December 12, 2014
Delaware News
Coastal Point
Free food pantry fights hunger in IR School District
As Indian River School District Parent Center coordinator, Michele Murphy helps many families with anything from college planning to free clothing. Located within the G.W. Carver Educational Center in Frankford, people can select 30 free pounds of food items and 5 pounds of personal products.
WDEL
Federal grant helps improve Delaware early childhood education
Governor Markell got a first-hand look at federal grant money at work at the La Fiesta Child Care Center in Wilmington Thursday. He spent part of his morning reading to kids at at the childcare facility, which is part of the Latin American Community Center (LACC).
Christina referendum date set
On February 24, 2015 voters in the Christina school district will be asked to approve a school tax increase. The amount to be levied is still under discussion, but district CFO Bob Silber said the funds will help Christina keep up with inflation and move forward with its strategic plan for the future.
Dover Post
Brown Elementary gets STEM support from $20,000 Verizon grant
W.R. Brown Elementary School students are fulfilling even more Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) requirements. With the help of a $20,000 Verizon Innovative Learning Grant Brown became one of 80 schools in the country to get the award.
National News
U.S. News and World Report
FCC passes $1.5 billion E-Rate funding boost
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved a $1.5 billion funding increase for its E-Rate program, which helps disadvantaged schools gain access to technologies and high-speed Internet.
Education Week
Historic e-rate vote reaction: applause, relief, excitement
Reaction from educator, technology, and library groups—almost all of it positive—has been pouring in following Thursday’s big, contentious, party-line vote by the Federal Communications Commission to raise the overall spending cap on the federal E-rate program.
Connecticut moves to downplay tests in accountability
Remember when we reported to you recently that California is working on a new accountability system that will downplay the use of achievement categories? Now Connecticut is hammering out a system that would judge schools by far more than just their test scores.
New center aims to better aid states on special education
For decades, states seeking help on special education issues—including management of federal funds, ways to reduce the overidentification of minority students with disabilities, and understanding the latest mandates from Washington—could rely on one of six regional resource centers.
Real Clear Education
Common Core politics and elections: Will the Standards survive through 2016?
Now empowered with a Republican-controlled Congress in Washington and big wins for the GOP across gubernatorial midterms, education analysts are speculating about how much risk Common Core faces over the next few years. To gauge how the Common Core is faring across the country, RealClearEducation compiled a (unscientific) heat map that measures risk of repeal in each state