DELEWARE EDUCATION
NEWS
March 2007
Copyright © 2007 Queue,
Inc.
U.S.
Chamber Report Card on Education Says States Failing our Students, Risking our
Future
DelawareÕs
Six-Year Improvement of Advanced Placement (AP) Grades Ranked Second in
Nation
Delaware
Public Schools Advanced Placement
Science and Social Studies Scores
Delaware
Achievement Gap Report for 2006
Delaware's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected
in 12th Annual National Awards Program
Nominate
an Outstanding Teacher for the American Stars of Teaching Award
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Leaders
and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness graded
all 50 states and Washington, DC, on nine broad categories including academic
achievement, return on investment, truth in advertising, rigor of standards,
and data quality.
Delaware
scored 2 AÕs, 2 BÕs, 2 C Ôs, 2 DÕs and 1 F including a C in Academic
Achievement.
A
summary of DelawareÕs scores is available at
http://www.uschamber.com/icw/reportcard/default
One
Year Gain Places Delaware Third in U.S.
The College Board has released its annual
ÒReport to the NationÓ on Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance
data in all U.S. public high schools. The report shows that in a six year
period, from 2000-2006, Delaware is ranked second in the nation in the
percentage increase of students who received a grade of 3 or higher on AP
exams. Also, Delaware is ranked third in the nation for the percentage gain of
students receiving a grade 3 or higher in a one-year period (2005-2006).
For the graduating class of 2006, 14.5% of
high school students in Delaware scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam, compared
to 7.6% in 2000. This 6.9 percentage point increase is second in the U.S. only
to Maryland, and surpasses the national average increase of 4.6%. TodayÕs
report also ranked Delaware third in the nation for the percentage increase in
the number of students receiving a grade of 3 or higher from 2005 to 2006. Only
Arkansas and New Hampshire (tied) had a higher percentage point gain.
In the past six years, Delaware has seen a
constant, steady upward trend of students participating in Advanced Placement
coursework. Since 2001, the number of students participating in AP has
increased by 144 percent. Ten years ago, in 1996, 815 high school students took
AP coursework, statewide. In 2006, that number has grown to nearly 3,300.
The number of exams taken by students has
also increased dramatically. Since 2001, the number of AP exams taken by
Delaware public school students increased by 3,739 or 165%. In comparison,
between 1996 and 2001, the number of exams taken by students increased by 1,092
or 93.4%.
According to todayÕs report, the number of
students who scored a grade 3 or higher improved significantly as well. Just
ten years ago, DelawareÕs students scored 3 or higher on 715 AP exams. Five
years ago, the number increased to 1,329; while in 2006, the number reached
2,943. A comparison between 2005-2006 showed an increase of 15.7% compared to a
national increase of 10.1%.
The College Board partners with colleges and
universities to create AP exams of college-level learning in 37 subject areas.
Most colleges in the U.S. recognize AP exams in the admissions process as a
sign of a studentÕs ability to succeed in rigorous higher education curricula.
They also award college credit or placement into a higher level college course
so that college entrants can move directly into the courses that match their
level of academic preparation for college.
In the report, the College Board also
praised Delaware for implementing initiatives designed to prepare low-income
students for success in Advanced Placement courses. From 2001-2006, the College
Board reports that participation by low-income students increased from 18 to
236. Also, since 2001, the number of tests taken by low income students rose
from 375 to 408. This indicates that many low income students are taking more
than one AP course.
The "Report to the Nation" also
provided an in-depth analysis of the graduating class of 2006. In Delaware,
27.7% of the graduating class took an AP exam at some point in their high school
career, in comparison to 24.4% for the nation. Also, 18.6% took one or more
Social Science AP exam, more than any other area. Social Science courses
include: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics B, Physics C:
Electricity and Magnetism, and Physics C: Mechanics.
In 2006, 14.5% of the graduating class of 2006
scored 3 or higher on an AP exam at some point in their high school career,
which is similar to the nationÕs 14.8%. Also, 8.7% scored 3 or higher on one or
more Social Science AP exams. Compared to the rest of the country, Delaware
outscored students across the U.S. in Science, Math and Social Science; was
even in Arts and All Areas; and less than one percentage point in English and
Language.
Student
Participation
11.5%
increase in the number of students participating between 2005 and 2006
In
2006: 3,284 Delaware Public School Students took AP Exams
In
2005: 2,944 Delaware Public School Students took AP Exams
In
2001: 1,346 Delaware Public School Students took AP Exams
In
1996: 815 Delaware Public School Students took AP Exams
¥
Since 2001, the number of Delaware Public School students participating in AP
increased by 1,938 or 144.0%.
Exams
Taken
15.1%
increase in the number of AP Exams taken between 2005 and 2006
In
2006: Delaware Public School Students took 6,000 AP Exams
In
2005: Delaware Public School Students took 5,214 AP Exams
In
2001: Delaware Public School Students took 2,261 AP Exams
In
1996: Delaware Public School Students took 1,169 AP Exams
¥
Since 2001, the number of AP Exams taken by Delaware Public School students
increased by 3,739 or 165.4%.
Exams
Scored 3 or higher
15.7%
increase in the number of AP Exams scored 3 or higher between 2005 and 2006
In
2006: Delaware Public School Students scored 3 or higher on 2,943 AP Exams
In
2005: Delaware Public School Students scored 3 or higher on 2,544 AP Exams
In
2001: Delaware Public School Students scored 3 or higher on 1,329 AP Exams
In
1996: Delaware Public School Students scored 3 or higher on 715 AP Exams
¥
Since 2001, the number of AP Exams scored 3 or higher taken by Delaware Public
School
students
increased by 1,614 or 121.4%.
To
see full report:
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/ap/2007/delaware_ap-report_07.pdf
Delaware Department of Education (DOE) has released the results from the
seventh administration of the fourth and sixth grade science and social studies
portions of the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP).
In
fourth grade science, 91.5% of the students tested scored at Level 3 or higher, a
less than one percentage point decrease from last yearÕs scores. In grade six,
78.4% scored at Level 3 or higher, a 1.6 percentage point decrease from last
yearÕs assessment. The science test measures studentsÕ knowledge and
understanding in four areas: Inquiry, Life Science, Earth Science and Physical
Science.
In
fourth grade social studies, 70.1% of students scored at level 3 or higher, a
5.4 percentage point increase over last yearÕs results. In grade six, 61.1% of
students scored at level 3 or higher, compared to 60.1% last year. The social
studies test measures studentsÕ knowledge and understanding in four areas:
Civics, Economics, Geography and History.
For
a more complete chart, please go to:
http://www.doe.k12.de.us/news/2007/0215.shtml
The Delaware
State Board of Education has released the 2006 achievement gap report entitled
Awareness to Action Revisited: Tracking the Achievement Gap in Delaware
Schools. The report was compiled by the Research and Development Center
at the University of Delaware and funded by the State Board of Education.
It is the fourth in an annual series of reports which tracks the gap by school
and by subgroups over a multi-year period.
The
report is meant to be informative for both communities and schools. It
shows all Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) tested grades by
school. For each tested grade in a school both reading and mathematics
scores are disaggregated by race, income status, limited English proficiency
and special education categories. The scores are plotted from 2003
through 2006. Each school is also identified by its own demographic
makeup and its status for 2006 under federal guidelines specified by No Child
Left Behind.
In
releasing the report, Jean Allen, State Board President, noted that we are
seeing some real signs of progress at the school level with many of the
elementary schools essentially closing the achievement gap in 3rd grade reading
and middle schools and high schools are showing progress. ÒWe continue to
be concerned about the gaps that persist in mathematics across many of our
schools as well as the large gaps that persist at the high school level particularly
in math. These are areas on which we have to put more focus.Ó
Additional findings show that special education students continue to fall
further behind as they move through the grades and charter schools have little
gap information due to the lack of diversity in their student bodies.
Copies
of the achievement gap report can be found at:
http://www.rdc.udel.edu/awareness_to_action.asp?y=2006
Wilmington
and Bridgeville students earn $1,000 awards,
engraved medallions and trip to nationÕs capital
Honors
also bestowed on other top youth volunteers in Delaware
Stephanie
Seitz, 18,
of Wilmington and Taylor Richey, 10, of Bridgeville have been named Delaware's top
two youth volunteers for 2007 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a
nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.
The awards program, now in its 12th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial
in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals
(NASSP).
Stephanie
was nominated by Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, and Taylor was nominated by
Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay in Newark. As State Honorees, each will receive
$1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May
to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees – one
middle level and one high school youth – from each of the other states
and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events.
Ten of them will be named AmericaÕs top youth volunteers for 2007 at that time.
Stephanie, a senior at Ursuline
Academy, provides a wide range of volunteer services to a small Catholic middle
school attended by boys from low-income families. When Stephanie read in an
article that Nativity Preparatory School needed volunteers, she decided to
investigate. ÒFrom the moment I became involved, I knew this was a special
place,Ó she said.
She
began by tutoring the fifth- to eighth-graders in the evening and just doing
Òwhatever was asked of me,Ó she said. When she became aware of the schoolÕs
desperate need for stationery supplies, she recruited fellow students to help
her organize a stationery collection drive at her school, and then coordinated
two Òjean daysÓ that raised more than $600 to buy workbooks for Nativity Prep.
She also painted classrooms, catalogued books, organized office files, and
helped coach the schoolÕs baseball team. ÒBeing at Nativity, I realize that
some of the things I take for granted are viewed as a luxury by the boys,Ó she
said. ÒWorking with the students has made me appreciate my family and all the
opportunities I have even more,Ó she said.
Taylor, a fifth-grader at Phyllis
Wheatley Middle School in Bridgeville, raised funds to purchase toys, games and
other play equipment for children undergoing treatment for cancer at A.I.
Dupont Hospital in Wilmington. ÒI was hospitalized there all summer and I was
bored,Ó said Taylor, who suffers from a rare skin and muscle disease. The
hospital didnÕt have much to entertain young patients, she said, and when a
water leak destroyed the few toys, books, video games and movies that were
there, Taylor decided to help. ÒI wanted to do something to make other kids
happy,Ó she said.
Taylor
made plans to conduct a raffle at a local festival for one of two bicycles she
had won in summer reading programs. After her friend and school nurse offered
to shave her head if Taylor raised more than $3,000, Taylor received donations
of over $5,000 from friends and community members. Taylor then purchased so
many books, puzzles, movies, art supplies and play stations that it took
several trips to deliver everything. Taylor also has raised money to send
supplies to troops overseas, and to buy books for her local library.
In
addition, the program judges recognized two other Delaware students as
Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities. Each
will receive an engraved bronze medallion:
Michael
Davis, 17,
of Dover, a senior at Dover High School, renovated a practice room used by the
Rolling Thunder Drumline at his high school. Under the guidance of his band
director, Michael drew up a proposal, obtained all of the necessary approvals,
and collected more than $1,000 in donated funds and supplies. He then shopped
for materials, created a work schedule, recruited volunteers, consulted
building experts, and led efforts to install shelves and mirrors, paint walls,
and lay new carpeting in the room.
Mason
Newark,
17, of Harrington, a senior at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown,
helped beautify a low-income neighborhood by planting 30 flowering dogwood
trees along one of its streets. With the approval of community officials, Mason
planned the project, recruited help, created a work schedule, and dug large
holes to plant the trees.
ÒPeople
as caring and committed as these young students are critical to the future of
our neighborhoods, our cities and our nation,Ó said Arthur Ryan, chairman and
CEO of Prudential. ÒBy recognizing these honorees, we hope to encourage other
young people – our future leaders – and all Americans to think more
about the value and importance of volunteering in their communities.Ó
ÒNASSP
is pleased to once again join Prudential in recognizing these young people for
their amazing accomplishments,Ó remarked Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director
of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. ÒThis yearÕs
honorees are proof that the youth of today are conscientious and capable of
performing selfless acts of kindness in their local communities, on a national
scale and at the global level.Ó
All
public and private middle level and high schools in the country, as well as all
Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs
and Volunteer Centers, were eligible to select a student or member for a local
Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. More than 7,500 Local
Honorees were then reviewed by state-level judges, who selected State Honorees
and Distinguished Finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative,
creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.
While
in Washington, D.C., the 102 State Honorees will tour the capitalÕs landmarks,
attend a gala awards ceremony at the SmithsonianÕs National Museum of Natural
History, and visit their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill. In
addition, 10 of them – five middle level and five high school students
– will be named National Honorees on May 7 by a prestigious national
selection committee. These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold
medallions, crystal trophies, and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation
for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.
Serving
on the national selection committee will be U.S. Senator Norm Coleman of
Minnesota; Arthur Ryan of Prudential; actor Richard Dreyfuss; Alma Powell,
chair of AmericaÕs Promise – The Alliance for Youth; Robert Goodwin,
president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation; Amy B. Cohen, director of
Learn and Serve America at the Corporation for National and Community Service;
Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA; Donald T. Floyd Jr., president
and CEO of National 4-H Council; Michael Cohen, president and CEO of Achieve,
Inc.; Kathryn Forbes, national chair of volunteers, American Red Cross; Joe
Militello, president of NASSP; and two 2006 Prudential Spirit of Community
National Honorees: Ajay Mangal of Pascagoula, Miss., and Geneva Johnson of the
Bronx, N.Y.
In
addition to granting its own awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
program will be distributing PresidentÕs Volunteer Service Awards to more than
4,150 of its Local Honorees this year on behalf of the PresidentÕs Council on
Service and Civic Participation. The PresidentÕs Volunteer Service Award
recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of
their time to serve their communities and their country.
The
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards represent the United StatesÕ largest
youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. The program is
part of a broad youth-service initiative by Prudential that includes a youth
leadership training program administered by the Points of Light Foundation; a
free booklet of volunteer ideas for young people offered through the Federal
Citizen Information Center; and a Web site featuring profiles of outstanding
youth volunteers, volunteer tips and project ideas for students, an electronic
newspaper on youth volunteerism, and more (www.prudential.com/spirit). The
Spirit of Community Awards program also is conducted by Prudential subsidiaries
in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and is being introduced this year in Ireland.
For
information on all of this yearÕs Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees
and Distinguished Finalists, visit www.prudential.com/spirit or www.principals.org/prudential.
The
National Association of Secondary School Principals -- the preeminent
organization and the national voice for middle level and high school
principals, assistant principals and aspiring school leaders -- provides its
members with the professional resources to serve as visionary leaders. NASSP
promotes the intellectual growth, academic achievement, character development,
leadership development, and physical well-being of youth through its programs
and student leadership services. NASSP sponsors the National Honor Societyª,
the National Junior Honor Societyª and the National Association of Student
Councilsª. For more information on NASSP, NHS, NJHS or NASC, visit www.principals.org.
The
U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations for its fourth annual
American Stars of Teaching project, which recognizes exemplary teachers who
raise student achievement, use innovative classroom strategies and make a
difference in their students' lives.
Teachers
across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2007
American Stars of Teaching. One teacher will be recognized from every state and
the District of Columbia. Colleagues, parents, students, school administrators
or members of the community may nominate a teacher they believe has
demonstrated the skills, talents and qualities that personify an American Star
of Teaching.
Last
year, the Department received more than 4,000 nominations for the program.
Honorees were selected by a committee composed of former K-12 teachers who now
work for the U.S. Department of Education. As in the past, Education Department
officials will visit the schools of American Star teachers to congratulate them
on their success.
Nominations
for American Stars must be submitted by March 31, 2007. The online nomination
form and more information about the award are available at https://www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp
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