New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Hosts Webinar with First State Educate
Solutions for Solving Delaware’s Education Crisis Discussed
On April 17, the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce (NCCCC) and First State Educate jointly hosted a “Join the Movement: How You Can Help Solve Delaware's Education Crisis with First State Educate” webinar. 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.
Keleher presented data on Delaware public school funding and school performance as well as recommended tactics for transforming the school system. The goal of educational reform, as she stated, is that “every child in Delaware has a real opportunity to realize their potential and to achieve great things. This would not only be great for them as individuals and their families, but our community and our state.”
Data presented highlights a key problem: Delaware spends $17,034 per pupil in its public schools, higher than the national average of $15,446, yet its students’ scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test (the nation’s report card) fall in the bottom 5% nationally.
An essential component to effecting transformative change is community involvement. To that end, Keleher presented 10 options for parents, guardians and others interested in joining the cause:
Engage in the conversation, learn
Join and/or build coalitions
Consider board service
Support advocacy and lobbying efforts
Mobilize and activate others
Build cross-sector alignment
Volunteer or donate
Spread the word
Contact elected officials
Vote
We welcome your input and involvement.