Statewide internet tool helps Delaware educators

The Delaware Department of Education is days away from launching another Race to the Top tool. It’s a $1.3 million statewide data system for educators that’s designed to help teachers improve instruction and learning for their students.

The new web based system which is being called “Education Insight” is already available to the staff at Bunker Hill Elementary School in Middletown since the school took part in a pilot program.

“It’s a very intuitive interface, it’s very easy to use and I know our teachers are excited, they were really glad to pilot it this past spring we didn’t encounter any difficulties and DOE has been very helpful with all of the changes we suggested, additional features they’ve been wonderful to work with,” said Principal Jeff Davis, of Bunker Hill Elementary School.

The dashboard was funded with part of the state’s $119 million federal Race to the Top grant, to develop data systems as outlined in the state’s Race to the Top application.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Some of the features of the internet system includes test scores, discipline history, and attendance for only school administrators and teachers says Don Berry of the Delaware Department of Education.

“Security is something we spent a lot of time on but won’t be apparent to anybody when they look at the dashboard, but as a teacher you’ll only see those students in your actual class, you won’t be able to view any students in any other classes,” said Berry.

However, if the system ever crashes, there’s nothing to worry about since all of the the information is coming out of a data warehouse which is refreshed daily and will be recorded.

“We really want parents to be able to see how their students are doing and not just know that they are a “A” or “B” student but exactly where they are excelling, where they can use additional help, how attendance is going, every issue here at the school,” added Davis.

September 4th is the official launch date for all districts and charter schools. 

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal