WILMINGTON – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation’s Bellevue State Park has announced that visitors who travel to the park for the Bellevue Summer Concert Series need to be aware that an ongoing road construction project near the park will require using detour routes to get into the park via the entrance at 800 Carr Road, Wilmington, DE 19809.

The I-95 northbound and southbound ramps for Marsh Road, Exit 9, are closed for repairs until the end of August. Due to ongoing construction, motorists are prohibited from turning left onto Carr Road from Marsh Road southbound. A recently-updated GPS navigation system and the Google Maps mobile app can provide accurate turn-by-turn directions to navigate the construction detours and enter Bellevue State Park entrance at 800 Carr Road.

Visitors without GPS or Google Maps mobile app access can follow these directions to navigate safely to the Bellevue park entrance:

• I-95 northbound: Continue northbound on I-95 past exit 9 (Marsh Road) and exit the interstate at Exit 10 (Harvey Road). Turn right onto Harvey Road, then right again onto Philadelphia Pike. Turn right onto Silverside Road and then left onto Carr Road. The park entrance will be approximately one mile ahead on the left.
• I-95 southbound: Exit the interstate at Exit 9 (Marsh Road) and turn left onto Marsh Road southbound. Continue past Carr Road and turn left onto Washington Street Extension. Turn left onto Philadelphia Pike, left onto Bellevue Parkway, and left again onto Carr Road. The park entrance will be just ahead on the left.
• I-495 Northbound and Southbound: Exit the interstate at Exit 4 (Edgemoor). Turn right onto Edgemoor Road, turn slightly right onto State Route 3 (Marsh Road), then turn right onto Carr Road. The park entrance will be just ahead on the right.

The summer concert series has 23 dates, scheduled every Thursday and Sunday now through Aug. 25, with the exception of Thursday, July 4. Visitors who require assistance with navigating to the park to attend concerts can call the park office at 302-761-6963.

Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No.147

Districts, charter schools and community partners across the state are providing free meals to children in their communities so they don’t go hungry while school is out.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federally funded program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and managed locally by the Delaware Department of Education, targets children in low-income areas so they have healthy meals during the summer. Meals are provided in communities in areas where children gather. No registration or proof of eligibility is required at open meal sites. Any child 18 and under who comes is fed.

In Summer 2018, 760,029 meals and snacks were served at 329 sites throughout the state.

“We know many children rely on the meals they receive in school and still have those food needs during summer break,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said. “With the partnership of our districts, charter schools and community organizations, this program gives children access to nutritious food during the summer in their own communities.”

To find a Summer Food Service Program location in your community and its dates of operation, call 211 or visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.

If you are interested in being a summer meal site, contact the Delaware Department of Education Nutrition Programs Office at (302) 857-3356.

Note to the media: You are invited to cover any of the following kickoff events:

• 11 a.m., Friday, June 14, Seaford Library, 600 N. Market St. Extension, Seaford
• 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 19, Eisenberg Elementary School, 27 Landers Lane, New Castle
• 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 20, Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club, 1683 New Burton Road, Dover

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

The Delaware Department of Education has awarded eight new 21^st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) program grants under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

The 21^st CCLC programs are designed to provide students with academic enrichment activities to improve the academic success of students from Title I schools. Schools are designated as Title I based on high percentages of students who come from low-income families.

The 21^st CCLC programs are partnerships between a school (or schools) and community partner(s).  Partnerships may design programs that support elementary, middle, and/or high school students. Subgrantees must serve students who attend schools that are eligible as Title I schoolwide programs. Subgrantees must offer opportunities for families to actively and meaningfully engage in their children’s education.

Funding for 21^st CCLCs is awarded through a competitive process. Applicants propose a program and budget based on the activities designed to meet the needs of their students. These programs are renewable for up to five years.

The new programs awarded this year are:

• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware and the Red Clay Consolidated School District ($320,000) will institute a Futures Workshop summer and after-school program for 110 students in grades K to 5 at Shortlidge Academy and Highlands and Richey elementary schools. The program will offer students a wide range of educational and recreational activities, including tutoring in the core content areas, mentoring, youth development programs, literacy activities, homework help, and music and dance.

• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware and the Seaford School District ($400,000) will launch a Great Futures summer and after-school program for 110 students in grades K – 8 at the Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club for students in Blades, Central, West Seaford, and Fred Douglass elementary schools as well as Seaford Middle School. The program will offer life skills, physical fitness, nutrition, leadership programs, dance, drama, science, engineering and technology.

• The Cape Henlopen School District ($320,000) will run the Friends at Milton Elementary (FAME) summer and after-school program with two community partners, the Milton Public Library and the Milton Theater. About 110 Milton Elementary students in grades 1 through 5 will participate in authentic experiences, which encourage critical thinking, influencing others positively, respecting diversity, and growing through perseverance and determination.

• The Capital School District ($240,000) will lead the East Dover 21^st Century Student Learning and Achievement Matters (SLAM) Program with community partners Junior Achievement of Delaware, Kent County Community School, Dover YMCA, Wesley College, Dover Police Athletic League, POLYTECH Adult Education Parents as Teachers, Delaware Multicultural Civic Organization, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension 4-H. About 105 East Dover Elementary School students in grades K through 4 will combine academic and enrichment components with prevention and social/emotional wellness activities that bring quality, real world learning experiences to students and their families during summer and after school.

• The Colonial School District ($399,621) will manage the Creating Access and Opportunity in Colonial summer and after-school program with community partners the Summer Learning Collaboration, the Police Athletic League of Delaware, and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension 4-H. About 185 students from Castle Hills and Eisenberg elementary schools will take part in a year-round program of activities that will help students be better equipped to excel as students, athletes, artists, engineers, and citizens.

• Duffy’s Hope, Inc. and the Christina School District ($240,000) will operate the Duffy’s Hope After-school Prevention Program to allow 85 students in grades 9 – 12 from Glasgow High School to have hands-on learning and opportunities throughout summer and after school to create focus topics based on their interest. Students will participate in various forms of enrichment and teambuilding activities to engage their families and have fun learning.

• The Latin American Community Center (LACC) and the Red Clay Consolidated School District ($240,000) will institute the LACC Youth Achievement Center summer and afterschool for 85 students in grades 7 to 9 from A. I. du Pont Middle School and A. I. du Pont High School. The program will offer organized sports, and enrichment activities, STEM and multi-media programs, leadership development, service learning, and exploring pathways to career and college. The program will also improve caregivers’ parenting skills, English language learning and literacy, and participation in the students’ educational process.

• The Woodbridge School District ($230,000) will lead the Phillis Wheatley Elementary School 21^st CCLC Afterschool and Summer Program for students in grades 3- 5. The program will advance academic and social skills and to increase family and school connectedness for students struggling with literacy and mathematics. There will be opportunities for the students to work together on literacy, STEM, and college and career readiness. Social skills instruction and physical fitness will help students become healthy in body and mind.

These new grant winners join Delaware 21st CCLC programs funded in previous cohorts:

• Red Clay Consolidated School District at Lewis Dual Language, Richardson Park and Warner elementary schools;
• EastSide Charter School;
• Capital School District at Dover High;
• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at Lake Forest South Elementary in Lake Forest School District;
• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at Showell Elementary in Indian River School District;
• Capital School District at Central Middle School;
• Freire Charter School;
• Thomas Edison Charter School;
• Kuumba Charter School;
• Capital School District at William Henry Middle School;
• Charter School of New Castle;
• Great Oaks Charter School; and
• University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at Milford Academy and Milford High School in Milford School District.

The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program is a competitive federal grant program managed by the Delaware Department of Education. For more information on how schools and community organization partners can apply for a 21^st CCLC grant, please contact John Hulse at (302) 735-4100 or john.hulse@doe.k12.de.us.

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

The Delaware Department of Education is accepting applications for summer fellowships for promising future leaders and current educators who have a passion for education and want to gain hands-on exposure to policy work.

There are two opportunities, one developed specifically for current college students and recent graduates and a second for current Delaware public school teachers and specialists.

Participants in both programs will own tightly-defined projects critical to Delaware’s policy agenda. They also will participate in weekly sessions with Delaware leaders in state government, district and school leadership and community partners.  These sessions are intended to develop them as leaders and provide context on education issues of national importance. The fellowships will culminate in a presentation of their work and policy recommendations to department staff and leadership.

Delaware Future Education Leaders Program

The Delaware Future Education Leaders Program has been developed specifically for current students and recent graduates as they explore careers in education and seek exposure to state government.  Individuals from all programs of study are welcome to apply.  Past fellows have worked on a variety of projects including educator compensation reform, data analysis, and information systems design.

The program begins on Monday, June 3 and ends on Thursday, August 8.  There is a $3,000 payment for this fellowship.  Program fellows will work full days Monday-Thursday.

“I am excited to have these outstanding college students and recent graduates join our department for the summer,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said. “The department will benefit from the experiences and new ideas they bring to the policy challenges we are grappling with, and I hope they will end the summer having gained a better understanding of education policy and will have benefited from the mentorship of department leaders.”

Educators as Catalysts Program

Educators as Catalysts Program has been developed specifically for current Delaware teachers and specialists (of any experience level) who seek exposure to the education policy processes that impact their schools and classrooms. The program begins on Monday, June 17 and ends on Thursday, August 1. There is a $2,000 stipend for this fellowship.  Program fellows will work full days Monday-Thursday.

“The teachers and specialists currently working in our schools bring valuable perspectives to our work. This is an outstanding opportunity for us to work closely with them to help shape policy at the state level that makes the most sense for our students, educators, and community,” Bunting said.

The application deadline for both fellowships is Monday, April 1.

More information, including details on how to apply, is available here.

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

A program that targets children in low-income areas so they have meals during the summer is seeking sponsors and meal sites. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federally funded program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed locally by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), needs sponsors and meal sites for locations throughout Delaware to increase the number of children 18 years of age or younger who receive nutritious and healthy meals during the summer months. Organizations that participate are eligible to receive reimbursements for meals served and administrative expenses.

Who Can Participate?

• Sponsors – Units of local government, camps, schools, and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to operate a SFSP as sponsors.

• Meal sites – Individual sites, such as camps, housing complexes, community centers, parks and homes are eligible to operate a SFSP as a site under a sponsor. The sponsor would prepare and deliver the meals to the site (some locations may be served by a food truck, depending on availability). An adult at the site would be required to be the site supervisor to oversee the meals being served.

• Children – Children 18 and under may receive free meals and snacks through the SFSP.
(Meals and snacks also are available to persons with disabilities, 21 and under, who participate in school programs.)

Sponsors and sites will receive training to help them operate a successful program and will have continued support from the Delaware Department of Education throughout the course of the program. All sponsors and sites must agree to serve meals per the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement.

Eligibility for SFSP is based on free and reduced lunch data for a school for a particular area or census data. To qualify as an open site that can feed all children, the site must be in an area where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free or reduced lunch. In addition, camps and enrolled programs may qualify based on individual income eligibility. The income scale is available here.

For information on becoming a SFSP sponsor or site or to locate a sponsored site in your area, call (302) 857-3356 or visit: http://www.doe.k12.de.us and search “Summer Food Service Program.”

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