June 3, 2014
Local News
Delaware Department of Education
State awards more than $170,000 in merit scholarships to high school seniors
A press release
The Delaware Department of Education has announced the recipients of four state merit scholarship programs for the 2014-15 academic year. Merit scholarships are competitive and awarded based on a student’s academic performance, participation in school activities and service to the community.
Waterloo Courier
Task force continues research on behalf of Waterloo Schools
An editorial
Last week, The Courier featured the three-day visit to Delaware’s New Castle County Vocational Technical School District — which made a positive impression on a dozen visitors from the Cedar Valley. It was just the latest action on behalf of the 21st Century High School Task Force, a 56-member group of educators, parents, students, business people, board members and community leaders.
National News
Washington Post
How charters and rivals may get together
A blog post by Jay Matthews
Richard Whitmire’s intriguing new book, “On the Rocketship: How Top Charter Schools Are Pushing the Envelope” is the best account yet of what is happening with charters. Both those who hate the independent public schools and those who love them should read it.
NPR
Kentucky explores alternatives to standardized tests
Kentucky was the first state in the nation to adopt the Common Core and the tests that align with it. This spring, the 1,700-student Danville district thinks it’s found a better way to teach the standards.
The Star-Tribune
Minnesota’s AVID efforts tackle achievement gap
School districts in Minnesota are seeing elementary and secondary students make positive gains thanks in part to the use of AVID — a college-readiness program.
The Associated Press
More students earning college credit during high school
Eighty-two percent of high schools nationwide offered dual enrollment programs, enrolling students in 2 million college courses during the 2010-11 school year — an increase from 71 percent of high schools in 2002-03.
Education Week
STEM-focused schools yield mixed results
In 2010, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology called for 1,000 STEM-focused schools to open in the next decade. But the results of several new studies raise questions about the overall efficacy of this approach.
Policy, leadership direction at stake in Chiefs’ contests
Along with a crowded slate of gubernatorial and legislative elections this year, several races for state schools chief could lead to big changes in K-12 leadership and serve as test cases for the durability of such contentious issues as the Common Core State Standards and school choice.