Delaware News

Governor Carney Signs Executive Order to Create Opportunity Funding Oversight Committee

Education | Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Friday, August 9, 2019


Governor Carney Signs Executive Order 33

Committee will evaluate progress of the initiative, report annually to the Governor and General Assembly

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney has signed Executive Order 33, which establishes the Oversight Committee on Opportunity Funding to ensure that the initiative is achieving its goals to support low-income students, and English learners, and close achievement gaps in Delaware schools.

Governor Carney and the General Assembly created the Opportunity Funding program in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The program will provide $75 million over the next three years in targeted resources to support low-income students and English learners. Opportunity Funding also will support additional mental health and reading supports in Delaware’s highest-needs schools.

Full text of Executive Order 33 is available here.

“Delaware’s new Opportunity Funding program will provide additional resources in the classroom for students who need our help the most – children living in poverty, and children from families where the primary language is not English,” said Governor Carney. “We are optimistic that we can close the achievement gaps that persist in our schools, and help more children read on grade level by third grade, do math proficiently by middle school, and ultimately graduate high school ready for college or a career. This oversight committee will help us make sure that this new funding is really working for Delaware students.”

The oversight committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the Opportunity Funding program, publish best practices, make recommendations on the future of the program, and ensure the public is aware of the steps that school districts and charter schools are taking to close achievement gaps. The committee will report annually to the Governor and members of the General Assembly on the progress made by districts and charter schools in serving low-income students and English learners. It also will work with the Department of Education on an annual summit to spotlight best practices.

“It’s my pleasure to work with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education, and colleagues across the state of Delaware as we maximize Opportunity Funding,” said Dorrell Green, Superintendent of the Red Clay School District. “The committee’s focus on best practices will promote shared knowledge, collaboration, and help us evaluate the effectiveness of these important funds. We owe this to our students, families, and educators as we work on continuous improvement in Delaware schools.”

“English Learners are the fastest growing student population in Delaware,” said Javier Torrijos, Chair of the Delaware Hispanic Commission. “Opportunity Funding will provide many resources needed as school districts look to meet the demands of this specific student population. The Delaware Hispanic Commission has been advocating for funding and we are extremely grateful to Governor Carney, Secretary Bunting, and members of the General Assembly for identifying and prioritizing these much-needed resources. This is a step in the right direction to allow low-income students and English learners to get a quality education and close the achievement gap that currently exists. Investing in our children’s education will prepare them to be successful in college, career, and life.”

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Governor Carney Signs Executive Order to Create Opportunity Funding Oversight Committee

Education | Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Friday, August 9, 2019


Governor Carney Signs Executive Order 33

Committee will evaluate progress of the initiative, report annually to the Governor and General Assembly

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney has signed Executive Order 33, which establishes the Oversight Committee on Opportunity Funding to ensure that the initiative is achieving its goals to support low-income students, and English learners, and close achievement gaps in Delaware schools.

Governor Carney and the General Assembly created the Opportunity Funding program in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The program will provide $75 million over the next three years in targeted resources to support low-income students and English learners. Opportunity Funding also will support additional mental health and reading supports in Delaware’s highest-needs schools.

Full text of Executive Order 33 is available here.

“Delaware’s new Opportunity Funding program will provide additional resources in the classroom for students who need our help the most – children living in poverty, and children from families where the primary language is not English,” said Governor Carney. “We are optimistic that we can close the achievement gaps that persist in our schools, and help more children read on grade level by third grade, do math proficiently by middle school, and ultimately graduate high school ready for college or a career. This oversight committee will help us make sure that this new funding is really working for Delaware students.”

The oversight committee will evaluate the effectiveness of the Opportunity Funding program, publish best practices, make recommendations on the future of the program, and ensure the public is aware of the steps that school districts and charter schools are taking to close achievement gaps. The committee will report annually to the Governor and members of the General Assembly on the progress made by districts and charter schools in serving low-income students and English learners. It also will work with the Department of Education on an annual summit to spotlight best practices.

“It’s my pleasure to work with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Education, and colleagues across the state of Delaware as we maximize Opportunity Funding,” said Dorrell Green, Superintendent of the Red Clay School District. “The committee’s focus on best practices will promote shared knowledge, collaboration, and help us evaluate the effectiveness of these important funds. We owe this to our students, families, and educators as we work on continuous improvement in Delaware schools.”

“English Learners are the fastest growing student population in Delaware,” said Javier Torrijos, Chair of the Delaware Hispanic Commission. “Opportunity Funding will provide many resources needed as school districts look to meet the demands of this specific student population. The Delaware Hispanic Commission has been advocating for funding and we are extremely grateful to Governor Carney, Secretary Bunting, and members of the General Assembly for identifying and prioritizing these much-needed resources. This is a step in the right direction to allow low-income students and English learners to get a quality education and close the achievement gap that currently exists. Investing in our children’s education will prepare them to be successful in college, career, and life.”

 ###

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.