of recent online testing in a number of states have shaken the confidence of educators and policymakers in high-tech assessment methods and raised serious concerns about schools’ technological readiness for the coming common-core online tests. The glitches arose as many districts in the 46 states that have signed on to the Common Core State Standards are trying to ramp up their technological infrastructure to prepare for the requirement that students take online assessments starting in 2014-15.

Related Topics: Common Core, Education Technology