January 21, 2016

Delaware

Cape Gazette
Full ride scholarships to UD
Up to 150 students from low-income families could attend the University of Delaware without racking up student debt thanks to a $3 million grant from the Give Something Back Foundation and it’s founder, Bob Carr, CEO of Heartland Payment Systems. The program is open to 9th grade students and there are detailed steps to initiate the process, which begins every fall with scholarship winners announced each March.  The first applicants for the 2019 graduating class have already completed the application process with the selections announced this coming March.

Delaware 105.9
IRSD to offer financial aid workshops
The Indian River School District is partnering with $tand By Me to host two financial aid workshops aimed at helping families understand the financial aid process and secure cash for college. Pre-registration is required. The events will be held on Tuesday, February 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sussex Central High School Computer Lab in Georgetown and on Thursday, March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Indian River High School Computer Lab in Dagsboro.

Delaware State News
Capital school board restates support for testing opt-out
By unanimous vote Capital School District’s board of education formally restated its support Wednesday for House Bill 50. Capital is just one of many organizations and individuals that supported the bill that would have allowed parents to opt their child out of standardized testing, most notably the Smarter Balanced Assessment, if they believe it was in the best interest of their child. Last June, HB 50 passed the General Assembly with overwhelming support –– 86 per cent in the House and 71 percent in the Senate.

Fox 14
Governor Markell proclaims Jan. 24 – 30 school choice week in Delaware, joining leaders nationwide in celebrating opportunity in education
Delaware Governor Jack Markell has officially proclaimed January 24-30, 2016 as “School Choice Week” in Delaware. Governor Markell joins more than two dozen other governors and 211 mayors and county leaders nationwide in issuing proclamations. With more than 60 events being held to celebrate the Week in Delaware alone – and with more than 16,000 independently organized events across all 50 states – National School Choice Week will be America’s largest-ever celebration of opportunity in education. Events will include rallies, round-table discussions, coffeehouse meet-ups, festivals, school fairs, and more.

Rodel Blog
Wikihouse FirstState builds refugee housing relief
WikiHouse FirstState is the world’s first student-led chapter of the WikiHouse movement. Our goal is to develop a proof of concept for sustainable, locally manufactured housing for disaster relief, low-income, or reduced footprint applications. Inspired by recent events, we hope this project can provide a permanent solution to the displacement of refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Approximately one out of every 116 people on this earth has had to leave their home to flee from persecution or disaster. Many live in extreme poverty, becoming destitute with minimal resources.

The Dover Post
Educators fulfill dreams through T.E.A.C.H.
Educating children before they make the jump to kindergarten is where Tina Edwards shines. Since 2004 she’s been the owner of Tina’s Tots, an early childcare center she operates out of her home in Dover. But the road to early childcare hasn’t been an easy one. “I had for years wanted to be a childcare provider,” she said. “But my husband and I thought that was a big risk and I didn’t know if I could do it.” Then her granddaughter was born and Edwards found the motivation she needed to start a daycare. For a while this alone fueled her desire to teach, but eventually she wanted more.

The Milford Beacon
Milford’s freshman expo will be “Invincible”
Philadelphia Eagles legend Vince Papale, whose life story was made into the movie “Invincible,” will help host the second annual Freshman Expo in the Milford High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28. The event is for all students in Kent or Sussex County interested in attending Milford High in the 2016-17 school year. The evening will start with an inspirational message from Papale, who will deliver a speech about the perseverance and grit that it takes to be successful in all aspects of life.

The Sussex Countian
Legislators discuss failed attempt to override veto
An attempt to override Gov. Jack Markell’s veto of HB-50, which would have made it easier for parents to opt out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment test, proved unsuccessful last week. During the Jan. 14 session of the General Assembly, Rep. John Kowalko tried to push for a suspension of the rules to expedite a vote. The attempt failed by a vote of 13 in favor, 26 against. Kowalko, a primary sponsor of the bill, was disappointed with the results, but said the fight isn’t over.

Town Square Delaware
Education talk draws big Wilmington crowd
More than two hundred Wilmington-area education boosters came out to the Christina Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) on Thursday for a discussion with Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of  the United Negro College Fund.  Attendees included Sylvia Banks (a founding board member of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League), Tyrone Jones (United Way of Delaware) and Cerron Cade (Office of Gov. Markell), with Raye Jones-Avery, executive director of CCAC, serving as the evening’s emcee.

WDEL
Parents, students raise concerns about overcrowding at Skyline Middle School
Red Clay parents and students continue to express frustration about overcrowding at Skyline Middle School. The school, which serves sixth through eighth grade students, is at 110 percent capacity following re-zoning which took effect this school year. Parents and students said the change is taking a toll on learning. During Wednesday night’s school board meeting, students said their classmates are walking out of class, being disrespectful to teachers and starting fights.

National

Chalkbeat
Study finds racial discrimination in school gifted programs
Black students are far less likely to be placed in gifted programs, even if they have the same test scores as their white peers and especially if their teacher is white, according to a new study by researchers at Vanderbilt University. And at least partly to blame may be a teaching force that is mainly white, and the level of subjectivity that still goes into decisions about which students make the cut in gifted programs, the researchers say. The study was based on data from more than 10,000 elementary school students across the nation.

CNN
Why Detroit schools are in such deep trouble
The problem: The bankruptcy that let the city shed billions in debt missed the city schools. The schools are a separate unit of government that wasn’t included in the city’s reorganization. As a result of the schools’ dire financial straits, the buildings are physically decaying, to the point where many of the districts’ teachers say they can no longer provide their 46,000 students with an adequate education. The schools are likely to run out of cash by April, the deputy superintendent for finance told the Detroit News, as the debt payments it owes are set to soar next month.

EdSurge
How to rally veteran teachers around a personalized learning model
In my previous column, I shared some tips on how to support new educators in a personalized learning environment. But getting veteran teachers on board is just as crucial in ensuring success. To gather some insight, I spoke with teachers and administrators from a variety of traditional and charter public schools including: Cesar Chavez Elementary (grades K-8, Chicago), CICS West Belden (managed by Distinctive Schools; K-8, Chicago), Intrinsic Schools (7-12, Chicago), Liberty Elementary (Baltimore), and USC East College Prep (9; Los Angeles).

The Atlantic
The problem with ed-opt schools
In New York City’s stratified high-school system, some schools abound with academic superstars, while others are crowded with students who struggle with basic math and reading. One group of schools was designed to be different. Using an admissions model that experts have called a “triumph of educational engineering,” these high schools are set up to enroll students along a neat academic bell curve, reserving spots for applicants at different academic rungs. Many of the schools also feature a career-focused theme like business management or nursing that is meant to entice a range of students to apply.

The Charlotte Observer
Natural diversity vs. white flight: 3 CMS schools tackle challenge
Blog post by Ann Doss Helms, reporter at The Charlotte Observer
Drive to Rama Road Elementary, across the street from $200,000 homes in southeast Charlotte, and you might assume it’s the neighborhood school for middle-class families. Check the data, as many prospective homebuyers do, and you’ll see something else: high poverty and low test scores. So you might conclude what many others have: This is a nice place to live, as long as you send your kids to school somewhere else.