January 4, 2017
Delaware News
Cape Gazette
Cape discusses before- and after-school care
Cape Henlopen School District is looking into options for before- and after-school care for students whose parents may need help when the district’s new start times go into effect next school year. “The change of start times has been a concern for our families, and we take that very seriously,” said Donna Kolakowski, supervisor of elementary curriculum. Kolakowski said the district is talking to two providers for after-school care to Cape Henlopen elementaries.
Coastal Point
IRSD’s Bunting to be nominated for Secretary of Education
Gov.-elect John Carney is building his cabinet to lead Delaware for the next four years. On Dec. 30, he announced his intent to nominate Selbyville’s Susan Bunting as Secretary of the Department of Education. Bunting has served as Indian River School District superintendent since 2006, currently responsible for more than 10,000 students and more than 1,300 employees — one of the state’s biggest and fastest-growing school districts.
Delaware State News
What will Trump’s education agenda mean for Delaware?
Commentary by Paul Herdman, president and CEO of the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Betsy DeVos as his choice for Secretary of Education. A number of people in the community have asked me for my take on what this will mean for public education in Delaware. Here are some initial thoughts. Of course, she’s not been confirmed yet and we don’t know what her plans will be, so we’re reading tea leaves at this point.
Sussex County Post
Second IRSD referendum reflects anticipated state budget cuts
Amid uncertainty and Delaware’s cloudy financial status and state funding for education, Indian River School District is delivering a change of pace in its second current expense referendum pitch. Thursday, March 2 is the date for the follow-up referendum. Like the referendum, which went down to narrow defeat Nov. 22, the March 2017 referendum seeks voter support for a 49-cent tax increase.
The News Journal
Teachers need to shape our education policies
Opinion by Jenna Argo, teacher at Millsboro Middle School and a member of the Rodel Teacher Council
Delaware is in the middle of drafting its state plan on education, and there is a narrow window of opportunity for educator voices and expertise to inform the development and implementation of these plans for the benefit of our students. Currently, state and local policymakers are developing plans for how they will comply the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the federal law governing more than $50 million in annual federal education dollars for Delaware.
National News
Education Week
Tricky balance in shifting from ESSA blueprint to K-12 reality
One year ago, President Barack Obama and longtime education leaders in Congress burst through years of deadlock to pass the Every Student Succeeds Act, the first update to the nation’s main K-12 law in over a decade. Now the law remains a work in progress, as states, districts, and a shifting cast of federal officials work furiously to prepare for its full rollout this fall.
NPR
Teachers are stressed. And that should stress us all
We all experience stress at work, no matter the job. But for teachers, the work seems to be getting harder and the stress harder to shake. A new report out this month pulls together some stark numbers on this: Forty-six percent of teachers say they feel high daily stress. That’s on par with nurses and physicians.
Tahlequah Daily Press
Governor Fallin establishes goal to increase post-secondary education, training attainment
Governor Mary Fallin announced Thursday a goal to increase post-secondary education and training attainment for Oklahomans. The goal, named Launch Oklahoma, is for 70 percent of Oklahoma’s residents, age 25-64, to complete a post-secondary degree, certificate or credential by the year 2025. About 40 percent of the state’s residents now have that level of education or training, according to the Lumina Foundation.
The Atlantic
5 numbers that explain education in 2016
As a writer, I generally favor words over numbers. But sometimes a good number is worth a thousand words. Or something like that. In that spirit, here are five numbers that help explain the state of education in 2016 (with a smattering of words thrown in for good measure).
Toledo Blade
State seeks comments on some learning standards
Ohioans interested in what students learn in social studies and science classes can now tell the state how to improve learning standards that cover topics ranging from the Constitution to chemical reactions. The Ohio Department of Education is accepting online comments through Jan. 9 about the standards — the state’s list of expectations describing what students should learn in subjects and at specific grade levels.