November 25, 2015
Delaware News
UDaily
STEM for the holidays: K-12 education expert makes recommendations for holiday gifts
Melissa Jurist, coordinator of K-12 education in the College of Engineering at the University of Delaware, gets emails from parents every year at about this time asking her about holiday gifts for their kids who love science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Jurist has compiled two “learning labs,” one for less experienced/younger children and one for more experienced/older kids.
The News Journal
New Family Court judge’s focus is on Delaware’s children
Colleagues and family of Jennifer Barber Ranji said Tuesday that her dedication to serving the children of Delaware will only continue in her new position as a Family Court judge. Ranji, the former education policy adviser to Gov. Jack Markell and secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families, was nominated by Markell to the bench in October. After being confirmed by the Senate, she was sworn in Tuesday afternoon in a packed courtroom in the New Castle County Courthouse.
WDEL
1st generation college student at DSU pushes need for scholarships
A Delaware State University junior wants people to help fund scholarships for students at historically black university students–and participants don’t have to spend a dime to do it. Those interested in participating can also call Allstate for a free quote and mention the “Quotes for Education” program to get a donation made. Allstate will donate up to $200,000 to the Tom Joyner Foundation’s scholarship fund.
Cape Gazette
Delaware Tech announces new scholarship endowment for nursing and allied health professions
Delaware Technical Community College announced the creation of the Chris M. Fisher and Michael E. Peterson Scholarship Endowment for Nursing and Allied Health Professions. Both knew from an early age, from their parents’ influence, that education was paramount to a successful career. Without the necessary funding from family to pay for an education, both men worked hard to earn money for their education and that, coupled with student loans, helped them reach their educational goals.
Sussex County Post
Security, safety focus of Georgetown Middle School entrance enhancement
Indian River School District plans to shut the door on unauthorized visitors and would-be intruders at Georgetown Middle School. With an eye on security and safety, the Indian River board of education has given the green light to proposed entrance enhancement that will encompass installation of doors and a check-in communication window at the main office of school on West Market Street. School Resource Officer Joey Melvin, a member of the Georgetown Police Department, brought the safety/security issue to the forefront.
Middletown Transcript
Seventh graders explore career paths at fair
Everett Meredith Middle School hosted a Career Exploration Fair for its seventh graders on Thursday, Nov. 12. The purpose of the fair was to expose students to possible career fields and connect their daily learning with their future possibilities. According to school counselor Dana S. Rideout, students often do not make the connection between their daily learning (in class and home activities and projects) and their future careers as adults. “Our goal was to expose them to a diverse group of career fields and presenters. Our presenters were local professionals and entrepreneurs (including a few Meredith parents),” Rideout said.
National News
Education Week
A new ESEA: A cheat sheet on what the deal means for teachers
Blog by Stephen Sawchuk
Both chambers are expected to vote on the compromise measure, called the Every Student Succeeds Act, next month. My colleague Alyson Klein has secured some legislative language featuring the new version’s accountability and school improvement sections, so make sure to check that out first. But what would the compromise mean for the law’s teacher provisions, including the “highly qualified” teacher mandate? Here’s our best guess based on the language we’ve seen so far
Chicago Sun-Times
CTU chief tells rallying teachers: ‘When we must, we will withhold our labor’
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said Monday night at a Grant Park rally that teachers don’t want to strike, as they did in 2012, but they will, if they must to protect “our professions and our classrooms.” In front of a screaming crowd of thousands who braved a frigid night to show their strength, and joined by legislators, pastors and other labor leaders, Lewis said, “It is time for us to act.”
The News York Times
Rejecting test, Massachusetts shifts its model
But no about-face has resonated more than the one in Massachusetts, for years a leader in education reform. This state embraced uniform standards and tests with consequences more than two decades before the Common Core, and by 2005, its children led all states in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the nation’s report card, and rose above all other countries, save Singapore, in science. The state’s participation was seen as validation of the Common Core and the multistate test; Dr. Chester became the chairman of the board that oversees the test Massachusetts joined. The state’s rejection of that test sounded the bell on common assessments, signaling that the future will now look much like the past — with more tests, but almost no ability to compare the difference between one state and another.
The Hechinger Report
Newark may signify school dysfunction, but its successful education technology plan just won a national award
After several months of rather uninspiring reports out of Newark, New Jersey, here’s something that we might be thankful about: The public school district earned a national award for its evolving use of education technology.