The Public Education Funding Commission will establish its goals in its first official meeting Thursday. (Photo by BrianAJackson/iStock Getty Images)

School funding group’s first meeting Thursday, will set goals

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A state commission created this year to develop a more effective funding formula for Delaware public schools gathered Wednesday. But, the day was mainly a debriefing and dubbed a “professional learning day”, and the Public Education Funding Commission will have its first official meeting Thursday, per the agenda posted on the General Assembly website.  Wednesday’s meeting was much of what …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Delaware 45th in education in its most recent report.

National child wellbeing report puts Delaware 45th in education

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A report from a national nonprofit focused on the wellbeing of America’s children confirms what most Delawareans have learned over the past couple of years: education in the First State is far from first.  The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 54-page report lists Delaware 45th in education – or sixth worst in the entire country.  But, it highlights a lot of …

Delaware's 2024 school board elections are Tuesday, May 14.

19 to compete for 8 seats in May 14 school board elections

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

In a light year for school board races, 19 candidates are vying for eight open seats across eight of the state’s 19 school districts. This year’s election is Tuesday, May 14, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last year, 43 candidates ran for 23 vacancies across 16 school districts. In 2022,  42 candidates competed for 19 open …

Vision Coalition has one of its five town halls left, engaging the community with their thoughts on education in Delaware.

Sussex community vocalizes needs, hope for education

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A few dozen parents of students, educators and concerned community members shared their frustrations with education in Delaware and hopes for the future during a town hall Wednesday night.  The few students in the crowd received applause and praise from the crowd for caring enough to be involved in changing the status quo of a system still funded by an …

The Department of Education, Redding Consortium and Wilmington Learning Collaborative had their yearly state budget requests Wednesday.

Education groups costing ⅓ of state budget face JFC

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Education – what one legislator called the most important investment by the state – consumed Wednesday’s Joint Finance Committee hearing for a category that makes up about one-third of the state’s $6 billion budget.  Appearing in the morning before the committee that decided how and where the state’s budget will be spent was The Redding Consortium and the Wilmington Learning …

Delaware's school choice application window closes Jan. 10.

School choice window closes next week 

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Parents have eight days to submit applications if they wish to send their children to a school outside of their residential district or assigned school. Delaware is one of the 13 states in the country that allows families to apply for their children to attend any public school – district or charter – rather than sending them to the neighborhood …

Jimmie Allen to appear on literacy program with new book

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Country music sensation and Delaware native Jimmie Allen will join Read Aloud Delaware Wednesday for a Q+A session about his children’s book, “My Voice Is a Trumpet.” The book will then be read by his kindergarten teacher, Mary Beth Alexander. “He took my hand and held my arms and said, ‘I want the world to hear you read to them …

Founder’s Folio: On education, virtue and civic engagement

Chris L. KennyEducation, Headlines

As the Great American experiment continues to explore what works in education for communities, parents and their children across the 50 states, one fact is certain: Education is a critical component of our society. Knowledge through education creates an enlightened people, and an enlightened people are most equipped with the necessary tools to govern collectively.  The Founding Fathers agreed on …

DOE chief Holodick honors 2022 Secretary Scholars

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

    In a tradition that dates nearly 40 years, the secretary of education at the Delaware Department of Education has published a list of Secretary Scholars. This year, Secretary of Education Mark Holodick honored 89 high school seniors across the state with the award. In a press release, he called the students the kind of leaders the state needs …

5 districts see hefty increase in voter turnout for school board election 

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

  Five school districts had huge increases in voter turnout in Tuesday’s school board elections, with some doubling or tripling their vote count from last year’s election. At the same time, seven districts with contested races actually saw a decrease in voter participation since last year. Many observers hoped to see the statewide forums and increased interest in what’s happening …