The new plan carries heavy goals of early childhood care and improving reading levels. (Photo by notethanun/Unsplash)
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The Vision Coalition of Delaware Monday launched a comprehensive 10-year plan aimed at improving the state’s education system.
The plan, titled “Student Equity and Excellence 2035,” was officially unveiled at a special event in Dover, with the policy roadmap based on feedback from over a thousand Delawareans, including students, parents, educators, experts, and state leaders.
The initiative focuses on addressing persistent challenges while ensuring long-term progress.
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Key priorities of the plan include expanding access to high-quality early childhood education, improving literacy and career readiness, and increasing investments in school funding.
The plan also emphasizes supporting educators and creating flexible funding systems that prioritize students’ needs.
Key details of 10-year plan
The plan’s centerpiece is its “North Star” vision, which outlines the skills Delaware students will need to succeed in 2035. Among the key targets by 2035 are:
- 80% of children 0-5 served in high-quality early care and education settings, a 4X increase from today
- 90% of 3rd graders reading on grade level (30% today) and 70% of 8th graders on-track in math (40% today)
- 60% reduction in chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of school days in a year. Currently 19%)
- 100% of high school students achieve advanced college or career standing in high school, with 75% achieving both (such as college credit or industry credential)
- 70% of adults have a credential or degree beyond high school
The Vision Coalition also emphasizes the importance of listening to student voices in shaping policy. Student speakers at the event highlighted the need for greater student involvement in policy discussions.
“We need to make sure students are heard,” said Sage Sawhney, a student representative on the State Board of Education. “This shouldn’t be the exception, but the norm.”
The coalition’s leadership team, which includes Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, is committed to ensuring the plan’s success over the next decade, with a focus on equity and student-centered outcomes.
Julia Keleher, executive director of First State Educate, said she loves the new plan.
“First State Educate applauds the Vision Coalition of Delaware for the launch of Student Equity and Excellence 2035,” she said. “This bold, community-informed roadmap reflects the kind of long-term, student-centered thinking necessary to ensure all Delawareans thrive.”
As the only organization in the state focused exclusively on strengthening school board capacity, Keleher recognizes the critical role school boards play in making this vision real.
Transformative change in education policy—from equitable funding and early childhood expansion to career-connected learning—will ultimately rise or fall on the strength of local leadership, she said.
“Without knowledgeable, empowered school boards to adopt effective policies, steward investments, and drive accountability, even the most ambitious plan risks falling short,” Keleher said. “Delaware’s future depends on it—and our boards are ready to lead.”
The Student Equity and Excellence 2035 plan follows the Vision Coalition’s previous successful initiatives, with over 70% of policy recommendations from past plans already implemented in Delaware.
“This plan is a blueprint for turning our hard-earned tax dollars into meaningful action to improve educational opportunities for our students,” said Meyer said.
This is the coalition’s third published 10-year-plan, with the first one developed in 2006.
“I respect the members of the coalition and acknowledge their hard work in trying to map out a vision for education over the next ten years,” said Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover. “My concern is that history has shown us that these types of initiatives have the potential to look good on paper and fall short in implementation, meaning positive results in the classroom.”
For more information on the Vision Coalition and the new, 44-page, 10-year education plan, click here.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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