June 26, 2024

FY 2025 Operating Budget benefits Delaware education

The Delaware House and Senate this week passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget, making significant investments in public education across Delaware. This year's budget funds a third year of state employee pay raises with all merit employees slated to receive a 2% increase. 

Education employees receive a minimum 2% raise, while other school staff may receive higher based on recommendations made by the Public Education Compensation Commission (PECC). 

Additional education investments this year include:

“This budget continues our investments in Delaware’s public schools, workforce, and environment, while doing so responsibly and sustainably," said Governor Carney. "We are continuing to raise salaries for teachers, provide more resources for students who need our help the most, and address rising health care costs, while setting aside reserves to protect Delaware taxpayers well into the future. I want to thank the members of the General Assembly and Joint Finance Committee, particularly chairs Senator Trey Paradee and Representative Kim Williams, for their leadership, partnership, and hard work.”  

Video showcases why Delaware educators choose to teach

Delaware Governor John Carney welcomed the Delaware State Teachers of the Year to Woodburn last month to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Check out what they have to say about why they teach in Delaware schools. Thank you to all Delaware educators for their dedication to their students and their school communities.

Delaware Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year pose in Legislative Hall in Dover (more pics).

The Delaware General Assembly and Governor John Carney welcomed some of Delaware's 2024 District/Charter Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year to Legislative Hall earlier this month. 2024 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Shannon Gronau spoke in each chamber.

Each year the program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who are health care practitioners or human service providers who offer services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health. The Delaware Charter School Network also is invited to participate.

Delaware is grateful for the critical mental health supports these professionals provide our students every day.

Delaware students awarded full-ride memorial scholarships

Memorial scholarship awardees Suhani Mehta from Charter School of Wilmington (left) and Khadijah Trower of Capital School District (right). 

Congratulations to this year's memorial scholarship awardees! Memorial scholarships are competitive scholarships awarded by DDOE to students for their academic performance, participation in school activities and service to the community.

Students may apply for Delaware memorial scholarships in their senior year of high school. Awards are renewable and provide full tuition, fees, room, board, and books at the public colleges in Delaware.

Suhani Mehta of the Charter School of Wilmington has received the B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship, which is given in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives. This scholarship is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at the University of Delaware. Mehta will major in public policy with a concentration in public health. 

Khadijah Trower of Dover High School in the Capital School District received the Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, which honors the first African-American State Senator in Delaware. This scholarship is awarded to one student each year enrolling full-time at Delaware State University. Trower will major in digital media production.

The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, is an annual $1,250 merit scholarship acknowledging outstanding academic achievement. This year, the scholarship has been awarded to 53 students. Recipients will be attending both in-state and out-of-state schools. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years.

Summer meal sites available for children while school is out

Sites serving free food are available to children throughout the state this summer while school is out. Beginning this month, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides healthy meals and snacks to all Delaware children. SFSP sites help ensure kids receive the nutrition they need to continue to grow, learn and play throughout the summer months. 

To find a site in your area:

SFSP is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) oversees local management of the program.

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov