July 16, 2012
Local News
Delaware State News
Five downstate elementaries named Focus schools
Schools across Delaware will receive extra support and/ or funding as part of the state’s new school classification system. Dr. Michael Thomas, Superintendent of Capital School District which has two Focus schools, says “We look forward to the opportunity to have some additional funding to augment programs to address the needs and to bridge the achievement gap between low-income and regular- income students.”
Program empowers parents to be child’s first teacher
The Polytech Parents Teachers (PAT), a program in Kent and Sussex counties, is an in-home visitation for families by trained experts who educate parents on how to become the first and most influential teacher in their child’s life. Participating parents will learn about their child’s development, specific kindergarten readiness skills, how to access community services, and how to achieve family goals. In addition, families can attend free “Stay and Play” group meetings offered weekly throughout the counties.
The News Journal
Science lessons made from guidance, goodies
Last week, the Delaware Department of Education’s Collette Education Resource Center provided professional development about new teaching strategies for science. The department also uses the data from the warehouse to compare with how different schools are performing on state science assessments.
National News
Education Week
As membership plummets, NEA retools mission
The newly approved NEA strategic plan and budget, approved at the union’s annual Representative Assembly, held July 2-5 in Washington, opens with a preamble stating bluntly that “things will never go back to the way they were.” The union has not released state-by-state affiliate numbers for 2011-12, but interviews with a handful of state leaders suggest that those states that have faced hostile legislation have been among the affiliates experiencing losses.
Chicago Tribune
Report says to hike Chicago teachers’ pay – but union objects
Chicago Public Schools and the teachers union this week are both expected to reject an arbitrator’s long-awaited fact-finding report, which recommends a double-digit salary hike that both sides agree could force teacher layoffs and larger class sizes, according to sources close to the negotiations. “We’ve said to our teachers that we want fair compensation,” Sharkey said. “We’ve also said we want a better (school) day and we want to make sure class sizes don’t spike. (Our members) know that we simply don’t have a wage demand.”
The Guardian
Gordon Brown to become UN special envoy for schoolchildren
Gordon Brown, the former prime minister, will become the United Nations special envoy for education – marking a return to frontline diplomacy. Brown will launch a new UN push on universal education in September, calling for a fund to finance schools and train 2 million teachers. Unlike health, education has suffered from a lack of interest and cash from international donors.
Related Topics: DDOE, high-need, Low-income, professional development, STEM, Teacher Compensation