October 29, 2015
Delaware News
The News Journal
Senate approves new education secretary
The Delaware Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve Gov. Jack Markell’s nomination of Steven Godowsky for Secretary of Education on Wednesday, but only after its members made clear they expect him to be more approachable than his predecessor, Mark Murphy.
Christina superintendent to retire in February
Freeman Williams, the superintendent of the Christina School District, will retire in February, the district has announced. Williams has led the district, one of the state’s largest, since 2012. This August, he went out on a leave of absence. Robert Andrzejewski, the former superintendent of the Red Clay Consolidated School District, took over as acting secretary at the start of this month. Christina’s board is “exploring a timeline for a superintendent search,” according to a news release.
Support Vision Coalition plan
Letter to the editor by Jennifer Guido, Rehoboth Beach
As part of the LearnZillion Delaware Dream Team, I’m a big believer in collaboration and sharing resources to support my fellow educators. As much as we can, we should encourage innovation and creativity, both in teacher preparation and teaching practice in the classroom.
Delaware Public Media
New funding model a priority in state education reform efforts
The annual conference at the University of Delaware was the eighth hosted by the Vision Coalition, which has long led efforts to reform education in the First State. But this was the first time they’ve had a new 10-year set of recommendations to work with — the Student Success 2025 plan. It’s a multi-tiered approach that looks at things like personalizing learning for more students and improving career prep. And perhaps above all, it calls for an upgrade of Delaware’s decades-old education funding model.
Christina School District superintendent to retire
Dr. Freeman Williams has informed the Christina Board of Education that he will retire, effective February 1 next year.Christina officials say the board will immediately start exploring a timeline to conduct its search for a permanent replacement for Williams.
Delaware mirrors national drop in federal student test scores
The nation’s report card shows a drop in scores for the first time ever — and Delaware students didn’t fare well either in federal student test results out Wednesday.
WDEL
Godowsky confirmed by Delaware State Senate as new education secretary
“I am proud of the hard work of the educators and students in schools across the state that has led to the learning gains and other progress our schools have experienced in recent years,” Dr. Godowsky said. “Yet more work remains. I appreciate the Senate entrusting me with this challenge. I look forward to working with our teachers, principals, district and charter leaders, legislators and partners to continue to support our schools to ensure every child has the opportunity to graduate prepared for success in their next steps in life.”
Delaware’s scores drop in nation’s report card
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results showed Delaware is one of just eight states where fourth and eighth grade students scored lower in mathematics in 2015 compared to 2013. In 19 other states, NAEP reported students’ scores saw no change.
WBOC
Delaware Senate confirms Dr. Steven Godowksy as Education Secretary
“Steve is a leader with the experience and respect necessary to build on the tremendous progress we’ve made over the past seven years,” said Governor Markell. “There is still more work to be done, but today’s vote by the Senate underscores their confidence in Steve’s ability to advance our efforts. I look forward to our work together and I appreciate the Senate’s consideration and support.”
Newsworks
Delaware scores slip on national exam
Delaware students scored significantly worse on a nationally administered standardized test–the first such decline in decades. Results from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test, which were released Wednesday, show Delaware fourth and eighth graders fared worse in reading and math than they did when scores were last posted in 2013.
Cape Gazette
Cape changes school start times – again
Cape Henlopen elementary students will head to class first, with secondary schools starting later after the Cape Henlopen school board decided Oct. 22 to start elementary schools before secondary schools – reversing a decision made in July.
Dover Post
CR students using tech to tackle agriculture challenges
The Caesar Rodney School District is prepping its elementary school students to tackle agriculture questions using technology. Through a $13,000 Verizon Wireless grant, district officials plan on enhancing students’ knowledge of computer coding while exposing them to different challenges in food production. Christine Alois, supervisor of instruction at Caesar Rodney School District, said the grant’s purpose is to integrate more science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) techniques into the classroom.
Charter school withdraws application for Dover move
The owners of a proposed charter school are withdrawing their application to move to Dover, citing an inability to meet the current deadlines. Mapleton Charter School owners say they’re not ready to proceed
Senate confirms Godowsky as Secretary of Education
Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. David Sokloa, said he is pleased with the Senate’s confirmation. “It is no secret that our state’s education advocates have become fragmented in recent years and we need a leader who is ready to step up and build new consensus on how we tackle important issues like testing, Common Core implementation and closing the achievement gap.”
Smyrna-Clayton Sun-Times
North Smyrna Elementary’s Sandra Hall receives grants, accolades, and invitation to Space CampDe
North Smyrna Elementary School teacher Sandra Hall will pay a visit to the President of the United States and go on a trip to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s annual International Space Camp over the next year. That’s because she was selected as Delaware’s Teacher of the Year at a ceremony held on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center.
Delaware Department of Education
Federal funds available for meals served in day care settings
Press release
Federal funds are available to help child and adult day care providers in Delaware serve nutritious, healthy meals to children and adults in their facilities. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Sponsors in CACFP can receive cash reimbursement for meals served. Participant eligibility is tied to income eligibility guidelines that are adjusted annually by the USDA.
National News
U.S. News & World Report
Student scores in reading and math drop
After years of tumultuous change in the country’s K-12 education landscape, student performance in math and reading has dropped. Average math scores for students in grades four and eight and the average reading score for eighth -graders declined from 2013 to 2015, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation’s Report Card. The average reading score for students in grade four was unchanged over the two-year period.
NPR
Will STEM education be the child left behind?
Leaders in business, education and politics love to talk up how important Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is for America’s future. Yet some in Congress either aren’t hearing that message or disagree. Exhibit A: the giant, federal education law, No Child Left Behind, that Congress is currently struggling to update. The rewrite that the U.S. House recently passed eliminates the largest source of federal science education funding.
The Kansas City Star
Kansas education’s new vision focuses on nonacademic skills
Kansas’ education commissioner unveils a new vision for schools that would create individualized education plans for each student, placing equal focus on academic and nonacademic skills to help graduates be successful in the workforce.
The New York Times
Nationwide test shows dip in students’ math abilities
For the first time since 1990, the mathematical skills of American students have dropped, according to results of a nationwide test released by the Education Department on Wednesday.