College bound? How to apply for state financial aid and scholarships in Delaware!

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LOGO_medium (1)High school seniors in Delaware, and throughout the country, are busy preparing for the SATs, evaluating college options, visiting campuses… and wondering how they are going to pay for it all!

In Delaware, high-achieving students can apply for assistance through 23 state-sponsored financial aid programs and 6 private scholarship programs, administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office.

These programs are designed to help Delawareans continue their education after high school. For programs below that followed by an asterisk (*), applicants must also complete the Common Merit Application. These include Academic Memorial Scholarships, Academic Scholarships and Professional Incentive Programs.

The following …

Take action! October is National Bullying Prevention Month!

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PACERThe End of Bullying Begins with Me: that’s the message during PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month in October. It’s a time when communities can unite nationwide to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach, and education. Resources from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center make it easy to take action.

PACER created the campaign in 2006 with a one-week event which has now evolved into a month-long effort that encourages everyone to take an active role in the bullying prevention movement. PACER offers a variety of resources to use during October — and throughout the year — to inspire, …

The Seventh Annual Conference on Education slated for October 29, 2014

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LOGO_medium (1)The Seventh Annual Conference on Education is slated for October 29, 2014 at Clayton Hall, University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware.

The Conference is hosted by the Vision Coalition and will bring together voices from around Delaware and beyond for an engaging and interactive day focusing on the future of education in the state. Breakout sessions will offer opportunities to learn, contribute, and interact on a number of relevant education issues, from innovative practices happening in classrooms around Delaware to helping students achieve success in college and careers.

To learn more or to register, visit Vision 2015.

Excellence in …

2014 Newbery Medal Award Winner and Honor Books are must-reads for kids of all ages!

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Newbery MedalThe Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery and is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children. The medal is awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children for that year.

2014 WINNER Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, written by Kate DiCamillo and published by Candlewick Press

Comic book fan and natural-born cynic Flora Belle Buckman and Ulysses, a flying, superhero, poetry-writing squirrel, join forces to overcome Ulysses’ arch-nemesis, Flora’s mother and encounter a quirky cast of characters. Through poignant, laugh-out-loud episodes, this homage to comic …

Smarter Balanced Assessment test will replace DCAS in Delaware

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LOGO_medium (1)The Smarter Balanced Assessment test will replace DCAS in Delaware in the 2014-2015 school year. Smarter Balanced Assessment is designed to mesh with the Common Core State Standards, a set of new, tougher academic expectations for students.

What does this mean for Delaware students?

The test includes more interactive questions, as well as “performance tasks.” These will provide a better understanding of how well a student has mastered academic concepts. In addition, the main Smarter Balanced Assessment test is also administered once at the end of the year.

To learn more about the test, visit Smarter Balanced Assessment. In …