Governor has made dual enrollment classes a priority in push to better prepare youth for college and career

Wilmington, DE – With the Governor and Department of Education supporting more opportunities for high schoolers to take college-level classes before graduation, the state released data today showing that the number of students participating in “dual-enrollment” courses has more than doubled in the past year. This fall, more than 1500 high school students are taking classes that can count toward high school graduation and college credits, up from about 600 in the 2013-14 school year. They receive instruction either on a college campus or from a teacher who has received special accreditation from one of the state’s higher education institutions.

“This increase represents a better opportunity for hundreds of Delaware juniors and seniors to ensure they are well-prepared to continue their education after graduation,” said Governor Markell. “Recognizing that the vast majority of good-paying jobs require some education or training beyond schools, we have seen tremendous progress in our state’s efforts to increase access to college. Dual-enrollment makes it more likely that students will succeed when they get there or in any other path they pursue.”

This semester, 25 high schools across the state are offering more than 100 dual-enrollment courses, with both the total number of courses and schools doubling from last school year. Dual enrollment is different from Advanced Placement courses, which prepare students for an exam, through which they can earn college credit if they receive a high enough score. The number of students taking an AP test has also more than doubled over the past decade.

“Educators and administrators across our state are working hard to teach students the most important skills they need to reach their potential and pursue their dreams,” said Education Secretary Mark Murphy. “School and district efforts to embrace dual enrollment are another step toward all of our young people graduating high school ready for college or career.”

In his State of the State address last January, Markell announced an initiative to ensure all high school seniors have access to a college-level class, regardless of their financial circumstances. The state’s budget for this year includes funding for this effort and, thus far, the Department of Education has spent $66,000 to support 206 of these students. Districts and the state’s colleges and universities are also investing in the cost of dual enrollment. Wilmington University, Delaware Tech, the University of Delaware, and Delaware State University all offer dual enrollment programs.

“Our dual enrollment partnerships are providing exciting ways for students to be involved in high rigor coursework and get a jump start on their post-secondary careers,” said Sam Golder, director of secondary schools for the Red Clay Consolidated School District, where the number of dual-enrollment students increased from zero to 97 in the past year across Dickinson, DuPont, and McKean High Schools.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who complete college credit while in high school require less remediation, have higher Grade Point Averages, and earn more credits in college.

Offering a true college experience is key to preparing students for a post-secondary education, so they understand the expectations that come with that,” said Delmar Principal Ashley Giska, whose school increased dual enrollment participation from 68 to more than 80 and added two course this year. “By being able to do so within our building and with our faculty, we are excited about the opportunities we can provide.”

Markell planned to visit Howard High School of Technology Wednesday afternoon to speak with Principal Stanley Spoor and students in one of the state’s new dual enrollment courses. Howard, part of the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, entered into a partnership with Wilmington University this year for students at Howard High School of Technology and at Delcastle Technical High School. The pilot program allows students to take a college level course, in their school, taught by one of the school’s teachers who has earned certification as an adjunct instructor at WilmU. At Howard and DelCastle, 156 students are participating in dual enrollment this year, compared to about 25 last year.

“This opportunity allows students to build confidence in their own ability to handle college-level work and enables them to get a head start by earning valuable course credits at no cost to them,” said Spoor. “We are pleased to have a chance to take part in this pilot program and to receive funding from the state for such a worthwhile initiative.

The Department of Education has worked with districts to identify college-ready students who would benefit from taking a dual enrollment course through one of our state’s higher education institutions. By focusing on general education courses such as math, English, history, and science, students can receive college credit that is highly transferrable. Students can then enroll in college having accumulated credits without any financial burden, thus making college more affordable and increasing the likelihood they will graduate on time.

The dual-enrollment increase complements a partnership that the state has launched with the College Board to send all college-ready seniors application and financial aid resources, including application fee waivers to eligible students. Students then receive help in school filling out their applications and financial aid forms. Last year, for the first time, every college-ready senior applied to college and nearly all reported that they planned to enroll.

Dover, DE – The Delaware Senate today confirmed the nomination of Judge Jan Jurden to serve as President Judge of the Delaware Superior Court, replacing Justice James Vaughn Jr., who was sworn in as a member of the state’s Supreme Court on October 29. The Governor issued this statement following the confirmation:

“Judge Jurden’s experience on the bench and life-long dedication to public service have earned her the respect of her peers and the community. I believe she will continue to serve the Superior Court well in her role as President Judge, and I thank the members of the Senate for their consideration and confirmation of her nomination.”

Four-year federal grant will fund health care innovation efforts statewide

Wilmington, DE – Delaware has been awarded $35 million in federal funds that will fuel efforts to improve patient care, support the health of all Delawareans, and reduce the costs of care. The grant, announced today by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), is designed to help states implement innovative approaches to delivering and paying for health care. The state’s grant proposal presentation, which was led by Governor Jack Markell, highlighted the intended focus to amplify investments already being made by Delaware’s health care system to transform health care delivery from a fee-for-service system toward one that rewards quality care and efficiency.

Fact Sheet: Delaware’s State Health Care Innovation Plan and the State Innovation Model (SIM) initiative

If successfully implemented, Delaware’s Health Care Innovation Plan is projected to create more than $1 billion in cost-of-care savings through 2020.  Approximately half of these savings would be reinvested in the delivery system to improve quality and access, and the other half would support improved affordability. The work funded by the grant will support primary care practices, population health initiatives, health information technology, workforce training and development, and clinical and payment innovation.

The state’s Health Care Innovation Plan was developed starting in spring 2013 by representatives from a broad group of Delaware’s health care stakeholders, including physicians, hospitals, other providers, insurers, businesses, consumer advocates, educators, researchers and government officials. The plan takes aim at a critical need: the state’s health outcomes rank below the national average in several categories, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer mortality; however, Delawareans pay 25 percent more for health care than the national average; health care spending in Delaware exceeds $8 billion per year for employers, consumers, and taxpayers combined; Medicaid and the State Employees Health Plan in particular consume nearly a quarter of Delaware’s budget.

The goals of the strategy are to strengthen the primary care system so that patients experience well-coordinated team-based care that delivers better health outcomes, align incentives for providers and health insurers to focus on quality and affordability, support patients to engage in their own health, and support communities to work together to promote health and connect community resources to the health care system.

“The case for change is clear and it is exciting to have all of the parts of our state’s health care community working together with a common mission to provide Delawareans with the best care while reducing the unsustainable growth in costs,” said Governor Markell. “This grant will make it possible to put their plan into practice and we will begin to transform our system to one in which providers are rewarded for quality rather than quantity of care and for their innovative efforts to better serve our people. Together we will ensure Delawareans are healthier than ever before.”

“At the heart of this work is a focus on improving the health of Delawareans and their experience with the health care system,” said Rita Landgraf, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. “Whether an individual needs treatment for a chronic condition like diabetes, experiences a health emergency, or has the opportunity to prevent future health challenges, the innovation plan provides a way to ensure that patients receive well-coordinated, high quality care to help them achieve a healthy life.”

“There is great innovation happening across our health care community, improving the lives of patients every day,” said Bettina Tweardy Riveros, Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission, the designated state grant recipient. “This grant can support that work, align payment models to make those programs financially sustainable, and create a framework for large health systems, small independent providers, community health organizations and others to participate.”

Delaware’s congressional delegation of Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with U.S. Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) wrote a letter of support for the grant.

“Improving our health care system from one that is an inefficient fee-for-service model to one of preventive and coordinated care that keeps patients healthy leads to better outcomes for less money,” Sen. Carper said. “This grant will help Delaware health providers utilize proven best practices that result in reduced costs and better care – all the while creating solutions that other states can replicate. Innovative grant programs like these are exactly what I had in mind when I was helping to reform our health care system through the Affordable Care Act.”

“Delaware is fortunate to have top-notch hospitals, doctors, and other providers,” Sen. Coons said. “More can and should be done to provide more thorough, timely, and efficient care to patients. This grant will help drive transformation in the state, make us smarter purchasers of health care, and ensure every Delawarean has access to better coordinated and higher quality care.”

“We need to change the way we use and pay for healthcare. It’s one of the most important things we can do to improve Americans’ quality of life and support economic growth,” Congressman Carney said. “This federal grant gives Delaware the opportunity to be a national leader in developing a more patient-centered, efficient, and transparent system. It’s an ambitious plan, but one that can be achieved with the help of the many partners that have been involved from the beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing this plan put into action. I think it will go a long way toward helping more Delawareans live healthier lives.”

Under the Health Care Innovation Plan, Delaware will:

• Focus on strong coordination of care across multiple health care providers, especially for those patients with complex chronic conditions, including primary care and behavioral health providers, other specialists and hospitals.
• Support primary care providers in delivering proactive, preventive care and in coordinating care for patients.
• Enable ease of access to medical history and prescription information and hospitalizations across a patient’s health care team.
• Adapt training and education programs to ensure that doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical social workers and other health care providers have the skills and abilities to deliver team-based care.
• Support insurance carriers, and other healthcare payers such as self-insured employers, to move to payment models that reward high-quality, cost-efficient care.
• Create a “common scorecard” using accepted industry standards to provide information to providers on their performance and outcomes and to provide incentives for improvement and for innovative and efficient approaches to delivering high-quality care.
• Promote “healthy neighborhood” coalitions that will work together to address community health needs, enable healthier living, and integrate local resources with health care delivery to provide better access to primary care.
• Maintain a focus on the patient and gather input from health care consumers to guide programs.

“This is a great day for Delaware. This grant enables us to accelerate innovation and health care redesign in Delaware, making the First State a national model for a new kind of care that our neighbors value,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, President and CEO of Christiana Care Health System and a member of the Delaware Health Care Commission. “The Delaware model of public private partnership and broad stakeholder collaboration will serve us well as we work toward achieving our goals of making Delaware one of the healthiest states in the country.”

Thomas Brown, senior vice president of Nanticoke Health Services in Sussex County, says the state’s Health Care Innovation Plan reflects the needs of the health care community. “Today more than ever, it’s critical for health care providers to deliver value for care and for patients to experience a consistent, high level of coordinated care at every stage.”

The path forward

To guide implementation of the innovation plan and track its progress, the Delaware Center for Healthcare Innovation was established earlier this year. The 15-member DCHI board represents major health systems and payers in the state, independent providers, Delaware’s largest federally qualified health center, educational institutions, the business community, and state government.

“The innovation plan charts a clear course of action,” said DCHI board chairman Matt Swanson, a Delaware business leader and community advocate. “With this grant, the DCHI is excited to begin the actual work of implementation together with stakeholders, on behalf of all Delawareans.”

“As a physician, I believe transforming the way we practice is essential to improving the delivery of quality care to Delawareans. Important concepts include increasing access for patients, building team-based care and integrating health information and care coordination. The SIM grant award will be vital in creating the opportunity for independent physicians to achieve that,” said Nancy Fan, MD, President of the Medical Society of Delaware.

“This is an important milestone,” said Terry Murphy, Chair of Delaware Healthcare Association and President and CEO of Bayhealth. “The grant will directly support transition costs required to implement our state plan including operational support for the enhancement of care management and other direct patient care initiatives.  Delaware hospitals continue to work hard every day to improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes while managing our costs.”

Lolita Lopez, president and CEO of Westside Family Healthcare and co-chair of the DCHI board’s Healthy Neighborhoods committee, says federal support for the innovation plan will help Delaware integrate local health initiatives with those in the medical community. “As a result we will see improvements in the health and wellness of the entire population. And as a medical provider to the underserved, we at Westside look forward to a smoother, more seamless way to connect patients to other health providers and organizations that help them manage the social determinants of health.”

For more information on the Delaware Health Care Innovation Plan, go to the Delaware Health Care Commission’s website, http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhcc.

###

(DOVER, Del.—Dec. 15, 2014)—The museums of the State of Delaware will be sponsoring five special events during the month of May 2015. A full schedule is included below. Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-744-5055.

Administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the six museums of the State of Delaware—the New Castle Court House Museum, the John Dickinson Plantation, the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries, The Old State House, the Johnson Victrola Museum and the Zwaanendael Museum—tell the story of the First State’s contributions to the history and culture of the United States. Through displays, exhibits and special programs, the museums explore how the state’s distinctive physical environment, in combination with the people who came to live there, gave Delaware an identity that is different from any other place.

Special events, May 2015

Friday–Sunday, May 1–3, 2015
Dover Days Festival. Celebration of Delaware history featuring historical re-enactments, parade, maypole dancing, walking tours, pet parade, arts and crafts, music and more. Events are primarily based in downtown Dover locations including the Johnson Victrola Museum, The Old State House and the First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries. 302-734-4888.

Saturday, May 2, 2015
Dover Days at the John Dickinson Plantation. Activities include tours, Colonial games and hearth cooking utilizing 18th-century recipes. Part of the Dover Days Festival. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Saturday, May 9, 2015
Demonstrations by the Thistledown Fiber Arts Guild. Program explores spinning, weaving, knitting and other fabric arts. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Program 1–3 p.m. Museum open 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

Saturday, May 16, 2015
A Day in Old New Castle. The oldest house and garden tour in the nation includes programs at the New Castle Court House Museum and the New Castle Green. Downtown New Castle. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission free at the New Castle Court House Museum. Admission charge at other venues. 302-322-5774.

Saturday, May 23, 2015
Fourth Annual Zwaanendael Maritime Festival: “A Sailor’s Life for Me.” Maritime-themed activities, games, displays by local organizations and more. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 302-645-1148.

Exhibits and displays, May 2015
In addition to special programming, division museums are presenting the following exhibits and displays:

Ongoing
“Delaware and the War of 1812.” Exhibit examines the service and sacrifice of Delawareans of 1812 to 1815, and the important role that the state played in a conflict that helped shaped the development of the United States. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. from April 1–Oct. 31. Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. from Nov. 1–March 31. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Emeline Hawkins: Her Journey From Slavery to Freedom on the Underground Railroad.” Exhibit chronicles the compelling story of Emeline Hawkins and her family and their 1845 odyssey on the Underground Railroad from slavery in Maryland, through Delaware to freedom in Pennsylvania. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
Sculptures by Charles Parks. Display of works by the noted Wilmington artist featuring historical and political figures including a Minute Man, and presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush. New Castle Court House Museum, 211 Delaware St., New Castle. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sun., 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 302-323-4453.

Ongoing
“A Seaborne Citizenry: The DeBraak and Its Atlantic World.” Exhibit utilizes artifacts recovered from His Majesty’s Sloop of War DeBraak, a British warship that sank off the Delaware coast on May 25, 1798 to tell the story of the vessel, its crew and the historical context within which it operated in the Atlantic World of the late 18th century. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes. Tue.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:30–4:30 p.m. from April 1–Oct. 31. Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. from Nov. 1–March 31. 302-645-1148.

Ongoing
“Simple Machines.” Exhibit demonstrating the six “simple machines”—incline ramp, screw, wedge, pulley, lever and wheel—that constitute the elementary building blocks of which many more-complicated machines are composed. John Dickinson Plantation, 340 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover. Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 302-739-3277.

 -End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

Governor Jack Markell announced today that Friday, December 26, 2014, will be an additional holiday for state government.

“I know how challenging it has been to meet the increased demands placed on our government in the last several years, and to do so in many cases with fewer resources. State employees have continued to provide excellent service in spite of these challenges and deliver every day for the citizens of Delaware,” said Governor Markell. “I want to recognize them for their commitment by allowing them to spend an extra day with their families this holiday season.”

Employees at 24-hour facilities, such as state hospitals and correctional centers, will report to work. State offices will re-open on Monday, December 29, 2014, with normal business hours.