RELEASE: Governor Meyer Announces Historic Investments in First State Early Childhood Education System

Dover - Governor Matt Meyer last week announced historic investments to ensure every Delaware family has access to affordable, high-quality early programs and services and has empowered the Lt. Governor to lead that change.

In both his State of the State Address and FY 2027 Recommended Budget Presentation, Governor Meyer outlined a path forward to invest $50 million state and federal dollars towards Delaware's early childhood care and education (ECCE) system.

"Delaware children and families deserve every opportunity to thrive, and that doesn't happen without a strong early childhood education system. With these historic investments we are building a modern, integrated foundation for Delaware's future," said Governor Matt Meyer. "Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay understands that it's past time we get to work. We have to move away from a fragmented approach and toward a cohesive system where every dollar is spent effectively to bring down child care costs for families and improve outcomes for our youngest learners."

A portion of these crucial investments come from the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Systems-Building Grant (PDG B-5 Grant), a $11.3 million federal grant, awarded to Delaware to strengthen the state's ECCE system through unified governance, reliable financing, and data structures to create a more user-friendly experience for families and more sustainable statewide support for child care programs.

"I am ready to get moving on the systemic changes the investment Governor Meyer is making will afford us. As the Chair of the Interagency Resource Management Committee, my goal is to expand access to high-quality and affordable care that guarantees each child a strong start. The educational and economic benefits of early investment are clear. By strengthening the foundations of our early childhood system, we will pave the way for growth and investment in programs and serve Delaware families for years to come," said Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay. " I am grateful to the Governor for his clear vision and this historic investment. That investment, coupled with the federal PDG B-5 Systems-Building is a testament to the tremendous strides Delaware has made to serve families and grow our economy by investing in affordable, high-quality early care and education. "

The intent of the one-year PDG B-5 Grant is to build on recent successes and work already underway to establish an efficient, affordable, accessible early childhood system to better meet the evolving needs of children, families, and educators.

The implementation of the PDG B-5 Grant will be a partnership between the Delaware Department of Education (DOE), the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), the Delaware Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF), and the Office of Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay.

"For too long, families and child care professionals have had to navigate fragmented systems," Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. "These transformative investments allow us to build strong, connected child care hubs that support the workforce and referral networks that make it easier for parents to find high-quality care and services. This work represents a significant step forward in making Delaware the best state to raise a child."

Fostering deeper collaboration, particularly between state agencies, to establish streamlined governance throughout Delaware's early childhood system is another crucial priority for the IRMC given these historic investments.

"With these investments, we aren't just upgrading a system, we are sharpening our vision. This cross-agency partnership ensures that every dollar Delaware invests is an informed step toward a more responsive and accountable state government for children and their families," DHSS Secretary Christen Linke Young said.

An overview of the PDG B-5 Grant and the overarching vision for Delaware's early childhood system will be shared at the upcoming Interagency Resource Management Committee hybrid meeting, on Monday, Feb. 23 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

For any questions or to schedule a one-on-one interview with Governor Meyer, please email [email protected].

For any questions or to schedule a one-on-one interview with Lt. Governor Gay please email [email protected].

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