DOVER – In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights a new partnership in Delaware focused on reducing college remediation rates.

“Delaware must be a leader in addressing this challenge and we’re taking an important step this year by launching a new math course in three high schools,” said Governor Markell. “It’s designed with input from our higher education community, so that we can guarantee that if students successfully complete the course, they will be able to earn credits for all of their math courses in our colleges.”

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/gXOyuJUCrS4
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

We’re proud Delaware has been recognized for eliminating obstacles for students who want to attend college. But that effort will only produce the results we want if students successfully complete their post-secondary education. Thanks to a partnership with our colleges and universities we now have data to understand better than ever the academic obstacles facing students who pursue a two or four year degree.

One pitfall is clear: too many students are required to enroll in “remedial courses” to relearn what they should have mastered in high school. They invest time and money in those courses, but earn no college credit, making no progress towards graduation. Unsurprisingly, these students have higher college costs and are far less likely to earn a degree. Nationally, only a quarter of community college students who take a remedial course graduate within eight years. This problem is pervasive nationwide, affecting as many as fifty percent of students at some schools. The numbers are highest for low-income students and students of color.

Delaware must be a leader in addressing this challenge and we’re taking an important step this year by launching a new math course in three high schools. It’s designed with input from our higher education community, so that we can guarantee that if students successfully complete the course, they will be able to earn credits for all of their math courses in our colleges. We must expand this program and continue working on solutions to end the dead-end cycle of remediation for Delaware students.

By ensuring Delaware students arrive at college ready to pursue a degree without paying to repeat high school classes, we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.

DOVER – In his weekly message, Governor Markell discusses the growing need for workers trained in STEM fields – science, technology engineering and math – and a new effort by the State and the STEM Council to recognize innovative STEM educators who are teaching the necessary skills to tomorrow’s workforce.

“When I visit companies like Pats Aircraft Systems in Sussex County, I hear that while Delaware has a great workforce, it’s not easy to find engineers to fill available positions,” said Governor Markell. “By supporting our teachers’ work to help our students excel in science, technology, engineering and math, we’ll help build the future workforce for Pats Aircraft and businesses throughout our state. 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/VD4H-P3f5vU
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

Transcript to the Governor’s Weekly Message: Recognizing Innovative STEM Educators

The jobs created in our 21^st century economy increasingly require a high level of skills in the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math. When I visit companies like Pats Aircraft Systems in Sussex County, I hear that while Delaware has a great workforce, it’s not easy to find engineers to fill available positions. In New Castle County, our rapidly growing financial services sector needs more technology workers to fill data analytics and cybersecurity jobs. JP Morgan Chase is sponsoring our state’s Cyber Aces championship competition to help address the hundreds of unfilled cyber positions in the state. Our young people have the talent to make Delaware a hub for growing industries that require expertise in these STEM subjects. But we will only take advantage of their potential if we have great STEM teachers in our classrooms. So I was thrilled to announce our STEM Council’s inaugural Educator Awards in a science lab at Dover High School.

These awards will be given to Delaware teachers who demonstrate innovation and excellence in STEM through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement. Through the generous financial support of Ashland, the STEM Council will select two recipients of $7,500 cash awards. That’s a difficult decision because we have so many talented STEM teachers. The STEM Council will highlight the winning individuals or teams of teachers in a statewide symposium this summer, which will allow educators to learn from this year’s winners, and from each other, and replicate successful programs and teaching strategies across our state. To find more information about the process to recognize these teachers, go to Delaware STEM dot org. By supporting our teachers’ work to help our students excel in science, technology, engineering and math, we’ll help build the future workforce for Pats Aircraft, JP Morgan, and businesses throughout our state. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.