May 3, 2016

Delaware

Department of Education
28 high school students selected for summer Chinese study abroad program
Twenty-eight Delaware high school students have been chosen by the Delaware Department of Education to study in China expense-free this summer, thanks to an extended partnership agreement announced earlier this year by Gov. Jack Markell with the Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto parts manufacturer. The students chosen for the Delaware Summer Chinese Language Initiative for Communicating STEM will study at the company’s facility in Hangzhou, China, June 25 to July 22.

Rodel Blog
Our 5 favorite moments with the Rodel Teacher Council
Applications are now live for the 2016-17 cohort of the Rodel Teacher Council. Being on the RTC offers a tremendous professional development opportunity, and a venue to weigh in on important policy issues—but above that, it provided us with some of the most memorable moments of our careers. Without further ado, here are our five favorite experiences from the Rodel Teacher Council.

The Dover Post
Middletown High School team places third in Delaware Envirothon
Middletown High School placed third out of 20 teams in the Delaware Envirothon competition April 28 at Brecknock Park in Camden, according to a press release from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Middletown’s team, named the “BAES” Team, included Brandon Dawson, Ariana Gaston, Erin Fogarty, Josh Housler and Will Nylander.

The News Journal
Delaware bill would shed light on teacher discipline
A bill supported by high-ranking General Assembly members would give Delaware regulators more power to revoke or suspend teacher licenses and make those sanctions more transparent. “The bill came about because we’re trying to do everything we can to protect our children,” said Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, main sponsor of the legislation.

National

Education Week
Iowa school district vows to break law to tap reserve funds
Fed up with years of political battling over the fairness of Iowa’s education funding formula, Arthur Tate, the superintendent of the Davenport public schools, says in order to balance his books next year, he will illegally pull $2.7 million out of the district’s reserves. It’s an amount he bases on the state’s 1971 funding formula, which leaves Davenport $175 less to spend per student compared to some other districts.

International Business Times
Teacher Appreciation Week 2016: 20 quotes about teaching and education to give thanks
Monday marks the start of Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to acknowledge the everyday contribution and sacrifice that educators make for the betterment of their students and local communities. Before the weeklong celebration ends Friday, be sure to let your favorite teachers know how much you appreciate their efforts. For those who need some inspiration, here are 20 quotes about teachers and education.

The Daily Nonpareil
Iowa high-schoolers most likely in U.S. to be taking college classes
About a fifth of all students at Iowa Western Community College are still in high school. A similar picture plays out across Iowa, particularly in the Des Moines area, with joint enrollment opportunities providing the state’s high-schoolers a myriad of opportunities to earn college credit. In fact, the Iowa Department of Education found that Iowa leads the nation in providing college-level coursework for its high school students, with a record high in joint enrollment set in 2014.

The Washington Post
Teacher protests close most Detroit schools again Tuesday
Almost all Detroit public schools were closed again Tuesday as union leaders called on teachers not to report to work, continuing a protest over pay that forced the closure of nearly all of the city’s schools Monday. More than 90 of the city’s roughly 100 public schools are closed Tuesday, according to the district’s Facebook page. About 46,000 students attend the city’s schools, and the second day of closures left some parents scrambling to find alternatives for their children.

WRAL
Local education group to shut down, citing cash flow problems
North Carolina New Schools, a nonprofit that has helped coach teachers and principals at nearly 100 high schools in the state and has received millions of dollars in funding, is shutting down.  In a statement Thursday, a spokeswoman said the organization will close Friday due to “financial issues focused on cash flow.”  “NC New Schools had grown rapidly in recent years,” communications director Kimberly Hofman-McEnaney wrote.