Lieutenant Governor Asks Parents to Encourage Their School Districts to Apply for Grants

WILMINGTON – The Delaware State Board of Education gave final approval yesterday to a new state program that will make new funds available for programs targeted at academically advanced students. The program, created through legislation proposed last year by Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn and the chairs of the General Assembly’s education committees, allows school districts to design programs targeted at students who are ahead of grade level in reading, writing, math, or science.

Under the new program, local school districts and schools are permitted to apply through October 25th for start-up grants for new programs targeted at students who are at least a half year ahead of grade level based upon current state standards. Most of the new programs are expected to be offered beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

“There is a tremendous demand among parents for programs in our public schools that will really challenge their kids who are capable of doing advanced work,” said Lieutenant Governor Denn. “This program will make it possible for many of our schools to set up new programs that will give kids a chance to move ahead much more quickly in reading, writing, math, and science.”

Because the new program is only available to schools and districts that submit applications, Denn encouraged parents to contact their local school districts to ask them to apply. “If parents want these types of programs in their school districts, they need to let their superintendents and school board members know,” Denn said.

Programs proposed by schools and districts can also include elements of social studies, the arts, and other subjects as long as they are focused on reading, writing, math or science.

“When we provide programs that enable our children to excel in their education, we prepare them for future excellence and help them reach their fullest potential,” said Rep. Darryl Scott, D – Dover, Chair of the House Education Committee. “Helping students who may be falling behind is and will always remain one of our top priorities; at the same time, we should also challenge students who surpass their peers in academics.”

Sen. Sokola, D – Newark, chair of the Senate Education Committee, said, “These programs provide challenging instruction to children with exceptional academic capacity. This legislation is an effort to encourage more programs that provide appropriate opportunities for our students who are capable of advanced academic work.”

Banner Presentation for Recognition

DOVER, Del., (Thursday, May 23, 2013) – On Friday, May 24^th, Lt. Governor Matt Denn will visit Kuumba Academy in Wilmington and present them with their banner for being a 2012 winner of the state’s Reward, Recognition and Distinguished Title I Schools and Schools of Continued Excellence Awards.

Kuumba is a Recognition School, chosen for exceptional performance and/or closing the achievement gap. Lt. Governor Denn will be joined by Sally Maldonado, Head of School, teachers and students. He will visit classrooms, talk with students and administrators during his visit.

His visit coincides with the annual celebration of the integration of Arts and Academics at Kuumba Academy.

May Day is a culminating event that celebrates the year-long studies of students and staff. This is a hands-on event that includes student work samples and interactive sessions for students and parents to work together on arts integrated projects/activities related to their May Day theme, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.”

The Lt. Governor will tour the building and participate in the celebration until the 11:30am presentation of the Achievement Award banner.

Friday, May 24, 2013
10:00 – 11:45              Banner Presentation/School Visit
Kuumba Academy
519 N. Market Street
Wilmington

Asking Houses of Worship to Identify Possible Foster Families

DOVER, Del., (Friday, March 15, 2013) – This weekend, Lt. Governor Matt Denn will visit with clergy and church members to continue talking about his Faith, Family & Foster Care Initiative.

Saturday – City of Wilmington and Dover (see information below)
Sunday – New Castle (see information below)

Right now in Delaware, there are more than 850 children in foster care and only 400 foster families available for placing these children.  The Lt. Governor’s goal is to help find a family that is the best fit for each child, based on that child’s social, emotional, and physical needs, as well as geographical and educational situations.  To do that, Delaware needs to significantly increase the number of families that provide foster care/become foster parents for Delaware’s children.

“That is where our faith community comes in,” says Lt. Governor Denn.  “Most of our religious denominations have as one of their central tenets, ‘the care of the most vulnerable among us.’  Caring for foster children captures all of what Micah told us were the core demands on people of faith:  to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.  So we believe that we will find in Delaware’s houses of worship many families willing to step up, take on what we acknowledge to be a real challenge, and help these kids.”

The Lt. Governor is asking congregations in Delaware to find a family from its midst that would be willing to explore being a foster family.  If even a fraction of our state’s congregations take part in this “Faith, Family & Foster Care” initiative, we will dramatically increase the number of foster parents in our state.  And that, in turn, will make a real difference in the lives of these foster children. These children deserve no less than the caring and support of a loving family.

The Lt. Governor has a locally-produced five minute video featuring foster and adoptive families, and foster care recipients that is being shared with the faith community all over Delaware.  The video is available on the Lt. Governor’s website at http://ltgov.delaware.gov .  In addition, information about becoming foster parents is posted so those interested can see what the responsibilities are and contact the Division of Family Services for further assistance.  DFS will then work with prospective foster parents to connect them with an appropriate participating agency.

Lt. Governor Denn routinely visits houses of worship throughout the state.  If you are interested in learning more about the Lt. Governor’s “Faith, Family & Foster Care” initiative, please call 302-744-4333 for more information or to schedule a visit.

SATURDAY, 3/16

9:00am – 9:30am       CONSEJO PASTORAL DE
403 N. DuPont Street
Wilmington

This is the monthly meeting of COPAD, the statewide group of Latino pastors.

5:00pm – 5:30pm       IMA Agape Banquet
Modern Maturity Center
1121 Forrest Avenue
Dover

This is a gathering of more than ten churches to honor members and their houses of worship for services in their church and community.

SUNDAY, 3/17

10:30am – 12:00pm   Seeds of Greatness Ministries
190 Quigley Boulevard
New Castle
(across from NC Farmers Market)

The Lt. Governor will deliver remarks during the 10:30 service.  There are a few families at Seeds of Greatness who are already involved as foster families.

White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Director Josh DuBois Joins the Signing

Photos available for media use on Flickr

Wilmington, DE – Praising the hard work and positive difference faith-based organizations provide each day throughout the state, Governor Jack Markell today created through his 33rd executive order the “Delaware Council of Faith-Based Partnerships. “ This new Council recognizes the significance of faith-based organizations in addressing many significant social needs, and will work to establish partnerships between government agencies and faith-based organizations to help fight poverty, expand access to health care, promote education and improve public safety.

“Regardless of denomination or geography, in every corner of our state, someone has heard and answered the call to serve their neighbor,” Markell said. “Members of faith-based organizations offer up tens of thousands of volunteer hours and countless resources to improve our communities. The Council should serve as a place for those organizations to turn to help harness this potential and this power. It’s about giving groups a chance – if they wish – to work together to make an even greater difference.”

Markell was joined at the signing by more than thirty leaders from faith-based organizations; by Joshua DuBois, the Executive Director of President Obama’s Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Lt. Gov. Matt Denn, Mayor Jim Baker and others.

“On behalf of President Obama, I thank you for bringing this council to fruition,” Dubois said. “While government is critically important, government alone will never solve the problems facing our communities. We have to connect and partner with faith-based and non-profit organizations. Because of visionary leadership in your state, you have a formal mechanism to do the same thing through the Council of Faith-Based Partnerships. Families will be able to better access services in improved ways because of this Council.”

Lt. Governor Denn has been an active advocate for bringing faith-based non-profits together to collaborate on solving problems.

“This is an important step forward in what has been a blossoming effort in recent years to take advantage of the talent in the faith-based and non-profit sector in our state,” said Denn. “For many folks, places of worship are central places in their life and places they turn to for guidance and assistance. They are doing great work. This Council will give them the opportunity to do more together.”

Specifically, the executive order provides the Council the following powers, duties and functions:

(a) Work closely with faith-based and community-based groups, charitable organizations, private foundations, voluntary associations, educational institutions, and other non-profit service organizations to promote volunteerism and community service;

(b) Develop partnerships between faith-based groups and executive branch agencies that will facilitate the missions of those organizations in areas such as education, social services, health, and housing;

(c) Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among faith-based organizations whereby such organizations can work together to improve delivery of services in the community;

(d) Promote innovation and model programs and initiatives, and share best practices among faith-based groups and organizations;

(e) Coordinate Council activities with those administered by private, faith-based and governmental organizations to ensure that services are rendered efficiently and that they are not duplicated;

(f) Develop sustainable funding through private sources to support the objectives of the Council and the collaborative efforts to which Delaware faith-based organizations are devoted.

The Governor will appoint at least 9 members to the council, and its memberships will seek to represent the theological and geographic diversity of our state.

Executive Order 33 is available online and photos are available for media use on Flickr.