Red Clay and Colonial school districts were the biggest funding beneficiaries of this year's certificate of necessity approvals.

Colonial, Red Clay biggest winners in state funding requests

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

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, …

The 2024 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year will be announced Dec. 5.

2024 Educational Support Pro of the Year named Dec. 5

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

One education support professional will be chosen Dec. 5 as the state’s best out of the 19 chosen by school districts and one charter school. This is the fourth year the Department of Education has recognized a State Educational Support Professional of the Year. “Educational support professionals’ roles vary greatly,” said Mark Holodick, secretary of education. “They provide one-on-one support …

Currently, free meals are based on income levels of either a student's family or the community the school is located in.

Bill to mandate free school meals could cost state millions

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Six Democratic state legislators are sponsoring legislation that would require all public schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. House Bill 125, whose primary sponsor is Rep. Sherae’a Moore, D-Middletown, was introduced in April, but never heard by the General Assembly, which returns to session in January. Moore declined an interview to discuss the bill. The bill …

In addition to the online move, the SATs are getting shorter.

SATs to move exclusively online in 2024 with adaptive format

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The SATs – a standardized test widely used for college admissions and mandated in Delaware – will be taken exclusively online for First State students starting in 2024. “The College Board is moving to a full digital adaptive test,” said Theresa Bennett, director of the Office of Assessment at the Delaware Department of Education.  Adaptive tests vary the difficulty level …

The AIR report on Delaware's school funding system should be given to the state by the end of December.

Ed. leaders discuss equity ahead of December funding report

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Two dozen leaders from state and national educational organizations on Monday got a sneak peek of potential recommendations on how Delaware should fund schools.  A report by the American Institutes for Research, being paid for by the Delaware Department of Education and designed to help guide state recommendations on changing the way schools are funded is expected to be released …

Brandywine's Harlan Elementary School is one of 53 Delaware schools on support and improvement plans.

53 schools on improvement plans to be re-evaluated next year 

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The First State has 53 public schools on support and improvement plans due to consistent underachievement.  They are divided into three categories, determined by factors such as whether the whole student body or only a student subgroup are underachieving and whether there’s a pattern of underperformance from year to year. Schools on support and improvement plans receive extra funding for …

Positive Outcomes Charter School is one of six charters up for renewal this year.

Positive Outcomes Charter kicks off 6 renewal hearings

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Positive Outcomes Charter School of Camden came prepared for its sixth meeting with a state committee that reviews Delaware’s charter schools’ progress. Positive Outcomes showed the committee a short video presenting a lot of anecdotal and data-based successes.  We’re very proud to be in front of you today seeking our sixth renewal of our school,” said Ed Emmett, school director. …

Sussex Montessori School is one of six charters in Delaware up for renewal this year.

6 charter schools up for renewal, decision in December

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Six of the First State’s 23 charter schools are up for renewal this year and will have their futures decided at the State Board of Education’s December meeting. First State Military Academy, Freire Charter School Wilmington, Great Oaks Charter School, Kuumba Academy Charter School, Positive Outcomes Charter School and Sussex Montessori School are the six that submitted their renewal application …

There appears to be little correlation between cost per student and test scores.

Numbers show gaps in test scores, money spent on students

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The amount of money spent on Delaware students in 2022 varied widely from school to school and can’t be correlated with results on standard tests. The average per student expenditure for the top 10 performers on the Smarter Balanced Assessment – taken by students in third through eighth grade – is $17,894. It’s $11,489 for the schools that did best …

The Teacher of the Year will be named Oct. 18.

Here are nominees for Delaware’s 2024 Teacher of the Year 

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

The 20 nominees for Delaware’s 2024 Teacher of the Year have been announced. All 20 will be honored at a celebration 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Modern Maturity Center in Dover.  The winner of the title will be announced that night. Every nominee will pocket $2,000, and the winner will get $5,000 to use in the classroom and $3,000 …