“Now that the referendum season is over for this school year, it's time to rethink the way Delaware finances education. The current setup serves neither students nor taxpayers well….Delawareans tend to be willing to pay for progress, but they want proof the schools really are progressing. The day of the "trust me" experts is over. In fact, if the average resident thought the experts were a smashing success, we wouldn't have charter schools sprouting up all over the place….Historically, calls to reform school financing usually involve increasing funding. That might not be the case here. Delaware needs a system that is transparent, effective and accountable.”
News Journal editorial board, June 6, 2007
"Idea-wise, Delaware is front and center in a national dialogue."
Rita Truschel, columnist, News Journal, February 3, 2007
"The Vision 2015 plan outlines a bold, creative blueprint to support our goal of making our schools the best in the world."
Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner, State of the State Address, January 18, 2007
"Vision 2015 truly puts students at the center...Making the best educational system is far more than an admirable goal--it's doable, and, in helping our future workers and leaders, ultimately helps us all."
Delaware Today Editor Mark Nardone, January, 2007
"Vision 2015...is a giant task. But one that Delaware can accomplish. This is a state to watch."
Thomas B Fordham Institute, The Fordham Report 2006: How Well Are States Educating Our Neediest Children?
"At this moment in time, the stars have aligned such that private and public leaders have agreed on a common vision. This is a rare and powerful accomplishment. As a community, we have an obligation to capitalize on this opportunity with urgency and passion."
Paul A. Herdman, President and CEO, Rodel Foundation of Delaware, Delaware Business Ledger, October 31, 2006
"[The Vision 2015 Steering Committee's] proposals would leave little in the state's education structure unchanged."
Ed Week, "Coalition Calls for Overhaul of DE Education System" Oct. 25, 2006
"Other states have taken on different parts of our six-part agenda, but none has come close to the breadth and depth of our vision. When we succeed--not if, but when--Delaware will be at the forefront in creating opportunities for our children, prosperity for our society and hope for all of us."
Marvin N. Schoenhals, Chair, Vision 2015, Chairman and President, WSFS Financial Corporation, and Valerie A. Woodruff, Secretary, Delaware Department of Education, Wilmington News Journal Op-Ed, October 18, 2006
"Delawareans were just handed another opportunity…that could revolutionize the way things are done around the state...Change can be difficult. But there's no doubt that something drastic is needed."
News Journal editorial board, October 18, 2006
"As a parent, I don't look at my child as a statistic. I don't see '1 in 10' or '2 in 10' when I send my child out the door. I don't want to choose [Delaware public school as a] choice of last resort. I want to choose it because it is the best choice in Delaware."
Carol King-Ries, mother of two school-age children, Vision 2015 Release Event, October 17, 2006
"The Vision 2015 plan is the most thoughtful reform plan I've seen in the last few years in any of the jurisdictions I work with. It develops a moral and economic case for reform, uses data effectively to create urgency, and sets some powerful targets for students, districts and schools to meet."
Angus McBeath, Former Superintendent, Edmonton Public Schools, Canada