Back in March on 2015, I made several predictions for Delaware education. I ran across this post yesterday while searching for another post. As I looked back on these predictions, I wondered if I was right or wrong. I would say I got about half right and half wrong. Some were dead on the nose while others I wasn’t even close!
Top Ten Exceptional Delaware Predictions for 2015
1. Mark Murphy is either terminated or resigns
Yes, I was absolutely right about this! By August 2015, Murphy did “resign”.
2. Mark Holodick takes his place
Nope, Dr. Steven Godowsky took his place.
3. Office of Civil Rights comes back with scathing report against Delaware
Nope, still working on it supposedly.
4. More charter schools get scrutiny over finances
Yes. Academy of Dover, Providence Creek Academy, Kuumba Academy, Delaware College Prep, whatever is in the unreleased petty cash audit, and Delaware Met.
5. At least 3 districts won’t meet the 95% benchmark for standardized test participation rates
Nope, more than 3 districts didn’t hit the 95% benchmark for the Smarter Balanced Assessment.
6. Delaware parents become a force to be reckoned with education conversation
Maybe. We did get House Bill 50 passed in the House and Senate but Governor Markell vetoed the bill. Parents of students with Autism did get Senate Bill 93 passed. There were other bills that went through, but parent advocacy wasn’t as big in the General Assembly after the veto override of HB50 didn’t go through.
7. Bullying and discrimination will become BIG issues
To me, this is always a big issue. I think more awareness of discrimination happened due to the situation with cops and African-Americans over the past year. For bullying, I will have to reserve judgment until I see the report for the 2015-2016 school year.
8. More bills will be introduced AND passed to limit the power of the Delaware DOE, Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education
Not really. If anything the DOE grew more bold after Mark Murphy left. Recent months have proved that more than any other time. But in terms of the legislators, the only thing I can think of which may limit power is placing the State Board of Education under Sunset review.
9. US DOE will approve extension for teacher accountability and the Smarter Balanced Assessment
The US DOE did approve this extension for the 2015-2016 school year, but as I wrote yesterday, this year is another matter.
10. The four Wilmington school districts will become two and Brandywine will cause major problems during the process
Absolutely not! I can’t recall if the WEAC recommendations came out when I wrote this, but nothing has happened at this point in terms of redistricting. Brandywine and Colonial did bow out of sending their Wilmington students to Red Clay though, so in a sense it was kind of/sort of right. But Brandywine didn’t really cause any problems. But Colonial bowing out was a point of contention for a time.
The Season Of Myths 