September 25, 2015

Delaware News

The News Journal
Delaware student test scores may be surprise for parents
When parents received a scorecard this week saying how well their students did on the state’s new standardized test, many who are used to seeing good report cards and high test scores were told their child didn’t meet academic standards. But school leaders at both the state and local level say parents should not be alarmed. That’s because the new Smarter Balanced Assessment is much harder than previous tests.

Delmarva Now
Indian River Pre-K program gets state recognition
The Project VILLAGE program at Georgetown Elementary School has received a five-star rating from the Delaware Stars for Early Success program. Founded in 1997, Project VILLAGE — which stands for Verbally Intensive Literacy and Learning Activities For Growth in Education — is an Indian River School District half-day pre-kindergarten program geared toward those who don’t speak English as a first language or are from low-income families.

Town Square Delaware
Head of new Delaware Met school enthusiastic about students’ futures
The Delaware Met high school in downtown Wilmington celebrated its official ribbon-cutting last week, and Head of School Tricia Hunter Crafton recently spoke with Town Square Delaware about the new charter school and its Big Picture Learning Model.

Coastal Point
IRSD hits 10,000 students, examines state test numbers
The Indian River School District’s student population has unofficially hit the 10,000 mark. The district Board of Education had those 10,000 on their minds on Sept. 21 while examining results from the new standardized tests from spring of 2015. The school board got a state test recap, showing areas to celebrate and spots needing improvement.

National News

Wired
Schoolkids don’t just need iPads. They need data plans
Today, American schools are investing billions of dollars in devices and educational technology for the classroom to support personalized education that has been transformative for some kids. But lack of home Internet access for school children is an all-too common problem, one that the FCC has referred to as “the homework gap.” Qualcomm Education, is working to close the homework gap by convening other leaders in the wireless technology industry to help create the equivalent of a free-and-reduced lunch plan for data.

Education Week
Districts diversify languages offered in dual-immersion
As demand for dual-language-programs surges around the country, school districts are beginning to offer students a broader array of target languages to learn.

So, are those federal performance-pay grants having an effect?
That’s the big question taken up in a recently released report on the Teacher Incentive Fund grants. TIF is a federal initiative that couples performance pay for teachers and principals with other reforms in low-income schools. The short answer after two years of implementation is yes, but it’s not a terribly large one. Interestingly, the effect shows up in reading, a subject in which test scores have proved harder to boost.

Idaho Statesman
Treasure Valley school districts scramble to find special-education teachers
Forty-nine states report difficulty hiring special-ed teachers and 91 percent of poor school districts say they struggle to staff the classrooms.

Chalkbeat New York
New York teachers may soon be able to challenge state growth scores
The state is considering offering teachers a new way to appeal evaluations they believe are inaccurate, according to Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch.