Teachers in the Brandywine School District are one step closer to being about to throw away notebooks, pencils and erasers. Brandywine School District is making a determined effort to modernize the classroom, with devices for teachers like interactive smart boards, Chromebooks and iPads. Ultimately, the district believes student test scores will improve with instructor access to the …
Charter moratorium bill released after heavy debate
After a contentious hearing, a bill that would put a moratorium on both the creation and expansion of charter schools in New Castle County was released by the House Education Committee Wednesday. The final vote on House Bill 353 was nine in favor and seven against. All nine who voted in favor are Democrats, all seven against are Republicans. In …
Bill ordering K-12 mental health curriculum on way to Senate
A bill that would require a statewide mental health curriculum has passed the House. Photo by Unsplash A bill that will require the state to provide mental health education in every grade level passed the House and is headed to the Senate Education Committee. House Bill 301 would require the Delaware Department of Education to establish a statewide …
Vo-Tech students to be paid to help revitalize Wilmington
25 New Castle County Vo-Tech students will be hire to work on Wilmington revitalization projects. New Castle County Vo-Tech students will swap their pencils for screwdrivers as part of the effort to revitalize the city of Wilmington. The students will be involved in the city’s $50 million residential redevelopment and stabilization plan funded through the American Rescue Plan …
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y for spelling bee king Billy Scialla of Camden
Billy Scialla. a Fifer Middle School eighth grader, won the state spelling bee on the word “surrogate.” Photo courtesy St. Mark’s High School Billy Scialla can thank The Hulk for his 2022 Delaware spelling bee title. Out of the 12 words he spelled correctly to win, only one gave him pause. “Punily.” But then his love for films came to …
Delaware schools to turn to science of reading to improve literacy rates
State education officials, legislators are moving to be sure the science of reading is used when teaching public students. Delaware’s once highly ranked reading scores now are worse than those in Mississippi. Much worse. In 2002 Delaware fourth graders outperformed Mississippi’s by 21 points on national scores, with the First State well above the national average. Today, after a …
Bills to add mental health help in schools sent to House floor
Two bills moving to the House floor would put millions into mental health positions in Delaware’s middle school and high school. The House Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to release two bills focused on putting additional mental health resources into Delaware schools. House Bills 300 and 301 serve as an extension of House Bill 100, legislation passed …
42 to compete for 19 school board seats in May 10 election
Three seats only have one person running, but one seat in Red Clay School District has four people running. When Delaware residents go to the polls in May, they’ll find 19 school board seats up for grabs and 42 candidates who want them. The deadline to file to run in the 16 districts having elections was March 4. Of the …
Kalmar Nyckel’s Underground Railroad class focuses on travel options
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s new classroom program focuses on the Underground Railroad. The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation will offer a new class focusing on the many ways slaves could travel along the Underground Railway, emphasizing Delaware’s role in it, as well as the state’s maritime history. In addition, the program will teach five different strategic routes and factors, and five …
National tour to celebrate Delaware’s shift in math education
Three Delaware schools are getting a visit from a national tour highlighting changes in teaching math. Caesar Rodney, Brandywine, and Appoquinimink school districts will welcome a national tour this month that celebrates the high level of mathematics learning in Delaware. The Knowledge Matters Campaign chose Delaware as the first stop, and it’s the first time the First State has …