NEW CASTLE, Del. – On Thursday, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney launched Delaware’s first statewide kindergarten registration campaign to highlight the importance of supporting Delaware’s youngest learners. The campaign, also led by Delaware Readiness Teams, encourages families and caregivers to register students for kindergarten and helps guide them through the process.

“I am proud to be honorary chair of the first-ever Delaware kindergarten registration campaign,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “This campaign aligns with the First Chance Delaware initiative, which was created to give every child in Delaware the best possible chance to succeed. We all know that the best chance is the first chance – the best chance is a good start. And there’s nowhere that a good start matters more than in school.”

One of Governor John Carney’s top priorities is making sure every third grader is reading at grade level, to set them up for future success. This effort starts with high quality early education, and late kindergarten registrations can hinder this important work.

“All Delaware children deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential in school, and kindergarten registration is an important early step in a child’s education,” said Governor Carney. “This kindergarten registration collaboration between First Chance Delaware and Delaware Readiness Teams will be a win-win-win for families, schools, and most importantly, Delaware’s children.”

This year’s kindergarten registration will include new questions about pre-kindergarten experiences, which will help inform the registration process.

“Our school chiefs have all committed to adding these three common questions to their local kindergarten registration packets so we as a state can better understand how children’s early childhood experiences prepare them for school,” said Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Coupled with the results of the Delaware Early Learner Survey, this information will help our K-12 schools and the early childhood education programs in their communities partner to better prepare children to arrive in kindergarten ready for success.”

“Kindergarten registration in Delaware can be a notoriously confusing process for families, with piles of paperwork and varying deadlines around the state,” said Diane Frentzel, program manager for Delaware Readiness Teams. “But starting kindergarten on time is super important for getting kids off on the right track. It’s why the Delaware Readiness Teams are working diligently in communities getting the right information in the hands of families and providers.”

All three counties will host family engagement events throughout Kindergarten Registration Month this November. Families and caregivers of children who will be 5 years old by August 31^st are encouraged to register their student for kindergarten as soon as possible.

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Additional information about First Chance DE

First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney is leading the First Chance Delaware initiative, which was launched in April 2018. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that all of Delaware’s children have a “first chance” to succeed.

First Chance Delaware encourages public, private, non-profit, philanthropic, business entities and community partnerships that work to:

• End childhood hunger and expand access to nutritious food for low-income children
• Promote learning readiness through literacy, health, and parent-child engagement programs
• Advance the recognition of and effective response to adverse childhood experiences

First Chance is a vehicle to recognize and to facilitate effective partnerships, to share research and best practices, and to promote awareness of opportunities to collaborate in support of Delaware’s children.

Additional information about Delaware Readiness Teams

The Delaware Readiness Teams are a statewide grassroots initiative aimed at helping children from birth through age eight get ready for school and life. The teams focus on early learning, healthy children and successful transitions, hoping every child will enter school ready and eager to learn.

Governor celebrates first year of pilot program that continues state’s progress

Dover, DE – A federal Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant is helping Delaware build upon the state’s record investments in high-quality early learning and raise the quality of infant and toddler care for children in low-income families. Delaware was one of only seven states to win the grant.

Governor Jack Markell today celebrated the first-year progress of the pilot program funded by the grant with a visit to the Parents and Children Together at Tech United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware (PACTT) child care center at Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown. The state is receiving more than $7 million over the five years of the grant.

(More information on the state’s progress in early childhood is available at this link and below.)

Joined by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development for the Administration of Children and Families Linda K. Smith, Governor Markell said that the initiative exemplifies how Delaware and the Obama Administration’s historic investments in early learning are being leveraged to make immediate and lasting change in the lives of the state’s most vulnerable children and their families.

“Research shows that 85 percent of a child’s brain is fully developed by age three underscoring the impact stable, nurturing, high-quality early learning has on toddlers and infants, including their success in school and in life,” said Markell, who has worked with the General Assembly to allocate significant additional resources to early learning since 2012, including recommending $11.3 in his FY 2017 budget to continue the state’s progress in raising the quality of early learning for its youngest citizens. “I applaud the PACTT center and all the programs that have voluntarily stepped up to meet higher standards of Delaware Stars and Early Head Start to support young children and families.”

The Early Head Start-Child Care partnership integrates the financial and program support of three programs – Delaware Stars, federal Early Head Start, and Delaware’s Purchase of Care program – to raise the quality of infant and toddler child care with more stabilized funding and by paying for teacher education, while also providing infant-toddler classroom materials and playground equipment.

In addition, the program provides wraparound health and parent services for children in low-income families, such as developmental, nutrition and dental assessments, referrals to services, home visits and help accessing housing, food and job supports.

The pilot is supporting children from birth to age 3 years and their families, who are being served in 3-, 4- and 5-Star-rated programs in target areas within City of Wilmington, Kent County and western Sussex County, where the state’s quality early learning needs are greatest. Delaware’s Departments of Education and Health and Social Services are partnering to support the effort.

PACTT, a 5-Star program in Delaware Stars, is one of seven early learning programs in all three counties participating in the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership pilot initiative across the state.

“I really do not know where to begin when asked about how my program – but most importantly our children and families have benefitted by being part of Delaware Stars and the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership,” said Kathy Moore, PACTT administrator. “I’m so grateful and proud to be a part of Stars and the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership, and I hope that with this support our program and others across the state will continue to grow and exhibit a high standard of early care and education for all children and families.”

Delaware’s Progress on Providing Quality Early Learning Opportunities

Leading economists agree that high-quality early learning helps level the playing field for children from lower-income families on vocabulary and on social and emotional development, and brings significant returns on investment to the public.

Over the past five years, Delaware has made significant progress in raising the quality of early learning by investing in increased professional development for early learning staff, onsite support and classroom materials for early learning programs, and developmental screenings and mental health consultants to detect and address physical and mental health issues early. This effort has led to:
• More than 70 percent of low-income children receiving Purchase of Care now served in highly rated Stars programs – up from just 5 percent in 2011.
• More than 120 programs receiving the highest rating of 5 Stars, up from just 24 in 2012
• More than 200 teachers per year pursuing college degrees and certificates thanks to the TEACH scholarship program
• Since 2011, more than 20,000 children per year receiving developmental screenings and more than 2,400 children receiving intensive Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services

Dover, DE) – In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights efforts focused on evaluating student-readiness among children entering kindergarten and its impact on their long-term success.

“When we ensure kids have a great start to their education, we give them the best chance to reach their potential and contribute their talents in our communities,” said Governor Markell. “And for many years to come, that will keep Delaware moving forward.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/zHWqmdkuNb8
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/governormarkell
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FULL TEXT OF MESSAGE

As we work to grow the economy and build on the thousands of new jobs created this year, we also have a responsibility to ensure Delaware keeps getting stronger for generations to come. One of the keys to success will be the early education opportunities our children receive.

Research has shown that when they arrive in kindergarten ready to learn, kids are much more likely to thrive in school and even in their future careers. It’s why we have made it a priority to increase access to high quality early learning and offer more support to early childhood centers. That initial investment was important.

Last year the number of low-income children attending a high quality program increased by 50 percent. Now we must sustain our momentum. Soon we will understand better than ever before how our children are developing during their pre-school years. That’s a result of a statewide survey of students’ abilities when they enter kindergarten. Michelle Wilson at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Dover, along with 80 percent of Delaware kindergarten teachers, are taking note of how students interact with their peers, whether they follow directions, and if they speak clearly, among other signs of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Next year, 100 percent of kindergarten classes will participate. The results will help early childhood centers recognize the areas in which kids need more support to be ready for school. And the state will make the most effective use of our resources.

When we ensure kids have a great start to their education, we give them the best chance to reach their potential and contribute their talents in our communities. And for many years to come, that will keep Delaware moving forward.

Governor Jack Markell today announced the start of the next phase of Delaware’s plan to improve the quality of early childhood education. Starting on October 1st, early care and education providers statewide will receive an increased reimbursement rate for caring for children eligible for Delaware’s Purchase of Care system.

“Education can’t begin the first day a child shows up for kindergarten,” said Markell. “Research shows that early education at a early care and education center provides the building blocks for a child’s success. Improving the quality of early education is fundamental for the future of each child and for our state.”

In June, the Legislature approved the Governor’s proposal to invest an additional $22 million to help build stronger staff and encourage stronger services at early childhood education centers.

Because reimbursement rates varied across the state for the Purchase of Care system, which reimburses providers for caring for low-income children, the plan allocated $12 million to increase rates to 65% of the market rate, plus an additional $0.50 per child per day. Providers will receive this new rate when they are reimbursed for October care in November.

The $10 million expansion of the Delaware Stars for Early Success quality rating program, which provides technical and financial assistance to enable centers to achieve quality standards, will also kick off in October.

“Over the past few months, we’ve met with programs involved in Stars and programs that want to get involved,” said Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn. “Early care and education providers want to make sure their kids get the best opportunities. The Stars program provides them with the tools to make that happen.”

Providers that are currently enrolled in the program and have achieved ratings of 3, 4, or 5 Stars will be eligible for higher reimbursement rates of 80%, 90%, or 100% of the market rate.

Providers that are not yet enrolled may submit applications beginning on Wednesday, October 5th. Providers will be prioritized for participation based on factors such as the percentage of the provider’s childcare slots devoted to Purchase of Care, geographic location, and the ages of children served. More details on the application process will be shared with providers and online next week.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to apply for the program,” said Dayna Moore, owner of Lessons Learned Educational Enrichment Center in Wilmington. “We work hard to provide high-quality care, and this funding could make a big difference in staff retention, hiring, and improving our skills.”

Technical support will be provided by the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood at the University of Delaware. Staring in January 2012, they will be implementing a more flexible ratings system, more hands-on technical assistance, and clearer guidelines for grants.

“The feedback we’ve received so far has been very positive,” said Vivian Rapposelli, Secretary of the State Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (also known as the “Kids Department”). “Our team is working closely with the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Social Services, a wide range of community stakeholders, and providers to make sure our kids are given the best possible start towards achieving their dreams.”

Photos available for media use are available here