All Delawareans deserve the chance to embrace a bright future for themselves and their families. Our state is on the right path. More Delawareans have jobs than at any time in our state’s history, and our job growth is fourth fastest in the nation, far outpacing our neighboring states. But our progress will only continue if we prepare our people to succeed in a changing economy.

That was the focus of my State of the State address, which outlined my priorities for the year. By 2025, at least 65 percent of our jobs will require training beyond high school, but only 40 percent of our workers have that today. It’s why I announced the Delaware Promise: within a decade, 65 percent of our workers will earn a college degree or professional certificate. Everyone will earn at least a high school diploma.

To support this goal, I announced new initiatives to train our current and future workers for growing industries like IT and health care. Recognizing that the quality of our students’ education depends on their teachers, I’m pushing to help attract and retain more great educators by improving the way we pay them.

A strong economy requires a modern transportation network that allows people to travel safely and businesses to operate efficiently. But our roads and bridges are deteriorating. I’m committed to increasing investment in infrastructure this year.

And our people won’t have opportunities if their communities aren’t safe, so we’re stepping up our efforts to solve the intolerable violence in Wilmington.

None of these efforts will be easy, but if we make the right choices, we know our people will seize their opportunities to build a bright future. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

(Wilmington, DE) – In his weekly message, Governor Markell reflects on the progress made in  Delaware during the past year, while proposing to think differently about the challenges that still remain.
“Much work remains, but the progress made in the past year should give us hope for the future,” said Governor Markell. “So as we begin 2015, I will be proposing that we think differently about our challenges – that we recognize the solutions to strengthen Delaware for 2015 and 2025 are different than those that worked in 1985 and ’95. As a native Delawarean, I know we are up to the task. Together, we 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/XAzB5gGv-Vs
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
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

You can view the Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Moving Delaware Forward in 2015

As we enter 2015, the goals for our state remain the same: to ensure everyone who wants a job can get one, and to give all Delawareans the chance to reach their potential. Much work remains, but the progress made in the past year should give us hope for the future. For 24 months, Delaware’s job growth has outpaced the nation’s. Last year we ranked near the top – and we’ve been rated one of the top two states best positioned for the new economy. More Delawareans are finding improved economic opportunities, whether it’s at the fast growing IT and data analytics jobs at our banks; or at one of our new startups that receives rent-free space through the Pop Up project; or maybe it’s at the site of the former Chrysler Plant, where the STAR campus is bustling with healthcare companies, manufacturing, and, now, one of the country’s fastest-growing tech companies. Despite all
of that, we know many Delaware families still don’t have a fair shot; whether it’s because they grew up in a dilapidated neighborhood, or their once good-paying job was replaced through outsourcing or new technology; or they couldn’t afford key services like health care, treatment for addiction, or job training. Many of these issues are rooted in long- term trends like globalization, the digital revolution, and limited government resources. So as we begin 2015, I will be proposing that we think differently about our challenges – that we recognize that the solutions to strengthen Delaware for 2015 and 2025 are different than those that worked in 1985 and ’95. As a native Delawarean, I know we are up to the task. Together, we will keep Delaware moving forward. Happy New Year.

The vast majority of good-paying jobs require education or training beyond high school. So we must take note of clear evidence showing that students who take a college course in high school have more success in post-secondary education. It’s why we are working with our school districts and colleges to make more of these classes available and, earlier this year, we committed to ensuring no student will be denied the chance to take a college course because of the cost. We’re seeing great progress. More than 1500 high school students are taking classes that can count toward high school graduation and college credits, either at their high school or on a college campus. That’s up from about 600 in the last school year. Twenty-five high schools across the state are offering more than 100 dual-enrollment courses – like a Wilmington University English class here at Howard, a Del State writing course at Lake Forest, and Del Tech’s statistics class at Dickinson. The total number of courses and schools has doubled from just a year ago. Dual enrollment, along with more Advanced Placement class offerings, is one important part of preparing students for life after graduation. We must also remove financial and other barriers to continuing their education. Last year, every college-ready senior in Delaware applied to college following an intensive outreach campaign that included help filling out applications and assistance with financial aid. By challenging our students in the classroom and removing obstacles to educational opportunities, we’ll ensure they’re ready to thrive in today’s economy. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

(Wilmington, DE) – In his weekly message, filmed at Howard High School, Governor Markell discusses the importance of challenging our students in the classroom and highlights the statewide increase in dual enrollment courses to better prepare students for college.
“Dual enrollment, along with more Advanced Placement class offerings, is one important part of preparing students for life after graduation,” said Governor Markell. “By challenging our students in the classroom and removing obstacles to educational opportunities, we’ll ensure they’re ready to thrive in today’s economy, and 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/IwcZeDY-mJU
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
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

You can view the Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Challenging Our Students to Realize Greater Success