Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Education Voters of Delaware?
Education Voters of Delaware is an independent organization that is educating and mobilizing citizens so they can help fight for excellent public schools in Delaware.
Q: Why is Education Voters of Delaware needed?
In recent years, a broad-based group of government, education, business and community leaders and citizens in Delaware has focused attention on how to make our public education system world-class. Their goal is for every student to graduate from high school fully prepared to succeed in college, get a good job, and be a productive citizen.
This group created a well-researched plan in 2006, Vision 2015, and started the Vision Network, a set of districts and schools that are testing the plan, in 2007. In addition, in 2008 the Governor’s LEAD Committee showed us that there are many ways we could be spending our education dollars more effectively.
Yet elected officials have not acted to make the required changes. They need to take bold steps, reject partisanship and move past the comforts of the status quo. Now is the time for Delawareans to join together to remind our leaders that it’s all about the kids.
Every other group has advocates for policies that serve their interests: teachers, principals, superintendents, the business community, and parents. But no one has the educational interests of students as its main goal. That is, up until now.
To effect change, we will:
- Inform citizens about education issues and what needs to be done
- Organize citizen activists
Education Voters of Delaware is an independent voice for change, representing—first and foremost—the interests and needs of Delaware’s students. It’s all about the kids.
Q: What does Education Voters of Delaware do?
Education Voters of Delaware is using the democratic process to improve Delaware schools.
Education Voters’ goal is to ensure that all citizens who care about children have a voice in improving the policies that affect public education. We will enable as many people as possible to take an active role in the effort to improve education in Delaware. We are working hard to bring elected officials, concerned citizens and organizations of all kinds into the process.
Some of the activities of Education Voters include:
- Working with community groups to raise awareness and understanding of education policy and legislation.
- Conducting surveys of Delaware legislators and other elected officials to better understand their positions on education, and sharing this information with you.
- Organizing citizens to demand that public leaders provide the funding and policies necessary to ensure that every child receives an excellent education.
Q: How does Education Voters of Delaware define a “world-class” public education system in Delaware?
We believe we will have world-class schools when:
- Expectations for every student are high and superb instruction is standard in all schools.
- Every school is staffed with effective teachers, who are well-supported by skilled school leaders.
- All children, especially low-income three- and four-year olds, get a fair start in school through high-quality early childhood education.
- All schools and students get the right level of funding, the amount they need for their students to excel.
- We truly hold all parties—including ourselves—accountable for results.
It’s all about the kids.
These recommendations reflect the extensive research conducted by Vision 2015 and the LEAD Committee.
Q: What is Education Voters of Delaware focused on right now?
Education Voters of Delaware is focused on three policy areas, and is working with lawmakers and the public to:
Demand Excellence
Delaware students rank only 27th among the states in national academic performance, and just one third of them meets national standards in reading and math. To fix this, Delaware must raise the expectations of what our kids can achieve, improve the way their progress is tested, and ensure that teachers and principals have what they need to provide the best education possible. Detailed challenges and recommendations are here.
Spend Smarter
Not enough of Delaware’s education dollars are making it into the classroom. In 2008 the Governor’s LEAD Committee identified between $86 million to $158 million of the state’s education budget that could be spent more efficiently and redirected to improve student achievement in the classroom. The LEAD Committee also proposed how Delaware’s 59-year-old funding system should be improved to ensure that all students have the instruction and resources they need to excel. We are encouraging elected officials to act on these reports now. Detailed challenges and recommendations are here.
Eliminate the Gap
On average, the performance of African American, Hispanic and low-income students is much lower than the statewide averages. It is clear that children with differing needs require different kinds of support, and this begins even before they enter kindergarten. We are encouraging elected officials to invest in high quality early childhood education, and provide greater flexibility and decision-making authority to school leaders to meet the actual needs of the students who attend their schools. Detailed challenges and recommendations are here.
Q: Is Education Voters of Delaware a lobbying organization?
As a state affiliate of the national Education Voters Institute, Education Voters of Delaware is mobilizing grassroots support and engaging lawmakers to the full extent permissible by law. The national organization is a 501(c)(3) organization, which exercises an “h election,” enabling it to use a portion of its resources for lobbying.
Q: Who is leading the efforts of Education Voters of Delaware?
Education Voters of Delaware is an independent voice for change, representing—first and foremost—the interests and needs of our students. A diverse, bipartisan Governing Council of leaders from throughout Delaware guides the organization. We are bringing together business leaders, community leaders, parents, citizen activists, and faith leaders.
Q: Does Education Voters of Delaware support the work of Vision 2015 and the Governor’s LEAD Committee?
The work of Education Voters reflects the priorities of Vision 2015, as well as the recommendations of the LEAD Committee. The Governing Council determines specific initiatives.
Q: What is the relationship between Education Voters of Delaware and the national Education Voters Institute?
Education Voters of Delaware is a state-based affiliate of the national Education Voters Institute. We are focusing on education policy unique to Delaware. Leadership and staff members of the organization are Delaware-based. The national office provides administrative, legal and fiduciary oversight in order to streamline Delaware operations.
Q: What are the Education Voters Institute and Education Voters of America?
The Education Voters family of organizations includes the Education Voters Institute – a 501(c)(3) organization, and the Education Voters of America – a (501(c)(4), which also operates a political action committee. The Education Voters Institute builds public will by educating the public and organizing citizens to understand and support the need for funding and policies required to ensure that every child receives an excellent education. Education Voters of America advocates for progressive education policy and fair funding, through direct advocacy and organized issue campaigns.
