March 7, 2016
Delaware
Cape Gazette
Shields students learn about animals in winter
Maggie Pletta, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s educational outreach program director, visited Shields Elementary School for an Animals in Winter program. She read a story about animals that hibernate and migrate. Pletta also brought winter animal fur, skulls and tracks for the students to explore.
Delmarva Now
Who’s running for Cape, IR school board?
The filing deadline to run for a position on a school board in Delaware this year has come and gone. Here’s who filed for seats on the Cape Henlopen and Indian River school boards. Four spots are up for grabs on the two school boards. Just two of them, as of press time, are being contested, according to the Delaware Department of Elections. Election Day is Tuesday, May 10.
Delaware Public Media
Gov. Markell touts STEM education efforts in weekly message
Gov. Jack Markell’s weekly message highlights the progress he believes the First State is making in offering students STEM education opportunities. In response to the growing number of jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math – Markell says his administration has worked to foster collaboration between school districts, local colleges and universities, and business leaders to develop curriculum that produces students who can fill those jobs.
Delaware State News
Newark sixth-grader wins Delaware spelling bee
After 15 rounds of competition Saturday, sixth-grader Raphael Kim of Newark Charter School emerged as the winner of the 2016 Delaware Spelling Bee by correctly spelling “manifesto.” Sixty-six students from across the state competed at St. Mark’s High School –– each earning their spot in the bee after winning their school’s spelling bee.
Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards nominations being accepted
Nominations for the Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards are being accepted by the State Office of Volunteerism through April 8. These awards recognize the contributions that Delaware’s youth volunteers, age 18 and younger, make to their communities. Award recipients will be honored at a May ceremony at Polytech Adult Education Conference Center in Woodside.
Office of the Governor
Weekly Message: Expanding education opportunities to ensure future student success
In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights the phenomenal work being done by educators in the STEM fields to better prepare their students for successful futures. “Giving our students the best chance to thrive means exposing them to great educational opportunities in the STEM fields – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM jobs are increasing much faster than average, from computer system analysts and software developers to medical scientists and biomedical engineers.” Gov. Markell said.
The Dover Post
Families shed light on strengths and weaknesses at first district forum
Diane Bogle is concerned about parental involvement. Her daughter is a junior at Dover High School and has been in the district since kindergarten. “With the population of students [the district] serves you have to understand who you’re serving,” she said. “And you have to be willing to serve those people.” Bogle was one of an estimated 50 people at a Feb 2. Capital School District public forum at the Modern Maturity Center.
The Milford Beacon
Leaving a lasting legacy: Central Academy mural project inspires confidence
At first glance, the mural that colors the hallways appears to be hundreds upon hundreds of wide-ranging books neatly stacked. However, Milford Central Academy Principal Nancy Carnevale said the week-long project goes much deeper than just a couple of strokes of acrylic paint. “As a school we viewed this project as much more than creating public art,” Carnevale said.
The News Journal
Books, reading take center stage in schools
Theodor Seuss Geisel — known to children all over the world as Dr. Seuss — would have been 112 years old last Wednesday. All over Delaware, students and their teachers threw birthday parties for the beloved author. Cats in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Loraxes showed up in schools from Selbyville to Claymont. The anniversary was a day of fun for kids, but Seuss parties are only a sample of the barrage of statewide events held over the past few weeks and aimed at helping kids learn to read — and read well — before they enter third grade.
Bright young minds go head-to-head at Science Olympiad
Dover High School seniors Rachel Mills and Zorana Ilic have been preparing for the Delaware Science Olympiad’s bridge building competition since December. They researched designs. They then built and tested three types of miniature bridges. Finally, they settled on a model that was strengthened by isosceles triangles and two different types of wood. When it came time for the competition Saturday afternoon, they hooked a bucket to the bottom of their bridge and watched eagerly from behind their lab glasses as more and more sand was poured into the bucket.
UDaily
Reading across the ELC
The University of Delaware’s Early Learning Centers in Newark and Wilmington were buzzing with excitement on Wednesday, March 2, as dozens of volunteers from six organizations joined more than 200 children in 16 classrooms to participate in Read Across America Day. For the past 18 years, the National Education Association has sponsored Read Across America on March 2, to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. This year, UD partnered with the United Way of Delaware (UWD), W.L. Gore and Associates, Burris Logistics, Dow Chemical and Delaware state legislators to promote the love of reading in children.
National
Chalkbeat
Is Indiana’s state ISTEP exam too easy?
Indiana’s standardized tests might have gotten so much harder last year that test scores plunged across the state, but two national testing experts say the exam might technically still be too easy according to an earlier study. “The Indiana test was relatively low-level,” said Ed Roeber, a former Michigan testing director asked to consult on ISTEP. The 2015 ISTEP exam might have seemed tougher to students and teachers. The state saw a 20 percentage point drop in students passing both English and math last year.
Education Week
Indianapolis superintendent enlist charters as allies to improve city’ schools
Lewis Ferebee may seem like an unlikely champion of charter schools. The son of educators whose own career has been built by rising through district schools’ leadership ranks in the South, he has a decidedly traditional educational pedigree. His dissertation at East Carolina University argued that public-school-choice provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act didn’t improve student achievement. And on top of all that, he’s the head of a struggling urban school system that many argue has been hurt even more by a fast-growing charter sector.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
NJIT partners with New Jersey Department of Education and School Board Association for future ready schools
A new program to help New Jersey school districts identify and meet their needs for digital learning was announced by Education Commissioner David C. Hespe at today’s meeting of the State Board of Education. The state Department of Education will partner with NJIT and the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) to develop the “Future Ready Schools–New Jersey” recognition program. The Future Ready Schools–New Jersey (FRS-NJ) program is designed to promote digital learning throughout New Jersey’s elementary and secondary public schools
The Tennessean
Tennessee House passes test transparency bill
A bill that would release student questions and answers on state tests passed the state House Thursday. The test transparency bill would let teachers and parents see students’ questions and answers on state-mandated tests. Proponents of the bill say teachers can use test material to aid their instruction. The Tennessee Education Association, Professional Educators of Tennessee and the state department of education support the bill. The state department of education has already requested funds to release as many test questions as possible on the 2016-17 state tests. The process to review test questions and answers is still in development.
Williamson Daily News
W.Va. schools’ simulated workplaces giving students experience for a life
West Virginia businesses needing to hire an experienced employee who can pass a drug test and is willing to do a fair day’s work for a day’s pay should visit one of the simulated workplaces in the state’s school system. Students in Mingo Central High School’s career and technical education programs gain on-the-job experience every time they go to class. Their classrooms resemble workplaces and their assignments are for “companies” they’ve named. For example, “smARTdesign” is the graphics art company.