Rodel

09/03/2026

We are deeply grateful to Governor Meyer, Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, Rep. Kim Williams and Sen. Laura Sturgeon , and all of the passionate advocates who put in tireless work to make SB 302 and SB 303 happen. By moving to a hybrid funding model and codifying the Public Education Funding Commission into law, Delaware has taken a major step toward equitably providing students with the support they need to succeed. We look forward to continuing the work and building on these achievements!

Read the full press release: https://monkeylink.co/00b773

08/31/2026

Workforce development is an essential part of building a better economy for Delawareans. With Delaware Department of Labor's expansion of Pell Grants to include high-quality training that gives learners industry credentials, Delaware is continuing to lead the way in expanding workforce pipelines to better serve the state.

The program's use of an occupation-first approval model will further strengthen this initiative by aligning training with the jobs that are in demand across the state. These kinds of targeted investments are an important part of creating sustained growth for Delawareans across the state. Read more at the link below:

https://monkeylink.co/769dbc

The Delaware Department of Labor has launched the Workforce Pell initiative, releasing the State's Workforce Pell Program Policy and opening the application process for institutions. The program expands federal Pell Grant access to high-quality, short-term training programs that prepare Delawareans....

07/08/2026

Where did all the education bills and budget land when the dust settled on the 153rd Delaware General Assembly? Read our recap of a historic session. Historic Session Ushers in New Funding Formula and Major Investments in Education https://monkeylink.co/119c10

The 2026 legislative session may be remembered as one of the most consequential for education in recent Delaware history.

06/05/2026

Rodel is thrilled to be apart of StriveTogether's live Q&A Discussion, Connecting the Dots: How Delaware Pathways is Linking Students to Real Careers. Tune in June 30th at 2pm at the link below to hear how Delaware is putting young people on a path to career success.

The discussion will feature Rodel's VP Luke Rhine and Programs Director Kim Lopez, as well as Dr. Rick Konysz, Associate Secretary for Workforce Support for the Delaware Department of Education and Dr. John Garcia III, Executive Director of the Pathways Impact Fund. This is a conversation you won't want to miss!

https://monkeylink.co/81b5c8

05/26/2026

With legislation moving through the state house to update Delaware's school funding system to a hybrid model, our latest blog tackles where the bills are in the process, what they would do, and what comes next. To read more, follow the link below: https://monkeylink.co/a954f0

Delaware is moving forward with a proposed hybrid school funding model that combines the current unit system with more flexible, student-centered funding.

05/15/2026

Delaware has pumped up the volume on child care challenges, and it’s thanks to the engagement and action of partners like the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce who understand that child care impacts more than just parents. We’re grateful to have co-hosted a dialogue with DEBCC members, community advocates, and several state leaders, including Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay, to discuss the current child care challenges facing Delaware and the next steps to addressing them.

Business owners, like restauranteur James, highlighted the challenges their staff face with childcare. James shared: "We pay on a certain day, and we've had calls, "Hey, can you pay me before Friday so I can take care of [child care payments] for my kid? I would say when somebody calls out most times it's because of child care issues...so it is a big issue with us as well. We're not directly tied into pre-K, but it does affect us."

Others, like family provider Shakira, spoke to funding gaps caused by the current model for Purchase of Care and its impact on child care providers: "As a provider, a family provider, all the funding is me. Everything comes from me. So if Purchase of Care is giving me $200 a week to work 50 hours, that's $5 an hour, so it's not a lot for me. And then I have to cover all the [remaining] costs."

Dr. Melanie Thomas-Price, owner of A Leap of Faith Child Development Center, put it plainly: "Why is it so hard? Why do we have to do so much to make sure that the kids are getting what they need? It just doesn't make sense to me."

Thank you to all our participants for their honest and collaborative conversation. We look forward to working with all those who attended to turn conversation into action, especially through support for ongoing legislation to improve access to child care.

05/14/2026

In April, more than 400 of Delaware's Pathways students, business leaders, community advocates, and policymakers came together at the Navigating Delaware’s Pathways Education and Workforce Development Summit. There, they heard from leaders in workforce development from Delaware and from around the country about innovations in work-based learning, apprenticeship programs, and the blending of education with on-the-job experience.

The participants brought fresh ideas, heard from those in the field, and used the summit as a way to strategize for the future of workforce education in Delaware. As Rodel VP Luke Rhine writes, "Delaware has a head start—and we’re building for what comes next." Check out his blog post (linked below) to learn about how far Delaware has come, how it's leading the nation, and where the state is looking to go next:

https://monkeylink.co/7fb89a

Over 400 Delawareans gathered in Dover for a day of reflection and energy around the state’s growing career pathways opportunities for students—but the real story has been building for years.

05/07/2026

Rodel is making waves across the country with its recent analysis on Delaware Pathways outcomes, conducted in partnership with RTI International. For coverage of the report's findings and to hear from Rodel's Luke Rhine, read more at the Hechinger Report: https://monkeylink.co/6fedc9

Three-quarters of pathway students were enrolled in postsecondary education after graduation. But most weren't studying or working in their pathway field.