Nearly $500,000 provided to support Pathways to Prosperity initiative to prepare students to excel in today’s economy

Dover, DE – With the support of grants announced by Governor Markell today, 15 Delaware high schools, spread across the state, will launch intensive programs in the fall to prepare students to excel in key fields that offer good job opportunities in the new economy. The grants, totaling nearly $500,000, are part of the Governor’s Pathways to Prosperity initiative, initially previewed in his State of the State address.

“Every Delaware student must have access to an education that best prepares him or her for our changing world – a world in which it is more important than ever for our citizens to have the right skills,” said Markell. ” Pathways to Prosperity is establishing the necessary partnerships with Delaware employers, universities, and school districts to prepare students for a bright future in high-demand fields and careers.”

Grant funds will be used by school districts to implement career and technical education programs in Biomedical Science, Computer Science, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management, and Engineering beginning in the 2015 – 2016 school year. Through this effort, students will take hundreds of hours of specialized instruction and hands-on training. They will have the opportunity to graduate with workplace experience and college credits for courses that are most relevant to those industries, giving them a head start on getting a job and earning a degree.

Each program was developed in partnership with Delaware employers and institutions of higher education. The Department of Education is providing curriculum support for each pathway as well as training for teachers to successfully implement the coursework. In addition, the Department is working on agreements with Delaware colleges to ensure that students who complete a program will be eligible for college credit at one or more institutions of higher education in the state.

“We are proud to support our school systems as they implement rigorous career and technical programs, and create opportunities for all children to find success after high school,” said Secretary of Education Mark Murphy, who is leading the state’s investment of its federal career & technical education funding to defray the cost of providing these programs.

An additional $500,000 will be made available in the fall of 2015 to fund programs for the following school year.  Districts will be able to use that funding in a variety of ways to support students and staff, and to provide the services and materials required to offer courses and hands-on training opportunities.  More information on each program and the list of school districts that received grants is available on the Department of Education’s website at http://dedoe.schoolwires.net/Page/293.

“The turnaround time on developing a plan and applying for the grant was incredibly short, so I am extremely impressed with the districts that have shown the determination to provide these opportunities to their students as soon as possible, and that rose to the occasion to get pathways off the ground so quickly,” said Markell. “Students across our state can benefit from workplace learning and high-quality training in growth industries and all of us will benefit from having our students ready for college and a career in the new economy.”

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Building on Success

The new pathways build on the accelerated career path program the state launched in manufacturing this school year when Colonial and New Castle County Vo-tech School Districts partnered with Delaware Tech and the Delaware Manufacturing Association. More than 30 juniors in New Castle County are spending part of each week at Delaware Tech. They learn math and other skills most important for that industry and work with equipment, aiming to earn industry-recognized credentials and college credit before they graduate. This summer, they will receive paid internships at Delaware companies like Agilent Technologies, PPG, Kuehne, and Siemens.

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Grant Recipients

Appoquinimink School District

Appoquinimink High School – Computer Science and Engineering

Middletown High School – Engineering

Brandywine School District

Brandywine High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Mount Pleasant High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Caesar Rodney School District

Caesar Rodney High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Christina School District

Glasgow High School – Biomedical Sciences

Colonial School District

William Penn High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Laurel School District

Laurel High School – Biomedical Sciences and Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

New Castle County Vo-Tech School District

Paul M. Hodgson Vo-Tech High School – Engineering

Newark Charter High School – Computer Science and Engineering

Polytech School District

Polytech High School – Engineering

Red Clay School District

McKean High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Seaford School District

Seaford High School – Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Smyrna School District

Smyrna High School – Engineering

Sussex Academy – Engineering

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Four Pathways

Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Pathways

Curriculum and assessments are developed in partnership with business and industry, and higher education, with course specific professional development offered to teachers by higher education partners. The Biomedical capstone course requires students to conduct scientific research with industry partners.  The Engineering capstone course requires students to design an invention in partnership with an industry panel.

Key partners include: the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Delaware Tech, and Project Lead The Way.

Computer Science Pathway

The computer science pathway includes two advanced placement courses, a curriculum developed in partnership with business, industry, and higher education, and course-specific professional development offered for teachers by higher education partners. Both AP courses require students to engage with business and industry partners to design websites and applications, and develop methods for data collection and disaggregation.

Key partners include: the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Delaware Tech, code.org, and The College Board.

Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management

Students benefit from an industry-focused mentorship, a curriculum developed in partnership with business and industry and higher education, and course-specific professional development for teachers. They will have the chance to earn the ProStart Certificate of Achievement, which signifies a strong foundation in management and culinary skill that includes both technical knowledge and 400 hours of mentored work-based learning experience.

Key partners include: the University of Delaware, Delaware Tech, the National Restaurant Association, and the Delaware Restaurant Association, which will help arrange mentors and work-based learning opportunities.

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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.

New Castle, DE – Addressing William Penn High School’s senior class, Governor Markell kicked off a year-long effort by his administration to ensure Delaware’s Class of 2015 has access to information and resources that will help them pursue the best educational opportunities and career training programs after they graduate.

The effort started today with the beginning of a statewide tour of high schools to speak with seniors about the importance of continuing their education and training beyond next spring to reach their potential in today’s economy.

Markell was joined by Secretary of Education Mark Murphy, who outlined state initiatives that provide assistance with the process of searching for, applying to, and obtaining financial aid from colleges. Delaware Technical Community College President Mark Brainard also addressed additional opportunities available to gain professional certifications that would help the students enter and advance in the workforce.

“Sixty percent of the jobs available in our workforce require some kind of education or training beyond high school. And for good-paying, fast-growing fields where more jobs are becoming available – fields ranging from cybersecurity, high tech manufacturing to nursing – that number is a lot higher than 60 percent,” said Markell.

“So our point is simple: a high school diploma is still valuable and an achievement to celebrate, but it’s not enough for our students to maximize their abilities. They will have the best chance to reach their potential if we make the most of their educational opportunities when they leave here, and the state of Delaware will make the most of our collective potential if they are successful.”

The senior class tour, which continued at Concord High School later Tuesday morning, builds on partnerships started in the past year, including an effort by the state and the College Board to ensure all students who have shown they can succeed in college apply and attend.

College Opportunities

That initiative continues this year, when college-ready seniors will again receive information on college affordability and financial aid, materials to help them choose colleges, and, if eligible, application-fee waivers, which have traditionally been complicated to obtain. Later in the year, each high school will host College Application month, during which students will fill out their applications in computer labs and write college application essays during English class. Another program assists families with filling out the FAFSA form, individual school aid forms, and scholarship applications. The effort is possible because of volunteers from employers and college campuses throughout the state.

Last year, for the first time on record, every college-ready student in Delaware who was on track to graduate from high school applied.

“We can’t allow our students to believe the opportunities they have earned aren’t possible because further education is going to cost too much, or something else is standing in their way,” said Murphy. “We’re urging them and their families to work with us and with the great faculty and guidance staff at their schools because we will ensure they have the resources and continuous support to deal with challenges.”

Career Opportunities

The state has also strengthened its partnership with Delaware Tech, including through a new effort with the Delaware Manufacturing Association to start a two-year comprehensive program in manufacturing technologies for high school juniors and seniors. The program allows students to receive nationally recognized advanced manufacturing certificates, in addition to a high school diploma and some college credits. Brainard discussed ways students can pursue these types of credentials after they graduate.

“Delaware Tech is partnering with the state, and with our schools and districts, to provide all Delaware students with education and training to help them succeed, and to ensure that our businesses have access to the talent they need to thrive,” said Brainard.  “In addition to high quality academic programs, for some of our high school students, a specialized certification program is the best next step, and we must be committed to providing opportunities that align with employer needs and available jobs.”

Stops on the Governor’s tour of senior classes over the next seven days will include:

DOVER AREA – Wednesday, September 3

8:30 a.m. – Dover High School

9:15 a.m. – Caesar Rodney High School

WILMINGTON AREA – Friday, September 5

9:30 a.m. – Howard High School

10:30 a.m. – A.I. DuPont High School

SUSSEX COUNTY – Monday, September 811:30 a.m. –  Sussex Central High School

12:30 p.m. – Sussex Tech High School

MIDDLETOWN – Tuesday, September 91:15 p.m. – Middletown High School

During the opening weeks of the school year, either the Governor or a representative from the Department of Education will connect with every high school in the state to support seniors in their transition to college and career.

Photos from the event