Delaware’s 2015 State of the State: Our Reactions

At his seventh state of the state, Governor Markell continued his focus on education, emphasizing the many positive education programs and initiatives currently underway –from our early childhood centers to our high schools and higher education institutions. These initiatives will continue to have a positive impact on our state for generations.

This year, the Governor’s address highlighted the work already underway, including expansion of the World Language Immersion program, creation of a committee with a vision of advancing the opportunities available to educators through an improved teacher compensation system, and development of new approaches to address our lowest-achieving schools. In addition to this significant work, the Governor focused on the importance of continuing to build the bridge between Delaware’s education system and economy. As the state and nation’s economies continue changing rapidly, it is increasingly important that we prepare our students with the skills and knowledge necessary for that economy, while anticipating the needs of the future. To do this, the Governor urged the community to join him in committing to the “Delaware Promise.” A commitment that by 2025, 65 percent of our work force will earn a college degree or professional certificate, and everyone will have a high school diploma.

Delaware has made great strides in recent years in helping students prepare for college and careers. The SEED and INSPIRE scholarships, which allow high school graduates to secure a two-year degree at virtually no cost, had 3,156 SEED and 486 INSPIRE applications just last year. We’re proud that Delaware is a national leader for this work, yet recognize that we need to continue improving it to best support students.

This year, the SPARC initiative, a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education, the Delaware Business Roundtable Education Committee, and the United Way of Delaware was launched. The program is piloting in seven schools and will provide students with opportunities to explore career options, speak with employees currently holding positions a student is interested in, and gain hands-on experience in their field of interest.

In addition, the Department of Education’s Delaware Goes To College initiative has provided numerous and varied opportunities and support for students who are preparing for their future. This year, every Delaware high school participated in College Application Month, and within the next month, college information nights will be held in each county to inform parents about the college application process. The Department also recently announced a text message program which will provide high school seniors and their families with information and reminders about college application and enrollment deadlines.

In addition to this incredible amount of progress made in recent years, the Governor outlined in his address the Delaware Promise, a continued commitment to our students that we will provide them with the skills and knowledge that will best prepare them for a lifetime of success. The Delaware Promise consists of the following:

• Pathways to Prosperity will establish partnerships with Delaware employers, universities, K-12 public schools, and a national network to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they’ll need to be successful in key industries. This fall, statewide pathways in IT and hospitality will launch, and the manufacturing pathway started last year will expand downstate. These pathways will provide students with opportunities to take courses in an area of interest, gain hands-on experience in these areas, and potentially receive an industry-recognized certificate or college credit. This opportunity will provide students throughout the state with consistent opportunities to explore their interests. More information on these Pathways will be discussed at an event held by the Governor’s office on February 12th. All are invited to attend.
• Delaware Technical and Community College will partner with McKinsey to accelerate training of entry-level healthcare workers. Delaware’s employers have already committed internships for students going through the program, and it is expected that this training will help these workers enter the workforce in this area within a few months.
• Through accelerated education programs and a “coding school” launched this fall, eight major employers in the state will train and hire hundreds of IT workers.

Under Delaware’s Promise, students and young adults, regardless of income level, will have greater opportunities to explore their interests and pursue a career training program that interests them. We are encouraged by the cross-sector collaboration of Delaware’s stakeholders including, education, business, nonprofit, and state government, and are confident that together we can provide students with the knowledge and experiences to innovate and lead in a continuously changing economy.