John Carney on Education

	John Carney on Education

Fund literacy coaches to focus on the science of reading

Here's an uncomfortable truth: statewide, less than 40 percent of children are reading proficiently at third grade. And many schools fall short of that average. Imagine if YOUR child went to a school with that kind of result. None of us would tolerate that. That's why my budget includes funding for a new team of literacy coaches. They will work with educators and district leaders to focus on the science of reading--an effective approach to teaching children how to read. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature , Mar 5, 2024

Increase state investments in early childhood education

Ultimately, if we want to expand economic opportunity and build a competitive workforce, we need to start in our schools. And we all know that a quality education starts with a committed, experienced teacher. Right now, the competition for the best teachers in this region is more intense than ever. So we need to pay our teachers more to win the competition with surrounding states. When I introduce my budget next week, we will propose a significant increase in pay for our teachers.

Supporting our youngest learners and their families has to be a top priority for all of us. That's why my budget next week will increase state investments in early childhood education. We will propose an increase in purchase of care, helping low-income families access quality child care.

We will also double funding for the Early Childhood Assistance Program--or ECAP. These programs serve many of the most vulnerable 3- and 4-year-olds in our state.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature , Jan 19, 2023

A robust, accurate, Black history curriculum in schools

One thing that the past two years have taught me is that there is value in acknowledging, and celebrating, the complexity of our state. And our complex and often difficult history. That's why I was proud to sign Representative Dorsey Walker's bill into law, ensuring that a robust, accurate, Black history curriculum is taught in Delaware public schools. Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature , Jan 20, 2022

Double Opportunity Funding for public schools

We created the Opportunity Funding program--Delaware's first weighted student funding system. We designed the program to offer classroom-based support for low-income students and English learners. And for the educators who work so hard with these students every day. Over the next three years, we will more than double Opportunity Funding for public schools across the state. Already, Opportunity Funding is making a difference for our most vulnerable students. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature , Jan 26, 2021

Opportunity Funding targets resources to neediest students

For the first time in our state's history, we're targeting resources toward these students who need our help the most. We call it Opportunity Funding. Districts are already putting the money to good use. Public schools are using this funding to hire more than 200 new educators and professionals focusing on low-income and English learners. My budget will continue this investment, not only because it's the right thing to do, but because the future of our state depends on the success of our children. Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address , Jan 23, 2020

Prioritize public education & supporting teachers

Our goals are very clear. Every third grader should be reading at grade level. Every 8th grader should be proficient in math. And every student should be graduating high school ready for college, or a career. It's time to begin a new chapter in Delaware's public education. And here's how we'll do it: With a focus on early childhood education, supporting teachers, and getting children to perform on grade level. Source: 2019 State of the State address to Delaware legislature , Jan 17, 2019

Support 700 teachers at high-needs schools

We will also continue to target additional resources to our highest needs schools. In my budget, I will more than double the funding for student loan repayment for teachers in high needs schools. Last year, that program provided student loan assistance for 200 teachers in over 100 schools. Next year, we plan to reach 700 teachers. Source: 2019 State of the State address to Delaware legislature , Jan 17, 2019

Focus on improving troubled schools

Christina School District's portion of the City schools need our help the most. So for the past six months, we have been trying to form a partnership with the district to lift up our city children. The state has offered Christina support for smaller class sizes, more professional development for teachers, critical capital upgrades, an early learning center and parent supports. This may be the most difficult thing we do during this Administration, but it is clearly the most important. Source: 2018 Delaware State of the State address , Jan 18, 2018

No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency.

Carney voted NAY A-PLUS Amendment To Student Success Act

Heritage Action Summary: An amendment offered by Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to the Student Success Act (H.R. 5). The amendment, known as A-PLUS (Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success), would give the states the ability to consolidate their federal education funds and use them for any lawful education purpose they deem beneficial.

Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote YES: (7/8/2015): A-PLUS lets states escape No Child Left Behind`s prescriptive programmatic requirements. At its core, A-PLUS delivers on the promise of `restoring state and local control over the 10% of education funding financed by the federal government,` moving dollars out of the hands of federal bureaucrats and political appointees and into the hands of those closer to the students. Now is the time for Congress to restore federalism in education, empower parents and students instead of bureaucrats and unions, and remove archaic obstacles that have prevented true opportunity for all.

US News and World Report recommendation to vote NO: (4/7/2015): A-PLUS [is intended as] a no-strings-attached block grant. There isn`t all that much the federal government can do well in education, but it`s because of federally-required transparency that charter schools and voucher schools can demonstrate that they work. For example, New York City`s Success Academy scores in the top 1% of all the state`s public schools in math and in the top 3% in English. When Success Academy came under fire from teachers` union-backed Mayor Bill de Blasio, it was able to fight back with numbers to prove it. If a strong-union state were to receive a no-strings-attached block grant, transparency would be the first thing to go. A no-strings-attached block grant is an overreaction to federal overreach.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 195 to 235 (no Senate vote)

Source: Congressional vote 15-H0005 on Jul 8, 2015

Oppose private and religious school voucher programs.

Carney voted NAY SOAR Act

Heritage Action Summary: The House will vote to reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act (H.R. 10). The bill would continue funding through Fiscal Year 2021 and allow eligible students in Washington, D.C. to enroll in a participating private school.Analysis by Heritage Action:

ACLU recommendation to vote NO: (Letter to U.S.House, 3/29/2011): The ACLU urges Congress to oppose the SOAR Act, legislation to restart and expand Washington DC`s failed private and religious school voucher pilot program. Originally started as a five-year pilot program in 2004, the DC voucher program is the nation`s first and only federally-funded private and religious school voucher program. Under the federal voucher pilot program, funds were provided to schools even though they infuse their curricular materials with specific religious content and even though they are not covered by many of the nation`s civil rights statutes that would otherwise protect students against discrimination. Additionally, each of the congressionally-mandated studies to explore the pilot program concluded that the voucher program had no significant effect on the academic achievement.

Cato Institute recommendation to vote YES: (4/28/2016): The Obama administration has repeatedly worked to undermine or eliminate the DC school choice program, even though it has the support of local Democratic politicians such as the DC Mayor and a majority of the DC City Council. Low-income students shouldn`t be condemned to low-quality schools just because their parents cannot afford a home in a wealthy neighborhood. The DC program was an important step toward breaking the link between home prices and school quality.

Legislative outcome: Passed by the House 240-191-3; never came to a vote in the Senate.

Source: Congressional vote 15-H0010 on Oct 21, 2015

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