Despite Delaware’s remarkable progress in education reform over the past several years, the achievement gap, which exists along socioeconomic and racial lines, impacts thousands of children growing up in poverty today in the First State. Only 10% of high school graduates in the state’s low-income communities are enrolled in college and less than a quarter actually graduate with a higher education degree. 

And yet, there is no other place in the country right now with more momentum, energy, and commitment behind education reform, or more support of our corps members from the community. And there are many individual proof points that the achievement can be closed. As one example, 2009 corps member Samantha Connell’s 4th graders began the year more than 50 points behind their more affluent peers on the DCAS assessment. They finished the year 33 points ahead of their more affluent peers – 165% gap closure in a single year. 

Over the next few years we aim to significantly increase the size and diversity of our corps. We have the opportunity truly put students on a level playing field by closing the gaps in elementary and secondary school achievement and by paving a long-term path to their college-ready success. We need even more leaders who want to help change the conversation about what is possible for kids growing up in Delaware’s low-income communities. In building this movement, we have the opportunity to help make in the First State the “first” state to ensure educational equity for all children.