WHAT: The Redding Consortium for Educational Equity and community supporters will call for the Governor and the Delaware General Assembly to fund the Consortium’s interim recommendations in next year’s budget.
Created in 2019 by Senate Bill 148, the Redding Consortium is tasked with proposing policies and actions that will improve educational equity and outcomes in Wilmington and northern New Castle County, where thousands of students attend high-poverty, racially identifiable schools. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to deepen the long-standing disparities faced by students in our schools.
The recent settlement of a lawsuit brought by the NAACP Delaware State Conference and other plaintiffs is expected to result in an $11 million enhancement to Delaware’s public school funding next year for the benefit of children living in poverty and English-language learners.
However, the Redding Consortium believes historically underserved students and their families deserve a state government willing to make more urgent and impactful progress toward addressing the education inequities they face.
The Consortium’s recommendations propose targeting $15-20 million in additional resources to the programs that support students in the state’s highest poverty schools in next year’s budget, while also laying the foundation for broader reforms in the future.
WHEN: 11 a.m., Friday, February 5
WHERE: Click here to register in advance for the virtual press conference. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about how to join the event.
WHO: Sen. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman, co-chair, Redding Consortium
Raye Jones Avery, co-chair, Redding Consortium Social Determinants Work Group
Rep. Michael Smith, co-chair, Redding Consortium Educator Work Group
Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha
New Castle County Councilperson Jea Street
Wilmington Mayor Michael Purzycki
Wilmington City Councilperson Shané Darby
Sen David Sokola, Senate president pro tempore
Sen. Bryan Townsend, Senate majority leader
Sen. Laura Sturgeon, Senate Education Committee chair
Rep. Kim Williams, House Education Committee chair
The Rev. Vincent Oliver, Interdenominational Ministers Action Council
Dr. Terrance Newton, principal of Warner Elementary School
The Rev. Shanika Perry, Brandywine School Board member
Larry Meli, president of the Delaware Blue Coats
Gary Stockbridge, president of Delmarva Power
Matthew Denn, co-chair, Redding Consortium