Recently the Delaware Restaurant Association and Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (DRAEF) hosted more than 400 attendees at the Delaware ProStart Student Invitational in Dover. This event provided students with the opportunity to participate in the state’s premier high school competition for restaurant management and culinary arts.

 

Caesar Rodney School District’s Caesar Rodney High School vied with 14 other schools to win the state culinary title, while Cape Henlopen School District’s Cape Henlopen High School competed with nine other schools to take the state management competition.

 

Both schools will be competing at the national competition in Washington, D.C., as well as being featured at the annual DRAEF fundraising dinner. More information can be found on the Pro Start website.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

The Delaware Department of Education released the Delaware K-12 Mathematics Framework today, defining effective and equitable mathematics systems in the state and providing education leaders with the direction, resources, and support needed to provide all students with the mathematics instruction they deserve. Delaware is only the second state, after New Mexico, to release a statewide mathematics framework grounded in high-quality instructional materials and professional learning.

 

The framework identifies five key–and interconnected–components of effective mathematics systems. Each component includes a set of core actions, planning considerations, and resources to guide school and school system leaders in its execution.

• Academics: In an effective mathematics system, all teachers use high-quality materials to ensure that all students have meaningful access to grade-appropriate, culturally responsive Tier 1 mathematics instruction.
• High-Quality Professional Learning: In an effective mathematics system, all educators engage in high-quality professional learning that builds their capacity to ensure excellent, equitable mathematics instruction within their role and context.
• Collaborative Leadership: In an effective mathematics system, a shared vision and sense of responsibility bring educators together in service of student success, while effective communication and collaboration ensure collective efficacy.
• Culture of Access and Equity: In an effective mathematics system, all resources–including time, knowledge, materials, talent, expectations, and learning opportunities are allocated equitably to ensure that every adult and student can succeed.
• Community and Family Engagement: In an effective mathematics system, families and other stakeholders, including educator preparation programs, are welcomed equitably and leveraged effectively as vital partners in executing school systems’ mathematics visions.

 

The Framework, a complement to the Delaware Literacy Plan, supports the state’s academic vision of every student leaving school ready for success in college, career, and life by ensuring all students can succeed in mathematics and have daily opportunities to engage in meaningful and equitable grade-level mathematics instruction.

 

“We hope the Delaware K-12 Mathematics Framework will strengthen adult and student understanding and confidence in mathematics, invest all stakeholders in a shared vision for mathematics instruction, and eliminate inequities in mathematics classrooms,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

 

The DDOE led the development of the framework in partnership with a steering committee of 26 educators and community members across the state who met over eight months. The DDOE also engaged a broader group of stakeholders, including state legislators, State Board of Education members, and representatives from educator preparation programs and other education-based organizations. For a full list of committee members and stakeholder groups, please see the Framework.

 

The Delaware K-12 Mathematics Framework and supporting materials, including a toolkit for school and school system leaders, can be found in Digital DE. Educators should reach out to delaware.delivers@doe.k12.de.us with questions.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

The Delaware Department of Education today launched its Summer of Opportunity website, a searchable database to help families find school- and community-based learning opportunities for their children this summer.

The site, which allows users to toggle between map and table views, helps Delawareans find programs based on targeted grades, dates, location, cost, sponsoring organization and transportation options. Enrollment in some offerings, such as school-based programs, may only be open to specific populations, such as enrolled students, while others have open admission. The site collects the diverse offerings in one location to make it easier for families to navigate opportunities.

“We want every Delaware student to have enriching experiences this summer with opportunities for formal and informal learning,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “For one student that may mean attending science camp at a park, for another it may mean enrolling in a school program that integrates English language arts supports and sports and for a third it could be a series of day trips with family and friends to explore the rich offerings of our region. Most important is that our students are engaged in some sort of learning and exploration this summer so they return to school in the fall ready to learn and succeed in the new school year. We hope this site helps families find such opportunities.”

Organizations that have not yet submitted their offerings and would like to be included should email Delaware.Department.of.Education@doe.k12.de.us.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Students from 16 schools represented the First State at the National Virtual Technology Student Association (TSA) conference in June.  Finalists competed in events such as computer-aided design; chapter team; coding; cybersecurity, debating technological issues; essays on technology; forensic technology; foundations of information technology; junior solar sprint; leadership strategies; tech bowl; on demand video; video game design; website design and more. The virtual conference included nearly 7,000 individuals from across the United States participating in advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM); leadership; and service-focused events.

Highlights include:

• 141 students representing 16 schools qualified to represent Delaware at national STEM conference.
• Delaware students earned 21 top ten national honors.
• D Morelli of Sussex Central High School and Norman Pierce of Fred Fifer Middle School were honored as National Chapter Advisors of the Year.
• Priya Gupta of Caesar Rodney High School and Divita Taduvayi of MOT Charter High School were inducted into the TSA Technology Honor Society.

Delaware’s Results:

Participating Schools:

• Alfred G. Waters Middle School, Appoquinimink School District
• Appoquinimink High School, Appoquinimink School District
• Cab Calloway School of The Arts (High School), Red Clay Consolidated School District
• Cab Calloway School of The Arts (Middle School), Red Clay Consolidated School District
• Caesar Rodney High School, Caesar Rodney School District
• Concord High School, Brandywine School District
• Conrad Schools of Science (MS), Red Clay Consolidated School District
• Fred Fifer Middle School, Caesar Rodney School District
• Gauger-Cobbs Middle School, Christina School District
• H.B. duPont Middle School, Brandywine School DIstrict
• Middletown High School, Appoquinimink School District
• MOT Charter High School, charter school
• Newark Charter High School, charter school
• Odessa High School, Appoquinimink School District
• Postlethwait Middle School, Caesar Rodney School District
• Sussex Central High School, Indian River School District

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to students interested in the future of invention, innovation, engineering, and technology. Through TSA, members have the opportunity to participate in technology-focused competitive events, take part in community service work, and become leaders for the organization in their school, state, and at the national level. TSA incorporates curricular and co-curricular experiences to emphasize the importance of knowledge, leadership, skill development, and teamwork.

To learn more about DETSA, please contact Mike Fitzgerald by phone at: 302.857.3334 or by email at: Mike.Fitzgerald@doe.k12.de.us.

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting recognized 17 schools from across the state for their students’ academic achievement today.

 

The students showed exceptional performance on state tests or made remarkable progress in closing the achievement gaps between student groups, including those from low-income families, racial minority groups and students with disabilities.

 

Each building named a 2019 Recognition School will receive an $8,000 award. Funding for the awards comes from the state’s school improvement funds. Two buildings were named a School of Continued Excellence because they earned Recognition School honors last year and had outstanding performance again this year. Those schools are not eligible for a financial award again until 2020. Two buildings also will be recognized as National ESEA Distinguished Schools.

 

The Recognition School awards were created by legislation passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 2009.

Representatives from all of the honored schools gathered at Capital School District’s North Dover Elementary School this afternoon for the award ceremony. A description of each principal’s reflections on his or her school’s success is attached. Find photos here.

 

2019 winners:

• Beacon Middle School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School

o   Dave Frederick, principal

• Christiana High School and Middle School Honors Academy, Christina School District, National ESEA Distinguished and Recognition School

o   Eunique Lawrence, principal

• John M. Clayton Elementary School, Indian River School District, Recognition School

o   Allisa Booth, principal

• Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Seaford School District, Recognition School

o   Carol Leveillee, principal

• Forest Oak Elementary School, Red Clay School District, Recognition School

o   Erin NeCastro, principal and Shane Rifenburg, acting principal

• Allen Frear Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District, Recognition School

o   Julie Lavender, principal and Barbara Miklus, acting principal

• Georgetown Middle School, Indian River School District, Recognition School

o   David Hudson, principal

• Love Creek Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School

o   Lisa Morris, principal

• R. Elisabeth Maclary Elementary School, Christina School District, Recognition School

o   Bartley Dryden, principal

• Joseph M. McVey Elementary School, Christina School District, Recognition School

o   David Wilkie, principal

• Milton Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, Recognition School

o   Beth Conaway, principal

• North Dover Elementary School, Capital School District, Recognition School

o   Shani Benson, principal

• Rehoboth Elementary School, Cape Henlopen School District, National ESEA Distinguished and Recognition School

o   Amanda Archambault, principal

• Lulu M. Ross Elementary School, Milford School District, Recognition School

o   Cynthia McKenzie, principal

• Star Hill Elementary School, Caesar Rodney School District, Recognition School

o   Katie Fitzgerald, principal

• West Park Place Elementary School, Christina School District, School of Continued Excellence

o   Tracy Novack, principal

• Etta J. Wilson Elementary School, Christina School District, School of Continued Excellence

o   Natalie Birch, principal