October 19, 2015
Delaware News
Delaware Public Media
Dropout bill to return to General Assembly in January
Delaware lawmakers are reviving efforts to keep kids from dropping out of school before they’re adults. Right now, state code allows students over 16-years-old to withdraw from the classroom if they choose to without repercussions. Rep. Debra Heffernan’s (D-Brandywine Hundred South) bill would gradually increase that age to 18 over two years.
The News Journal
Delaware native makes coding kid-friendly
Computer systems design is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation, with more than a million programming jobs expected to go unfilled by 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Organizations like Zip Code Wilmington, a new computer programming school launched in Delaware last month, are working to prepare current students for careers in the field.
Delmarva Now
Trio of Indian River schools ‘beating the odds’
At North Georgetown Elementary School, more than 50 percent of its 794 students live where the language spoken at home is not English, and more than 80 percent of students get free or reduced lunch, according to school principal Jeffrey Forjan. But just one teacher left the school after the 2014-15 school year.
Cape Gazette
Del Tech President Mark Brainard honored as Pacesetter of the Year
Dr. Mark T. Brainard has been named the recipient of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 1 Pacesetter of the Year award. This award recognizes a community college chief executive officer who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to marketing and communications, and strong personal leadership for college outreach endeavors.
National News
Education Week
Schools, government agencies move to share student data
Amid an ongoing debate over the use of student data, K-12 systems have quietly begun linking children’s educational records with data from other government agencies.
Pearson to pay L.A. Schools $6.5 million over botched digital curriculum
The nation’s second-largest school district announced today that it has approved an “amicable settlement” with education publishing giant Pearson, to the tune of $6.45 million. mThe company’s payment is reimbursement for “content and services delivered under [its] technology partnership” with the Los Angeles Unified schools, according to a district statement.
Inside Higher Ed
A new route to student aid
The Department of Education announced that it will open up federal aid to a limited number of partnerships between colleges and boot camps and MOOC providers, with a secondary goal of testing new forms of accreditation.
The Hechinger Report
Pre-K researchers can’t get past the third grade
Disadvantaged children who receive quality early childhood development have much better education, employment, social and health outcomes as adults, the vast majority of research shows. Unfortunately, this good news is getting lost in the current obsession over third-grade test scores.