Sir Michael Barber
Conference Features Economic Importance of Implementing Vision 2015
Implementing Vision 2015 was the focus of the University of Delaware’s third-annual “Knowledge-Based Partnerships” conference, Delaware Education for a Global Economy: Making Vision 2015 Work. The October 2 conference explored the critical links between a strong public education system, the economic prosperity of our state, and the health of our communities.
Keynote speaker Sir Michael Barber, senior advisor to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who helped to transform the UK's public education system spoke about the economic implications of the decline in American public education and Vision 2015’s potential in reversing the trend. Barber called Delaware “influential far beyond its size” and said he looks forward to “seeing Delaware lead the way” in education reform.
Afternoon speaker Skip Schoenhals, chair of Vision 2015, called on the next governor, the legislature, and all Delaware citizens to “make Vision 2015 a reality” by setting higher graduation rates, raising standards, and holding public schools accountable for their performance. Schoenhals urged the next administration and new legislature to reallocate $90 million in Delaware’s current education budget (cost efficiencies identified by the LEAD Committee) to Vision 2015 priorities, including the Vision Network, early childhood education, and high quality teachers and instructional leaders in our schools. He encouraged all involved groups to work together, and even make sacrifices, in order for Delaware public schools to become world-class.
Panel discussions focused on the educational needs of business, requirements for quality early childhood education, and the work underway through the Vision Network of schools.
Download speeches:
Sir Michael Barber’s speech and podcast
Skip Schoenhals’ speech and podcast
View media coverage:
"Vision 2015 touted as critical to upgrading education in Del" The News Journal, October 3, 2008
"Vision 2015 chairman issues challenge to candidates" The News Journal, October 3, 2008
Year-Two Report Outlines Progress toward Achieving World-Class Schools
Since its public launch in October 2006, Vision 2015 has become the inspiration, guide, and focus for initiatives across Delaware committed to providing students with a world-class education. Much progress has been made in the time since, but a great deal of work still lies ahead.
Read about progress and goals for the coming year in the Vision 2015 Second-Year Progress Report and accompanying media release. |
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View Student-Inspired Video
A 2008 essay about public schools by Cab Calloway student Sam Bellingham inspired the video, “View From the Skate Park,” shown at the Vision 2015 conference. Sam illustrates the places outside of the classroom where teens hold themselves to high standards and compete with their peers. He believes that Delaware high schools must draw on the best aspects of out-of-school learning in order to better prepare students for the real world. (Bellingham was the winner of the Rodel Foundation's Your Vision Your Voice essay contest. Read his essay.) |
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Did You Know?
Research has shown that what children learn from birth to age five sets the foundation for their future learning, yet early education teachers earn only a fraction of salaries paid to teachers in later grades. Delaware preschool and childcare workers earned an average annual income of just $24,650 in 2007, the lowest average wages within the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational category--Education, Training, and Library Occupations. This is barely above the $21,200 poverty level for a family of four as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and lower than the average salaries for many other job categories, including bus drivers and aerobics instructors.
Source: May 2007 Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage reports for Delaware
Read the briefing paper, Transforming Early Childhood Education in Delaware, that Dr. Audrey Noble of the University of Delaware Education Research & Development Center presented at the October 2 Making Vision 2015 Work conference. The paper also includes information on how Vision 2015 is addressing the critical need for quality early childhood education.
VISION-aries
"Across the country, and in Delaware too, there are promising, albeit early, signs that progress is being made. Performance is improving – not enough but at least heading in the right direction. Achievement gaps are narrowing.... The current [Delaware] Governor and Secretary have much to be proud of, as well as a challenge to face up to.”
– Sir Michael Barber, international education expert and keynote speaker at recent Vision 2015 conference
“There is no question that teachers are undervalued as compared with other professions, and that must change. We need to respect teachers as true professionals and to compensate them based on their performance as professionals. Our current system does the opposite.... While compensation is not the only factor motivating teachers, or any of us for that matter, compensation systems strongly influence behavior.”
– Skip Schoenhals, chair of Vision 2015, speaking at recent Vision 2015 conference
Contact Us
To get the latest information on how to become involved with Vision 2015, please visit our web site: http://www.vision2015delaware.org or e-mail us at info@vision2015delaware.org. |
