December 26, 2024

Editor's Note: As we look toward 2025, this month's issue of Take Note highlights some of our favorite stories from the past twelve months. The end of the year is an opportunity to celebrate the great work of our students and educators in 2024. Space has limited our selections - there are so many other great stories to revisit - so don't consider this list exhaustive. Enjoy these highlights from 2024 and let us know what we should be celebrating in 2025 by emailing us your story ideas at Take.Note@doe.k12.de.us. Find past issues of Take Note here. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season, and thank you to the educators, families, community partners and others for the hard work you do every day to support Delaware students.

Video: Opportunity Funding leads to student success

East Millsboro Elementary School Reading Coach Heather Ruark shares how Opportunity Funding has given her the tools necessary to help her students succeed.

Delaware’s Opportunity Funding program provides weighted funding and classroom-based support for low-income students and English learners in Delaware public schools. In June 2021, Governor John Carney signed legislation to increase this funding as well as make the funding permanent in Delaware. By Fiscal Year 2025, funding for the program will more than double to $60 million a year ($55 million in opportunity funding and $5 million in mental health & reading support).

Mental health and reading supports are targeted for the students who are identified as English learners (ELs) or low income. These funds were provided to all schools that qualified for a reading interventionist under the Student Success Block Grant.

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) works with district and charter school leaders, community representatives, families and educators to evaluate how schools are using the funding and to measure student progress.

Doors open at new Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy

Juanita Pritchett, wife of Maurice Pritchett Sr., helps cut the ribbon at the new Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy in Wilmington.

Governor Carney and First Spouse Tracey Quillen Carney joined Senator Coons, members of the General Assembly, Mayor Mike Purzycki, the Christina School District, the Delaware Department of Education, the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, educators, students, families, and community members to celebrate the grand opening of the Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy.

“The brand-new Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy is one of the commitments we made to our children in the city,” said Governor Carney. “A school is so much more than bricks and mortar — It’s a pillar of a community. To the educators who show up day in and day out for their students, you deserve this. We’re grateful for all our partners, including the members of the General Assembly, who helped us get this done for our children. And I’m honored to be a part of a project that recognizes Maurice Pritchett’s legacy in the city.”

This is the first newly constructed school in the City of Wilmington in decades, and the facility was fully funded by the State of Delaware. Governor Carney proposed $50 million towards the construction of the school in his FY21 recommended budget. The Governor recognized the Pritchett family and the new building in his 2024 State of the State Address.

“Maurice Pritchett was a mountain of a man, and there is perhaps no better way to contribute to his enduring legacy than by naming a structure of learning in his honor,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “A man who dedicated decades of his life to learning deserves to be remembered in a way that highlights all the young lives he touched, and this tribute does just that.”

“This is the first new school in the City of Wilmington in half a century, and it is fitting that it is named after a man who dedicated his life to supporting the academic success of this city’s youth. The building is beautiful, but we know alone that is not enough,” said Dr. Mark Holodick, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “What will make the difference in its students’ lives are the educators and staff who are committed to their success.  We need both the talent and passion of the educators paired with the financial commitment to provide the resources, investments and supports the students need.  I’m excited that we have both and can’t wait for these doors to open to students for the first day of school this fall.”

Summer enrichment programs benefit Delaware students

Students and staff gear up for kindergarten at Caesar Rodney School District's Camp Aloha summer program.

Students across Delaware benefitted from multiple enrichment programs this summer designed to enhance literacy skills and overall well-being. Backed by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), Governor John Carney, and key community partners, the programs were offered in school districts and charter schools statewide.

Nearly $1 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were dedicated to enrichment programs entered on the science of reading, ensuring students received evidence-based instruction to improve their literacy skills. In addition to literacy, programs also emphasized health and wellness, social and emotional learning, and exposure to the arts and STEM fields. Many schools also provided high-dosage tutoring, an intensive tutoring approach that involves frequent, consistent sessions – often conducted one-on-one or in small groups – to accelerate student learning.

Through high-dosage tutoring this summer, Delaware students grew in three out of the three measures of foundational literacy by August. Measures included students' abilities to segment spoken words into their parts, to produce correct letter sounds, and to read nonsense words correctly. Ninety-four percent of 5th graders grew in at least one of these measures, as did 90% of 3rd and 4th grade students. Kindergarten and 2nd grade students also made significant progress toward benchmarks in nonsense word fluency. This progress aligns with the goals of the Delaware Early Literacy Plan and implementation of the state's science of reading legislation.

"We know that summer programs make a significant impact on students when school is out of session and will continue to do so in the upcoming school year," Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. "We are incredibly grateful to the dedicated school staff and community partners who are making this possible."

At Academia Antonia Alonso, students also participated in a unique program that included equine therapy, providing an innovative way to support students' emotional and mental health.

"Our summer program, supported by the DDOE Summer Learning Grant, had a profound impact on our students at Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School," Academia Executive Director Mercedes Alonso said. "The resources we were able to provide empowered our students to explore new learning opportunities and reinforced their academic skills, setting a strong foundation for the upcoming school year. We witnessed increased engagement, confidence, and enthusiasm among our students, and we are truly grateful for the support that made this possible."

In Seaford School District, the summer program took a family-oriented approach, inviting families of pre-kindergarten students to engage in reading activities together. The program also offered parents strategies they can use at home to support their children's literacy development.

"We are grateful for this generous grant, which will provide our families with the tools and resources they need to support their children's literacy development. This partnership will have a lasting impact on our youngest learners, setting them on a path to success,” Superintendent Sharon DiGirolamo said.

The Caesar Rodney School District partnered with Capital School District to provide the Freedom School to students in grades 1-8. The district also offered Camp Aloha, a program designed for incoming kindergarten students. For eight days, students attended half-day sessions to help them prepare for their full-day kindergarten experience this fall.

"The Freedom School partnership provided reading enrichment in a camp like environment that was both engaging and entertaining for the students," Caesar Rodney Assistant Superintendent Jessilene Corbett said. "At Camp Aloha, students made new friends, played games, sang & danced to music, all while practicing the alphabet and learning numbers."

Innovative programs were also available in Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Cape Henlopen, Christina, and Red Clay Consolidated school districts as well as Kuumba Academy, Odyssey, and Sussex Montessori charter schools.

As the state continues to focus on educational equity and student success, the summer enrichment programs are an essential component in preparing students for the challenges of the next academic year.

SEED extension program expands options for Delaware students 

Students enrolled in Delaware’s Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) program are now eligible for extension scholarships at Goldey-Beacom College and Wilmington University.

Delaware residents who complete two years with the Delaware Technical Community College SEED program or University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts (AAP) SEED program and earn an associate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher can receive full tuition at Goldey-Beacom College.

Students who graduate with an associate degree through either SEED program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher can receive half tuition at Wilmington University.

Since 2005, Delaware’s SEED program has provided full tuition to eligible students enrolled in an associate degree at Del Tech and UD. At Del Tech, the SEED scholarship can be applied toward an associate degree, diploma, credit certificate, bachelor’s degree, or workforce training program. SEED tuition covers up to a full associate degree and one additional year toward a bachelor’s degree. In 2021, the SEED program was expanded to include Delawareans of all ages who want to pursue an academic degree or a workforce training certificate.

More information on SEED extension scholarships:

The following guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick.

As Delaware’s Secretary of Education, I’m pleased to share the progress that Delaware students have made in Advanced Placement (AP) programs. This year, our state has seen significant growth in both AP participation and performance, reflecting our commitment to providing every student with access to challenging academic opportunities.

In 2024, we saw an 11.3% increase in the number of students taking one or more AP exams. That means 7,281 students are pushing themselves to take college-level coursework—up from 6,543 last year. Even more encouraging is the significant growth we’ve seen among our historically underserved student populations. Black student participation rose by 19.7%, and Hispanic students’ participation increased by 17.4%. These numbers reflect our concerted efforts to expand access to all students, making sure that AP classes are available and achievable for all students across the state.

Beyond participation, AP exam success has also improved. From 2023 to 2024, there was a 27.9% increase in the number of students scoring 3 or higher on their AP exams, a score typically recognized by colleges for credit. This year, 58.4% of all AP exams taken by Delaware students earned a score of 3, 4, or 5. Black and Hispanic students saw gains of 51.5% and 31.3%, respectively, in scores of 3 or higher.

These results are the outcome of focused efforts by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) and our schools and partners statewide. We’ve worked to ensure all students, regardless of background, have access to rigorous coursework and the support needed to succeed. To this end, DDOE has provided stronger professional development opportunities for AP teachers and coordinators, ensuring our educators are well-equipped to support students. Additionally, we’ve reduced fees for low-income students to eliminate financial barriers for AP exam participation.

This year, DDOE also hosted the inaugural “AP Day on the Hill,” where students and educators from schools that exemplify equity in AP access met with me and state legislators at Legislative Hall. It was an incredible moment to celebrate the impact that AP programs are having on our students’ lives. We also marked a milestone with the passing of House Bill 116, which requires public Delaware colleges and universities to grant credit for AP exam scores of 3 or higher. This legislation not only rewards our students’ hard work, but it also ensures that their efforts in AP courses have tangible benefits as they move into higher education.

Our state’s belief in providing every student with access to challenging coursework drives these achievements. As we look ahead, we will continue working to expand AP opportunities and close the equity gap in education. I’m incredibly proud of the progress our students, teachers, and schools have made. Delaware is leading the way in AP growth and success, and I’m confident this momentum will continue in the years to come.

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov