February 23, 2017
Delaware News
The News Journal
Help us recognize Career and Technical Education Month
Opinion by Victoria C. Gehrt superintendent of New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District
It’s a Monday, and 672 seniors from the four New Castle County Vo-Tech High Schools – Delcastle, Hodgson, Howard, and St. Georges – are heading to work at offices, labs, healthcare centers, restaurants, construction sites, auto dealerships and hundreds of other businesses as paid, credentialed, high-skilled employees. They have spent the last three years studying, practicing and learning skills in one of 40 different career programs of study, preparing to be career-ready all the while taking a full academic courseload and maintaining a GPA high enough to be considered eligible for a work placement.
Protesters rally at A.I. DuPont over season cancellation
A group of about 20 parents, students and supporters are at A.I. du Pont High School this morning protesting the principal’s decision to ban the boys basketball team from participating in the upcoming DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament.
Rodel Blog
Introducing the Legislative Hall Pass: Crunching the numbers on Delaware’s education budget
Blog post by Melissa Hopkins, director of external affairs and Neil Kirschling, program officer at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
The Legislative Hall Pass is a new series at the Rodel blog. Our team of experts will examine the most pressing education bills and issues emerging from the 149th Delaware General Assembly, and weigh in with commentary, context, and data. With elections far off in the rearview mirror, inaugurations wrapped, and cabinet members trickling their way into position, the real work is set to begin in earnest for elected officials, and especially the 149th Delaware General Assembly.
The importance of employability skills
Blog post by Jermaine Williams, cooperative employment coordinator at St. Georges Technical High School and Rodel Teacher Council member
As the cooperative employment coordinator at St. Georges Technical High School, my job, in conjunction with our career and technical instructors, is to usher our senior students out into the working world as employed adults. It’s a tough job, especially considering that we have 254 seniors spread across 15 different career programs, which span from construction to automotive to business to early childhood to food service and nursing.
National News
Austin-American Statesman
Poll: Standardized tests won’t fix problems in Texas education
The most effective way to improve the state’s public school system is to cut standardized tests, according to the results of a new poll released by the Texas Tribune and the University of Texas on Wednesday. The internet survey of 1,200 registered voters, conducted Feb. 3-10, found that 21 percent of them believed that cutting tests was the most effective way to improve schools, followed closely by increasing funding to schools.
Komo News
Washington House passes education proposal
The House on Wednesday approved its education funding proposal, but majority Democrats haven’t yet decided how to pay for the plan, which has a price tag of more than $7 billion over the next four years. The bill ultimately passed on a 50-47 party line vote after lawmakers had to redo the vote because two Republicans initially accidentally vote in favor. The chamber’s action comes just weeks after the Republican-led Senate passed its own plan. Both sides will now need to negotiate a final compromise.
Education Week
Rhode Island announces statewide K-12 personalized learning push
Rhode Island is moving forward with a statewide personalized learning initiative that aims to support a variety of efforts to tailor education to the unique needs of each student. The $2 million public-private effort is being headed by Richard Culatta, the state’s chief innovation officer and the former director of the office of educational technology at the federal education department.
The News & Advance
Bedford County school board OKs $103M budget
The Bedford County School Board unanimously approved a $103 million 2017-18 budget Tuesday and will ask the county for $36 million in local funding. The proposed budget needs nearly $3 million more from the county than provided for in this school year’s budget. Of that, $2 million would be for operating funds.
Bristol Herald Courier
Digital learning embraced at Bristol Tennessee schools
Bristol Tennessee school students were hard at work on their laptops Wednesday — the day before schools across the nation promote Digital Learning Day. That’s because the system embraces the use of technology in classrooms every day — not just one day a year, according to Holston View Principal Kristie Coleman. Digital Learning Day started in February 2012 as a way for teachers to introduce their students to personalized learning using technology.