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Navigating Reform: Legislative Priorities to Improve Delaware K-12 Education

Navigating Reform: Legislative Priorities to Improve Delaware K-12 Education Charting a path to excellence in the state's education system By Dr. Tanya Hettler,PhD, Director Center for Education Excellence March 21, 2024     Despite Delaware's significant investment in K-12 education, student performance in math and English language arts (ELA) has not improved over the past two decades. With per pupil spending ranking among the highest in the nation, we must reevaluate our approach and prioritize meaningful reforms to improve educational outcomes.    In response to this pressing challenge, we recommend the ...
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Advancing Nuclear Power: US Congress Passes Bill with CRI Amendment

by David T. Stevenson, Director March 22, 2024     A chance encounter with US Senator Tom Carper at the Wilmington train station in Delaware has led to a significant funding award for the first company to secure a license for a groundbreaking "nuclear reactor" fueled by reprocessed nuclear waste.   It all began the day after I returned from a conference where retired nuclear engineers passionately discussed the potential of such a reactor. Coincidentally, I found myself at the train station, bound for New York, while Senator Carper was on his way to DC. As a leading advocate for nuclear energy and the head of the US Senate Committee o...
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Go West young Delaware techie...

Go West young Delaware techie... CA, OR, & WA receive almost 20% of Delaware's net outbound migration.   By Charlie Copeland, Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending January 26, 2024     Our previous analyses discuss Delaware's inbound migration of retirees from our regional neighbors (PA, NJ & MD) and outbound migration to the more prosperous Southeast (FL, TX & NC). This final analysis in the "Migration Series" focuses on outbound migration to the West Coast.   Despite a decade of significant population loss, California is the recipient of a large portion o...[read more]

Delaware Schools Need Accountability, Not More Money

Delaware Schools Need Accountability, Not More Money   By Dr. Tanya Hettler, PhD Center for Education Excellence January 5, 2024     On Monday, December 12th, 2023, the Delaware Department of Education(DDOE) released an Education Funding Study that cost taxpayers $700,000. This study was produced by the American Institutes for Research(AIR) as part of the State's required response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups in 2018 to improve equity in Delaware's K-12 schools.    Before we analyze this costly study obtained by the State, let'...[read more]

Increased Education Spending not producing Educated Students

Increased Education Spending not producing Educated Students By Dr. Tanya Hettler, Ph.D. Center for Education Excellence December 30, 2022     In the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data from 2020, as provided in the report "K-12 Education Spending Spotlight: An in-depth look at school finance data and trends" released by the Reason Foundation, Delaware ranked 13th in the nation in the increase in education spending over the period from 2002-2020. This reflects an increase in Delaware per pupil spending of 29% from $13,387 to $17,235 (inflation-adjusted).   A Closer Look into Delaware's Education Spending   Table 1 below is a...[read more]

Delaware's 204.07% Personal Income Tax rate harms small business owners

Delaware's 204.07% Personal Income Tax rate harms small business owners By Charlie Copeland, Director  Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending April 25, 2022     Several decades ago, Delaware instituted a gross receipts tax, aka Delaware's hidden sales tax, that is applied to the business rather than the consumer. When instituted, the tax was meant to be temporary to handle a budget shortfall.   So, why does Delaware still impose this tax when 45 other states have repealed it? A gross receipts tax (GRT) is a horrible public policy.   This tax on Delaware'...[read more]

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