Delaware

Things to do around Philly: Pet Fest, Graham Nash, Delaware River Festival, Story Fest

Published

1 year ago

September 27, 2024

Things to do around Philly: Pet Fest, Graham Nash, Delaware River Festival, Story Fest

It’s fall festival season, with several on the calendar this weekend in Philadelphia and its suburbs. The Midtown Village Fall Festival, The Fishtown Fall Feastivale and the Philly Beer Festival are all on the schedule, as well as the Mural Arts 40th anniversary celebration and the Mt. Airy Arts Festival. Upper Darby will also host its annual International Festival. And there’s more!

Graham Nash is heading to South Jersey with Judy Collins. The Hindu celebration of Ratha Yatra and the Puerto Rican Day Parade are happening on the Ben Franklin Parkway while the Philadelphia Orchestra hosts three concerts at Marian Anderson Hall for its season-opening weekend. Plus, fans of hard alternative R&B and soul will likely be drawn to Brittany Howard and Michael Kiwanuka, who are playing at the Met to close out the weekend.

New Jersey

Graham Nash w/Judy Collins: Songs and Stories

Graham Nash in conversation at the 92nd Street Y on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

Crosby, Stills and Nash made music that forms core memories. They certainly did for singer/songwriter Graham Nash, who penned those iconic tunes. He’s bringing Judy Collins (“Send in the Clowns”), who just celebrated her 85th birthday, to his show in South Jersey. With their combined time in the music industry, we’re sure they both have some great stories to tell.

Delaware

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

The young bluesman from Clarksdale, Mississippi absorbed the examples of his many predecessors from the area. By his teenage years, he was considered a prodigy who had already drawn the attention of Bootsy Collins and B.B. King’s drummer, Tony Coleman. Now 25 with two studio albums and a live album under his belt, Kingfish is in Delaware playing selections from all of them and more.

Special Events

Festival Round-Up

Where: Multiple locations
When: All weekend long
How much: Mostly free

It’s the height of the fall festival season with themes that include art, food and even the Delaware waterfront. Here are some of the top fests this weekend, all happening Saturday:

Black Cannabis Week

a person speaks to two people — Black Cannabis Week has been an annual event since the medical cannabis industry began to blossom in Pennsylvania in 2018. (James Robinson courtesy of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus)

Where: Multiple venues
When: Through Sunday, Sept. 28
How much: Free and up

People of color have been disproportionately victimized by incarceration for minor drug crimes but locked out of the billion-dollar cannabis industry. Now that marijuana has been legalized in several states, there are entrepreneurial opportunities in all aspects of the business. Black Cannabis Week aims to provide more information to those seeking it, and through its Rooted In Justice Film Festival highlight the past and present challenges.

Dinos After Dark: Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Hispanic Heritage Month continues through Oct. 15. This week, the celebration at the scientific venue will include Hispanic-owned food and drink purveyors, short films selected by the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival, a conversation with researchers from The Latin Academy and a meet-and-greet with bugs from Latin America.

WHYY 70th Anniversary All Creatures Pet Fest

Where: Peddler’s Village, 100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska, Pa.
When: 12 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28
How much: $10; free for children with one adult paid ticket

“Morning Edition” host Jennifer Lynn is headed to Peddler’s Village to celebrate WHYY’s 70th anniversary and the long-running PBS show “All Creatures Great and Small,” which was rebooted in 2020. At Pet Fest, you can adopt a new pet and find vendors, grooming and veterinary services for one you already have. And if your pet can be leashed or corraled and plays well with others, bring them along — but make sure they have a costume for the pet costume contest!

Delco Horror Haven Invasion Weekend

Where: Media Community Center, 301 N. Jackson St., Media, Pa., Towne House, 117 Veterans Square, Media, Pa.
When: 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 12 – 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $7, day one, $15 – $40

Delco Horror Haven was formed by a group of horror fans in the Philly suburbs who wanted the genre to be celebrated locally. Now they’re hosting a two-day event that includes a marketplace with a food truck, guest celebrities and a casual film festival screening 33 short films from seven countries. Organizers say cosplaying as your favorite horror character is not just accepted, it’s encouraged!

Philly AIDS Thrift 19th Anniversary Block Party

Where: Philly AIDS Thrift, 710 S. 5th St.
When: 12 – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28
How much: Free, pay as you go

Philly AIDS Thrift has been around since 2005, turning discarded clothing, furniture and “junk” into funds that help AIDS organizations. Its annual Block Party turns its storefront and street into a celebration that includes the ever-popular celebrity dunk tank, a pie-eating contest, a dog-kissing booth, Double Dutch Meetup, circus acts and other live performances. The party kicks off the store’s busy Halloween season when thrifters seek vintage decorations, clothing and accessories to create unique costumes.

Ratha Yatra Parade & Street Festival

The Hindu celebration of Ratha Yatra, which draws millions to events around the world, is heading to the Ben Franklin Parkway. The procession, also called the Chariot Festival, honors three Indian deities: Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra. Once the procession gets to Eakins Oval, it turns into a celebration that includes a bazaar, yoga sessions, music and vegan food.

Puerto Rican Day Parade

A Puerto Rican flag is visible, with Philadelphia's City Hall in the background. — More than a thousand people packed the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sep. 25, 2022 to celebrate “The Puerto Rican Dreamers” during the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. (Cory Sharber/WHYY)

The island of Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with its own rich culture that incorporates both American and Caribbean traditions. That will be on display at the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Expect music, dance, poetry and a party on the parkway with over 1,500 marchers and even more attendees. You can also watch the parade live on ABC.

Arts & Culture

FirstGlance Film Festival

The four-day film festival brings a slate of independently produced movies to Philadelphia that will be judged during Sunday night’s closing awards ceremony. Before then, there will be 45 films screened by local, national and international filmmakers and an opening night red-carpet event.

The 39 Steps

Where: Town & Country Players, 4158 York Road, Buckingham, Pa.
When: Friday, Sept. 27 – Saturday, Oct. 12
How much: $22.38

In his heyday, Alfred Hitchcock was viewed as one of the greatest directors of psychological thrillers in film history. One of his films, “The 39 Steps” was adapted into a stage play that puts a comic spin on the film, which was itself adapted from the 1915 book of the same title by John Buchan.

Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour Visits Philadelphia, PA

Where: Multiple venues
When: Friday, Sept. 27 – Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $15 – $250

The Marquis de Lafayette makes a triumphant return to Philadelphia with a weekend of events commemorating the 200th anniversary of his return to the States, 40 years after leading troops in the American Revolution. OK, that was a mouthful, but the idea is he’s back, via his contemporary stand-in, Mark Schneider of Colonial Williamsburg. He’ll travel through the same 24 states established in 1824 and 1825, in the same order the Marquis did back then. There’s a concert, walking tours and a big party — the Fête Lafayette — at Independence Mall. You can’t say the man wasn’t a big deal! Some ticketed events have sold out already, but others are free and open to the public.

Mural Arts Fest: Roots & Reimagination

Philadelphia’s vaunted Mural Arts program, responsible for more than 4,000 pieces of public art in the city, celebrates its 40th anniversary with, appropriately, a public art festival. There will be DJs, food trucks and of course, art, including mini-murals from the “To the Polls” project.

Food/Drink

Fishtown Fall Feastivale

Fishtown’s biggest annual festival brings 125 bars and restaurants together for a day-long block party that spans several streets. The family-friendly event includes carnival games, a celebrity dunk tank and specially brewed seasonal beers, with local and regional vendors and community groups on the scene. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Philly Beer Fest

If your ideal autumn day includes sampling various beers from around the city and the region, the Philly Beer Fest is the place for you. Two sessions are general admission with an option to come earlier at each via an early admission ticket. But, be warned, choose your preferred time wisely, as organizers are adamant that you can’t attend both sessions. Once inside, food is available on a pay-as-you-go basis. FYI, while there are kid-friendly fests that serve beer, this is not one of them; it’s strictly 21 and up.

Pennsylvania Chocolate & Coffee Festival

Where: The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks, Pa.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $4 – $30

Chocolate and coffee together are like peanut butter and jelly — an unbeatable combination. This foodie fest brings you the best of both, with over 100 vendors and (hopefully) unlimited sampling. Scheduled speakers will extol the health benefits of chocolate and coffee, something that should come as a relief to those who regularly indulge in both.

Music

Opening Weekend Philadelphia Orchestra

Where: Kimmel Center, Marian Anderson Hall, 300 S Broad St.
When: 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27; 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29
How much: $25 – $195

The Philadelphia Orchestra opens this weekend with two matinees and an evening performance, highlighting the combined talents of Philadelphia Orchestra’s Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nezét Séguin, pianist Seong-Jin Cho and composers Beethoven and Bruckner.

Mat Kearney: Headlights Home Tour

Singer/songwriter Mat Kearney has accomplished a rare feat with over 2.5 billion streams of his eight studio albums. The Oregon-born artist’s most recent album came out in May, and he’s on the road in support of it, stopping through suburban Philly this weekend

Michael Kiwanuka & Brittany Howard

Former Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard’s new project “What Now” reflects the eclectic musical choices that have taken her to solo stardom. British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has received international acclaim after just four albums. His latest, “Small Changes” is coming out Nov. 15, and he’s just earned his first #1 single on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart with “Floating Parade.” They’re supporting both of their projects at the Met stage this weekend.

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Delaware

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

Published

8 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

20 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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