Cindy Marten has been selected to be the next Delaware Secretary of Education.

Cindy Marten named new Delaware Secretary of Education

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state of Delaware has a new secretary of education, and she’s been plucked from her role as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Cindy Marten will replace current secretary Mark Holodick, leaving an agency that President-Elect Donald Trump has sworn to close. “I am honored to join Governor-elect Meyer’s team and help lead Delaware’s public schools into a …

The state's esports program launches this month. (Photos of Saint Mark's esports lab, taken by Jarek Rutz)

Esports popularity grows with DOE launching statewide program

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Esports is booming in popularity, with several schools in Delaware opening esports labs and colleges implementing esports curriculums or degrees – and now the state’s Department of Education is hopping on the keyboard. Friday, the department announced it’s partnering with Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom College, University of Delaware, and Wilmington University to launch a statewide educational esports program. It’s for …

UD -- Schwab Lerner

Lerner College and Charles Schwab to Launch Financial Planning Center at UD this fall

Staff WriterEducation, Business, News Briefs

NEWARK — The University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics is partnering with Charles Schwab to create a new Financial Planning Center that will open  this fall at the STAR Campus FinTech Innovation Hub. The Center will enable senior financial planning majors to provide peer-to-peer coaching to fellow students on such topics as student loan repayment, 401k investing, …

The latest Delaware Excellent Educator Hiring Practices Survey shows educator shortage numbers improving. (Photo from rukxstockphoto/Adobe Stock)

Report suggests educator shortage slowly improving in Del.

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

  The nationwide educator shortage has been a thorn in the side of schools, but the burden is easing in the First State.  Delaware’s public schools have 259 vacant staff positions (2.5% of the total educator workforce), a 52% decrease compared to the previous hiring season.  Delaware has more than 10,000 instructional and non-instructional workers. However, not all openings are …

DELAWARE’S SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSES WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8 AT 11:59 P.M.

WEDNESDAY: Application deadline for school choice 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Parents have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to submit applications for their child to attend a school outside their residential district for the 2025-2026 academic year. If history holds true, the state is likely to see about 25,000 applications from parents wanting to switch this year. “Delaware is unique, but it’s more about understanding that our children are unique,” said Kendall …

Delaware Roundup -- Dewey Beach Patrol

Delaware Roundup: News briefs from another quiet holiday week

Staff WriterBusiness, Delaware Nonprofits, Education, Headlines

The Delaware Roundup is published every weekend. Send submissions for News Briefs and Calendar items to editor@delawarelive.com. If possible, please forward submissions within the email or in a Word document. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT The Delaware Division of the Arts, in partnership with Mariposa Arts and the Office of Veterans Services, introduced CreatiVeterans—a transformative, free eight-week art program designed exclusively for Delaware …

Join Delaware Schools

Join Delaware Schools kicks off teacher, staff recruitment efforts earlier than usual

Peter OsborneEducation, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Education is accelerating its efforts to help school districts and charter schools fill open teaching and staff slots, starting its 2025 Join Delaware Schools recruitment initiative earlier in the year than 2023 and 2024. More than 175 people registered for the recruitment fairs in 2024—resulting in approximately 220 visits to virtual booths set up by Delaware …

Getting improved and transparent data is a critical baby step in the state's mission to improve Delaware's schools.

Delaware’s school awards spark data debate

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A recent dispute over Delaware’s school recognition program highlights the growing challenge of measuring and communicating educational progress in an era of increasing data complexity.  The Delaware Department of Education recently awarded 17 schools with state and national recognition for achievements in student growth, closing achievement gaps, and serving special populations.  However, education policy expert Tanya Hettler, Ph.D., from the …

Grades

MSD board questions new report card methods

Terry RogersEducation, Headlines

Milford School District Board of Education recently heard a presentation from Supervisor of Instruction Dr. Bobbie Kilgore regarding new standards-based grading provided to parents on student growth reports. This grading system is used in elementary schools in the district as well as throughout the state of Delaware. “There are many reasons we decided to use this method,” Kilgore said. “We …

Delaware Roundup -- Tree Recycling

Delaware Roundup: News briefs from a quiet holiday week

Peter OsborneBusiness, Delaware Nonprofits, Education, Headlines

The Delaware Roundup is published every weekend. Send submissions for News Briefs and Calendar items to editor@delawarelive.com. If possible, please forward submissions within the email or in a Word document. REMINDER FROM LAST WEEK: DNREC is again sponsoring the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s TreeCycle event that aims to make beneficial reuse of holiday trees by turning them into wood chips and …