Delaware Skills Center's Electrical Training Program was one of this year's winners.

6 named 2024 Superstars in Education & Training Winners

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Six institutions in Delaware have been recognized by the Delaware State Chamber as 2024 Superstars in Education & Training winners. Since 1989, the awards program has recognized educational programs for innovative and impactful programming.  The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate, The Partnership, Inc., stated that all of this year’s winners exemplify creativity and efficacy in workforce development …

The WLC will need to go to all three district boards to approve the deadline change.

WLC needs three more months to set performance reqs

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative says it needs three extra months to set performance requirements for the schools it’s overseeing. That means the organization will have to go back to the Brandywine, Christina and Red Clay districts for permission to move the deadline from March 31 to June 30. The performance requirements include setting goals through written agreements with the three …

The WLC is ramping up efforts to build community councils and strengthen and establish community partnerships.

WLC building 9 community councils, strengthening partnerships

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Partnership was the word of the night in the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s January meeting Tuesday night.  Dorrell Green, superintendent of Red Clay Consolidated School District and a member of the governing council for the group, said they need to make sure they spend the millions of state funding wisely while strengthening community partnerships with groups that provide help, such as …

Several school districts will hold a referendum this year to raise local revenue.

5 school districts to hold tax hike referenda in 2024

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Five of Delaware’s 19 school districts are asking their residents to head to the polls in 2024 and vote for a local tax increase. In the First State, districts must hold referendums if they want to increase their local school tax in order to increase local revenue. They include the Brandywine, Red Clay Consolidated, Colonial, Smyrna and Appoquinimink. Schools get …

Laura Burgos shared data on WLC schools and also some specifics into the early work of the agency.

WLC leader details initial work, school reports

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Data on some of the high-needs and underperforming schools of the city of Wilmington was shared Wednesday night. In the Red Clay Consolidated School District’s monthly board meeting, Laura Burgos, executive director of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, presented assessment highlights on the nine schools involved in the agency. The Wilmington Learning Collaborative, a state agency created in November 2022 with …

The WLC has filled two director positions.

WLC hires 2, completes school assessments 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative has hired two directors and completed one element of school assessments needed to begin implementing programs to improve student outcomes. Laura Burgos, the executive director of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, shared updates of recent work at the governing council’s monthly meeting Tuesday night. “I’m very excited to say that all nine of our WLC partner schools …

Colonial's referendum will take place Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Colonial details Feb. 29 referendum to raise revenue

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Colonial School District is the latest to detail an operating and capital referendum to be held early next year. In the district’s school board meeting Tuesday night, the board voted a phased approach to a local tax increase, with a spike of 25 cents per $100 of assessed property value in fiscal year 2025, 10 cents in fiscal year 2026 …

If voted for, the annual tax increase for most Brandywine residents would be less than $200.

Brandywine to hold election in Feb. to raise taxes

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The residents of Brandywine School District will have the opportunity to vote for or against a raise in taxes at a special election on Feb. 13, 2024. The district is seeking to raise $15,625,549 of local revenue “to support ongoing district operations.” If passed, those that live in the district will have their local school taxes increased a total of …

The WLC is prioritizing the nine elementary schools included in the signed agreement before scaling its programs.

WLC will focus on tasks at hand, not expanding to other schools

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The new head of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative pushed back Tuesday night on suggestions that the new agency expand to include more city elementary schools. “This is a long journey, this is going to take many years to get our schools where they need to be,” said  Laura Burgos, the group’s executive director.  That’s not going to happen by adding …

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative is made up of nine city elementary schools across three districts.

How the WLC plans to spend $16.6M to improve city schools

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s governing council voted Tuesday night for a budget containing various programs intended to improve outcomes for city students.  The budget is for this fiscal year, which concludes June 30, 2024. It totals $16,632,690.20, with $10 million set in the state budget for this year, and the other $6,632,690.20 is carryover funds from last year.  Executive Director …