October 12, 2017
Delaware News
Rodel Blog
Treating the cause, not the symptoms: What education can learn from the social determinants of health
Blog post by Shyanne Miller, policy associate at the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
Individual behaviors play a role in educational outcomes, but inequitable social and economic factors loom even larger. We know that children of all backgrounds—including those from adverse environments—can find success in school and in life. But the stark, empirical reality tells us public education still mostly favors the haves over the have-nots.
Coastal Point
East Millsboro Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School
East Millsboro Elementary School was one of three schools in Delaware and 342 nationwide to be named a National Blue Ribbon School for 2017. This is the second time that East Millsboro Elementary has received this national honor. It also won the award in 2008. Overall, it is the Indian River School District’s ninth National Blue Ribbon Award since 2001.
Sussex County Post
IRSD Special Education Task Force hosting parent focus group meetings
In 2017-18, the Indian River School District’s Special Education Task Force will continue to seek input from parents and families regarding special education services in the district. These meetings provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experiences and to offer ideas and suggestions directly to the task force. Organizers note that parents and families are “at the core of our success.”
IRSD partners with $tand By Me in free scholarship workshop
Indian River School District is partnering with $tand By Me to host a free scholarship workshop Thursday, Oct. 26. The two-hour workshop will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sussex Central High School, located at 26026 Patriots Way in Georgetown. The workshop is aimed at helping high school students and their families understand the resources available to identify scholarships and to share essential tips on how to write effective essays.
WDEL
‘I didn’t think he would make it through high school’–until this Lewes mother found Bridge Way
“You do what you’ve got to do for your kids, in hopes that they make it.” 260 miles: that’s how far Jackie Hudiburg had to travel daily to and from Lewes to Northeast Philadelphia so her son, Sam*, now 19, could attend The Bridge Way School, the area’s only recovery high school that aims to continue education programs for teens while also providing them with the necessary supports to overcome an addiction.
Wilmington looking into its own school district, but it will cost you
“He’s come to the table with 60 percent, and he’s looking at us, hey can you up it because everyone else around you is paying more,” said Wilmington City Councilman Ciro Adams, the lone Republican on council. Adams said the city has to do more to come up with funding for the proposed school district especially if the state is willing to step up. “We double the wage tax from 1.25 to 2.50, and use it exclusively for the school system to provide both segments to it,” said Adams.
Technical.ly Delaware
Coded by Kids is coming to Wilmington
Coded by Kids, a Philly-based nonprofit that offers free coding classes for kids at community centers and schools, is officially launching in Delaware, and is reaching out for volunteers. After a successful pilot program over the summer, CbK chose Kingswood Community Center in the Riverside neighborhood of Wilmington as its first point of entry in the First State. Capital One is funding the program, which is slated to start in November.
Department of Education
Delaware 2018 Teacher of the Year to be named
Press Release
One of 20 outstanding public school teachers from across the state will be named Delaware’s 2018 Teacher of the Year a week from tonight. Selected from among the more than 9,000 public school teachers in the state, the nominees each represent one of the state’s 19 school districts and network of charter schools. Governor John Carney will announce the winner at the annual awards banquet on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover.
National News
NPR
For Puerto Rico’s children, finding a ‘safe place’ in the few schools that are open
Back-to-school season didn’t last long this year in Puerto Rico. First Hurricane Irma and then Maria forced schools to close and turned the lives of students and their families upside down. Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Education Julia Keleher says that of nation’s 1,113 public schools, 22 reopened last week and another 145 this week. They’re hoping that the majority will be open by Oct. 23. Some are still functioning as emergency shelters.
EdTech
4 more ways K–12 counselors can better reach their students by going digital
Technology and social media have taken a great leap in the counseling world. Now you can receive therapy through text and video chat, track your mental health through apps, and participate in-group sessions online. Just as data and machine learning have been proven effective for school counseling, apps and online tools can help facilitate better student care. Because technology plays such a big role in our students’ lives — academically, socially and emotionally — these types of resources can be really helpful for school counselors, allowing them to connect on a deeper level and better communicate.
The Federalist
These two Colorado Counties Are ground zero for school choice across the country
School choice has become a hot-button issue in Colorado over the past decade. Currently two of Colorado’s largest school districts are engaging in very public fights over the future of K-12 education. Jefferson County is Colorado’s second largest school district and serves about 86,000 students. In recent years, JeffCo has been a hot battleground between teachers unions and supporters of school choice.
The Philadelphia Tribune
What should Black parents do when the feeder school system fails?
Commentary by Dr. Elizabeth Primas, program manager for the NNPA’s Every Student Succeeds Act Public Awareness Campaign
I was recently approached by a father of a student from Ann Arundel County, Maryland, who was disappointed that his son was unable to attend his neighborhood magnet school; his son met all the requirements to become classified as a magnet student. Upon inquiry, administrators informed the father that the feeder school system did not permit his child to attend the desired school, even though the campus was less than two miles away from their family home.
Education Post
This black male educator teaches a social justice class to middle schoolers in west Philly
Someone once asked me, “Why teach social justice to eighth-graders?” The answer is simple: As educators, we do not control the world our students face when they step outside of our classrooms. However, we are responsible for how prepared our students are to engage with that world. Back in 2016, Sharif El-Mekki and Katie Ziemba at Philadelphia’s Mastery Charter Shoemaker Campus provided me with the opportunity to do exactly that, developing and facilitating a course focused specifically on social justice.