Delays at the federal level have led to college-hopefuls having problems with applying for and receiving financial aid. (Photo by Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock)

Del. DOE to provide support, coaching for college financial aid

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

College is more expensive than it’s ever been, but a state agency is trying to financially ease the burden for Delaware students looking to advance their education post-high school. The Delaware Department of Education announced Thursday that it’s offering support to students applying for financial aid for college who have been affected by delayed federal financial aid determinations. “We will …

Delaware's four finalists for the 2024 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (From top left, clockwise: Karen Eller, Brittney Campbell, Carlos Pesquera, Kerry Haley).

4 Delaware teachers finalists for national math, science award

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

In a time where science and math teachers are hard to come by, four of them from the First State have been named finalists for a national award. The four STEM teachers have been picked by the Delaware Department of Education to represent the state for the 2024 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. That’s the highest recognition …

Great Oaks has already met a handful of the state conditions and is on track to meet the rest.

Great Oaks on track to meet all 16 conditions to stay open

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The State Board of Education Thursday night announced promising progress on conditions placed on a charter school that has been facing a potential closure for two years. In November, Great Oaks Charter School was given one last chance by the state to meet the 16 conditions to keep its doors open. RELATED: Great Oaks Charter likely to get one last …

Districts that have had successful referendums are now planning designs, construction bids, and how projects will be phased over the next few years.

Here’s what happens now in districts whose referendums passed

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Now that Colonial, Red Clay and Brandywine have had successful referendums, residents of those school districts may be wondering when they’ll have to pony up finances and when they’ll see new facilities. Delaware school districts that have had a successful referendum typically phase their spending over three years or more.  The concept of the referendum isn’t widespread nationally.  Delaware is …

Career advancement and leadership opportunities for teachers and other educators will be explored by the PECC in the next few months. (Photo by Who is Danny/Adobe Stock)

Teacher pay committee to focus now on career ladders 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state committee responsible for making recommendations on the pay of educators now turns its focus to creating leadership and career advancement opportunities for teachers. Its last public meeting was in early January, when it presented its suggestions to the General Assembly.  The committee was formed by Senate Bill 100 to make salary suggestions on each educator employee group to …

Delaware breaks its funding expenditures for schools into nine categories.

Here’s how Delaware slices its school funding pie

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

One might find it hard to believe that laundry, driver’s ed and athletic travel and equipment are considered “instructional costs” in Delaware public schools, but they are.  Instruction is one of nine categories of funding for the First State’s public schools.  It makes up 55.28% of the spending for the 23-24 school year, totaling $1,584,970,346, according to the Delaware State …

Delaware families are in the process of hearing back if they were accepted into their school of choice or if they were put on a waitlist.

What happens if you’re waitlisted from school of choice?

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

After wading through the process of school choice, Erin Exelby found herself woken up in the middle of the night worrying what would happen if her children were waitlisted from their top selections. School districts sent parents and children emails about a month ago saying whether they were accepted, denied or waitlisted for their preferred schools. Waitlisting essentially means that …

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 RutzHeadlines, Education

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 RutzHeadlines, Government

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 …

The assessment tool will help gauge the health and safety of school facilities.

State releases online tool to help schools evaluate facilities

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Delaware Department of Education released a new tool to establish an evaluation and assessment system to determine whether a school facility is in good repair.  The facility assessment tool will help school districts review and assess conditions in a standardized way.  Structured like a rubric, the assessments will help identify areas in need of attention, so school facilities are …