Executive Order Number Forty-Seven Establishing The Delaware P-20 Council
WHEREAS, Delaware has benefited from many partnerships among the various components of the public education system and those benefits have served the children of Delaware well; and
WHEREAS, a P-20 Council is a means to more efficiently and effectively connect levels of public education – preschool through graduate school; and
WHEREAS, Delaware children would benefit by more closely coordinated transitions from early care programs to pre-school, from pre-school to elementary school, between the several transitions in K-12 education, and from high school to higher education; and
WHEREAS, evidence suggests that too many students enter college from high school requiring remedial course work at the college level; and
WHEREAS, Delaware data shows critical gaps exist between the academic performance of majority and minority students on the Delaware State Testing Program that must be removed in order for all students to become successful adults; and
WHEREAS, research clearly shows that teacher quality is highly correlated to student success; and
WHEREAS, critical shortages are projected for the supply of teachers and school administrators in the coming decade; and
WHEREAS, P-20 organizations in other states have proved instrumental in creating more integrated, seamless education systems that enable students to start school ready to learn, receive challenging instruction throughout their careers and graduate from high school prepared for college or work; and
WHEREAS, a P-20 Council can advance vertical integration – students, parents, teachers and administrators develop common expectations for students at successive levels of the education system through the post-secondary level; and
WHEREAS, the strengths of a P-20 system are inclusion, alignment of effort, support for standards and assessment, logical progressions for learners, reduced need for remediation, removal of artificial barriers and opening the door to building on previously successful partnerships and furthering such partnerships on behalf of the State,
I, RUTH ANN MINNER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, HEREBY ORDER ON THIS 28TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2003:
1. The Delaware P-20 Council (the “Council”) is hereby established.
2. The goals of the Council are to use data to:
a. Explore the potential of expansion of early learning for children ages 3 to 5;
b. Explore ways to improve the service and quality of service for children from birth through pre-school;
c. Examine and make recommendations for successfully transitioning students from one level to another throughout their education, including improved readiness for college success;
d. Recommend strategies for closing the achievement gaps that currently exist between majority and minority students as well as low- and high-income students; and
e. Recommend upgrading educator preparation and professional development which is highly correlated to student success.
3. The Council shall have the following standing members, or their designees:
a. The Governor;
b. The President of the University of Delaware;
c. The President of Delaware State University;
d. The President of Delaware Technical and Community College;
e. The President of Wesley College;
f. The President of Wilmington College;
g. The Chair of the Business Roundtable Education Committee;
h. The Executive Director of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce;
i. The Chair of the Delaware Early Care and Education Council;
j. The Chair of the House of Representatives Education Committee;
k. The Chair of the Senate Education Committee;
l. The President of the State Board of Education; and
m. The Secretary of Education.
4. The President of the State Board of Education and the Secretary of Education shall co-chair the Council.
5. The Council shall establish subcommittees to assist it in meeting its responsibilities. Such subcommittees shall include representatives of other persons and groups with critical interests in the outcome of the Council’s work, including representatives of teachers, school administrators, local school boards, and parents. The Council shall establish bylaws to determine membership on its subcommittees.
6. The Council shall report semi-annually to the Governor on the status of its work.
