The Echo

Delaware's Governor-appointed Secretary of Education, Mark Murphy, will not seek an increase in funding for his department for the next fiscal year.

According to the News Journal, the Resident Rodelien will instead seek increases aimed at technology improvements, early education funding, and dual enrollment opportunities for high school students.

I don't buy it.
1.  It's a ploy to curry favor with districts and school boards.  It comes as sequestration of federal funds due to a stalemate in the federal congress threatens millions in funding for IDEA, Title I, and the like with the impact to be felt school budgets for 2013-14.  For Christina, we are looking at a loss of federal funds of more than $1 million.  Murphy fails to acknowledge this threatened funding cliff.

2. As described in the story - Murph's budget fails to address career-readiness upon high school graduation.  Not every child is headed to college.  Dual enrollment is an awesome opportunity IF the student is seeking to continue his/her education.  That's a big IF.  Where's the VOCATIONAL spending?

3. There's no mention of OEC for DOE direct employees.  OEC or Other Employment Costs reflect benefits, etc.  There's been turnover at DOE under Coach Murphy and I don't see a zero net, although in all fairness, maybe he's found another way to reward the new crew. Thankgiving chickens, anyone?

4.  Charter legislation is coming.  I'm personally hoping to see charter schools required to operate federally-compliant school nutrition programs.  There are strong indicators that this is coming, most notably it was required that NCS establish such a program in order to expand.  But, DOE has been diligent in offering help to those charters that currently do not operate the program.  Spidey sense says its on the horizon.  Since cafeteria funds are exempt from the charter funding formula (and they should be b/c most district school nutrition program are self-sustained) start-up funds will need to be found somewhere else.  In fact, the coming charter regulation could come with quite a price tag.  DOE should be prepared.  This story indicates they are not.

5. No mention of Smarter Balance which is likely to include another hefty price-tag to implement.

6. Most importantly, this is NOT an election year.  Last year, the Gov. invested in education spending to buy votes from parents and teachers.  He's now on the free-reign for the next four years plan as few legislators on either side of the aisle challenge his budget requests. And we should be thankful for the few who do.

We should all be wary. VERY wary.  There are too many holes in this story to see it for anything more than a DOE-staged feel-good fluff piece.