June 29, 2016
Delaware
Department of Education
Free, reduced price meal policy announced
The Delaware Department of Education today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price for meals served under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and After School Snack Program.
Delaware State News
Program helps students acquire math, science and tech skills
Forty middle-school boys started a three-week summer program Monday funded by Verizon. Its goal? To expand their math and science knowledge by learning skills ranging from 3D modeling to app development. The program, known as the Verizon Innovative Learning Program, is in operation in a dozen cities nationwide. It’s open to middle school minority boys.
Dover Post
BRINC Consortium of Delaware adds 2 new school districts
The BRINC Consortium of Delaware announced it will add two new school districts for the 2016-17 year. The Capital and Polytech school districts will join Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Caesar Rodney, Colonial, New Castle Vo-Tech, Indian River and Red Clay districts in the award-winning consortium, founded in 2012.
The Harrington Journal
Exchange students tell of cultural differences
Lake Forest High-School graduates and exchange students Mrunali Desai and Putu Cathay Varianthy say they will never forget their year in Felton, even while continuing their high school education in their home countries.
The News Journal
At DSU, STEM help for young black male students
Many of the high-paying industries that are expected to add the most jobs in coming years require a background in science, technology, engineering or math, so Delaware State University has partnered with Verizon to make sure that minority male students don’t get left behind.
The Rodel Foundation
What do budget cuts mean for students and schools?
Blog post by Melissa Hopkins, director of external affairs at the Rodel Foundation
The Joint Finance Committee has already made and continues to face difficult decisions this year—especially as revenue projections trend downward and significant gaps remain in our state budget. Some of these decisions involved education funds: some to new proposals in the governor’s budget, some to continue existing programs. What will these cuts mean to students and educators?
WHYY
Delaware lawmakers try to improve anti-bullying law
Delaware lawmakers moved one step closer to stop bullying and improve intervention methods in schools. The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington, would provide children opportunities to reform as an alternative to entering the juvenile justice system.
National
Education Week
Texas math educator looks to close digital divides
As a technologically savvy educator of color based in rural eastern Texas, Rafranz Davis has devoted herself to bridging all manner of digital divides. Davis got her start back in 2005, as a middle school math teacher in the Ennis Independent school district, some 35 miles south of Dallas.
L.A. schools embrace new student technology standards
Los Angeles is the first school district in the U.S. to adopt “refreshed” student technology standards unveiled this week by the International Society for Technology in Education. The move marks a significant pivot in how the country’s second-largest school system is thinking about educational technology.
The Hechinger Report
Tech for tots and teachers: Promoting STEM learning in pre-k-3 classrooms
Toy building blocks aren’t an unusual sight in a preschool classroom. But teachers aren’t typically using them in a physics lesson about force and gravity with their four-year-olds.
NPR
What good preschool looks like: Snapshots from 4 states
A new report, out today, provides 186 pages of answers to one of the toughest questions in education: What does it take to get preschool right? Parents and politicians alike want to know. States are spending roughly $7 billion this year on early childhood education, despite the fact that there are more cautionary tales — like this one from Tennessee — than success stories.
The Washington Post
Using a classroom 3-D printer, a teacher built a little boy a prosthetic hand
Lucas was born without a left hand and through kindergarten was able to do nearly everything other little boys could, including zipping up his jacket, riding a bike, even gripping monkey bars using his palm. But in elementary school, Lucas encountered a problem he couldn’t solve: He could not tie his shoelaces.