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JULY 2005

Rodel Foundation of Delaware Provides Educational Opportunity for Delaware

The Rodel Foundation of Delaware has provided a unique opportunity to those interested in improving education in the State of Delaware.  In a groundbreaking report, Opportunity Knocks: Assessing Delaware's Education System, the Foundation, headed by President and CEO Paul Herdman, has provided an assessment of education in Delaware, where it can be objectively and reliably measured and compared with surrounding states and the United States.  The Foundation's goal is to use the assessment as a starting point for determining what we need to do to make Delaware “a model of educational excellence by 2012.”

The Rodel Foundation of Delaware was established in 1999 by William D. and Donald V. Budinger with $40 million from the sale of their company, Rodel.  The Foundation vision is that “all of Delaware's students will graduate fully prepared for college and the workplace.”  It's mission is “to help Delaware create one of the finest public school systems in the nation by 2012.”  In addition to Bill and Don Budinger, the governing board of directors includes Paul Harrell, Susan Budinger, Stephanie Fitzgerald, D. Wayne Holden, Connie Bond Stuart, and Kristen Williams.

The Foundation began by consulting with educational and business leaders in the State, including The Committee of 100, to assess the status of education in Delaware, identify efforts toward improving education in the State, and determine the best way that the Foundation could impact education in Delaware.  Next, the Foundation involved local and national “thinkers” on education reform to prepare the report, Opportunity Knocks.  At the same time, it “incubated” three nonprofits–Social Venture Partners Delaware, the Innovative Schools Development Corporation, and Delaware Charter Schools Network–and staffed three education initiatives–Mathematics Achievement Club by Rodel, the Delaware Parent Leadership Institute, and the Teachers Network Leadership Institute.

Now, following release of Opportunity Knocks, it is embarking on a series of Forums around the State to invite response to its report and solicit ideas for education reform.  The next Community Forum in New Castle County will be held on Wednesday, September 28th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Delaware Technical & Community College Wilmington campus (registration at rodelfoundationde.org or 302-504-5232).  Following the forums, the Rodel Foundation will compile responses into a larger “call to action” for the seven years leading to the 2012 goal.

Simultaneously, the Rodel Foundation plans to partner with school districts on reform efforts, beginning with a New Castle County school district to be selected this fall.  The partnership will be with districts which are committed to “implementing best practices to maximize their impact on student learning, are diverse, have a strong leadership team, and have the potential to be a national exemplar.”  Rodel will, then, make a “significant, multiyear investment to help introduce, enhance, or more broadly implement research-proven methods of improving student performance.”

Opportunity Knocks assesses student performance (including HS achievement, middle school reading and math, elementary school reading and math, and early-childhood and kindergarten programs) and evaluates system conditions (including teacher quality, leadership development, standards and accountability, school finance, school choice, and family and community engagement).  Some of its findings:

  • Education Week's annual report Quality Counts ranks DE 12th in the nation for its standards, assessments, and accountability provisions (vs PA 30th, MD 10th, NJ 18th).
  • DE is 7th in the nation in education spending at $9,072 per student (vs US $7,734, PA $8,328, MD $8,517, NJ $10,235).
  • Among states with more than one district, DE is the most equitable in distributing money among school systems.
  • In 2002-03, 65% of education funds in DE came from the State, 27% from local taxpayers, and 8% from the federal government (vs. national average of 49% state, 43% local, 8% federal).
  • DE ranks 27th in teacher-quality policies, including screening, training, mentoring, assessment, assignment, entry qualifications, and baseline salaries (vs. 22nd PA, 18th, MD,13th NJ).
  • DE ranks 22nd nationally in prekindergarten access, with fewer than 9% of 4-year-olds enrolled (vs. US 16%, PA 2%, MD 26%, NJ 24%).
  • More than 60% of 5-year-old children in American attend full-day kindergarten; only 23% of Delaware's kindergarten students were in full-day programs in 2003-04.
  • DE ranked 16th in the nation in 2003 in 4th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading tests at 33% proficient or advanced (vs 30% US, 33% PA, 32% MD, 39% NJ).
  • DE students gained 14 percentage points since 1992 in 4th grade NAEP math test, but still ranks 28th in the US at 31% proficient or advanced  (vs US 31%, PA 36%, MD 31%, NJ 39%).
  • Since 1998 DE 8th grade NAEP reading scores have increased more than any other state in the region, but in 2003 DE ranked 30th, with 31% proficient or advanced (vs US 30%, PA 32%, MD 31%, NJ 37%).
  • Only 9 states in the US had a faster rate of improvement in 8th grade NAEP math tests between 1990 and 2003, but DE ranked 33rd at 26% proficient or advanced (vs US 27%, PA 30%, MD 30%, NJ 33%).
  • Delaware (39th at 64.3%) ranks below the national average (68%) for students who graduate on time vs. New Jersey (first at 83.3%), Pennsylvania (13th at 76%) and Maryland (14th at 75%).
  • 71% passed the 10th grade Delaware State Testing Program (DSTP) reading test in 2004 (55% Hispanic/51% African American), a 10 percentage point improvement over 2000.
  • 53% passed the 10th grade DSTP math test (31% Hispanic/30% African American), a 17 percentage point improvement over 2000.
  • Delaware ranked 11th in the nation, at 17%, in the percent of HS students who took one or more AP tests and received a score of at least 3 (national 14%, MD 25%, PA 11%, NJ 20%).
  • 73% of DE students take the SAT (vs. 43% nationally, 74% PA, 68% MD, 83% NJ) making DE 9th in the nation in participation rate, but 45th in combined verbal and math score (999 vs. US 1026, PA 1003, MD 1026,  NJ 1015).

Opportunity Knocks concludes by focusing on Delaware's strengths that make the Rodel goals realistic:

  • Delaware, with just over 119,000 public school students, is small enough to manage reforms.
  • Delaware's economy is strong, with a balanced State budget, more Ph.D.'s per capita than any state in the nation, and an unemployment rate consistently below the national average.
  • Delaware has led the nation in standards-based reform and is better prepared to meet the challenges.
  • Stakeholders across the State, including business and political leaders, have participated in the reform.
  • Both Republican and Democratic leadership is accessible and supportive of reform.
  • State funding levels are consistently in the top 10 in the nation.