Gubernatorial candidates weigh in on reforming education in Delaware

Changing Delaware’s education funding formula.

Investing in child care and early childhood education.

Ensuring equitable resources across all schools and providing teacher support and professional development.

These were just some of the topics that the five candidates for Delaware’s next governor tackled during an education forum hosted by the Vision Coalition of Delaware on Wednesday evening at Polytech High School in Woodside.

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Democratic candidates Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara, along with Republican contenders Jerrold Price and state House Minority Leader Mike Ramone, who most recently filed his candidacy for governor on the Republican line May 6, were in attendance.

The candidates fielded questions from leadership of the Vision Coalition as well as students across the state of Delaware.

Here are five takeaways:

Fixing the funding formula

Most of the candidates Wednesday evening agreed that the way Delaware funds its schools needs to change.

Delaware was sued in 2018 by Delawareans for Educational Opportunity and the NAACP over the First State being aware of deficiencies in resources provided to lower-income students, students with disabilities and multilingual learners.

In December, an independent assessment of Delaware’s education funding system recommended sizable changes, including shifting to a funding formula based on student needs, not resource-based units. In such a system, money would follow students with higher needs.

Hall-Long: “We’re going to have to move that funding formula forward for equity.”

Meyer: “We’re not measuring up today. If you go into schools in Wilmington and rural parts of the state with reading and math scores in the single digits. It starts with getting the funding formula right.”

O’Mara: “Look at the way Delaware reacted to desegregation and the lines that were drawn. We never increased funding and never changed the formula. We just have less and less (equitable) funding for schools.”

Ramone: “Education funding needs to be modified. Education is supported very inconsistently. Delaware teachers should be at the top of the pyramid, not the bottom. Pay them what they are worth. Create an environment where we prioritize our children and the schools.”

Using funds from other sources

Candidates stressed that other avenues for funding for education and early childhood support must be explored.

The lawsuit over inequitable funding ultimately prompted a statewide reassessment of properties, which Meyer – who was part of the lawsuit as New Castle County executive – said helps school boards access up to 10% of new revenue every five years without going to referendum.

Meyer suggested making changes to the state tax code, which maxes out at a rate of 6.6% for everyone making $60,000 or more.

This makes Delaware one of the highest-income tax states in the region for people making lower- and middle-class salaries. Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and even New York all have lower income tax rates for people who earn about $60,000 annually, according to the Tax Foundation data.

Meyer: “If a family makes $70,000 today, did you know they pay the same tax rate as someone making $70 million? It’s a moral imperative that we fix these things.”

O’Mara: “I do think the property tax assessment is going to be a piece of (funding sources). I also think we need to look at other funding sources, whether that be the tax code … also different revenues with excise taxes.”

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Hall-Long: “Funding is absolutely paramount. I can tell you there are all kinds of things – sin tax funds (referencing future recreational marijuana sales as a potential revenue source).”

Ramone: “We have money in our government and we need to choose where the best investments are to get the biggest bang for that dollar.”

Price: “I agree with the assessment. Everyone is talking about spending millions of dollars. We need to go through our finances and see if that money is available. I can’t promise you something when the money is not there.”

Expanding child care, early childhood education opportunities

Democratic gubernatorial candidates stressed the importance of child care access and expanding early childhood education opportunities as between birth and the age of 5, “90% of a child’s brain is developed,” Hall-Long said.

Hall-Long: “Early education has to happen – we have to get there.”

Meyer: “We need heavy investment early.”

O’Mara: “Delaware is facing three crises: early childhood development, child care and a lack of pre-K. Despite the investments, it’s still a fraction of what we need.”

Price: The Republican candidate pledged to help people if they seek help. “I can’t go into your house and tell you how to raise your children.”

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Ramone: “We’ve invested a ton of money in child care and pre-K. Do we create an environment where we try to complement what we have in school systems with the private sector?”

Equity for children of all backgrounds, learning levels

Candidates stressed that fixing the funding formula is key to ensuring equitable investments for children from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

This was also a sticking point in the recommendations out of the statewide assessment on Delaware’s education funding system and the lawsuit brought against the state.

Hall-Long: “Equity runs through everything that we’ve done. … It takes more than one initiative. It’s not just money. It’s leaning in and making Delaware the strongest place to be for our children.”

Meyer: “We need to make sure the teachers we recruit, not only where possible, speak multiple languages, but also have a culture of tolerance. Our schools ultimately are a reflection of who we are as a community.”

O’Mara: “They are staffing classes based on the bodies in the class rather than the needs in the classroom. We’re trying to have staffing levels that match the needs of the students.”

Price: “I think a lot of resources are already there, they just have to be used… We have to get rid of the disruptive children – not get rid of them, just help them. Get them counseling. There are only two genders. Men will not be playing women’s sports.”

Ramone: The House minority leader pointed to ASPIRA Charter School as an excellent education model for English language learners. “They took a community, and now the community has a bilingual dynamic to it. They are learning English fluently, and they’ve brought the parents in.”

Providing mental health support for students, educators

In recent years, Delaware has passed legislation and earmarked funding to expand mental health support for students.

On Thursday, the state House of Representatives extended mental health services to high schools with the unanimous passage of House Bill 200.

But even those who were in office during those expansions said more needs to be done given the trauma children carry into the classroom – regardless of age.

Hall-Long: “We have invested the most ever to ensure elementary and middle schools have those supports. We’re continuing to work to ensure that resource in high schools. We have a long way to go and it’s only going to be done with everyone involved in the room here.”

Meyer: “Kids are coming to school with baggage that we cannot see. As county executive, we are the only local government in Delaware that approved wellness centers (at schools). We’re also going to do things to support teachers’ mental health (like reducing class sizes) to ensure teachers remain healthy.”

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O’Mara: Applauded the steps the state has taken so far to provide mental health resources in schools. “We need to do it for middle and high schools. Children facing massive trauma – it doesn’t end in elementary schools, it follows all the way through.”

Price: “A lot of this mental health started because the family structure broke down. We’re going to provide counseling, it’s already there. You can’t force people to get help if they don’t want it.”

Ramone: The House representative shared a story about a childhood friend who spent time at MeadowWood Behavioral Health Hospital, and later lived in a group home. “She went there and they focused on her needs. That’s what our education needs to do for our children with the smallest cups.”

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware's gubernatorial candidates sound off on education policy