Rodel Post-Election Statement
As we collectively navigate the post-election landscape and prepare for the transitions at the state and federal levels, we at Rodel want to reaffirm our mission, objectives, and values and ask for your partnership in supporting our public schools.
For families, educators, and students – particularly those from marginalized communities who have historically shouldered the burden of systemic inequities – this moment may bring fear and uncertainty. The antidote to anxiety is action.
At Rodel, we are taking this opportunity to double down on our commitments to creating an excellent and equitable public education system that serves all Delawareans. Together, we invite your partnership to continue the work of building a future where every child has access to a quality education that supports their success in school, in work, and in life. So, what does this mean?
At Rodel, our mission remains: To strengthen Delaware’s public education system and workforce by connecting partners to advance and implement sustainable solutions.
To achieve this, we are focused on these core priorities:
- Expanding access to early childhood programs focused on the state’s highest-need learners
- Improving educator diversity and retention to better serve Delaware’s students
- Strengthening career pathways that connect students’ interests and skills to promising careers and life outcomes
- Ensuring equitable funding that meets the needs of all students in Delaware
Historically, we have all seen that education can be both a door to opportunity and a tool of exclusion. We will keep that door open for all, particularly those who have been historically marginalized, including Black and Brown students, LGBTQ+ students, multilingual learners, immigrant students, students from Indigenous communities, students with disabilities, and those from low-income and underserved communities. We recognize the immense value that these students bring, and we will do our part to support them and to ensure that their civil rights are protected.
To advance our goals, we will:
- Follow the evidence to develop transformative, data-driven solutions
- Listen to the community to inform our work and build coalitions needed to ensure sustainable change
- Champion public education as the bedrock of democracy, benefiting 90% of Delaware’s children today
- Stay proactive and engaged, partnering locally and nationally to meet challenges head-on
We acknowledge the critiques of our public schools. We are clear-eyed about the work that needs to be done, and we embrace the urgency of this moment. We can and must do better. As new administrations take shape in Delaware and D.C., we remain steadfast and energized to work with all of you to reimagine what education can and should be. Public education is not only a foundation of our democracy—it is a reflection of the society we aspire to create.
We believe Delaware is a special place. We know how to work together, to get things done. We invite you to join us on this journey, and together, we can be a beacon for the nation.
Early Childhood
| Civil Rights Principles for Early Care and Education (ECE). The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. | Ten principles aimed at ensuring equitable and inclusive early care and education systems |
| Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. Parent Information Center (PIC) of Delaware. | A guide detailing services available for young children with disabilities and their families |
Educators
| Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence. U.S. Department of Education. Office for Civil Rights. | Guidance to educational institutions on preventing discriminatory practices when implementing AI technologies. |
| Speaking Out Against The Violence of Policing And Oppression: A Political Education Curriculum. Know Your Rights Camp. | Curriculum designed to educate individuals on the systemic issues of policing and oppression. |
| Resources from the Center for Black Educator Development. | Resources to build the national black teacher pipeline, advancing racial justice, and educational equity. |
| Educator Resource Hub. The Immigrant Learning Center. | A carefully curated collection of resources to help you support your foreign-born students and educate all students about U.S. immigration. |
Postsecondary Success
| LGBTQ+ Student Scholarship Database. Human Rights Campaign. | List of scholarships, fellowships, and grants available to LGBTQ+ and allied students. |
| Students’ Free Speech Rights in Public Schools. ACLU. | Guide detailing the free speech rights of students within public schools. |
| LGBT High School Students. ACLU. | Information on the rights of LGBTQ+ high school students, focusing on protection against discrimination and harassment. |
| Know Your Rights: Trans & Gender Diverse Youth. ACLU. | Guide outlining the rights of transgender and gender-diverse youth, including information on identity recognition and protection from discrimination. |
Immigration
| If Immigration Agents (ICE) Are at Your Door. ACLU. | Guide advising individuals on their rights and appropriate actions if approached by ICE agents at their residence. |
| Know Your Rights about DACA. ACLU. | Information on the DACA program, including eligibility, application processes, and current status. |
| Your one-stop hub for trustworthy resources on DACA and all things immigration. United We Dream. | Browse and search resources by topic and type on all things immigration such as guides, articles, factsheets, reports, and livestreams. |
| Beyond DACA: A Directory of Resources for Undocumented Students & Individuals. Higher Ed Immigration Portal. | A consolidated place for the most recent resources to support undocumented students and individuals’ access and afford college, start their professional careers, and receive legal support and mental health support, among other types of resources. These resources were designed by pro-immigration organizations in the non-profit sector. |
| Educational Resources for Immigrants, Refugees, Asylees and other New Americans. U.S. Department of Education. | Find K-12, higher education, DACA, adult education, migrant education, Hispanic, Asian American, and Pacific Islander student resources. |
Healthcare
| Know Your Rights: Abortion Care in Delaware. ACLU. | Guide detailing the legal rights and available resources for individuals seeking abortion care in Delaware. |
| Healthcare Facilities Search: How do healthcare facilities near you measure up on LGBTQ+ inclusion? Human Rights Campaign. | Tool to assess healthcare facilities’ policies and practices regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality. |
Housing
| Municipality Database: Where does your city stand in the movement for equality? Human Rights Campaign. | A database evaluating cities based on their laws, policies, and services affecting LGBTQ+ equality. |
| Eviction Help. Delaware Legal Help Link. | Free legal help for Delaware tenants in eviction and loss of public housing/housing voucher cases. |
Education
| Know Your Rights: OCR Complaint Process, Sex Discrimination, Race and National Origin Discrimination, Age Discrimination, Disability Discrimination… U.S. Department of Education. Office for Civil Rights. | Overview of the Office for Civil Rights’ complaint process, including how to file complaints related to discrimination in educational institutions. |
| The Parent Information Center (PIC) of Delaware. & Parental Rights under IDEA. Center for Parent Information & Resources. | An overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (English and Spanish). |
Policy
| Declaracion de Derechos en Lenguaje Sencillo. ACLU. | A simplified explanation of the Bill of Rights (Spanish). |
| Indivisible States: How State Legislatures Can Resist the Trump Agenda. Indivisible. | How to conduct effective advocacy in our home states to achieve transformational change. |
Partner Contacts
ACLU of Delaware
Advocates for individual rights and liberties through litigation and public education.
Address: 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 706, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 654-5326
Email: Contact Form
Website: aclu-de.org
Clean Slate Delaware Expungement Hub
Provides assistance with the expungement process to help individuals clear their criminal records.
Website: www.aclu-de.org/csde
Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI)
Offers legal services to low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Address: 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 801, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 575-0660
Website: declasi.org
Delaware Center for Justice
Provides support services to justice-involved individuals and their families
Address: 100 W. 10th St., Suite 905, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-658-7174
Email: center@dcjustice.org
Website: https://dcjustice.org/
Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS)
Provides pro bono legal assistance to Delaware residents in need.
Address: 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 203, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 478-8680
Email: dvls@dvls.org
Website: dvls.org
Parent Information Center (PIC) of Delaware
Provides one-on-one support to help families understand their rights and navigate the special education process
Address: 404 Larch Circle, Larch Corporate Center, Wilmington, DE 19804
Phone: (302) 999-7394
Email: picofdel@picofdel.org
Website: picofdel.org
Related Topics: delaware educators, delaware school funding, Delaware teachers, elections, equity, federal education funding, immigration, resources, vision coalition