This month, Delaware school boards are choosing new presidents and vice presidents—leaders who play a vital role in setting direction, guiding meetings, and keeping the focus on student success. Learn why these roles matter, how they shape local education, and what First State Educate is doing to support strong, effective board leadership across the state.

Delaware’s 2025 legislative session brought major school board reforms to strengthen governance, transparency, and trust in public education. Learn what’s changing—and how boards can prepare to lead confidently in this new landscape.

Discover the First State Educate Knowledge Hub—a one-stop platform designed for Delaware’s education leaders and advocates. Gain on-demand courses, live webinars, toolkits, and a community of peers committed to building stronger schools across our state. Whether you’re a board member, a parent, or a community leader, the Knowledge Hub will help you lead with confidence and stay informed on what matters most for Delaware’s students. Join today!

As Delaware’s newly elected school board members step into leadership, First State Educate is equipping them with the tools, training, and community support they need to lead effectively. From onboarding with Board First 2025 to connecting through our new Knowledge Hub, we’re turning intention into impact—because strong local leadership is the key to better public schools.

On June 17, 2025, Delaware’s education leaders gathered for Voices & Vision: A Leadership Briefing to Shape What’s Next—a powerful event hosted by First State Educate to highlight how school boards can drive student success. Featuring remarks from Governor Matt Meyer, Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay, and Secretary Cindy Marten, the evening centered on building a stronger, more equitable public education system across the state.

📍 Read how this event is helping move Delaware from 45th to a top 10 education state—and how you can be part of what’s next.

Welcome to the Knowledge Hub: Delaware’s New Resource for School Board Success
The FSE Knowledge Hub is a new digital platform built to support Delaware’s school board members with on-demand trainings, peer collaboration, and practical tools grounded in local policy and real-life governance. Whether you’re newly elected or experienced, this members-only resource center helps you lead with confidence and clarity.

👥 Learn more and sign up today to strengthen your impact in Delaware’s public schools.

Record Voter Turnout Marks Turning Point for Delaware School Board Elections
In May 2025, voter participation in Delaware’s school board elections tripled compared to last year—marking the highest turnout in recent history. With over 16,000 ballots cast, the surge reflects growing public awareness of the vital role school boards play in shaping education across the state. Learn how trusted messengers and community partners made this milestone possible—and what it means for the future of public education in Delaware.

🗳️ See the numbers, meet the partners, and explore what’s next.

As Delaware welcomes a new class of school board members, First State Educate is launching Boards First 2025—a bold, statewide initiative to equip these local leaders with the training, tools, and connections they need to drive real change. With self-paced learning, mini-grants, community engagement funds, and exclusive access to the Knowledge Hub, Boards First 2025 is redefining what effective board service can look like in Delaware. Because when boards lead well, students thrive.

Delaware’s school board elections on May 13 could shape the future of education across the state. With low student achievement and high stakes, informed voting has never mattered more. Discover why school boards hold the key to better schools—and how you can make a difference.

School boards shape the future of public education—but too often, they’re invisible to the public. Learn why these local leaders matter, and how informed voters can drive real change in Delaware schools.

Delaware’s 2025 school board elections are right around the corner—but with fewer than 6,000 voters participating last year, key decisions about our public schools are being made by just a small fraction of the population. School boards control budgets, set policies, and shape the educational experience for over 140,000 students. It’s time to close the civic participation gap—learn why your vote matters more than ever and how you can take action this spring.

Delaware’s 2025 school board elections are right around the corner—but with fewer than 6,000 voters participating last year, key decisions about our public schools are being made by just a small fraction of the population. School boards control budgets, set policies, and shape the educational experience for over 140,000 students. It’s time to close the civic participation gap—learn why your vote matters more than ever and how you can take action this spring.

On June 10, we launched a series of community action events with “First Steps to Understanding Education: Navigating and Engaging with Delaware School Boards.” Yvonne Johnson, National PTA President, addressed the audience of community members dedicated to the success of Delaware’s public schools.

L-i-t-e-r-a-c-y. We’re delighted to introduce the 2025 Delaware Spelling Bee Competition, which promotes literacy in Delaware’s elementary and middle school students. After the success of our first spelling bee in February 2024, we’re busy planning the next.

On June 10, we launched a series of community action events with “First Steps to Understanding Education: Navigating and Engaging with Delaware School Boards.” Yvonne Johnson, National PTA President, addressed the audience of community members dedicated to the success of Delaware’s public schools.

Today’s middle school and high school students are stressed like never before, facing pressure to excel academically and fit in socially while navigating the stress-inducing world of social media. While technology offers opportunities for connectivity and learning, excessive screen time and social media use can also lead to anxiety and depression in adolescents.

For rising seniors planning to attend college, there’s lots to do. With application deadlines in the fall, students should work on their applications over the summer to avoid the stress of completing them once their senior year begins.

Many Delaware residents know that the formula used to fund Delaware’s schools is falling short. But they don’t always know why. These are the key issues associated with Delaware's funding formula:

As the ACLU of Delaware recently reported, “On Tuesday, May 14, Delawareans will once again have the chance to cast ballots in one of the most overlooked yet deeply impactful local races — the 2024 school board elections.”

FSE’s chief strategy and operating officer Julia Keleher led the event, organized to inform the public of the crisis in Delaware’s public school system and to initiate reform.