Delaware's school choice application window for the 2024-2025 academic year is now open.

School choice application window now open; closes Jan. 10

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Today – Monday, Nov. 6 – is the first day Delaware’s school choice window opens, allowing parents to file applications to send their children to a school outside of their neighborhood. “Every child learns differently, which is why Delaware being a ‘school choice’ state is so important,” said Kendall Massett, executive director of the Delaware Charter Schools Network. “This week, …

Rachel Juergensen is recieving the grant to build a special education certificate program at DSU.

DSU prof gets $1M grant to create special ed certificate

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A professor from Delaware State University has been awarded a $1.06 million federal grant to create a certificate program for special education.  The grant will also pay the cost for participants – and even give them a stipend. The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Rachel Juergensen, an assistant professor of special education at DSU, a five-year grant to develop …

Odessa High's marching band was formally invited Thursday to perform in London's 2025 New Year's Day parade. (From left: Bob Bone, Duncan Sandys, Ruby Wall, Emma Sipes).

Just ducky! Odessa band to perform in ’25 London parade

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Ducks of Odessa High School will be flocking their way across the pond for New Year’s Day 2025. The Appoquinimink school’s marching band on Thursday was formally invited to perform in the London’s New Year’s Day Parade in 14 months.  “Since the start of our program three years ago, we have been working tirelessly to become the best versions …

Smyrna Elementary has been named a 2023 National Distinguished School.

Smyrna, Seaford schools named National Distinguished Schools

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Elementary schools in Smyrna and Seaford have been named 2023 National Distinguished Schools for the extraordinary success of their students. Smyrna Elementary School (Smyrna School District) was recognized for closing the achievement gap between student groups, and the academic progress that the students made during the 2022-2023 school year on standardized achievement tests.  West Seaford Elementary School (Seaford School District) …

Delaware Schools Recognized for Student Success

Staff WriterEducation, RSS-Education

Smyrna Elementary School and West Seaford Elementary School are among a host of U.S. schools that have been named a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished Schools for the extraordinary success of their students. The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), formerly the National Title I Association, has been selecting examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National …

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 RutzHeadlines, Education

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 RutzHeadlines, Education

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 RutzHeadlines, Education

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 …

Students pursuing UD's new graduate AI certificate must complete 9 credits with at least a B-.

UD launches graduate certificate on artificial intelligence

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The University of Delaware is now offering a certificate for graduate students focused on artificial intelligence.  The program requires nine credits in classes designed to teach artificial Intelligence, a rapidly evolving field that has been integrated into many facets of everyday life, the economy and education.  Students in the program will have to complete three classes of the nine offered, …