We as Delawareans must begin to demand better results and more collaboration from the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). Everyone in Delaware has a stake in efforts to make sure Wilmingtons public schools serve students well. Yet a recent announcement by DDOE demonstrates another failure by DDOE to realize that stakeholder collaboration is an essential part of improving our schools. The top-down, unilateral approach by DDOE does not help our schoolchildren. This is not about charters versus district schools; about teachers unions; about Common Core; about student behavior; about high-stakes testing; or about the framework that has resulted in Delaware re-segregating its schools to the point where more of our schools have higher levels of poverty and are underfunded. This is about the fundamental disconnect between DDOEs unilateral approach and the many different stakeholders (parents, educators, administrators, bus drivers, and others) who every day roll up their sleeves to open students minds and strengthen students futures. DDOE again has failed to understand the importance of collaborating at the grassroots level to improve what is the most grassroots and honorable part of a civilized society: public education. DDOEs approach must change. I will push for change in Dover. I ask that all stakeholders make their voices heard, and demand from DDOE the collaboration that our schoolchildren deserve.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 18:59:42 +0000