May 26, 2015
Delaware News
The News Journal
Lawmakers fighting Markell on education
After years of pushing education reforms in Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is facing a revolt in the General Assembly.
Christina schools deserve a ‘yes’ vote May 27
Opinion by John M. Young, member of the Christina School District Board of Education
The bottom line is this: costs (energy, supplies, and salaries) rise over time and unless and until the public adds money to the coffers via referendum, eventually these two lines (costs v. flat revenues) will cross. We are at the point, five years since the last referendum, where those lines will cross again this year.
Why are expenses so high for school for the deaf?
Opinion by Dr. Nick Fina, a consultant and project leader of Choices Delaware, a six-year-old organization working for change in Delaware public policy on education of children with hearing loss
As voters prepare to consider the Christina Board of Education’s latest operating referendum request on May 27, they may wish to ask district officials to explain the high cost of operating Delaware School for the Deaf/Statewide Programs for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Blind (DSD).
Manufacturing alive and well in Delaware
Opinion by Representative Bryon Short, 7th District in the Delaware House of Representatives
The state is making a commitment to provide training and education for the future workers these advanced manufacturers will employ. The “Manufacturing Pathways” programs, developed in direct cooperation with industry, allow Delaware high school students to take specialized courses earlier in their educational careers, participate in internships at manufacturers across the state, and earn college credits at Delaware Tech.
Delaware 105.9
Delaware lawmakers revolt against Markell Administration’s education policies, but what will the next Governor do?
Blog post by Allan Loudell
Clearly, our politicians hear repeated pleas from America’s business community about the (sometimes) sorry educational preparation of many students coming out of high school, and even college. Politicians respond, however imperfectly. Then we get the backlash.
Delaware Public Media
Christina School District tries new approach in new referendum request
The branding for the referendum is a slogan designed to unite constituencies that sometimes have seemed at odds: “Christina, Charter, Choice, We All Win.”
Dover Post
Opting in or opting out?
Opinions by Senator David Lawson, 15th District in the Delaware State Senate; Mark Murphy, Delaware Secretary of Education; Yvonne Johnson, the Delaware PTA VP of Advocacy; Alissa Schubert, media relations with the Delaware Charter Schools Network
With HB50 midway through the legislative process, Kent County SUNDAY has spoken with local parents, teachers and state administrators to hear their arguments for and against opting out.
National News
Education Week
Dramatic improvement in education systems: What it takes
Blog post by Marc Tucker
The nations with the best-performing education systems have two things in common that have nothing to do with the specific education policies and practices they have embraced. The first has to do with the goals they have chosen to embrace. The second has to do with the conditions that are needed for paradigmatic change in education systems. The two are intimately related.
Q&A with Sir Ken Robinson
We asked Sir Ken Robinson, the speaker of the viral TED Talk “How Schools Kill Creativity” and the popular animated video “Changing Education Paradigms” (with more than 13 million views) about his thoughts on student engagement and testing, the future of teacher education programs, and why vocational education maters.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Deal’s education commission considers pre-K teacher pay
Teachers of Georgia’s youngest students might get more money for advanced college degrees while those in regular K-12 schools might not, based on discussions in Gov. Nathan Deal’s Education Reform Commission.
The Clarion-Ledger
Mississippi education agency to tweak state standards
The Mississippi Department of Education will seek public input on the controversial Common Core State Standards it adopted five years ago in an effort to improve them.
American-Statesman
Greg Abbott’s pre-K bill wins final passage
Texas Governor Greg Abbott will finally get to sign his pre-kindergarten improvement bill into law. The soon-to-be-law will distribute up to $130 million worth of grants to school districts as long as they meet certain quality requirements like having certified teachers and using a state-approved curriculum. Districts also would have to report certain data about their pre-K programs to the state for the first time.