November 5, 2015

Delaware News

The News Journal
Report: UD can do more to enroll low-income students
The University of Delaware is one of 10 American public universities that could be doing more to enroll students from low-income families, a recently released report suggests. “A lot of Delawareans are proud of the university for its accomplishments,” said Mamie Voight, a Wilmington native and a co-author of the Institute of Higher Education Policy’s report. “But one thing it could be doing better is representing the diversity of the state.”

Be rewarded: WilmU gives back to DE teachers with free master’s level course
The Teacher Development Project rewards Delaware educators and supports their professional growth through tuition-free, graduate level coursework at Wilmington University. The innovative program is offered as a thank you to local teachers and as a well-deserved pat on the back. It also aims to enrich the overall community via a trickle-down effect—the idea being: better teachers, better students, better communities.

Delaware Public Media
WEIC’s redistricting committee has a plan drafted ahead of December deadline
A committee focused on redistricting Wilmington schools as part of the Wilmington Educational Improvement Commission (WEIC), now has a plan that it will submit to the state Board of Education before the end of the year.

WHYY
First year, first generation: Going home
This article is the fourth in a series on first-generation college students.
Since early summer, I’ve been following five first-generation, first-year college students from Delaware as they transition to higher education. A month or so into the first semester, I noticed a trend. When I’d ask the students about their social lives they’d often mention–somewhat casually–that they were spending weekends at home. And it wasn’t like they were going home occasionally for some specific purpose. Rather, it was habit. When Friday hit they were making the trek home, or at least trying to score a ride there.

Sussex County Post
Charles Bireley: On ‘board’ for nearly 40 years, education remains a passion
When Charles Bireley first was elected to the Indian River School District board of education, “All in the Family” was the top television show, Ray Stevens’ “The Streak” was a mid-summer chart-topper and the Oakland A’s were World Series champions. That was 1974. From then to present, Mr. Bireley, now 75, has served on the IRSD school board for all but three years – 1974-89 and 1992 to present. Over a 10-year stretch he was chosen by board colleagues to serve as school board president.

The Hechinger Report
The federal government urges K-12 schools to try open educational resources
The U.S. Department of Education launched a new program last week to encourage the use of open educational resources (aka free books and materials). The campaign, branded as #GoOpen, could convince more schools to use non-traditional textbooks in the classroom. What’s the benefit? Teachers can copy and remix the material as they see fit – without violating copyright laws – and innovative lessons can be shared widely, supporters say. Colonial School District in Delaware will pilot the program.

National News

EdSource
Preschools play key role in preparing English learners for kindergarten
Preschools have such an important role to play in getting children prepared for kindergarten because about half of the children in the state’s largest publicly funded preschool programs – Head Start and California State Preschool Program – come from homes where a language other than English is spoken. The two programs together enroll nearly one-quarter of all 4-year-olds in California. However, it’s unclear how well these children can speak English by the time they enroll in preschool because the programs don’t publicly report the numbers of children by their English-speaking ability – only those who report having another home language.

Associated Press
Study: Most states link student learning to teacher reviews
The comprehensive state-by-state analysis released Wednesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality shows 42 states and the District of Columbia have policies on the books requiring that student growth and achievement be considered in evaluations for public school teachers. In 2009, only 15 states linked scores to teacher reviews.

Governing
Why the Feds gave Ohio a grant, then said it couldn’t be spent
Federal regulators have placed a hold on a $71 million charter-school grant awarded to Ohio in September in response to concerns about the state Department of Education’s rigging of charter-school evaluations. The U.S. Department of Education slapped additional “safeguards” on the agency “to ensure that ODE will be able to carry out its proposed project in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.”

NPR
Mississippi Voters Reject Guaranteed Public School Funding
Public schools in Mississippi have been underfunded for years. Yesterday voters said no to an initiative that sought to guarantee an “adequate and efficient system of public schools.”