INNOVATION
Delaware State Profile
Rodel
Wilmington, DE
Appoquinimink School District
Odessa, DE
Delaware Department of Education (DDOE)
Dover, DE
Delaware Technical Community College
Dover, DE
Delaware Workforce Development Board
Wilmington, DE
Educational and Workforce Landscape
Secondary K–12
Governed by:
Delaware State Board of Education
Public school enrollment K–12:
140,263 students were enrolled in K-12 school as of September 30, 2022. Enrollment includes all students in traditional school districts, charter schools and vocational-technical schools. (Source: Delaware Open Data)
Public school enrollment 9–12:
47,243 students were enrolled in grades 9-12 as of September 30, 2022. Enrollment includes all students in traditional school districts, charter schools and vocational-technical schools. (Source: Delaware Open Data)
Graduation rate: 87.79%
CTE Participation rate: 38,888
CTE graduation rate: 97.44%
Postsecondary
Governed by:
Delaware Department of Education — Higher Education Office
Enrollment/Completion Data:
- University of Delaware: 18,665 (undergraduates, includes FT and PT students, 2022-23, source: University of Delaware Institutional Research and Effectiveness)
- Delaware State University: 5,409 (undergraduates, 2022-23, source: Delaware State University)
- Delaware Tech: 12,402 (undergraduates, source: EduRank)
- Wilmington University: 8,332 (undergraduates, source: EduRank)
- Goldey Beacom College: 671 (undergraduates, source: EduRank)
- Delaware College of Art and Design: unknown
- Strayer University: online university
Number by Type of Schools
- 2-year Community College: 1
- 4-year Public University: 2
- 4-year Private University: 3
- 2-year Technical College: 1
Workforce
Workforce Agency:
Delaware Department of Labor
Delaware Workforce Development Board (DWDB)
Top Industries/Jobs:
- Healthcare
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Technology (including Biotech, Fintech, Informational Technology)
- Construction
- Individual and family services
- Early childcare and education
- K12 Education
- Home health services
College & Career Pathways Successes
Shared, Common Goal
Delaware’s career pathways effort launched in 2014 with 27 students and set a goal of engaging 50% of high schoolers, 20,0000 students, by 2020. We achieved that goal, and in 2021 launched Pathways 2.0. and set our sights on:
Starting earlier in the middle grades —
Our goal was to begin rolling out a new set of standards and supports to all 30,000 of our middle schoolers in 2025. At this point, after a student-centered design phase, 10 local schools will pilot “Rethinking Middle Grades” this fall to over 5,000 middle school students.
Going deeper with our high schoolers —
We plan to not only reach our goal of 80% of all high schoolers, or 32,000 students enrolled in career pathways by 2025, but we are going deeper, starting with our vocational school students to accelerate apprenticeship programs.
Funding to Support Pathways
Delaware has seen success in braiding funding from multiple sources to help accelerate pathway efforts across the state. This includes leveraging federal legislation such as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), the Workforce and Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA), and more recently, the American Rescue Plan Act towards CTE programs. State administrators included Delaware Pathways into the state’s plans for these federal programs, and used the federal funds to help districts set up and maintain pathways programs. Additionally, the Delaware Department of labor (DDOL) and Delaware Tech received large grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to support industry certifications and expand apprenticeship programs. At the state level, the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health & Social Services have all contributed funding, with the Department of Education now spending most of its CTE budget on Delaware Pathways.
Meet the Site Partners
Lead Organization:
Rodel
Rodel is a nonprofit organization that partners with Delawareans and innovators from around the world to transform public education in the First State. Our mission is to strengthen Delaware’s public education system and workforce by connecting partners to advance and implement sustainable solutions. We do this work by convening cross-sector partners, connecting good ideas to resources, and by scaling, sharing, and supporting ideas grounded in evidence and practice.
Launch provides a unique opportunity to examine how we can best adapt our approach to workforce development so that it meets the needs of tomorrow’s economy. Our system must shift to actively cultivating the needs, interests, and skills of our students to ensure they thrive in tomorrow’s global economy.
Paul Herdman
President and CEO, Rodel
Delaware Department of Education
The Delaware Department of Education supports the state’s 19 school district and 23 charter schools with resources, professional development, grant access, and supports so that all Delaware students are ready for success in college, career, and life. Their mission is to empower every learner with the highest quality education through shared leadership, innovative practices, and exemplary services.
Delaware Technical Community College
Del Tech is Delaware’s only community college, providing quality education that responds to workforce and community needs, leverages partnership, and strengthens Delaware’s economy. The college embraces the diversity of all individuals by nurturing an inclusive culture that institutionalizes access and equity for student success.
Delaware Workforce Development Board
DWDB provides leadership and resources to develop a skilled workforce that is responsive to the evolving needs of business and communities. Through federal and state mandate, DWDB exists to help Delaware achieve economic prosperity by building the workforce that our economy needs. To do this, they work with two key constituencies: employers who have evolving needs for a workforce, and Delawareans who are in or will be in the workforce.
Appoquinimink School District
The Appoquinimink School District, located in southern New Castle County, Delaware, serves more than 12,000 students in grades PK-12. At Appoquinimink, students, parents, educators and the community share a common vision about high achievement, a fact which has helped our students earn one of the best academic records in the state. As Delaware’s fastest growing school system, we’ve learned to thrive on change. Since 2000, Appoquinimink has opened fourteen new schools, finished additions at seven other buildings, and completed an aggressive schedule of renovations designed to support 21st century learning.
Impact Site
Innovation Site