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Middletown, Del. —
Lt. Governor Matt Denn stopped by Appoquinimink High School Thursday to meet with students and teachers and get their feedback on how the state of Delaware is handling education.
“I’m hoping to hear from you,” he told the juniors and seniors in Thomas Baker’s AP World History class.
Delaware schools lost about $24 million in federal funding recently, so to offset this loss Governor Jack Markell made up the difference by filling the gap with $24 million from the state budget.
Denn said this was the largest item in this year’s budget and that the state had to say no to some environmental projects, building improvements and other requests to fulfill it.
Denn said that he focuses a lot on education in his role with the state and tries to visit at least one school a week.
He tries to see some students and meet with teachers to get valuable feedback on how education is being dealt with on the state level during these visits, he said.
In Baker’s class, he was met by a group of students who showed a clear interest in their futures.
One senior told Denn that she felt like they weren’t being challenged and that she sees not being able to take Advanced Placement courses until their junior year as a set back on college applications.
Another student said that he feels AP should have more funding since the classes are college level.
“Statewide, I’m not sure where we should be yet,” Denn told the students. “We have more work to do statewide to allow kids to fill their potential.”
He said it’s surprising how few elementary schools state wide have accelerated programs for students K – 5.
Other concerns expressed by Baker’s students Thursday included SAT prep.
Several said that they didn’t hear about the SAT until after they entered high school.
“I would like to see all kids in the state in your mindset,” Denn told the students.
Before visiting the college bound AP students, Denn spoke to a Professional Learning Community of Appoquinimink High School science teachers.
He told them he wanted their feedback.
The teachers asked Denn about the state’s core curriculum and integrating Math and English.
“The kids are not moving forward in math the way we want,” one science teacher said.
Denn said that the state needs a fixed target to shoot for and he worries that constantly tinkering with the standards could confuse the educators.
“We need certainty of what the end goal should be.”
Lt. Governor Matt Denn stopped by Appoquinimink High School Thursday to meet with students and teachers and get their feedback on how the state of Delaware is handling education.
“I’m hoping to hear from you,” he told the juniors and seniors in Thomas Baker’s AP World History class.
Delaware schools lost about $24 million in federal funding recently, so to offset this loss Governor Jack Markell made up the difference by filling the gap with $24 million from the state budget.
Denn said this was the largest item in this year’s budget and that the state had to say no to some environmental projects, building improvements and other requests to fulfill it.
Denn said that he focuses a lot on education in his role with the state and tries to visit at least one school a week.
He tries to see some students and meet with teachers to get valuable feedback on how education is being dealt with on the state level during these visits, he said.
In Baker’s class, he was met by a group of students who showed a clear interest in their futures.
One senior told Denn that she felt like they weren’t being challenged and that she sees not being able to take Advanced Placement courses until their junior year as a set back on college applications.
Another student said that he feels AP should have more funding since the classes are college level.
“Statewide, I’m not sure where we should be yet,” Denn told the students. “We have more work to do statewide to allow kids to fill their potential.”
He said it’s surprising how few elementary schools state wide have accelerated programs for students K – 5.
Other concerns expressed by Baker’s students Thursday included SAT prep.
Several said that they didn’t hear about the SAT until after they entered high school.
“I would like to see all kids in the state in your mindset,” Denn told the students.
Before visiting the college bound AP students, Denn spoke to a Professional Learning Community of Appoquinimink High School science teachers.
He told them he wanted their feedback.
The teachers asked Denn about the state’s core curriculum and integrating Math and English.
“The kids are not moving forward in math the way we want,” one science teacher said.
Denn said that the state needs a fixed target to shoot for and he worries that constantly tinkering with the standards could confuse the educators.
“We need certainty of what the end goal should be.”
