Just weeks after Delaware State University announced a successful inaugural year of a program that trains professionals to serve the state’s youngest learners, the state’s other prominent institutions of higher education are jumping on board. The Delaware Department of Education funds DSU’s Early Childhood Innovation Center, which offers direct support to help early childhood professionals work toward their certification as …
Here’s what happens now in districts whose referendums passed
Now that Colonial, Red Clay and Brandywine have had successful referendums, residents of those school districts may be wondering when they’ll have to pony up finances and when they’ll see new facilities. Delaware school districts that have had a successful referendum typically phase their spending over three years or more. The concept of the referendum isn’t widespread nationally. Delaware is …
What happens if you’re waitlisted from school of choice?
After wading through the process of school choice, Erin Exelby found herself woken up in the middle of the night worrying what would happen if her children were waitlisted from their top selections. School districts sent parents and children emails about a month ago saying whether they were accepted, denied or waitlisted for their preferred schools. Waitlisting essentially means that …
Colonial, Red Clay biggest winners in state funding requests
The state Department of Education has made some school districts very happy by deeming their requests for state funding necessary to fulfill building projects. For fiscal year 2025, the Department of Education approved 50 certificate of necessity requests, 44 of which involved state funding. They were concentrated in six districts. Districts submit certificates of necessity each year to the department, …
Bryan Allen Stevenson charter wins state OK; will open in 2023
Howard T. Ennis school will be home to the Bryan Allen Stevenson School for Excellence in fall 2023. After a few organizational hiccups, a new Sussex County charter school will be opening its doors in fall 2023. The Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence, first proposed in 2017, received state approval on May 5, and it’s already garnered a …
Permanent school mask mandate is on hold – for now
Some interpreted a DOE regulation to mean masks would be permanently required in schools. Photo by Rodnae Productions on Pexels. A regulation that many interpreted to mean Delaware schools would indefinitely require mask-wearing is on hold — for now. A proposed amendment to Delaware Administrative Code 815 — the rule schools follow for health examinations and screenings — would have …