January 13, 2015
Delaware News
The News Journal
Judge says Reach must close
After losing a legal battle with the state, Delaware’s only all-girls public school will likely close at the end of the year.
Appo book policy draws free speech complaints
The Appoquinimink School District has chosen not to implement new rules giving parents more control over what their children read after the ACLU, several national groups and some teachers complained the changes amounted to censorship and violated students’ First Amendment rights.
WHYY
Leaders fired, board resigns at troubled Delaware charter
The move comes one month after Family Foundations Academy disclosed a forensic audit that said Sean Moore, the school’s co-leader, and Dr. Tennell Brewington, the school’s co-leader and founder, used a school credit card to make over $94,000 in personal purchases.
Widener Law prof offers analysis of Reach Academy court decision
Widener Law professor Kathleen Conn says it’s possible counsel for Reach could have presented a stronger case if they’d pursued a different strategy.
Middletown Transcript
Superintendent discusses priorities for local schools in 2015
Matthew Burrows, the superintendent of the Appoquinimink School District, shared some of the resolutions for the district and himself in 2015.
UDaily
Author Geoffrey Canada to discuss challenges facing American public education
Author and educator Geoffrey Canada, president and former CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, will deliver the annual Louis L. Redding Lecture on Civil Rights and Social Justice at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, in Mitchell Hall on the University of Delaware campus in Newark.
Delaware Department of Education
Voting open on student logo contest
Voting now is open in the Delaware Department of Education’s second annual Delaware Goes to College student logo contest. Anyone may vote through Jan. 26 by “liking” his or her favorite design on the Delaware Goes to College facebook page.
National News
New York Times
Should schools teach personality?
Self-control, curiosity, “grit” — these qualities may seem more personal than academic, but at some schools, they’re now part of the regular curriculum. Some researchers say personality could be even more important than intelligence when it comes to students’ success in school. But critics worry that the increasing focus on qualities like grit will distract policy makers from problems with schools.
Forbes
The unappreciated success of charter schools
I think the conventional wisdom on charter school evidence could be summed up thusly: ”some charter schools appear to do very well, but on average charters do no better and no worse than public schools”. But I would like to propose a better conventional wisdom: “some charter schools appear to do very well, and on average charters do better at educating poor students and black students”.
Education Week
Pressures rise as pace of kindergarten increases
As the push for academic content increases, educators weigh what’s important—and what’s developmentally appropriate.
Study: Head Start programs may help prevent obesity among preschoolers
Obese and overweight preschool-aged children were found to have significantly healthier weight statuses by the time they reached kindergarten age if they participated in Head Start programs, according to a study published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
The Washington Post
Poor, Hispanic school focuses on test prep, sees huge gains. But can it be replicated?
Carlin Springs Elementary School in Arlington, Va., has typically hovered below the state average for the number of students who pass the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Last year’s third-grade class, however, saw double-digit gains in all subjects.