A new bill headed to the General Assembly would immediately provide next of kin of Delaware National Guard, fire or police department members with an American or state flag. Senate Bill 221 would give the flag to the first immediate living family member or partner of a service individual who dies after serving in the Delaware National Guard, a police …
Here’s how Delaware slices its school funding pie
One might find it hard to believe that laundry, driver’s ed and athletic travel and equipment are considered “instructional costs” in Delaware public schools, but they are. Instruction is one of nine categories of funding for the First State’s public schools. It makes up 55.28% of the spending for the 23-24 school year, totaling $1,584,970,346, according to the Delaware State …
Hodgson’s Maiss Hussein repeats as Delaware Poetry Out Loud champ
Maiss Hussein, a senior at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, is once again Delaware’s Poetry Out Loud winner. She went back-to-back, winning this year’s competition at the Smyrna Opera House Thursday night with her rendition of “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson. The poem reads: “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in …
Legislature to be briefed on new school funding report
Delaware’s legislators will get their first official look next week at a recently released funding report that suggests changes to how the state funds its schools and says it should pump $500 million to $1 billion more into education. Many of the legislators attended the December announcement of the report by the American Institutes for Research. On Thursday, March 7, …
6 named 2024 Superstars in Education & Training Winners
Six institutions in Delaware have been recognized by the Delaware State Chamber as 2024 Superstars in Education & Training winners. Since 1989, the awards program has recognized educational programs for innovative and impactful programming. The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, The Partnership, Inc., stated that all of this year’s winners exemplify creativity and efficacy in workforce development …
12 finalists will compete for 2024 Poetry Out Loud title
Twelve of the finest high school poets Delaware has to offer have been picked to take the stage at the Smyrna Opera House Thursday for this year’s Poetry Out Loud finals. Last year’s winner was Maiss Hussein from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, who was crowned the First State champion with her recitation of Tarfia Faizullah’s “The Poem …
Delaware DOJ to appeal absentee, early voting ruling
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it will move to appeal a Superior Court judge’s ruling on absentee and early voting. Judge Mark Conner ruled last week in favor of former state attorney general Jane Brady’s suit that laws passed by the General Assembly – over objections that they were not constitutional – were indeed “inconsistent with our Constitution and …
Student-directed learning days get thumbs down in Milford
A proposed way to teach through “self-directed student learning time” was met with criticism from several members of the Milford School District. Four of those learning days were proposed in the 2024-2025 academic year calendar presented to the district’s school board during its monthly meeting Monday night. “I’m not an educator but I am a parent,” said Board President Scott …
New Milford middle school has 4 finalists for name change
The new Milford middle school, a key component of Milford School District’s strategic plan to accommodate rapid enrollment growth, will soon be getting a formal name. The school, under construction at 612 Lakeview Avenue in Milford, is expected to open in fall 2024. It is part of the five-year Milford School District Strategic Plan, adopted in 2023. The district is …
Politicians react to court striking absentee, early voting laws
A ruling by the Delaware Superior Court that restricts early and absentee voting – a highly contentious aspect of the 2020 Presidential Election – has state leaders reacting on party lines. Judge Mark Conner ruled Friday in favor of former state attorney general Jane Brady’s suit that laws passed by the General Assembly – over objections that they were not …