Rothenberg: Town hall to address future of public schools

Sussex County residents will have an opportunity to share their concerns and ideas about the future of Delaware public schools at a town hall Feb. 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Georgetown Middle School. The meeting is part of the Vision Coalition of Delaware’s Future of Education Town Hall Series, an effort to engage local community members and advocates in all three counties in a conversation about education priorities.

The League of Women Voters of Sussex County applauds the Vision Coalition’s efforts to get input from the grassroots, and we urge Sussex County residents to participate in the process.

The Vision Coalition of Delaware is a public-private partnership composed of education, business, government, nonprofit and community stakeholders from across the state. In 2015, it teamed up with local, national and international experts to develop a 10-year plan for Delaware public education, titled “Student Success 2025.” The goal of the plan is to prepare every Delaware student for a lifetime of success.

Student Success 2025 imagines a landscape where equitable opportunities meet the needs of students and where lifelong learners are equipped to adapt to changing times. This includes providing support needed for all students in Delaware, regardless of ZIP code, economic means or style and pace of learning.

The Vision Coalition is now looking to the future of education in Delaware. Of particular concern is the American Institutes for Research’s release of its Assessment of Delaware Public School Funding, which identifies a number of shortcomings. Local advocates, educators, parents, students and community members have begun digging into the report’s recommendations and are planning their next steps. At the town hall in Georgetown, we can expect the discussion to focus on early childhood education, K-12 issues and student supports, educator support, postsecondary success, and fair funding and equity.

The League of Women Voters agrees with the coalition’s statement that “every child in Delaware — regardless of zip code, economic means, or style and pace of learning — deserves to have options for his or her future and to be ready for whatever tomorrow holds.”

Go to visioncoalitionde.org to learn more about Student Success 2025 and its public engagement campaign, and to register for the Georgetown town hall.

Martha Rothenberg

President, League of Women Voters of Sussex County

Lewes

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