DOE, DSIU and UD asked for millions Friday.

Educational groups seek millions for capital needs

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

The Department of Education, Delaware State University and the University of Delaware requested millions of dollars from the state Friday for critical and minor capital projects. Leaders from the three bodies presented their requests to the Joint Capital Improvement Committee.  Also known as the Bond Committee, it’s made up of six state representatives and six state senators who are responsible …

Education Secretary Mark Holodick has been sued by 11 charter schools over alleged financial dues. (Unsplash)

Charter Schools sue Holodick over special ed payments

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

The Delaware Charter Schools Network, 11 charter schools and the Delaware secretary of education are waiting on a judge’s ruling in a lawsuit about $4 million in tax revenue the charters say they are due. The network and the 11 charter schools sued Education Secretary Mark Holodick in Kent County Superior Court in July to get the money and to …

The Redding Consortium laid out it's priorities and research possibilities Wednesday. (Usplash)

Redding Consortium seeks alignment with Learning Collab

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

Redding Consortium officials said Wednesday night they will prioritize aligning their plans with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, investing in wraparound services and building community partnerships.  “How do I say what Redding should be doing next if I have no idea what the connection between Redding and the WLC is,” said Cerron Cade, director of the Delaware Office of Management & …

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee listen to a presentation by the Delaware Department of Education. (Jarek Rutz photo)

JFC asks for return on investment on educational spending

Jarek Rutz Education, Government, Headlines

Several members of the Joint Finance Committee asked the Department of Education officials on Wednesday when and if they would ever see a return on the state’s investment in public education. Student achievement metrics like standardized test scores have fallen off a cliff over the past decade and the state still faces a teacher shortage. Education Secretary Mark Holodick and …

Mark Holodick said he anticipates the second round of testing for lead in school water will be completed near the end of April. (Unsplash)

DOE owns lead testing blunder, expects new results by May

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A Senate committee hearing Tuesday heard the state Secretary of Education apologize about the way lead testing in schools was handled and that trained pros will handle testing instead of school staff. Through a federal grant, the Department of Education began a sampling initiative in October, 2020 to identify the levels of lead within drinking water at schools. “While well-intentioned, …

All education workers will get a 3% raise, and all school teachers and specialists will get a 9% raise in Gov. John Carney's budget recommendations for next year. (Unsplash)

Carney’s education raises cause stir in compensation committee

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Gov. John Carney’s announcement last week of a 9% pay raise for teachers caused a lot of comment in Monday night’s Public Education Compensation Committee. Also discussed was a proposal to keep teachers in their Delaware jobs by giving them full pension benefits at 25 years of service instead of making them wait until they reach 30 years. Carney said …

Delaware's Department of Education published the state's 2022 test scores Tuesday.

2022 Rewind: State education test scores described as ‘crisis’ 

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

This story was originally published in August 2022. Delaware’s 2022 test scores were released this August, and they aren’t pretty.  Just 30% of Delaware students in grades three to eight met grade-level math requirements, while 42% earned a proficient score in English language arts.  These scores come from the state-administered Smarter Balanced Assessment, an end-of-the-year summative test that measures the …

Great Oaks Charter School will continue operating. ((GREAT OAKS CHARTER SCHOOL – WILMINGTON FACEBOOK)

State Board: Great Oaks Charter will not be shut down

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Great Oaks Charter School, a Wilmington charter serving a student body of more than 80% Black students, will not be shut down. After nearly three months of being placed on formal review by the Charter School Accountability Committee, Education Secretary Mark Holidick recommended Thursday night to the Delaware State Board of Education to allow the school to continue operating. The …

Many First State teachers got their wish Monday as the Public Education Compensation Committee decided to move its meetings back to a later start time. (Unsplash)

Teacher’s union gets 1 wish: Pay committee moves meeting 

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

Delaware’s state teachers union got one of its wishes Monday when the state committee charged with adjusting the salaries of public school workers announced it will push its monthly meeting back an hour. Mark Holodick, education secretary and chair of the Public Education Compensation Committee said at the start of Monday’s regular meeting that starting next month, the committee will …

The state teachers union is calling for Public Education Compensation Committee meetings to be moved to later in the day in order to allow more teachers to attend. (Freepik)

Teachers union calls for pay committee to #MoveTheMeeting

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

Delaware’s teachers union is circulating a petition that demands a state compensation committee move its monthly meeting time an hour later so teachers can attend. Right now, the Public Education Compensation Committee, which is considering raises for teachers and other school workers, meets at 3:30 p.m. Lack of teacher voice “If you want to hear from educators, hold meetings when …