Delaware Governor Matt Meyer and newly appointed Secretary of Education Cindy Marten have declared a literacy emergency in the state after eighth graders scored 8 points below the national average, the lowest in 27 years. The 2024 Nation’s Report Card also showed that fourth graders in Delaware rank lower than 31 states in reading proficiency.
Secretary Marten, with over 36 years of experience in education, aims to improve literacy rates by investing in teacher professional growth, student-centered coaching cycles, and equitable funding formulas. She has successfully implemented similar strategies in California and plans to replicate them in Delaware. Marten is particularly excited about Delaware’s recent commitment to employ 20 early literacy coaches statewide, a strategy she has seen work in the past.
Marten believes that investing in teachers and creating accountability systems to track student progress are crucial steps in turning around the declining literacy rates in Delaware. She will attend the next meeting of the Public Education Funding Commission to discuss potential recommendations for the state’s funding formula.
With her expertise as a reading specialist and experience in improving education systems, Secretary Marten is confident in her ability to bring about positive changes in Delaware’s education landscape. She emphasizes the importance of sustained effort, investment, and a focus on quality education to address the literacy emergency and improve overall proficiency rates in the state.
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