To The Winners And Losers Of The Delaware Primary

Today is the big day you have all been waiting for!  You’ve travelled and talked more in the past few months than some of  you have ever done in your life.  Some of you will win today and some will lose.  But I have some advice for the losers- DON’T GIVE UP!

A few months ago I went through all Delaware elections going back to 1970.  So many of our legislators and elected officials lost once, sometimes even twice.  But they persevered and kept going.  This was echoed by many of the legislators that retired this year as they gave their farewell speeches in the General Assembly.

I understand it will be crushing.  Some of you might have thought you were going to win but there could be some upsets today.  From the top of the ticket to the bottom, the people will vote how they vote.  The best thing to do is rest and reformulate for the future.  But DON’T GIVE UP!

To the winners- keep going.  Most of you have a General Election in November.  It isn’t over yet!  Keep your campaign clean.  Make sure the money you accept from organizations is something you believe in.  If not, just send it back!  Talk about your qualifications instead of bashing your opponent.  Keep your chin up and smile.  Talk to the people, not at them.  Door-knock as much as you possibly can.  Send out mailers if you can.  Write letters to the editor.  Be approachable and kind.

To ALL the candidates (even you Miss Congeniality), I wish you the best of luck today!  I will anxiously await the results along with you this evening.  It all changes tomorrow!

The 2015 Charter School Performance Award Winners: Who Won Big, Who Won Some, & Who Got The Shaft

Has the Delaware DOE announced the winners for the Charter School Performance Award by default, on their very own website? In the section on their website for applicants of the Charter School Performance Award, their is a clear list of how much each school received from their application and what they can do with the funds.  Since the state budget only allotted $1 million as opposed to the $1.5 originally requested, this list could have been more extensive.  They did say they would announce the winners today!  Each school listed provides the link to my articles on each school’s application as well as my take and opinion about what they asked for.

Las Americas ASPIRA Academy: $250,000, requested $250,000, no restrictions on special education inclusion model

Newark Charter School: $250,000, requested $400,000, can only use for STEM Laboratory

Campus Community School: $50,000, requested $250,000, can only use for school library project

The Delaware MET: $175,000, requested $250,000, can only use for school start-up costs, not for marketing or promotion or student recruitment

Delaware STEM Academy: $175,000, requested $250,000, same as above

First State Military Academy: $50,000, requested $250,000, same as above

Mapleton Charter School at Whitehall: $50,000, requested $250,000, same as above

Applicants that were eligible but didn’t receive any funds: Early College High School and Great Oaks Charter School (both requested $250,000)

The only applicant that wasn’t eligible at all was Odyssey Charter School due to their probation status during the 2014-2015 academic year.

To read the full list on the DOE Website, go here:

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/2266