October 5, 2015
Delaware News
Phi Delta Kappan
Teachers matter. Yes. Schools matter. Yes. Districts matter — really?
Article by Karen Chenoweth, writer-in-residence at The Education Trust and, most recently, co-author of Getting It Done: Leading Academic Success in Unexpected Schools.
This article examines the actions and experiences of two districts – Indian River School District in Delaware and Pass Christian School District in New Orleans – to offer lessons and examples of what districts can do to make broad improvements that affect all their students rather than having pockets of success in certain schools.
The News Journal
U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan to step down
Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, will step down in December after seven years in President Barack Obama’s cabinet, according to a letter to his staff obtained by the Associated Press.
Delaware Teachers of the Year 2015
Meet the 2015 Delaware Teachers of the Year.
DSU grant to help at-risk kids go to college
High school counselors could get new tools to help low-income, first-generation and other at-risk students attend college, through a new program at Delaware State University. DSU recently won a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its Access to Success program, which aims to create a system that helps students find what kind of college or university might be the best fit for them.
Delaware State News
CR officials see ‘sincere need’ for referendum
On the same day Caesar Rodney students, alumni and employees will celebrate the district’s centennial at Rider Pride Day, Oct. 17, district residents will be faced with a serious question at the polls — to vote yes or no for a referendum to raise their tax rate. Taxes for operations and capital projects, if approved, will increase the district’s rate by 57 cents per $100 of assessed value over a five-year period.
Dover Post
Public hearing next week on new Dover charter school
A public hearing on Oct. 12 will give residents a chance to discuss a proposed new charter school in Dover. The school, formerly known as Mapleton Charter School, was originally scheduled to open in the developing Town of Whitehall, but changed its plans due to slow progress at the New Castle County development, according to the Delaware Board of Education.
Office of the Governor
Governor’s statement on Secretary Duncan stepping down
“During numerous visits to Delaware, Secretary Duncan showed a commitment to seeking out what’s working and what needs to be improved in our schools, and Delaware students are better off for his efforts. I thank him for his service and wish him and his family well in whatever comes next.”
Coastal Point
State senator proposes mail-in voting for school elections
Mail-in voting could improve elections in Delaware, according to state Sen. Karen Peterson (D-Stanton), as public discussion begins over her bill proposing mail-in ballots for school-related elections. Introduced in July, SB 165 is titled “An act to amend the Delaware Code relating to public school elections.” By eliminating public voting by machine in those elections, the purpose is to prevent electioneering in schools that are being used as polling [places] and to increase voter participation. Under, Peterson’s bill, all Delaware public school elections and referendums would be held the same day (the second Tuesday of May).
National News
NPR
The Education Secretary’s greatest hits
It has been decades since an education secretary had as high a national political profile as the long-serving Arne Duncan, who famously accompanied President Obama from Chicago and even more famously likes to shoot hoops with the president.
Meet the next Secretary Of Education
The man who will succeed Education Secretary Arne Duncan has both an inspirational personal story and a record of controversy in what’s become a national debate over the Common Core learning standards. At age 40, John King Jr. will become one of the youngest Cabinet members in American history. He’s been deputy U.S. education secretary since January, after serving as education commissioner in New York.
U.S. News & World Report
Lessons from Arne Duncan Leaving
Opinion by Andrew J. Rotherham
What Arne Duncan’s resignation means for the education debate, 2016 election and beyond.
Boston Globe
Tommy Chang on leading a school system like a startup
Personalized education can’t be done systemwide, in my opinion. It has to start classroom to classroom and maybe school to school. If you don’t have a grading system that’s competency-based, you can’t get to personalized education. If you don’t have multiple ways to access education, through books, through a lecture, through playlists, through videos, you can’t get to personalized education. If you don’t have flexible use of space and the ability for teachers to regroup the kids, then you can’t get to personalized education.
Chronicle of Higher Education
Perkins Loan Program, a federal stalwart since 1958, meets its demise
The Federal Perkins Loan Program died on Wednesday, the victim of a senator who has made it his mission to simplify student aid. Perkins was the oldest federal student-loan program on the books: Created in 1958, it spanned 11 administrations and provided $36 billion in aid to 30 million low-income students during its lifetime. Supporters said the program made college possible for millions of students who would otherwise have been unable to attend or been forced to take on costly private loans.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philly superintendent wants more closures, conversions, new schools
Sweeping changes are afoot for the Philadelphia School District, with closures, conversions to charter schools, and even new schools proposed Thursday by the superintendent. In all, 5,000 students at 15 schools would be affected by the plan, which requires School Reform Commission approval. It has a price tag of up to $20 million.