PRESS RELEASE Governor’s Office: Kelly Bachman, 302-299-9791 Jonathon Dworkin, 302-233-6695 February 19, 2015 U.S. Education Secretary Lauds Delaware for Increasing Access to College With free community college and an aggressive effort to help students continue education beyond high school, Delaware is recognized as a model for President Obama initiative Newark, DE – Highlighting Delaware as a model state for providing students with preparation for and access to educational opportunities beyond high school, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan used the state’s efforts to advocate for President Obama’s America’s College Promise proposal to make community college free. Governor Markell, along with U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, joined Duncan for a discussion with students who have benefited from the state’s SEED scholarship, which provides two years of free college tuition to Delaware high school graduates with at least a 2.5 grade point average. They also highlighted recent progress the state has made in preparing students for education beyond high school, with record high graduation rates, record low dropout rates and double the number of high school students enrolled in college courses compared to last year. The SEED program uses state funds to pay for tuition at Delaware Tech and for the University of Delaware’s two-year Associate in Arts program. Markell signed legislation in 2010 to create the Inspire Scholarship – a similar program that would provide qualifying Delaware State University students with the same amount of tuition that SEED scholars receive. Today’s event at Delaware Tech’s Stanton Campus followed last week’s launch of the Governor’s Pathways to Prosperity initiative, which will establish partnerships with Delaware employers, universities, and school districts to prepare students for a bright future in high-demand fields and careers. The Governor and Secretary highlighted the effort today as an important way for Delaware to build on its efforts to prepare young people for good jobs in the new economy. The state is dedicating more than $1 million of federal grants to support school districts that make the pathway programs available to students, who will take hundreds of hours of specialized instruction and hands-on training. They will have the opportunity to graduate with industry-recognized certificates and college credits. ----------------------------------------­----------------------------- WITN Channel 22's 'Big Picture' allows viewers inside Press Conferences and Events. Giving you the big picture. Thanks for watching Paul & Paul Paul Colsey - 576.2164 - pcolsey@wilmingtonde.gov Paul Kennard - 576.2160 - pkennard@wilmingtonde.gov

• published: 20 Feb 2015
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