Delaware is one of six states to win a National Governors Association (NGA) grant and technical support to develop policies to strengthen the quality of Delaware’s early care and education workforce.

NGA, in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), awarded $12,500 to Delaware. Other winners were Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Montana and North Carolina. CCSSO will identify four more states for additional grants.

“High-quality care and education has a critical positive influence on children’s development,” Governor John Carney said. “This effort will help continue our work to better support Delaware’s educators who work with our youngest learners and ensure they have the knowledge and skills to provide quality early childhood education.”

According to NGA, in addition to the grant funds, the NGA Center for Best Practices Education Division and CCSSO will provide technical assistance for the development of one or more state-specific policy priorities to improve the state’s early care and education workforce.

Delaware’s points of focus will include:

• Strengthening governance and alignment of services for students, schools, and families through the Family Services Cabinet Council
• Reviewing and evaluating the recommendations of the Early Learning Workforce Professional Development Plan when it is released
• Maintaining support for Delaware Stars and associated early education programs
• Expanding school-based health centers into elementary and middle schools

Support for this project comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Alliance for Early Success, the Foundation for Child Development and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Media Contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006 

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