HCD Cheers Student Equity and Excellence 2035 Plan

On Monday, the Vision Coalition of Delaware announced Delaware's Next 10-Year Plan for Public Education. Student Equity and Excellence 2035 is a policy roadmap and the culmination of years of public engagement, research, conversations, and debate. It contains six key issue areas—early care and education, student-centered learning, student supports, postsecondary success, educators, and student-centered funding. 

As supporters of community-driven initiatives around the Vital Conditions of Health and Well-Being, Healthy Communities Delaware champions this Plan for Public Education. In whole and in part, it supports the Vital Condition of Lifelong Learning, which aims to provide a good education for all that ensures all people, regardless of age, background, or ability, are set up for success, and can reach their full potential.  

Education shapes health and well-being throughout life, with a particularly strong impact on young people. It influences social mobility and has far-reaching effects on other Vital Conditions, such as access to Meaningful Work & Wealth and Basic Needs for Health & Safety. For example, families benefit from affordable childcare, which allows parents to participate in the workforce. Children who receive strong early childhood support are also more likely to achieve economic stability later in life. Moreover, increased access to in-school nutrition and early medical screenings prevents long-term health disparities.  

In particular, we highlight our support for recommendations to increase investments in early childhood education (birth-to-five). These include improving educator compensation and working conditions, expanding access to high-quality universal pre-K, and enhancing early screening services. Research shows that high-quality early experiences strengthen cognitive, social, and emotional development, better preparing children for school. Investing in birth-to-five programs also promotes social mobility across generations and helps close achievement gaps for children from low-income families. 

We believe this plan has the power to transform a generation of Delawareans’ lives and lay a strong foundation for lasting improvements in the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being. As it moves forward, Healthy Communities Delaware remains committed to supporting our community partners who are working on the ground to ensure every Delaware student has the resources they need to thrive.