Student Success 2025
Calling for Change
An education that prepares every Delaware child for success in 2025. Today’s students will enter a world after high school that is increasingly interconnected and complex. The next generation of adults will face new challenges in the global economy, including significant advancements in technology and increased global competition. With a job market no longer confined to our nation’s borders, Delaware students must compete for jobs against their peers from around the world.
To truly succeed in the future, students will need more than just core academic knowledge–the shared standard academics that every students must have as a foundation, including English language arts, math, social studies, science, the arts, and world languages. School can no longer be defined by the four walls of a classroom. To tackle tomorrow’s problems and excel in the jobs of the future, students will need skills and attributes like creativity, flexibility, and curiosity.
Student Success 2025 imagines a landscape where equitable opportunities meet the needs of these students and where lifelong learners are equipped to adapt to changing times. The goal is for all Delaware students to thrive, accomplish more, and take advantage of expanded opportunities aligned with their unique skills, interests, and abilities. This includes providing support needed for all students to succeed, including students who are homeless, living in foster care, hungry, neglected, physically disabled, cognitively challenged, or learning English. Every child in Delaware–regardless of zip code, economic means, or style and pace of learning–deserves to have options for his or her future and to be ready for whatever tomorrow holds.
Click here for a pdf of the plan.
Public Collaboration
The Vision Coalition of Delaware collaborated with 4,000 Delawareans, including 1,300 students and recent graduates, to create the Student Success 2025 plan.
North Star
The North Star guides our journey on the path to excellence. It shows what students need to know, be, and do to live a lifetime of success. It serves as the beacon for our vision to improve public schools for every Delaware student.
Measuring Success
Looking at where we are today, the coalition set goals to measure success leading up to 2025.
Student Stories
David, age 13
I think our schools are working for a majority of people, but some kids need the extra push. Challenge them more. They need higher expectations.
Alan, age 10
I have way more trouble learning if the teacher lectures. I learn way better if I actually interact with the lesson.
Donna, age 8
Unity is when you work together.
From Sussex to Kent to New Castle, Delaware is all about community. Our ability to establish a shared vision for students and collectively wrestle with tough issues distinguishes us from other states.
From January 2014 to September 2015, the Vision Coalition of Delaware worked to engage and unify Delawareans around education and listened to your views on the future of students in our state. The result was Student Success 2025.
The Coalition brought together a broad Steering Committee and six Working Groups that focused on key policy areas and engaged students, parents, teachers, and national and international education leaders, who lent their ideas and insights for improving student achievement.
Student Success 2025 would not be possible without the input of 4,000 Delawareans who helped guide the creation of this ambitious plan. Delawareans contributed through:
- A public online survey for sharing opinions and ideas about education;
- More than 30 community conversations held in Sussex, Kent, and New Castle counties;
- A survey and conversations with more than 1,300 Delaware seventh through 12th graders;
- An online discussion forum; and
- Discussions at the 7th Annual Vision Coalition Conference on Education, attended by more than 400 people
The North Star guides our journey on the path to excellence. It shows what students need to know, be, and do to live a lifetime of success. It serves as the beacon for our vision to improve public schools for every Delaware student. Students will need core academic knowledge to provide a foundation for learning, yet they will also need skills and attributes that go beyond academics.
With volumes of information available at our fingertips, the learning experience will no longer be passive – students will need to drive it. As technology plays a bigger role in the lives of our children, the ability to communicate with peers at home and globally will become increasingly important. As the world of work becomes more complex, young people will need to be adaptable and prepared to learn throughout their lives.
As the social and environmental challenges in our communities grow, our children will need to be more empathetic and innovative in their problem-solving. Collectively, the skills found in the North Star – a distillation of comments shared by 4,000 Delawareans as well as several national and international contributors – will prepare students to be strong communicators, engaged citizens, successful in their careers, and lifelong learners. With our focus on the North Star, Delaware can build a system of public education that builds toward these attributes, so that children can succeed no matter what path they choose.
To me, curiosity is the most important because it leads you to new discoveries.
— Genesis, age 10
With volumes of information available at our fingertips, the learning experience will no longer be passive – students will need to drive it. As technology plays a bigger role in the lives of our children, the ability to communicate with peers at home and globally will become increasingly important. As the world of work becomes more complex, young people will need to be adaptable and prepared to learn throughout their lives.
Student Engagement
Today
Students consistently engaged in school.
95% of students will be consistently engaged.
Academic Success in Math
Today
Delaware fourth graders and eighth graders proficient or advanced in math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Delaware fourth and eighth graders rank middle of the pack–23 states have a score above Delaware fourth graders and 30 states are above Delaware eighth graders.
Delaware’s aspiration is to be top 10 in the country across all levels. 52% of fourth graders and 43% of eighth graders will be proficient or advanced in math.
Academic Success in Reading
Today
Delaware fourth graders and eighth graders proficient or advanced in reading on NAEP.
12 states have a score above Delaware fourth graders and 30 states are above Delaware eighth graders.
Delaware’s aspiration is to be top 10 in the country across all levels. 48% of fourth graders and 43% of eighth graders will be proficient or advanced in reading on NAEP.
School Safety
Today
Delaware students feel safe at school.
100% of students will feel safe at school.
College Readiness
Today
Delaware graduates meeting or exceeding the college readiness benchmark of at least 1550 on the SAT.
Delaware will double the percentage of the graduating meeting or exceeding the college readiness benchmark on the SAT to 50%.
Youth Unemployment
Today
Young adults (ages 20-24) in Delaware unemployed.
Delaware will cut the unemployment rate for young adults (ages 20-24) in half to 6%.
College Completion
Today
Delawareans ages 18-24 with education greater than a high school diploma, including some college–a two-year, four-
year, or advanced degree.
65% will attain education beyond high school.
Global Performance
Today
Rank in reading, science, and math in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Delaware’s aspiration is to be top 10 globally in reading, science, and math.