New funding earmarked for low-income students and English language learners

An extra $60 million will go to low-income and English language learners under a new fund created by Gov. John Carney.

The Opportunity Funding Initiative announced Jan. 15 is part of Carney's fiscal year 2020 budget and uses a mix of ongoing and one-time funds to offer $20 million a year over three years to school districts. Districts will decide how to use the money in order to improve education for low-income and ELL students. District plans, which must be approved by Delaware Department of Education, could include hiring more reading and math specialists, counselors, trauma-informed training or after-school programs.

“We know that children who are identified as low income or those who don’t speak English as their first language are more likely to have experienced trauma in their young lives or face unique challenges that need special attention from their educators,” said Stephanie Ingram, president of Delaware State Education Association. “They need time with a teacher or a specialist to help navigate these challenges. And, we finally have a governor who is willing to acknowledge and fund this.”

Funding will be weighted on a per pupil basis. Using the latest state data available from the 2017-18 school year, 7.5 percent of Cape Henlopen School District students are ELL and 31 percent low income. The state average is 9.3 percent for ELL and 35 percent for low-income students.

Sussex Tech High School is .2 percent ELL and 18.4 percent low income; Sussex Academy for grades 6-12 is 1.2 percent ELL and 9.4 percent low income; Indian River School District is about 20 percent ELL and about 38 percent low income; and Milford School District is about 15 percent ELL and 43.5 percent low income.

Carney said targeting more money for low-income and ELL students will help them reach their full potential.

“Despite the efforts of committed educators and school leaders, many of these students are not getting the education they deserve. If we expect all Delaware children to have access to a world-class education, this is an issue that we can’t afford to ignore,” he said.