Benefits for Taxpayers
Vision 2015 demonstrates an unprecedented commitment to provide a world-class education to every Delaware student. Specifically, as a taxpayer, you can expect:
High-quality schools that attract high-quality jobs and investment to the state and that create opportunities for everyone.
Higher learning standards and challenging courses so that many more Delaware students will graduate prepared for college or high-skill jobs.
A wider range of school options and course offerings that better meet the interests and needs of children in your community...schools that focus on arts and music, or science or technology...or languages...or that offer courses online, 24/7.
A simpler and fairer funding system, which is driven by results, with a tighter focus on how money is spent to meet the needs of students with different interests and talents.
More accountability for results at every level of the school system - principals, teachers, students, parents and policymakers - with online and print "scorecards" to make it easy for everyone to monitor the performance of schools and school districts.
Teachers trained and mentored...so they know their subjects well…and who are compensated based on their skills and effectiveness, not just seniority or the number of degrees they have earned.
Local principals who have more control over staffing, budgets and resources, and are more accountable for the performance of their schools.
A commitment by the state to provide enough funding so that schools will not need to rely on local referenda to educate all students to Vision 2015 standards.
And a much better chance that children in your community will graduate from high school and go on to college or get a good job...and take advantage of opportunities to pursue their dreams, support their families and strengthen their communities.
Everything will not happen in year one. This is a long-term plan that will take years to fully implement. But by 2015, we hope all of these benefits will be in place all across the state.
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But under Vision 2015, there's no "free lunch." Some of these changes, such as improved preschool, expanded parent involvement programs, and bonuses to help us attract and keep high-performing teachers and principals, will require additional resources. You'll need to urge state and local leaders to support these investments and to require that these resources are spent effectively in your local schools so that all children succeed. No exceptions, no excuses.