From left: First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, Program Manager Diane Frentzel and Community Coordinator Camelia Vivero of Delaware Readiness Teams presented the state's new kindergarten registration process. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

Kindergarten registration: Meet state’s new quick process

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A new digital and uniform process to register children for kindergarten in the First State was unveiled to an audience of 25 Tuesday at the Wilmington Public Library.  “Having a consistent process throughout Delaware allows libraries and other agencies to provide quick support and assistance to parents who are registering their children for school for the very first time,” said …

Brandywine board member Kristin Pidgeon said that many city children are bused to suburban schools and the Learning Collab should consider providing programs and services to those students. (Courtesy of Harlan Elementary School Facebook group).

A look at Brandywine’s city vs. suburban test scores

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A look at the test scores of Brandywine School District’s elementary schools shows why the state is focusing only on Wilmington children in its proposal for a program to raise student achievement in the city. Brandywine school board member Kristin Pidgeon this week questioned why Brandywine’s other eight elementaries – all in suburban schools – are not included in the …

Delaware has contracted a consultant to evaluate their complex and historic funding formula for school funding.

Here’s why state wants advice on school funding

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Delaware Department of Education announced last week it has hired a Virginia consultant to study the state’s public education funding system. As today’s wisecracker would say: Good luck with that. How the money trickles down to the classroom is complex, and it follows a funding system established in the 1940s. The state’s population then was 286,000, compared to today’s …

School board elections open to voters Tuesday

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

  After weeks of candidates campaigning, Delaware’s 38 school board candidates face the voters Tuesday, May 10. Polls open on May 10 at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. While school board elections typically draw only 10% of the available voters, many Delaware organizations are hoping for a higher turnout this year. Jane Brady, chairwoman of the Delaware State …

New group seeks to get parents, grandparents active in education

Betsy PriceEducation, Headlines

  A Delaware education nonprofit that wants to foster radical change in state schools by activating the involvement of Delawareans is forming Parent Power, a group of mom, dads and grandparents who want to be involved in the system. Step one, said Sharon Sade’ Truiett, director of advocacy for First State Educate, is for parents to begin attending their local …

State to mandate masks in all schools, state facilities; more rules to come

Charlie MegginsonEducation, Government, Government & Politics, Headlines, Health

Gov. John Carney said Tuesday that masks must be worn by those over the age of 2 in all public, private and parochial schools, as well as childcare homes and centers. Carney also said state employees and visitors to state facilities must wear masks indoors beginning Monday, Aug.  16. This requirement applies to everybody, regardless of their vaccination status.  The …