Some local students hope to become teachers. They're already winning: Education Roundup

It's just too early to think about back-to-school. It's a hot week in July.

But the Department of Education is reminding families about free and reduced-price meal programs for the coming academic year. And, some Delaware students are spending part of their summers competing and preparing to become future teachers.

In this roundup, we'll try to catch you up on some education headlines you may have missed.

Did we miss another good story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.

The students hope to become the teachers. For now, they're already winning big

Smyrna High School students showed up at the Educators Rising National Conference this summer.

They joined some 18 individuals or teams from Delaware landing top-10 recognition after the event packed with development opportunities, networking and — of course — competitive events.

Smyrna's future educators had 11 students or teams place, while also walking away with the 2023 National Champion crown.

Seaford High School’s Taylor Jenkins was also elected as the national vice president of service — only the third student in Delaware to be elected as a national officer with Educators Rising.

These competitions, as the Delaware Department of Education explained, are performance-based events where students can demonstrate their knowledge, skills and leadership in education.

Students represented about eight Delaware public school districts, as well as Delaware Technical Community College.

Specific award information can be found online.

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Help available for school meals, in step with typical operations

Free and reduced-price meals will be available for families unable to pay full prices at lunch, breakfast or after-school offerings in the First State this coming school year.

Even if it might feel too early to think about it, the state Department of Education sent out its annual announcement earlier this month. Each participating school should also have a copy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy

The National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast and After School Snack programs will continue normal operations in the 2023-24 school year, and most schools will be charged with collecting eligibility applications.

Families can look out for such "meal benefit forms" sent home via letter, according to the state.

"To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should fill out the MBF for their household and return it to the school," the department explains.

The confidential information will be used to determine eligibility, verifiable at any time during the school year by program officials. Forms can also be submitted at any time, or ahead of time. Families should contact their schools for more information.

Families can discuss decisions informally with their schools and program officials, or formally appeal to administration for a hearing on a decision.

Children enrolled in Head Start or who are migrants, runaways, in foster care or facing homelessness are eligible for free school meal benefits, according to the department. Children receiving WIC may also be eligible in certain cases.

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Households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits and/or Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families must:

• List the child’s name

• The SNAP and/or DE-TANF case number

• And, provide a signature and name of an adult household member

Households not receiving SNAP and/or DE-TANF must:

• List names of all household members

• The amount of the gross income for each household member received last month

• The income source and how often received

• The signature of an adult household member

• And, list that adult’s last four digits of social security number — or write the word “none” or “No Social Security Number” in the box if the adult does not have a Social Security number

Have a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for the USA TODAY Network's Northeast Region and Delaware Online/The News Journal, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Delaware back-to-school getting in gear with free, reduced-price meals