WILMINGTON, Del. – The State of Delaware, the Christina School District and the Christina Education Association (CEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday that seeks to improve educational outcomes for students in the City of Wilmington. Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg, Christina Board President George Evans, and CEA President Darren Tyson joined Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education, and Governor John Carney in signing the agreement.

The MOU includes plans to reconfigure Christina’s city schools, invest new resources in Wilmington schools, and create a Dual Generation Center to offer new services for children and families in communities served by the district. Governor Carney’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for new wellness centers, staff to reduce class sizes, trauma-informed programming and other services consistent with the MOU. The budget proposal, which Governor Carney will continue to discuss with members of the General Assembly, also includes $15 million to fund capital improvements in Christina’s Wilmington schools.

Governor Carney, Secretary Bunting, and representatives from Christina School District and CEA issued the following statements on the MOU signing:

“Thank you to Superintendent Gregg, the entire Christina School Board, and Christina Education Association for their willingness to work in partnership on this MOU,” said Governor John Carney. “We share a collective goal of doing better by the children we serve in the City of Wilmington. Throughout the process of crafting the MOU, we talked to parents, educators, and students about the needs in Wilmington. Those discussions must continue to make sure we get this right. As we’ve said, now the hard work starts to implement a plan that will improve opportunity for these students and their families. We look forward to getting started.”

“This agreement is the starting point of Christina’s renewed commitment to improving the academic outcomes of our Wilmington students,” said Christina Superintendent Richard Gregg. “We are excited now to begin the planning and implementation stages outlined in the MOU, working with our partners to deliver more intensified learning and support to students in revitalized school communities.”

“The Department of Education looks forward to supporting implementation of this plan, and providing additional resources and support for students and educators in the City of Wilmington,” said Dr. Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Thank you to Christina School District leaders, the Christina School Board, and CEA for their continued partnership on this effort.”

“We are on the pathway of providing educational opportunities that will be the difference-maker for our children’s futures,” said Christina Board of Education President George Evans. “With the support of our teachers, administration, Board, Secretary of Education, Governor, and General Assembly, we will be able to engage our students and families to higher achievement.”

“CEA is eager to move forward in this process to take the first official steps in improving Christina’s Wilmington City Schools,” said CEA President Darren Tyson. “Our teachers remain committed to doing what is best for the Christina students in Wilmington.”

Read the full MOU here.

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Governor Carney’s Statement on Christina School Board’s Vote to Approve MOU

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday released the following statement on the Christina Board of Education’s vote to approve a Memorandum of Understanding to invest in Christina’s Wilmington schools:

“Thank you to the members of the Christina Board for their important vote tonight on this MOU. This is just a first step, but it’s an important first step. For the past several months, we have worked in partnership with Christina School District leaders, the Board, and Christina Education Association on a plan to invest new resources in these schools, and give students in the City of Wilmington a greater chance to succeed. Now the hard work begins to put this plan into action. We are committed to working with Christina educators, district leaders, students and families to implement this agreement in a way that truly improves outcomes for children in Christina’s city schools. We are in this for the long haul, and look forward to our continued work together.”

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Agreement Establishes Requirements, Enhances Rider Safety

Dover, DE – DelDOT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uber to approve the operation of its transportation network company in Delaware. The agreement establishes requirements for Uber and drivers who use its platform to operate in Delaware, including background check requirements, minimum insurance coverage, and other standards to promote safe and responsible service.

“Uber offers a new, innovative, and in-demand model of providing public carrier services, and the effort to establish this agreement shows Delaware’s continued commitment to embracing the innovations of our new economy” said Governor Markell. “I applaud the work of our Department of Transportation and Uber representatives to give Delaware riders the opportunity to benefit from the Uber experience, and to provide employment opportunities for Delawareans who choose to partner with the company to provide rides.”

Transportation Network Companies (or TNCs), also referred to as Ride Share Companies, are a growing national trend in providing personalized transportation options via web-enabled devices, including smart phones. Companies like Uber have taken off in recent years as riders throughout the country and around the world have demonstrated a great demand for these services.

“With the leadership of Governor Jack Markell, DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan and DMV Director Scott Vien, Delaware has signaled it embraces innovation and supports more choice and opportunity,” said Jon Feldman, General Manager for Uber. “We look forward to continuing to work together to create a permanent regulatory framework for ridesharing, connecting residents and visitors with safe, affordable and reliable rides and creating jobs along the way.”

Under the MOU signed with Uber, drivers authorized to use the company’s platform must also meet licensing and vehicle requirements and will be prohibited from picking up or soliciting riders from a designated street hail area, such as those located in front of train stations and airports.  Uber will be subject to frequent comprehensive audits to ensure the company and its partnered drivers are fulfilling the requirements. Other TNCs would be held to the same standards if they wish to establish operations in Delaware.

“I am happy that the Department was able to come to an agreement with Uber on the terms of its operations here in Delaware. Transportation Network Carriers have the potential to provide the public with new options for transit, and this MOU ensures that those options are provided to Delawareans in a responsible way,” said DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan.

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Partnership with leading Chinese company is part of expansion of world language education opportunities

Wilmington, DE – Having made it a priority to offer Delaware students the best opportunities to learn a second language, Governor Markell today announced a China summer abroad program for high school students studying Mandarin. The Governor signed an agreement with representatives of Wanxiang Group, China’s largest auto parts manufacturer, for students to study at the company’s facility in Hangzhou, China, where they will take daily language classes, visit local schools, participate in cultural activities, and tour sites of science and technology companies.

“To prepare students for good-paying jobs in our global economy, the value of learning a second language is clear,” said Governor Markell. “And there is no better way to become immersed in another language and culture than to live it.

“This partnership provides an amazing chance for our young people to not only dramatically improve their fluency in a second language, but also become more familiar with a different culture in the world’s second-largest economy. I strongly encourage students taking Chinese and their families to consider this opportunity.”

Joined by students and teachers from Mandarin Chinese classes at Conrad Schools of Science, Markell signed an agreement with Wanxiang Project Manager Daniel Li, who represented Executive Vice President of Wanxiang Group Pin Ni. The document provides a grant from Wanxiang for about $450,000 to fund study abroad sessions in 2015 and 2016, with up to 24 students and four teachers participating each year.

“Governor Markell’s vision to bring World Language Chinese to Delaware has not only given Conrad students a leg up in the international science industry going forward, but has afforded our students the opportunity to see and experience another culture from an increasingly interconnected world,” said Mark Pruitt, principal of Conrad Schools of Science.

In outlining the mission of the initiative, the Memorandum of Understanding states: “All programs created as a result of this agreement will help students see language proficiency as a workplace skill that will allow them to compete in the global marketplace of the 21^st century. This partnership will also promote the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the field of environmental protection and clean energy solutions and provide opportunities for students to develop international leadership experience.”

Wanxiang, which has participated in President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative to send more American students to study in China, will fund all travel, living, and educational expenses. The partnership with Delaware, known as the Delaware Summer Chinese LInCS (Language Initiative for Communicating STEM) program, is geared toward students interested in real-world opportunities to apply their Chinese language proficiency and cultural knowledge in a STEM context.

“Delaware has made an impressive commitment to world language education and specifically to Chinese language opportunities for its students,” said Pin Ni. “We are proud to partner with Governor Markell and the Department of Education to make available more educational resources for the state as we continue to support President Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative.”

Applications are due in March, and students will be chosen in April. Participants will depart in late June.

World Language Expansion in Delaware   Today’s signing ceremony builds on Governor Markell’s push to make Delaware the most bilingual state. At the event, he also announced growth of his World Language Expansion initiative, which gives students the chance to learn half of their subjects in either Spanish or Chinese from kindergarten through eighth grade. Participants aim to become proficient by fourth grade and pass the Advanced Placement language exam by ninth grade. Six new programs will open at schools next fall, bringing the statewide total to 17 programs with more than 2,300 students taking part in what will be the initiative’s fourth year. More details are available at news.delaware.gov.

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