December 11, 2014
Delaware News
State of Delaware
Delaware awarded $5.5 million grant to expand services for infants and toddlers
A press release
Earning an opportunity to build on recent commitments to expand quality early learning services for its youngest residents, Delaware was notified today that it has been awarded a $5.5 million dollar federal grant to offer more services for infants, toddlers, and their families. The state is projected to receive $1.1 million per year for five years under this award, which will help low-income families receive high quality, comprehensive services for their children.
WHYY NewsWorks
Delaware lands early childhood grant, misses on preschool bucks
Delaware earned a five-year, $5.5-million federal grant to enhance care for infants and toddlers, but fell short in its bid for preschool expansion funds. Starting next month, Delaware will add 24 slots to early childhood programs in Kent and Sussex Counties while expanding existing services for another 48 children across the three counties. The grant focuses on children aged three or younger and will be administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Delaware school officials hear final plea for failing charter schools
During the Reach Academy hearing, many parents and students got emotional when talking about how the school has made a positive impact on their lives. Tara Allen, head of Reach Academy, said that while the school’s standardized test scores aren’t perfect, students have been making academic strides but the progress hasn’t been recognized by the state.
WDDE
6th grade computer student get live chat with Bill Gates
6th grade students in Sarah Cuje’s science enrichment class at Gunning Bedford Middle School in Delaware City chatted live with Microsoft founder Bill Gates today. The class won the half hour video chat as part of computer science website Code.org’s Hour of Code movement that seeks to expose 100 million students to at least one hour of computer science during this week’s National Computer Science Education Week.
First State receives additional federal funds to bolster early childhood learning
Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, as well as Congressman John Carney released a joint statement. It says, “This federal grant will help Delaware Children and their families with the care, education, screenings and other needed assistance to help ensure our youngest residents get a great start in life.”
The News Journal
Give Gateway Lab School more time
An op-ed by Pamela Tate Draper, Lead Founder and Treasurer, Gateway Lab School
I believe that given more time, the students of Gateway will be able to meet Adequate Yearly Progress and prove that their school deserves to remain open because they deserve an environment that is the best place for them to learn.
National News
Education Week
Spending bill would fund preschool grants, but not Race to Top
Congress unveiled its long-awaited spending bill Tuesday evening, which would fund most of the government, including the U.S. Department of Education and federally funded education programs, through September 2015.
Head Start grants, private commitments to boost early-childhood programs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced the 234 preliminary recipients of $500 million in federal grants intended to link child-care providers to Early Head Start programs, at a day-long White House event focused on early-childhood education.
NM governor proposes paying new teachers more
Gov. Susana Martinez wants to boost the salary for new teachers as part of an $11.5 million package of proposals aimed at supporting teachers around the state and improving student achievement.
The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio Board of Education backs ending ‘5 for 8’ staffing rule
The Ohio Board of Education moved ahead yesterday with a plan to abolish school-staffing requirements that critics contend would allow districts to eliminate art teachers, librarians, counselors and other staff members.
New York Times
New York State education commissioner to leave for federal post
New York State’s education commissioner, John B. King Jr., who has been a staunch advocate for the Common Core standards and a frequent target of those who criticize them, announced on Wednesday that he would step down at the end of the year to take the second-highest-ranking job at the federal Education Department, senior adviser to Secretary Arne Duncan.