December 29, 2015

Delaware

Cape Gazette
Students participate in Hour of Code
Delmarva Christian Schools Milton Campus students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in Hour of Code throughout the week of Dec. 7. Hour of Code is a weeklong initiative from Code.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making computer science education more accessible to students of all ages, locations and backgrounds.

Delmarva Now
Sussex culinary programs open doors for kids, inmates
Unlike casual cooking at home for friends and family, pursuing a culinary career often means formal training of some sort, along with years of on-the-job restaurant training and experience. For Sussex County students, there is an industry-backed training program called ProStart at Cape Henlopen High School and several other institutions. In addition to a normal academic work load, students enrolled in the three-year program complete a relevant food service curriculum. Students also intern at a local restaurant to gain experience.

Smyrna-Clayton Sun-Times
Smyrna High School preview for eight graders Jan. 13
Guidance counselors, administrators and instructional staff will offer information about classes and extra-curricular programs offered, and visitors can take a tour of the building. Eighth graders and their parents are invited to the “Spotlight on Smyrna High” information session on Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Sussex County Post
Ennis School’s new playground equipment will fit special needs
New playground equipment designed specifically for students with special needs is coming to Howard T. Ennis School. Indian River School District’s board of education at its Dec. 21 meeting approved more than a quarter of million dollars for the project, which includes removal of existing surfacing and installation of new safety surfacing and playground equipment – with a relocation option.

The News Journal
Axalta, Eagles honor Talley Middle School teacher
The Philadelphia Eagles and Axalta Coating Systems honored Jennifer Handler, a teacher at Talley Middle School in Brandywine Hundred, as one of their 10 all-pro teachers. Handler was acknowledged at an Eagles home game in 2015, received a $1,000 school donation from Axalta, Eagles tickets and a personalized Eagles jersey and football.

National

Education Week
Ten edu-stories we’ll be reading in 2016
Blog post by Rick Hess, resident scholar and director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute
This past year has featured a slew of developments I’d have never expected to see. Nonetheless, people continue to ask if I’ve any thoughts on upcoming events in 2016. I suppose that comes with the territory when you work at a D.C. think tank. So, despite my shabby record as a prognosticator, I’ll give it my usual shot. Here are predictions regarding a few of the big edu-headlines we can expect to see next year.

The Hechinger Report
Parting shot: As he leaves the U.S. Department of Education, the leader of its Office of Ed Tech appeals for greater equity
Culatta delivered his plea last week at National Education Week, an annual conference that was held this year at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The outgoing federal leader spoke on a panel about teaching coding in schools, and he used most of his time in the spotlight to talk about equality.

The Baltimore Sun
Md.’s perfect early education equation
Opinion by Nancy S. Grasmick, presidential scholar at Towson University
Not all that long ago, early childhood education meant the first three grades of elementary school. Very few schools had kindergarten programs and even fewer offered pre-kindergarten programs. Today, all Maryland school systems offer kindergarten programs and pre-kindergarten programs for at least the most disadvantaged 4 year olds. It is now time for Maryland to continue to lead the way in early childhood education by expanding innovative programs that start at birth and continue through age 3.

The Washington Post
McAuliffe’s $240M higher education spending plan is a bigger deal than you might think
Years of state funding cuts have led to tuition hikes and an increase in the average amount of student debt. Now Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) is trying to reverse that trend with an injection of $240 million. If his two-year spending plan is successful, it will be the most significant investment Virginia has made in its college and universities in well over a decade.