Delaware

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

Published

4 weeks ago

March 3, 2026

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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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Delaware

Firefighters battle two-alarm commercial building fire in Delaware County

Published

9 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Firefighters battle two-alarm commercial building fire in Delaware County

Sunday, March 29, 2026 1:20PM

ASTON, Pa. (WPVI) — Delaware County firefighters battled a fire at a commercial building in Aston.

The fire broke out on the 2000 block of Dutton Mill Road.

Crews say when they arrived, flames could be seen coming from the rear of a commercial building.

The fire was upgraded to two alarms, causing more crews to be called in.

The flames were brought under control about an hour later.

No injuries have been reported, and authorities are investigating the cause.

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Delaware

8 Great Road Trips to Take in Delaware

Published

21 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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Delaware’s best road trips follow the Atlantic coastline, historic inland waterways, and the Underground Railroad. Along the Red Clay Scenic Byway, you can trace the watershed across New Castle County and cross one of the longest covered bridges in the state, while the Historic Lewes Byway connects tidal marshes and sand dunes to the World War II Observation Tower at Cape Henlopen State Park. Meanwhile, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway offers an essential look at sites used for cover and transport during one of the nation’s most critical moments in history. These eight routes can take half an hour, an afternoon, a weekend, or longer, depending on your mood and preference, but they all leave a lasting impression and highlight the best of Delaware’s history, culture, and natural scenery.

Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway

Wilmington is the starting and/or end point to many scenic drives in Delaware.

The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway is a 12.5-mile drive that packs a lot into a short drive. It goes from Wilmington on Routes 52 and 100 to the state line near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Start at Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington, then watch the scenery transform from an urban setting into rolling country hills. Along the way, there are several attractions and sites to explore. You could even delay the start of the drive with a trip to the Delaware Art Museum or the Delaware Museum of Natural History, both in Wilmington.

Once you hit the road, you’ll pass luxurious properties once owned by the du Pont family, like the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, or the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, both of which are open to the public. Centerville offers antiquing and Brandywine State Park, while Greenville, another suburban community near Wilmington, is more upscale with lovely homes. A drive straight through will take about 20 minutes, but since many consider it an “arts and gardens” drive, a more leisurely pace is recommended.

Red Clay Scenic Byway

The Ashland Covered Bridge in Hockessin, Delaware. Image credit: Chris Foster via Flickr.com.

Approximately 27 miles long, the Red Clay Scenic Byway consists of 28 picturesque secondary roads in New Castle County within the Red Clay Creek Watershed. Since it features so many roads, it’s fair to say there is no formal beginning or endpoint; rather, it follows an interconnected network of streams along the natural flow of the valley. It’s located approximately between Routes 48 and 52, and it meanders from the outskirts of Wilmington through pastoral and photo-worthy areas.

Attractions to see include the Mt. Cuba Center’s 650-acre botanical garden, the Ashland Nature Center, and the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley Steamer cars. There are also two covered bridges to discover near the byway: the cheery red Ashland Covered Bridge, near the Ashland Nature Center, and the Wooddale Covered Bridge in Wooddale, one of the longest covered bridges in the state. A drive straight through will take about an hour, but allow a few more to thoroughly enjoy.

Nanticoke Heritage Byway

The Nanticoke Heritage Byway mostly follows the Nanticoke River, which is one of the mid-Atlantic’s best-preserved waterways. The drive is around 35 miles and features several historic small towns and scenic views of Sussex County. Many of the towns along the byway have strong shipbuilding roots dating back to the 1700s. The byway starts at Hearn’s Pond, north of Seaford, and ends at Trap State Park near Laurel.

Seaford, often called the “Nylon Capital of the World” because DuPont built its first nylon factory there, is home to the Seaford Museum and the Governor Ross Mansion. Also close by is the Woodland Ferry that takes people and vehicles across the Nanticoke. It’s the oldest operating river ferry in the country. Bethel has the Bethel Heritage Museum and a very inviting Main Street, while Laurel contains a large historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Driving time without stopping takes about an hour, but there are plenty of reasons to stop and explore.

Delaware Bayshore Byway

a red fox making its way along the wildlife drive, within the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Kent County, Delaware — A red fox in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware (Credit: Scenic Corner via Shutterstock)

At about 100 miles long, the Delaware Bayshore Byway borders the Delaware Bay and is ideal for those who want a long, mostly straight, leisurely drive. In fact, its nickname is “the road less traveled.” It wanders past some of the largest preserved coastal marshlands on the East Coast. The marshes are stopovers for hundreds of migratory bird species and are also vital spawning sites for horseshoe crabs. The route passes through numerous historic towns, beginning in New Castle and ending near Lewes, mostly along Delaware Route 9.

In New Castle, there are two historic house museums from early colonial times, the Dutch House and the Amstel House, while Delaware City is a waterfront community and home to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island, a Union Civil War fort and prison for Confederate soldiers. Woodland Beach is quiet with a nice pier to stroll on, and the byway also goes by the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover. Driving straight through takes a couple of hours, but with plenty of shops and eateries, it’s a trip that invites stopping and smelling the roses—or at least, the bay breezes.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

Harriet Tubman-Thomas Garrett statue in the Garrett Tubman Riverfront Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Image credit EQRoy via Shutterstock

As the name suggests, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway features the route and many stops enslaved people made on their road to freedom. It officially begins in Maryland, but the Delaware section is about 95 miles long, starting in Camden and Dover, then continuing north on US 13. It also passes through Smyrna, Middletown, and Odessa before following the Delaware River to Wilmington, where it connects a number of Underground Railroad sites, including places where people fought against slavery and known hiding spots.

Historical sites include the Star Hill Museum in Camden, the Camden Friends Meeting House, and the Old State House Museum in Dover. Close by is the Golden Fleece Tavern, where delegates met in 1787 to ratify the new US Constitution, marking Delaware as the country’s very first state. Other notable pit stops include the John Dickinson Plantation in Dover and the Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna. Allow three hours to drive straight through, and longer for the fascinating, educational stops along the way.

Historic Lewes Byway

World War II Observation Tower at Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. (Credit: Jon Bilous via Shutterstock)

The Historic Lewes Byway offers a blend of coastal scenery and early American history, with views of tidal marshes, waterways, and preserved landscapes alongside sites that reflect Lewes’s colonial and maritime past. The route is actually a string of several roads totaling about 12.5 miles, and the individual segments include New Road, Pilottown Road/Front Street, Savannah Road, Kings Highway, Gills Neck Road, and Cape Henlopen Drive. It begins at the intersection of Route 1 and Nassau Road/Old Orchard Road and ends at the Cape May Lewes Ferry Terminal.

The route runs adjacent to tidal marshes, such as the Great Marsh Preserve area, and also connects to Cape Henlopen State Park, with its dunes, beaches, and watchtowers constructed during World War II to protect the coast. The iconic Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse is one of the best in the state to see, and if you time it just right, the sunsets are gorgeous. A continuous drive will take under 30 minutes, but it’s well worth taking the time to wander.

Bethany Beach to Ocean City

Aerial view of the Atlantic Coast in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

Although not an official byway, the approximate 15-mile drive on Route 1 from Bethany Beach to Maryland’s border town of Ocean City is a lot of fun. Along the way, you’ll have water on both sides at times, with sweeping bay views to the west and glimpses of the Atlantic to the east, plus stretches of beach towns, coastal parks, and classic seaside attractions. It’s situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Little Assawoman Bay, Assawoman Bay, and Isle of Wight Bay, in that order from North to South. There are dozens of things to explore on the famous Bethany Beach Boardwalk, from eateries like Off The Hook to a bandstand with live summer entertainment. Fenwick Island State Park has sprawling ocean views, and the nearby Fenwick Island Lighthouse, built in 1858, is also a favorite stop. The drive is about 30 minutes straight through, and can certainly be longer depending on the diversions.

Bombay Hook to Trap Pond

Canada geese in migration at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware, USA

Here’s another unofficial byway, but this route showcases western areas of the state not found anywhere else and loved by nature lovers. It’s approximately 60 miles long, and the journey can begin either at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna or from Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. If starting from the refuge, take Delaware 9 South, then merge onto US-13 South (Dupont Hwy). Keep an eye out for eagles, white-tailed deer, foxes, and hundreds of migratory birds while en route. Side expeditions could include the Parson Thorne Mansion in Milford, the community of Kitts Hummock, one of the best places in North America to see horseshoe crabs, or Dover, the state capital. If going straight through, allow for about 1.5 hours.

Miles Of Smiles

From covered bridges to lighthouses, beautiful estates holding treasures to marshlands teeming with wildlife, the First State offers plenty of miles and smiles. Whether you’re tracing history, following the coastline, or winding through quiet backroads rich in nature, each route offers a distinct glimpse into Delaware’s landscapes and heritage. Just pack up, pick one or more of these 8 suggestions, turn up the tunes, and enjoy!

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Delaware

Delaware history in The News Journal archives, March 29 to April 4

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Delaware history in The News Journal archives, March 29 to April 4

Excerpts from The News Journal archives from March 29 to April 4 include Wilmington’s national champion swimmers in 1926.
A new plaque in 1976 commemorates Delaware’s role in the Underground Railroad.
“Runaway development overwhelming Delaware” in 2006.

The Delaware history column features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and The Evening Journal. See the archives at delawareonline.com.

March 29, 1926, The Evening Journal

Acclaim for high school national champion swim team

A self-appointed committee has started a movement to publicly honor the Wilmington High School swimming team, winner of the national inter-scholastic championship on Saturday at Northwestern University, Evansville, Ill., with a banquet in the Hotel duPont on Tuesday, April 6.

Reservations at $3 a plate can be made by sending a check for that amount to Herbert B. Mearns at Wilmington Trust Company, 10th and Market streets. Frank Ford Palmer, president of the Wilmington Swimming Association, and Councilman Alexander R. Abrahams, are the other members of the committee. …

Today is a holiday at Wilmington High School in celebration of the swimming team’s honor.

For several hours, the student body, headed by the school band as an escort to the championship team, paraded on Market and other streets of the city. …

The parade was the second within 24 hours, the boys having also paraded about the city upon the arrival of the team late last night.

Members of the team faced one of life’s proudest moments at the school this morning, when before their enthusiastic and cheering fellow students, they were eulogized by school teachers and officials for their achievements as mermen. …

The team includes Coach Leroy F. Sparks, Manager C.C. Gerow Jr., Captain Frank Holt, “Bus” Palmer, Sam Reese, Jim Frazer, Jack Spargo, Leon Syfrit, Charles Hartman, Bill Brown and Bill Briggs.

March 31, 1976, The Morning News

Wilmington plaque to honor slave escape route

A plaque to commemorate Delaware’s role in the Underground Railroad during slavery will be erected late this spring in the Peter Spencer Plaza on French Street, between 8th and 9th streets.

The two-foot-by three-foot bronze emblem will have pictures of Thomas Garrett, who helped more than 2,700 slaves escape, and of Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of slaves from the south to their freedom.

The project is sponsored by the Wilmington branch of the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History through a $5,000 grant from the Delaware Bicentennial Commission.

The plaque will be erected about 25 feet from the Father and Son Statue honoring Peter Spencer. The plaza was named after Spencer in 1974 to commemorate the site of the church he founded in 1813 that was the first in the country entirely controlled by blacks.

The plaza was selected as the site for “The Underground Railroad” memorial “to permanently commemorate the spirit of freedom, self-determination and camaraderie,” according to a resolution passed by the Wilmington City Council earlier this month.

Delaware became an important link in the Underground Railroad because it was usually the “last stop before freedom” for slaves on their way to Philadelphia and other northern cities. The chain of safe homes stretched from the South into the North and Canada before the Civil War. As they moved north to freedom, blacks fleeing slavery could be hidden in the houses of antislavery whites.

April 2, 2006, Sunday News Journal

Runaway development overwhelming Delaware

Look around Delaware. Tens of thousands of people have poured in from other states, enticed by an affordable suburban lifestyle in neighborhoods framed by farms and woods – all just a short drive to the beach.

But now, look-alike houses stretch from Bear to Rehoboth Beach, every year consuming an area of land larger than Wilmington. Kent County has so many new homes that Boyd White of Magnolia can’t tell where one town starts and another ends: “The charm is disappearing.”

In old farming communities, newcomers found a peaceful rural refuge. But now, that influx has forced Middletown High School to put students in trailers. …

Vacationers and retirees from all over the East Coast have migrated to the Delaware beaches to escape metropolitan life. But now, traffic is so bad on the two-lane road to Fenwick Island that retiree Jack Weston would “rather go out in a boat than a car.”

Indian River Bay, a magnet for boaters and fishermen, is so clouded by pollutants that if Stephen Callanen goes sailing, “You can’t see the bottom when there’s a lot of toilets flushing.”

Fifteen years of growth that has outpaced Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania – in fact most of America – has forever changed much of rural Delaware. Since 1990, about 84,000 new homes have been built statewide.

But with about 100,000 more homes planned, experts fear that unless government leaders do a better job controlling land use, the prosperity and qualities that make Delaware so appealing might be lost.

“It’s a rush to destruction,” said John Hughes, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Beyond the loss of scenic vistas, growth has created unprecedented traffic jams and air and water pollution, crammed classrooms and created a pressing need for public safety services. …

That is the legacy of decades of politicians promising strong land use reform but delivering weak policies that were often ignored. As a result, hundreds of farms have been transformed into one of the region’s top housing bargains. …

Maynard Esender, a cabinetmaker who has lived for nearly 20 years in the Sussex County town of Frankford, has watched growth steadily envelop the nearby beach areas. But last year, he was stunned after nearby Millville, which has about 270 people, approved a 2,700-home subdivision – the largest in state history.

“Soon the entire Delmarva Peninsula will be paved,” Esender said. …

When nurse practitioner Maltide Cruze moved to Middletown with her husband and two sons five years ago, they envisioned rural bliss. …

Both Maltilde, who commutes to Dover, and her husband Luis, who works at Christiana Hospital, now endure rush-hour backups as Middletown’s population has doubled to 12,000.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

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