Investment in education was in the spotlight as Governor Jack Markell rolled out the final part of his plan to spend the additional $320 million in revenue the state anticipates having for fiscal year 2012.
In two separate events, Markell proposed spending $52 million on investments in early childhood education and higher education projects at Delaware’s three public colleges and universities.
“A person’s education does not start on the first day of kindergarten and it does not end the day a person walks across the stage at their high school graduation,” said Markell.
Friday morning at Wilmington Kingswood Community Center, Markell announced his plan to spend $22 million on early childhood education. The plan calls for the state to spend $9 million on an across the board increase to the reimbursement low-income preschool childcare providers receive from the state.
The plan also calls for $10 million to be spent to draw more preschool childcare providers into the state’s Stars quality rating program. The program rates schools on quality indicators including staff education and professional development. The new funds would reward providers that earn a rating of 3 or above on the 5 star scale and offer assistance to those that don’t. There will be an additional $3 million available for merit awards to teachers and providers that improve their quality rating.
“The bottom line is the most effective economic development investment a state can make is actually in early childhood education,” said Markell. “This is going to improve the quality of early childhood education across the state. That means those kids, when they get to kindergarten, are going to be more ready to learn.”
The early education component of the governor’s plan is the only part of his overall proposal for spending the state’s additional available revenue that is not a one-time expenditure.
Friday afternoon, Markell was on the Delaware State University campus in Dover to announce his proposal to send additional funds to DSU, the University of Delaware, and Delaware Technical and Community College. Under Markell’s plan, each of the state’s three public colleges and universities would receive $10 million in one time funding for facility upgrades.
“The quality of your work and the excellence of your graduates is a enormous help when I make the case to prospective employers to come to Delaware or expand here,” said Markell. “We’re announcing these proposed investments to move your great work forward in the future and put Delawareans to work building these facilities now.”
If the plan is approved, Delaware State University plans to use its allocation on its optic research lab. DSU president Dr. Harry Williams says it will help enhance the quality of the facilities in this emerging discipline at the university.
“We are committed to make sure we use these dollars wisely,” said Dr, Williams. “[The money] will serve this state well and serve our students well.”
The University of Delaware intends to spend its $10 million allocation on research lab upgrades, while Del Tech plans on upgrades to facilities for a variety of programs at each of its campuses across the state, including its aviation power plant in Sussex County.
The education-related proposals complete Markell’s plan for additional spending based on the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council estimates that the state will have an additional $320 million dollars to work with next fiscal year. In all, Markell is calling for $241.5 million in new spending, which includes $135 million for one time infrastructure projects and $54.5 million for tax cuts and debt reduction. Markell spokesperson Catherine Rossi says the entire plan represents what the Governor believes need to be state priorities. She added it does not allocate all of the estimated $320 million dollars available because the governor feels is fiscally responsible to be cautious in using these funds since there are still two DEFAC forecasts left before the 2012 budget is finalized.
Markell says his plan represents “a chance and a choice.”
“We’ve got a chance to build Delaware’s future now in a way that is fiscally sound and financially sustainable,” said Markell. “But we’ve got to make the choice to do so. And I’m asking for your help to make sure that that choice gets made.”
That choice will ultimately be made by the General Assembly, which has final say over the budget.
