The state's 2024 secretary scholars were honored Tuesday night.

93 honored as 2024 Secretary of Education Scholars

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The head of Delaware’s Department of Education has named his 93 scholars for 2024. Secretary of Education Mark Holodick selected the students based on their continued academic achievement and involvement in the community.  “This represents one of the highest academic achievements a student can earn in a Delaware public school,” Holodick said at a dinner in Dover honoring the students …

William Penn's first cohort will start the pathway program next year as juniors. (From left: Del Tech President Mark Brainard, William Penn Allied Health students, Bank of America Delaware President Chip Rossi, Colonial School District Superintendent Jeff Menzer.)

William Penn, Del Tech launch pathway to expand nursing pipeline

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A newly-funded career pathway partnership between a state college and a high school aims to tackle the national nursing shortage while giving students college credits to advance into a career in health care. Delaware Technical Community College and William Penn High School in the Colonial School District announced Monday the launch of the Patient Care Technician/Nursing Pathway Program. The partnership …

Kate Li, left, and Arya Gupta are this year's representatives for Delaware in the National Youth Science Camp.

Li, Gupta to represent Delaware in national science camp

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Two First State high schoolers are on their way to the Mountaineer State to represent Delaware at the 61st National Youth Science Camp. Kate Li, a senior at Newark Charter School, and Arya Gupta, a junior at Red Clay Consolidated School District’s Charter School of Wilmington, will attend the camp from June 29 to July 20 in Monongahela National Forest …

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 …

teacher sick leave

Bill giving teachers 1-for-1 sick day donation heads to House

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A buy-one-get-two deal is a bargain at a grocery store, but not so ideal for teachers looking to exchange days off.  A new law could even the scales. Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, removes the requirement that a public school district employee who donates leave to another employee must donate two days of leave …

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 …