top of page

Nancy Mercante, Founder & President of Citizens for Delaware Schools, CRI Contributor

Writer

Profile

Join date: Oct 28, 2025

About

Nancy Mercante

Founder & President of Citizens for Delaware Schools, CRI Contributor

Nancy Mercante is a former corporate communications executive for companies in multiple industries, including JPMorgan Chase (financial), AstraZeneca (pharmaceutical), and Verizon/GTE (telecommunications). She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of South Florida and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Nancy served on the board of Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids from January 2020 to January 2024. During her tenure, she held the positions of Board Member and Secretary, helping to shape the organization’s trajectory from a founder-led startup to an employee-led growth stage.

She founded Citizens for Delaware Schools in 2023 to advocate for both stronger school boards and policies that lead to better education for every student in Delaware. Inspired by the teachers who shaped her path, she is committed to ensuring every child has the same opportunity to succeed.

Posts (4)

Jun 25, 2026 ∙ 4 min

A $40 Million Opportunity for Delaware Students – But Only If Governor Meyer Acts

Delaware has an opportunity to unlock nearly $40 million annually in private educational scholarships—without raising taxes or cutting public school funding. A new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program could help families pay for tutoring, tuition, transportation, and other educational services. But first, Governor Matt Meyer must choose to opt Delaware into the program. Will Delaware seize this opportunity or let it pass by?

Apr 28, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Delaware’s Third-Grade Retention Policy: Strong on Paper, Unclear in Practice

Delaware has a law requiring struggling third-grade readers to be held back and given additional support—but no one is publicly tracking whether it’s actually working. While other states report results and show measurable gains, Delaware families and policymakers are left without clear answers. Without transparency and timely data, it’s impossible to know whether students are improving or simply being passed along.

Mar 30, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Delaware’s Early Literacy Plan Needs Clearer, More Timely Reporting

Delaware’s $8 million push for early literacy may not help students already behind, as those who can’t read by third grade face higher dropout risks. Stronger retention policies—paired with targeted support—can improve outcomes, but inconsistent standards across districts weaken their impact.

bottom of page