Spring 2016: Honors

Project Problem/Question/Issue:

• Funding Equity: Delaware’s system of funding schools (the unit count) has been around for 70 years with very few changes. Similarly, property taxes (the main source of local education funding) rely on property assessments that date back to the 1970s-1980s. Considering the recent attention that the funding system is receiving in the legislature and various state work groups, Rodel is interested in gaining a deeper understanding of how the current system affects local districts and what inequities may exist. An analysis could include research into the following questions:
  • What is the range of local funding available to Delaware districts?
  • What is the breakdown of how local funding is used (salaries, transportation, etc)?
  • How much is flexible to be spent at the discretion of the district/school?
  • How do the tax bases compare across districts?
  • What are national best practices on property tax reassessment?
  • What have been the outcomes of recent district referendums?
• Modernization of the E-rate: There have been recent changes to the federal program (e-rate) that provides funds to schools for high-speed broadband. In light of these recent changes, Rodel is interested in knowing how Delaware (including the state and schools themselves) can better take advantage of federal e-rate dollars. Currently, many districts use far greater bandwidth than they receive funding for. Analysis could include research into the following questions:
  • What entities normally complete applications in Delaware?
  • What have been the historic results of those applications?
  • How does Delaware’s application process compare to other states?
  • How does Delaware’s per-student award compare to other states?
  • How have these funds typically been spent and how might spending change?
• Postsecondary Success: In recent years, Delaware has made considerable investment, in both time and attention, to efforts related to college access and postsecondary success such as the Delaware Goes to College initiatives, College Application Month, Foundations of College Math Course and college remediation data. While there is work underway to help better prepare students to enter college-level work immediately following high school graduation, Rodel is interested in knowing whether there are opportunities for the state to take further action. Analysis could include researching the following questions:
  • How does Delaware’s current dual enrollment compare to national best practices?
  • How do Delaware’s Advanced Placement policies and enrollment compare to national best practices?
  • What are the long-term student benefits of receiving dual enrollment and/or AP credit?
  • Are there other best practices nationally for making sure students are prepared to take credit-bearing coursework when they enter college?
  • Nationally, what are the policies and supports that most effectively help students enroll in and persist in colleges that are a good match for them? This could include research on matching/undermatching, counseling and mentoring, etc.

Requested Deliverables:

The research detailed above will inform members of the Policy Team at the Rodel Foundation, so the format of the deliverable is flexible. The research questions may be best answered by a PowerPoint deck, a memo, some combination of the two, or another option. As Rodel works with the students to develop the scope and deliverables, opportunities to share the research externally may arise.

Client:

• Neil Kirschling, Program Officer, Rodel Foundation
  • UD Alumnus: Honors Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration '14

Faculty Supervisor:

• Dr. Jonathan Justice

Final Deliverables:

• Presentations