Governor Carney Sends Letter to Boards on Wilmington Learning Collaborative
January 10, 2022
The letter urges Christina, Red Clay, Brandywine board members to support schools partnership
WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday sent a letter to members of the Christina, Red Clay, and Brandywine boards of education, urging them to support moving forward with negotiations to create the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. The following are excerpts from the letter:
“This letter is to request that, by your February board meetings, you vote to move forward with formally exploring this partnership. This vote would authorize your superintendents to begin formal negotiations to develop memoranda of understanding, with the goal of creating the Collaborative.”
“The Wilmington Learning Collaborative model is one that we’ve seen work in other states. It is a partnership among City schools to work together on behalf of our children in Wilmington – and to empower educators who know best what City students need. It will create a hyper-focus on the challenges facing Wilmington students and educators.”
Board president Cathy Thompson representing Election District G gives remarks via zoom in the midst of discussing a proposed policy to allow transgender students to use their preferred locker room and bathroom during a Red Clay School board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, at Richardson Park Elementary School in Wilmington, Delaware.
“Unfortunately, we know City students are not getting the education they need and deserve. We have much work to be done to ensure all of our third graders are reading on grade level, to set them up for future academic success. Wilmington children, families, and educators need additional support. I stand ready to offer that support – and I hope you’ll join me.”
“Thanks to the support of the General Assembly, advocates, and educators, the significant new funding will be coming to schools across Delaware. Opportunity Funding, K-3 Basic Special Education funding, and additional mental health staff will all make an impact in schools across our state.”
“Additionally, at the end of January, I will be proposing to add $14 million in additional resources to help low-income students, much of which stems from recommendations from the Redding Consortium. Half of that funding will go towards putting the Redding Consortium recommendations into the operating budget, and the other half will go specifically to schools that join the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.”
“I believe City educators are doing everything within their power to help our children succeed. They need our support. I know you feel the same way. That’s what this plan is about: empowering educators on the ground and giving them the support they need to improve outcomes for our children who need our help the most.”
Click here to read the full letter to Christina, Red Clay, and Brandywine board members.
Visit de.gov/wlc to learn more about the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.