Delaware

The latest list: Here’s where you can find free back-to-school supplies in Delaware

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2024

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The latest list: Here’s where you can find free back-to-school supplies in Delaware

It’s just about that time again, the time to think about heading back to school.

From pens, pencils and notebooks, to rulers, erasers and that fancy calculator — returning to the classroom comes with a familiar list of needs for your students. So, it’s also the time to get out for any items you couldn’t fish out from drawers or recover in old backpacks.

Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on clothing, shoes, electronics and school supplies, as reported by USA TODAY. That’s $15 less than last year’s record, $890.07, but is the second-highest amount in the history of National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics’ annual survey.

Doors are opening for many districts the last week in August or the first in September.

“Back-to-school should be a time of excitement and anticipation, but for many families in Delaware, it is a period of financial stress and worry,” writes United Way of Delaware ahead of this 2024-25 school year.

For families worried about this bottom line, we looked to map out some organizations and opportunities for free supplies in Delaware. This list will be updated.

[Note: This list will be updated periodically. Come back to Delaware Online/The News Journal for more back-to-school resource events. Have another school supply drive or event families should know about? Please share it with us: kepowers@gannett.com]

‘Largest backpack distribution,’ school supply drive coming for Delaware Chase Center – Aug. 2

“Cradles to Crayons” will be hosting its Backpack-A-Thon to provide new school supplies to students in Delaware.

That’s from 9 to 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 2, in Wilmington’s Chase Center on the Riverfront. Doors at 815 Justison St. open at 8 a.m.

More than 200 corporate volunteers will join the Philadelphia organization to fill “thousands of backpacks” with new school supplies for Delaware children living with low household income or navigating housing insecurity, according to a press release from organizers.

“It is part of a larger effort to serve more than 72,000 children in the Tri-State area with new backpacks and school supplies ahead of the new school year,” the organization wrote. “C2C will also provide clothing and hygiene essentials to help students feel ready to learn from head to toe.”

Are schools asking too much Many parents say yes, as back-to-school shopping begins

‘Family Resource Academy and Resource Fair’ gets set in Seaford – Aug. 3

Free resource tables, free health screenings, free food, bounce houses, live music: The agenda for this one-day family event in Seaford is packed.

A “Family Resource Academy and Resource Fair” is set for 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Seaford High. That’s at 399 N. Market St.

Different programs line the event schedule. It will pull together guest speakers from the University of Delaware, the ACLU of Delaware, Rodel Foundation, Children and Families First and many more. This all comes alongside educational workshops, advocacy development training and even a vet clinic for cats and dogs.

Preregistration online is encouraged, and anyone interested in more information can call 302-551-9663.

‘School Supply Bazaar,’ backpack giveaway outside Wilmington – Aug. 10

The One Step At A Time Foundation, New Castle PAL and J.P. Morgan Chase are joining forces to host a community day, filled with bookbags, activities and food.

The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, inside the parking lot of the Garfield Park PAL. That’s the Police Athletic League of Delaware location at 26 Karlyn Drive, between New Castle and Wilmington.

A guardian must be present to reach a backpack, according to organizers, as the “School Supply Bazaar” looks to set students up for the next year. This will join games, food vendors and more.

Wilmington shelter to host backpack and supply giveaway – Aug. 10

Sunday Breakfast Mission is preparing to giveaway free backpacks “stuffed” with school supplies this month.

The free family event starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, likely outside at the 110 N. Poplar St. location.

While coming to Sunday Breakfast Mission usually starts with shelter and a meal for men struggling with addiction or housing instability — the outfit will again turn to school supplies to support young students, too. During the “Back to School Rally,” students and guardians must be present for the giveaway, though no preregistration is required.

“Your child doesn’t want to miss a chance to start the school year off right, with a backpack stuffed full of supplies and a message of hope!” the mission wrote.

Sneaker giveaway for 100 students at William Penn High – Aug. 10

Colonial School District’s largest back-to-school event will come at William Penn High School.

Some 100 students among those registered will get free shoes, in the third-annual sneaker giveaway with district partner Kool Kolored Kid Generation. That registration had already neared 300 by July 31. The first 100 students who walk in will also get free backpacks from Community Cares of Delaware, as well as some “surprise items” not determined.

The event looks to support students from Christina, Brandywine, Colonial and Red Clay school districts in grades 6 to 12. It will bring together vendors, pre-event pep rallies, live music, cheerleaders, games, giveaways, vendors — and even guest celebrity speakers from Delaware, according to the event page.

The entire event runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. And that’s from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. for the sneaker giveaway and all other giveaways from 1:30 to 2:30 on Saturday, Aug. 10.

“Let’s create a ripple effect of positivity and possibility together!” Colonial organizers wrote online.

‘1,000 Bookbags for 1,000 Delaware Students’ United Way giveaways in Dover and Wilmington – Aug. 10, 17

The United Way of Delaware is eyeing “1,000 Bookbags for 1,000 Delaware Students” within its annual Bookbag Giveaway and Resource Fair. The giveaways are spread between two events.

12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 Dover Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17Wilmington Public Library, 10 E 10th St.

“Without these critical items, our children’s success in the classroom and confidence are in jeopardy,” the organization writes on the event webpage. “United Way of Delaware’s 4th Annual Bookbag Giveaway and Resource Fair helps to lift this burden for local families by providing bookbags and essential school supplies for students.”

Organizers are also looking for online donations and volunteers to help fuel the events.

Haircuts, BBQ and a new school year in New Castle – Aug. 22

Castle Hills Elementary will host a “Back to School Night BBQ” later this month.

That’s from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, on the elementary school grounds at 502 Moores Lane.

Not only will it have free food and music for the local community, but free haircuts are also likely to be available thanks to cosmetology students from the Paul Mitchell the School. According to Colonial School District, it tends to be well attended.

Free ‘Back To School Movie Night’ at New Castle Community Center – Aug. 24

New Castle Community Center is hosting a “fun-filled Back-to-School Movie Night and Book Bag Giveaway” to bring families together ahead of the school year.

That’s from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, outside of the New Castle County Community Center. Registration online is encouraged.

The event aims to deliver more than the feature film — with giveaways of backpacks filled with school supplies, food stalls, games and even free haircuts from local barbers and hairstylists. Organizers cautioned to arrive early with your blankets and lawn chairs, to “settle in for an evening of cinematic fun” at dusk.

This list will be updated periodically. Come back to Delaware Online/The News Journal for more back-to-school resource events. Have another school supply drive or event families should know about? Please share it with us: kepowers@gannett.com

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Delaware

Delaware education outlines boosts, program cuts – in a $2.5B budget

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Delaware education outlines boosts, program cuts – in a .5B budget

Delaware’s Department of Education has introduced its first strategic plan in a decade, alongside a proposed $2.5 billion budget.
The plan focuses on five key areas, including early education, teacher retention, literacy and funding reform.
A major school redistricting plan for northern New Castle County is expected to be delayed until the end of the calendar year.
Wilmington Learning Collaborative is one education program facing sharp possible cuts.

Delaware’s Department of Education unveiled its first “strategic plan” in a decade on March 3, as lawmakers sifted through its roughly $2.5 billion proposed budget.

That’s about one-third of the state’s draft spending plan, up nearly 4% from last year.

Lawmakers discussed those infusions – from reading support to early education and more – alongside some $22 million in various proposed program cuts, which could include lessened support for the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.

“It’s the first plan the Delaware Department of Education has had in at least a decade,” Secretary Cindy Marten said ahead of her remarks before the Joint Finance Committee. “There’s an opportunity here. This is not another initiative that we’re just going to layer on top of one more thing and one more thing. … We’re building on the capacity that’s already here.”

The department sculpted budget requests around five “building blocks” in this plan:

Bright beginnings: Expanding early education, with aims to raise early care enrollment from 25% to 40% by September 2028.
Safe supportive schools: Boosting teacher retention rates, with a goal to raise the three-year retention rate for all early career educators from 72% to 75% by June 2028, alongside reducing chronic absenteeism and more.
Great teaching and learning: That’s boosting early literacy, improving student achievement, growing graduation rates and college/career readiness. A key benchmark here is boosting third-grade reading proficiency from 38% to 53% by 2028.
Fair opportunities for every learner: DDOE leaders seek to implement a new public education funding model by August 2027, in step with the Public Education Funding Commission.
Families and communities as partners: The department intends to launch a family and community portal that enhances transparency and connection to learning tools, support and updates.

For Delaware state test scores, average English proficiency rates across all tested third to eighth graders came in at 41% in 2025, while math reaching 34%. Pre-pandemic 2019 scores remain around 10 points higher in each bucket.

On the Nation’s Report Card, scores released in 2025 revealed eighth grade reading scores had hit a 27-year low.

“It’s been decades where we have let that fall,” said committee Vice Chair Rep. Kim Williams, as statistics joined the budget hearing backdrop. “It took us decades to get where we’re at today. It’s going to take us some time to pull ourselves out.”

Literacy and Delaware’s youngest learners

The plan should sound pretty familiar.

Delaware’s “literacy emergency” has been an ongoing call from the Meyer administration. For Marten, a fixture benchmark is that third grade reading proficiency growing from 38% to 53% by 2028.

Alongside some $97.4 million proposed for state personnel cost, the department may also see one-time infusions of $8 million to maintain support for the “Literacy Emergency Fund” and $3 million in direct-to-teacher grants to fuel literacy gains.

Meanwhile, the plan calls for all K-3 teachers to complete professional learning in the science of reading, as mandated by Senate Bill 4 back in 2022.

The secretary also called early childhood education a “first priority” after a year of plan crafting.

Roughly $8 million in one-time spending could fuel the “Delaware Early Childhood Care & Education Alliance” next fiscal year. That’s a pilot “hub” to support child care providers across the state, while also fueling an estimated 480 additional seats in the state’s Early Childhood Assistance Program, per DDOE, or state-sponsored pre-K.

By fall 2028, the department aims to grow birth-to-five enrollment overall from 25% to 40%. She hopes a hub like this can simplify and consolidate the process for providers and families alike.

DDOE’s Office of Child Care Licensing has also been working to digitize electronic record systems to elevate the office’s public database, while tracking compliance and investigating complaints across Delaware’s licensed providers. A combined $2.4 million has been pledged to make it happen, in the last two years, and the department is aiming for launch this summer.

More investment lined budget spreadsheets, and lawmaker questions, as Marten and her team echoed back to their strategic plan. The department pledged to have regular, public reporting on the goals outlined.

After all, there’s much more to come.

Foundational funding change still in the works

To get anywhere, Marten said Delaware needs funding reform.

A one-time infusion of about $2.8 million is proposed to help launch a new funding formula, including support for public communication. So far, that pales in comparison to investment eyed by the Public Education Funding Commission’s hybrid model.

That model will tweak the state’s current unit-count system, while also adding a “weighted” approach based on student needs, as should be proposed to the General Assembly later this spring.

One commission work group projected a baseline infusion of roughly $70 million just to “hold harmless.” That’s allowing Delaware to launch a new formula, without taking existing funds away from school districts.

“That doesn’t bring us near adequacy,” said Commission Chair Sen. Laura Sturgeon, back in January. One independent research report recommended an infusion from $600 million to $1 billion in total.

While that infusion remains “the gold standard,” Sturgeon said, members think they can meaningfully implement the formula with less. She said a figure closer to $200 million has been in discussion, though nothing is final.

This reform will also likely be implemented in phases, if it clears the chambers above this JFC hearing room.

The next commission meeting is at 4 p.m. on March 16, online.

What didn’t make the cut?

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative was only listed on Meyer’s proposed DDOE spending plan as an $8 million cut.

The collaborative launched in 2022 under then-Gov. John Carney with aims to correct fractured education inside the state’s largest city, combating issues like low achievement, absenteeism and teacher retention. It fused across three school districts touching Wilmington – Red Clay, Brandywine and Christina – and pushed in programming and staff positions in about nine of their city schools.

DDOE initially described the reduction as “carryover” funds, aligned with recommendations from the governor. However, collaborative leadership said it likely wouldn’t shake out that way.

“We’re projecting a little less than $2 million carryover,” Laura Burgos said, moments after her presentation to the committee. That meets an allocation of $2 million eyed for next fiscal year, according to her presentation, compared to $10 million allocations in previous funding cycles.

“That’s still a significant reduction in total,” she continued. “But we’ll have a better idea as we reconcile the budget and see how far we go with our advancement of the STEM learning labs and better understand the number of students being served over the summer months.”

Burgos highlighted these projects and more in her presentation, while she expects more specifics on the funding cut impact to come in its council meeting, March 4.

In his questioning, Sen. Darius Brown pressed that the cut could end up being more than $6 million. In response, chair Sen. Trey Paradee said his committee could have more “conversations as a group” on those cuts, before final markup.

In Red Clay Consolidated School District alone, the collaborative fuels about a dozen teachers and five paraprofessionals, as the school board discussed in its February meeting. Burgos roughly estimated that investment at about $1 million in Red Clay.

Total impact is unclear, as local districts must consider covering positions in local budgets. The same is echoed in cuts to certain block grants.

The administration proposed cuts to a $2 million grant for substitute teachers and another $2.3 million for athletic trainers. Some districts will be able to pick up the cost locally, lawmakers noted, though the department was unable to speak to overall estimates Tuesday.

Sturgeon hopes coming reform will allow districts more flexibility for such coverage.

“What we’re moving toward is a system where all those positions will be able to be grouped together and then funded based on the priorities of the individual district,” she said.

Major redistricting effort signals further delay

The Redding Consortium – a coalition charged with improving education in and around Wilmington, as well as redistricting schools in the same boundaries – caught renewed attention in late 2025, as it voted to center planning on a consolidated district in northern New Castle County.

That’s a pending plan to convert Brandywine, Christina, Colonial and Red Clay into one school district, which would serve students from Newark to Wilmington and the suburbs north and west.

But that wasn’t the sole focus on March 3.

“Redistricting planning” has reflected about 1% of the group’s allocations in the past five years. Supports in student health centers, at $27.6 million, have made up 54% of that budgeting, while full-day pre-K support has seen about $14.8 million in the Wilmington area.

The consortium’s request this year remained consistent, as Majority Whip Sen. Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman said, at about $10.2 million.

But her colleagues should not expect a redistricting plan this session.

“Having reviewed the project scope, AIR’s best estimate for us is that putting together a thoughtful plan, with robust public input, will take the remainder of the calendar year,” the consortium co-chair said. “Again, we’re committed to delivering a robust proposal – but are very aware that students are in schools of concern every day and eager to see them better served.”

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

Attention Ag Insurance Agents: Subsidy issues subject of Monday, March 9 virtual Q&A with USDA Risk Management Agency – State of Delaware News

Published

23 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is encouraging agricultural insurance agents to attend a virtual Q&A session with the USDA Risk Management Agency on crop insurance subsidy issues on Monday, March 9 at 2 p.m.

Crop insurance is a critical component of the farm safety net, protecting farmers from weather, environmental, and economic conditions that can result in low crop yields and income concerns.

The March 9 event is an important opportunity for Delaware agriculture representatives to receive answers and guidance before the First State’s peak planting and growing season begins.

“It is critical that Delaware agricultural insurance agents have all the facts before their clients make critical crop insurance decisions,” said Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton. “In addition, we need input from crop insurance agents on the performance of the program in 2025 and how we can pursue more improvements.”

For the 2025 crop year, 318 Delaware policies received more than $3.45 million in Risk Management Agency loss payments out of more than 1,400 active policies statewide. In total, after all subsidies, Delaware policies received $1.03 for every $1 paid in premiums.

Agricultural insurance agents should contact Michael Lewis at michael.w.lewis@delaware.gov for direct meeting links and more details.

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Delaware

Delaware eyes $25.3 million infusion to affordable child care. But to what end?

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Delaware eyes .3 million infusion to affordable child care. But to what end?

Delaware is debating a $25.3 million investment into its state-subsidized child care program, known as Purchase of Care.
A potential federal rule change could require the state to pay providers based on enrollment rather than attendance, costing an estimated $25 million.
If the federal rule is dropped, officials propose using the funds to expand child care eligibility to more lower-income families.

Delaware child care has been a fixture of this budget season.

Gov. Matt Meyer pitched some $50 million toward early education in his proposed budget for next fiscal year. It included an $11.3 million federal grant to bolster systems, $8 million to pilot statewide hubs – and the largest piece in $25.3 million to boost Purchase of Care, or state-subsidized child care.

That line item proved a major talking point during a public health budget hearing in Legislative Hall on Monday, March 2, while connecting to broader visions for early childhood reform.

As it turns out, Delaware’s subsidized child care program in particular was already due to shoulder federal requirement changes dating back to the Biden administration. And those changes, effective April 1, could cost the state about $25 million to keep up.

That morning, lawmakers were briefed by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for more than three hours, before well over 50 public comments stretched late into the afternoon. Topics ranged from at-home care and centers supporting Delawareans with disabilities, to the ongoing strain of child care.

New Health Secretary Christen Linke Young said the Trump administration might drop these coming changes to pay providers based on child enrollment, before they’re effective.

And for Delaware, she would agree with that call.

Boosting Delaware child care, one way or the other

Purchase of Care is one program helping lower-income Delaware families – or those making below 200% of the federal poverty level, as of yet – afford care at various child care outfits across the state. Delaware pays those providers directly, around the end of the month, based on how many days these children attended.

Federal requirements could force states to change that.

Delaware would have to pay providers at the top of the month, based on their overall student enrollment, regardless of attendance. Young told lawmakers that would cost around $25 million each year, if requirements are not rescinded by the Trump administration.

It would mean more money for providers, she said, though also harsher policy needed around attendance expectations.

“If the federal government does change the rules, we need that full amount to shift to enrollment,” she said, addressing the Joint Finance Committee dais. “If not, our intention is to use it for increased eligibility.”

In other words, the administration hopes to invest about $25 million into this bucket either way. However, the health secretary said paying based on enrollment isn’t her recommendation.

Young told lawmakers the administration would rather see that amount infused into the program to expand eligibility to 250% of the federal poverty level. So, picture a family of three making roughly $80,000 would make the cut. No changes were proposed to co-payments or special education tiers.

This was met with mixed reviews.

“I’m sure some folks are going to have something to say about that,” cautioned Sen. Trey Paradee, committee chair.

For her part, Jamie Schneider was already editing her remarks in real time.

“Comments today suggested providers want to keep attendance-based payments instead of moving to enrollment-based payments,” said the interim executive director for Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, representing some 900 early care providers. “That is inaccurate and I hope it’s a misunderstanding.”

Schneider welcomed the enrollment model, with “clear rules” to hold both providers and parents responsible. She and a handful of other speakers still also reinforced the necessity in bolstering the Purchase of Care program, from accessibility to reimbursement rates.

Some lawmakers hesitated on shifting away from enrollment boon for providers, while others pushed for attention on the benefits cliff. Meanwhile, child care became an economic discussion.

Is Delaware child care everyone’s business?

Some lawmakers did not care for this price tag, either way.

“So, there’s $25 million that will be saved because of this non-change, and you’re going to expand the program?” Sen. Dave Lawson posed to Young, while expressing concern for taxpayer dollars.

The secretary quickly turned to economic impact.

“Child care is expensive,” she said, in a portion of her remarks. “It is keeping people out of the workforce. It is posing an enormous burden on families and keeping them from making choices that they want to make, to participate in the economy, or to drive change.”

The Rodel Foundation released survey data in fall 2025 that would buttress these claims. The nonprofit is focused on public education and policy, with early childhood education as one pillar. At a glance:

About 92% of Delaware employers surveyed said child care challenges are hurting their employees, while some 76% reported such problems directly impact their business operations.
About 1 in 4 caregivers said they considered leaving Delaware because of child care challenges.
1 in 3 employers cited productivity declines, lost hours or services and staff turnover.
2 in 3 have seen their employees miss work, reduce hours or report absences at least monthly.
For parents, 1 in 3 reported turning down a job or promotion, cut hours or left work to meet child care demands.

“The cliff is real for me,” Sen. Eric Buckson said. “It disincentivizes individuals to climb out, and I’ve seen it work against folks.”

Purchase of Care’s “graduated phase out” level – often referred to as the “benefits cliff,” when eligibility runs up – would remain at 300%, according to DHSS budget documents and hearing remarks. It was unclear Monday if it would be solidified in more years to come.

There is a long runway ahead.

Untangling a bigger picture for Delaware child care

Sometimes Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay describes the state of Delaware’s early childhood education system as the backside of an average desk. Tangled wires trace down the wall, with various colors and knots headed toward different outlets.

She’s been tapped to help straighten it up.

Named chair to the Interagency Resource Management Committee last year, Gay has overseen several Delaware departments as they centralize on early education. Those are state departments like Health and Social Services, Education, Services for Children, Youth and their Families and more.

The cross-agency group – with cabinet secretaries, agency leadership, lawmakers and the Delaware Early Childhood Council – landed a $11.3 million preschool development grant. Gay sees this next year ahead as setting the stage.

“That will go to projects in each of the agencies, as well as projects in my office,” the lieutenant governor said.

“And truly, with that money, we are building that investable system so that we can have information, including data about how to better serve Delawareans. We’re going to be building local infrastructure so that we can make sure that providers, educators, parents, have resources at their local levels.”

The former state senator and longtime advocate on child care issues sees a north star of early education as a universal, public good.

“But that’s an incredibly large project,” she said. “And it’s a big change from how we traditionally think about birth through 5.”

From exploring finance models to connecting public and private partners, this could be one step in that direction.

DDOE’s Office of Child Care Licensing has also been working to digitize electronic record systems to elevate the office’s public database, while tracking compliance and investigating complaints across Delaware’s licensed providers. A combined $2.4 million was pledged to make it happen, in the last two years, and it’s highly anticipated, Gay said.

The “Delaware Early Childhood Care & Education Alliance,” or likely hubs to the north and south, may also land an $8 million infusion to work across area providers and assist the state in expanding child care access, as outlined in the governor’s proposed budget.

A budget hearing on public education should bring more on that, Tuesday, March 3.

Got another education tip? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@usatodayco.com.

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