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

Delaware Schools Need Accountability, Not More Money   By  Dr. Tanya Hettler , PhD Center for Education Excellence January 5, 2024     On Monday, December 12 th , 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

The videos below were recorded during the Americans for Prosperity Foundation & Caesar Rodney Institute's Education Freedom event.

Chronic Absenteeism in Delaware Schools is Out of Control   By Dr.  Tanya Hettler , Ph.D. Center for Educational Excellence June 20, 2023       Chronic absenteeism, defined based on a federal reporting system as missing 10% or more of school days throughout the school year, has surged in Delaware post COVID-19.   Prior to closures and remote learning in response to COVID-19, 13% of students were chronically absent. After Delaware schools re-opened full-time post COVID-19, the

Bring Traditional Discipline Back into Delaware Schools  By Dr. Tanya Hettler , Ph.D. Center for Educational Excellence April 24, 2023      In 2014, the Obama Administration felt that there was discrimination in the way in which discipline was applied in our nation’s public schools and felt that this disproportionately impacted students of color and students with disabilities.   Obama’s U.S. Secretary of Education released a "Dear Colleague" policy letter recommending that a

2023 Legislative Priorities for Delaware K-12 Education By Dr. Tanya Hettler, Ph.D. Center for Education Excellence January 31, 2023     Delaware's  terrible scores  on the 2022  National Assessment of Educational Progress  (NAEP) have been big news since its release last fall. But it's more important now than ever to revisit how bad they really were because the 2023 Legislative Session has just started. The time is now for Delaware legislators to introduce and vote for bills

All scores are the % of students performing at grade level or above on the test.   The test used for Elementary Schools  (ES)  and Middle Schools  (MS)  is  Smarter Balanced :  English Language Arts (ELA) and Math portions. The test used for High Schools (HS) is the  SAT :   the ELA, Math and Essay portions are highlighted in yellow. Charter Schools  (CS)  are listed beneath , with the schools in alphabetical order. Dashes (-) indicate that the Delaware Department of Educat

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 13 th in the nation in the increase in education spending over the period from 2002-2020. This reflects an increa

It's Open Enrollment Season for 'School Choice' Many parents in Delaware are unaware that this is an option for their children.   By  Dr. Tanya Hettler , Ph.D., Director  Center for Educational Excellence November 18, 2022      A January 2022 national  survey  conducted by  National School Choice  found that   nearly 70% of parents support school choice (31% "strongly support and 38% "somewhat support"). These parents also said they have considered sending one of their childr

Delaware Scores Plummet in the Latest NAEP Test Results Governor signs bill addressing reading scores. What about addressing math scores?   By  Dr. Tanya Hettler , Ph.D., Director  Center for Educational Excellence November 3, 2022      The most recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a test administered every two years to 4 th  and 8 th  grade students by the U.S. Department of Education, were just released. While not good news for the nat