September 15, 2015

Delaware News

WDEL
Early learning in Delaware sees dramatic improvement over last decade
In 2007, the Delaware Stars program debuted–as called for in the Vision 2015 report. The Delaware Stars program ranks the quality of early child care programs. For example, a five-star facility gets more state subsidies than a three-star facility. The report found just 5 percent of low-income children under the age of 5 were enrolled in accredited pre-school programs. In the past decade, that’s dramatically improved with more than half of the state’s low-income students now enrolled in high-performing early education programs.

Delaware Business Daily
Vision Coalition to release 2025 plan for public schools
The Vision Coalition of Delaware will release Student Success 2025 at a special event in Dover, Delaware on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Student Success 2025 is a vision for public education in Delaware, focused on the skills and attributes every educated Delawarean needs have by 2025—and the strategies to achieve that vision.

Newsworks
Delaware’s ambitious effort to change the way it pays teachers
Delaware leaders want to make two major changes to the compensation system. First, they want to raise starting teacher salaries in order to attract the best candidates. Second, they want to create hybrid teacher-leader roles that would allow expert educators to take on additional responsibilities while keeping a foot in the classroom. In essence, they want to create a new rung on the educator career ladder so that top teachers can advance without feeling like they have to become administrators.

Delaware Public Media
Delaware celebrates National Arts in Education Week
Five years ago, the U.S. House of Representatives designated the second week of September as National Arts in Education Week, stating that art is an “essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.” Paul Weagraff, Director of the Delaware Division of the Arts, says the week-long observance is an opportunity to showcase the role that arts education plays in students’ success, particularly to elected officials and education leaders.

The News Journal
Delaware students now must study organ donation
Delaware high school students will have a new lesson to contemplate – organ and tissue donation and transplant. Teachers were given a two-hour training with the Gift of Life organization to go over organized organ donor and transplant lessons.

As Biden ponders campaign, Jill Biden enters spotlight
The topic is education, but the subject remains the 2016 presidential campaign. Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, Jill, on Thursday resumes her role as the administration’s chief ambassador for the nation’s community colleges at the same time she’s been thrust in the middle of her husband’s decision whether to make a third bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

WBOC
Sussex Tech looking to build new high school
On Aug. 31, the district filed for a certificate of necessity from the Delaware Department of Education. This is the fifth year in a row the district has filed for a certificate of necessity from the state. In each cycle, the Department of Education denied the request.

National News

The News Journal
Why do politicians want to dump Arne Duncan?
Opinion by Kevin Carey, director the education policy program at New America
It’s important to remember that local control over public education was historically used to segregate African American students and provide far more money to rich school districts than to poor ones. The persistent achievement gaps between low-income and minority students and their more privileged peers that have long plagued public education were a product of local control. There is no reason to believe that a return to that arrangement will produce better results.

Education Week
It’s time to get rid of education’s sacred cows
Commentary by Angela Minnici, director of the Education Policy Center at the American Institutes for Research
Perhaps our field has too many sacred cows—home truths that have gone unquestioned while the world has changed. Here are three to consider for starters: Education is local; almost anyone can become a good teacher; American schools have traditionally done a great job of educating all kids.

NPR
Obama makes college aid application earlier and easier
There is big news today for prospective college students and their parents. It comes from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who is in Iowa with President Obama for his annual Back to School Bus Tour. “Today, we’re lending a hand to millions of high school students who want to go to college and who’ve worked hard,” Duncan said. “We’re announcing an easier, earlier FAFSA.”

Education Week
No special session to save Washington State charters, Gov. Inslee says
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has declined to call a special session to create a legal pathway for charter schools to remain open this year. In a letter sent on Friday, Inslee, a Democrat, said he would focus on improving traditional public schools instead of charters, which he said “lack public oversight and accountability.”

Huffington Post
Game-changing ethnic studies bill heads to California governor
The California state assembly passed a bill that would create a model ethnic studies curriculum for optional use statewide, handing a victory to educators and activists who say the courses will help boost achievement among students of color.