Secretary Woodruff Makes the Case for World-Class Education in a Changing World Economy
On July 13, Delaware Secretary of Education Valerie Woodruff outlined in The News Journal both the challenges that Delaware and the nation face in improving our schools and many of the positive strides that have been made. Pointing to research that indicates that students across the nation are increasingly unprepared for college and the work force, she maintained that high schools must adapt so that students are prepared for a competitive evolving economy. She identified several initiatives in Delaware that are supporting improvements in our education system, including Vision 2015, the P-20 Council, the State's Reaching Higher for Student Success collaboration, and the Department of Education's "Yes You Can!" campaign. To read the full Op-Ed, click here.
Delaware Parents Take on Leadership Roles in Schools
On July 23, 2007, The News Journal featured recent graduates of the Delaware Parent Leadership Institute, recognizing them for getting involved in their children's schools and initiating innovative programs that improve students' school experience.
The Delaware Parent Leadership Institute (DPLI) trains parents to better understand school achievement data so they can assist educators in making improvements based on that data. This innovative program directly aligns with the Vision 2015 plan's recommendation to offer leadership and advocacy training to families and institute school-based family liaisons to strengthen school-family ties. DPLI is open to all parents and caregivers of Delaware public school students who have demonstrated leadership potential and are interested in improving schools. In 2006, twenty-three parents graduated from the institute and are now implementing projects that assist educators in raising student achievement. Approximately 150 parents and students will participate in various activities focused on student achievement sponsored by 2007 DPLI graduates.
Reflecting on her participation in the institute, one parent, Lisa Bryant, remarked, "I met so many people who had the same passion to make a difference in school. I learned that we as parents have a voice, and we as parents can make a difference in our children's education."
For more information on the Delaware Parent Leadership Institute and how to participate, please click here. To read the full article, click here.
Research
Students lose over two months of mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Low-income children experience much greater summer learning losses in reading than their higher income peers contributing to the growth of the achievement gap. For example, by the end of fifth-grade, low-income children fall more than two years behind their middle-income peers in verbal achievement as a direct result of summer learning differences.
Source: Cech, Scott, "Much of Learning Gap Blamed on Summer," Ed Week, July 16, 2007, citing Alexander, Karl L, et.al. "Lasting Consequences of the Summer Learning Gap," American Sociological Review, Volume 72, Number 2, April 2007, pp. 167-180(14)
Save the Date!
On Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, the Delaware Public Policy Institute and the Delaware State Education Association host "Teachers: Career paths, Compensation and Collective Bargaining in the 21st Century." This conference, held in Dover, will be open to educators, school board members, administrators, business leaders, legislators, and other interested citizens.
The conference is free but pre-registration will be required. More information will be included in future newsletters.
