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<h3>Contact Information:</h3>General Email: <a href="mailto:info@bethanyforde.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">info@bethanyforde.com</a>Press Email: <a href="mailto:press@bethanyforde.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">press@bethanyforde.com</a>Phone: 302-599-8234

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<h3>As a longtime state leader, nurse, and mom, Bethany Hall-Long has the experience and vision to make Delaware the best place to live, work, and raise a family.</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/a94153f9-f1ad-4083-8633-ccbc30ab9ca3/8d77a7e3-6ab3-4cab-8b67-1e616a942d73/8d77a7e3-6ab3-4cab-8b67-1e616a942d73.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1440%2C964&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" variant="base">A lifelong Delawarean, Bethany was born and raised in Sussex County, on her family’s farm with her parents and two brothers. She comes from a family of faith leaders who taught her that to whom much is given, much is expected - especially when it comes to serving others.When Bethany was eleven years old, tragedy struck her family: her father was in a traumatic accident that left him in a wheelchair and out of work. Not long after that, both her mother and brother were diagnosed with cancer. Through faith, the tireless efforts of their nurses and doctors, and the kindness of their community, Bethany’s mom, brother, and father all recovered. She and her husband, Dana, raised their son, Brock, here in Delaware because she knows that is who Delawareans are - people who take care of each other. <img src="https://run.imgix.net/a94153f9-f1ad-4083-8633-ccbc30ab9ca3/eceaf1d1-8a18-438b-8fb1-f13c449ab548/eceaf1d1-8a18-438b-8fb1-f13c449ab548.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Bethany never forgot the kindness of her community, and taking her parents’ lessons on the importance of service to heart, she followed her calling to become a nurse. With the great education she received in Delaware’s public schools, she went on to become a nurse, studying at the same hospital that saved her mother’s life.&nbsp;Bethany has worked as a nurse her entire career, teaching thousands of the next generation of nurses at the University of Delaware, where she is a card-carrying union member. She’s seen firsthand the importance of health care policy, from working in the perinatal unit with grieving mothers faced with terminating non-viable pregnancies to witnessing families who couldn’t afford the care they desperately needed.&nbsp;Bethany’s experience as a nurse led her to continue her service in the State House and later State Senate, fighting for healthier communities. In the legislature, she expanded access to affordable care for thousands and led efforts to address mental health and substance use disorders. She also spearheaded efforts to invest in much-needed infrastructure and protect our environment.And for the last seven years, Bethany has served boldly as the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, championing investments in public education, paid family leave, affordable health care, and small businesses. She has been a national leader on tackling the opioid crisis and improving access to mental health treatment. Committed to keeping communities safe, she was proud to work with legislators to pass Delaware’s assault weapons ban and reforms to make our criminal justice system more equitable.&nbsp;<img src="https://run.imgix.net/a94153f9-f1ad-4083-8633-ccbc30ab9ca3/4389e756-8490-4979-9ab4-b3ccaa0e89fd/4389e756-8490-4979-9ab4-b3ccaa0e89fd.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2048%2C1536&amp;w=1500" alt="" title="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" variant="base">Not only does Bethany have a strong record of fighting for Delaware, she has the bold vision to move Delaware forward. As Governor, Bethany will fight tirelessly to make Delaware the best place to live, work and raise a family, from expanding access to health care, to fighting for early childhood education, to growing an economy that works for everyone.Bethany lives with her high school sweetheart and husband of 37 years, Dana, in Middletown. She is the proud mom of her son, Brock.

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Democratic voters across Delaware&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;need to see and hear on television and digital platforms, and read in the mail&nbsp;the information&nbsp;that as county executive Matt Meyer created a “<a href="https://www.wdel.com/news/a-safe-harbor-for-a-serial-sexual-predator-current-former-nccpd-officers-file-lawsuit-against/article_0b089238-b49a-11ea-b983-cfbad95580b3.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">sanctuary of sexual harassment</a>” in county government. For years, multiple women were sexually harassed, but Meyer did nothing to stop it. Instead, Meyer tried to cover it up, but he was sued for his role in creating a hostile workplace. Six women came forward and said that Meyer played an “active role in condoning, perpetuating, and covering up rampant incidents of sexual harassment.” Delaware deserves better than Matt Meyer. According to a recent lawsuit, the Meyer Administration <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2024/08/22/why-new-castle-county-is-being-sued-again-over-sexual-harassment-susan-oberlander-john-farnan/74886486007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">'continues to remain a safe harbor' for sexual harassers.</a>

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<h2>Early Voting Sites &amp; Schedule</h2>Voters may vote at any early voting site in their county of residence.<h3>Primary Election Early Voting Dates &amp; Times:</h3><ul><li>August 28, 2024 – August 31, 2024, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.</li><li>September 3, 2024, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.</li><li>September 4, 2024 – September 8, 2024, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.</li></ul><h3>General Election Early Voting Dates &amp; Times:</h3><ul><li>October 25, 2024 – October 29, 2024, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.</li><li>October 30, 2024 – November 3, 2024, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.</li></ul><h3>Kent County</h3><ul><li>BPOE #1903 Elks Lodge, 200 S Saulsbury Rd, Dover, DE 19904</li><li>Crossroad Christian Church, 4867 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901</li><li>Frederica Senior Center, 216 Market St, Frederica, DE 19946</li><li>Harrington Parks &amp; Recreation, 114 E Liberty St, Harrington, DE 19952</li></ul><h3>New Castle County:</h3><ul><li>Appoquinimink State Service Center, 122 Silver Lake Rd, Middletown, DE 19709</li><li>Christina Crossing, 501 S. Walnut St., Suite 13, Wilmington, DE 19801 (ShopRite shopping center, directly next to Wing Stop)</li><li>Claymont Community Center, 3301 Green St, Claymont, DE 19703</li><li>Department of Elections Warehouse, 220 Lisa Dr, New Castle, DE 19720</li><li>Hudson State Service Center, 501 Ogletown Rd, Newark, DE 19711</li><li>Police Athletic League (PAL), 3707 N Market St, Wilmington, DE 19802</li></ul><h3>Sussex County</h3><ul><li>American Legion Post 28 Millsboro, 31768 Legion Rd., Millsboro, DE 19966</li><li>Department of Elections Warehouse, Georgetown, 542 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947</li><li>Department of Elections Warehouse, Seaford, 200 Allen St., Seaford, DE 19973</li><li>Ellendale Fire Hall, 302 Main St., Ellendale, DE 19941</li><li>Laurel Fire Hall, 205 W. 10th St., Laurel, DE 19956</li><li>Margaret H. Rollins Community Center, 101 Adams Ave., Lewes, DE 19958</li><li>Millville Community Center, 32517 Dukes Dr., Millville, DE 19967</li><li>Roxana Fire Hall, 35943 Zion Church Rd., Frankford, DE 19945</li></ul>Source: <a href="https://elections.delaware.gov/elections/votinglocations.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://elections.delaware.gov/elections/votinglocations.shtml</a>

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As a longtime state leader, nurse, and mom, Bethany Hall-Long has the experience and vision to make Delaware the best place to live, work, and raise a family. As Governor, Bethany will continue her tireless fight to build an economy that works for everyone, ensure every Delaware child has the opportunity to succeed, and protect the rights of everyone in the First State.

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As a longtime state leader, nurse, and mom, Bethany Hall-Long has the experience and vision to make Delaware the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Bethany Hall-Long for Delaware Governor

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Ensuring and Stronger and Healthier Delaware

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The Lt. Governor will have a collaborative approach to labor policy that gives small business, big business, union contractors, and non-union contractors a seat at the table.Expanding and Supporting Apprenticeships: Apprenticeships are vital for economic growth and help give Delawareans a pathway to well-paying careers. The United States is facing a massive shortage of construction workers, and ensuring the expansion and promotion of apprenticeships will help close that gap.&nbsp;<ul><li>Requiring contractors on construction projects funded directly or indirectly by state taxpayer dollars to participate in apprenticeship programs</li><li>Increasing the funding for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs</li><li>Review the apprentice "buy-out" on state-funded construction projects </li></ul>Exploring&nbsp;state-funded construction projects CWA/PLA requirements American trade union workers are the world's best and most productive construction workforce. This will also increase minority and veteran employment on worksites, which has declined over the past several years, especially in New Castle County.&nbsp;<ul><li>Applies to construction projects receiving any benefit, direct or indirect, from the State of Delaware</li><li>No merit shop contractor or their employees will be precluded from competing and working on the state funded projects that fall under a CWA or PLA</li><li>Ramp up enforcement on law-breaking contractors</li><li>Work to stop wage theft and misclassification</li><li>Strive to model the State of New Jersey's approach </li></ul>Supporting Construction Minimum Wage (Prevailing Wage): Prevailing wages benefit all workers, not just union workers. A Prevailing wage also helps lift up non-union employees' wages on state contracts. This will help avoid having non-union contractors paying non-union workers menial wages and bring more money home to families in Delaware.<ul><li>Support the payment of the prevailing wage (average hourly wage) for construction work on projects where the state has a proprietary interest or provides financial assistance</li><li>This wage is determined by the Delaware Department of Labor </li></ul>Establishing the first-ever Workplace Fraud Task Force Laws are only as strong as the mechanism created to enforce them. The task force will bring extra resources to the table to help ensure the best possible working conditions for Delaware Workers.&nbsp;<ul><li>The task force would include the Governor, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Auditor, and key cabinet members to aggressively pursue and prosecute bad actors, protect workers' rights, and collect unpaid taxpayer dollars.</li><li>Increased funding for the Dept. of Labor's enforcement mechanisms for staff and resources </li></ul>Requiring Labor Peace Agreements (LPAs) During Union Organizing Campaigns The right to organize has been a fundamental part of the American economy since 1794. The Hall-Long administration will continue to protect and promote citizens' ability to organize without disruption or intimidation.&nbsp;<ul><li>The LPA ensures that employers remain neutral during union organizing and that unions refrain from activities like picketing and work stoppages.</li><li>Implement anti-retaliation protections </li></ul>Support Worker's Protections &amp; Wellness The Hall-Long Administration will prioritize workplace safety education and wellness.&nbsp; Employers have a unique opportunity to improve health and well-being, and the Hall-Long Administration will increase resources and partnerships between the state and private businesses.&nbsp; Also, as the daughter of a farmer, Bethany understands the hard work that goes into agricultural employment. This is why the Hall-Long Administration will work to educate employers, farmers, and others to assist with worker protections and best employment practice incentives.&nbsp; No workers should be excluded from earning a livable wage, and workplace protections.<ul><li>Aims to improve working conditions and protections for workers.</li><li>Increase employer resources to advance well-being and occupational safety&nbsp;</li><li>It includes provisions like paying state minimum wage, providing workers' compensation benefits, and requiring Labor Peace Agreements for employers. </li></ul>Removing Restrictions on Overtime for Certain Workers As the first nurse governor in the country, Dr. Hall-Long will create a gold standard for healthcare workers' rights. The country is facing a workforce shortage of healthcare workers, and ensuring they are paid appropriately and have protections in place will raise morale and decrease burnout. The Hall-Long Administration will employ a focused pre-public workforce strategy.<ul><li>Removing restrictions on overtime hours for certain workers, particularly those in the nursing field.</li><li>The goal is to address staffing shortages and ensure adequate care for patients. </li></ul>Protecting Pensions and Health Benefits for Public Employees and Retirees In 2023, the Lt. Governor led the SEBC Retiree Healthcare Benefits Advisory Subcommittee, which created a new standard for public input. In conclusion, the subcommittee made referrals that allowed current and future state retirees to keep the healthcare benefits they were promised when they started working for the State of Delaware.<ul><li>Supporting measures that protect pension benefits for public employees and ensure that quality health benefits are available to retirees.</li><li>No mandated Medicare Advantage for state retirees</li><li>Ensuring ample public input in all SEBC deliberations</li></ul>

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Increase Renewable Energy Production Solar Power: Solar power has been Delaware's primary renewable energy source. We need to build upon the past successes of our residential and community solar programs and plan carefully for additional solar projects that can serve even more people, businesses, and industries.&nbsp; Wind Power: Offshore wind power holds great promise for meeting our statewide renewable energy goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Hall-Long Administration will focus on monitoring the projected price of wind power and being nimble in our ability to forge agreements with other states and parties to procure wind power. Green Hydrogen: Delaware is part of the Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2), a collaborative initiative involving multiple states to advance the production, distribution, and utilization of clean hydrogen as an energy source. The Hall-Long Administration supports the transition to hydrogen as a clean energy source to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet state and regional climate goals.&nbsp; Participating in MACH2 will create new economic opportunities, including job creation in the emerging hydrogen sector, and strengthen our nation's energy security. This industry has the potential to create thousands of union jobs.<ul><li>Interstate Partnership: In collaboration with the other states in MACH2, the Hall-Long Administration will leverage shared resources, infrastructure, and expertise across state lines to foster the development of the hydrogen economy in the region.</li><li>Production Facilities: The Hall-Long Administration will contribute to establishing hydrogen production facilities, emphasizing green hydrogen (produced from renewable energy sources). This includes repurposing current production facilities that have historically focused on fossil fuel products.&nbsp;</li><li>Infrastructure Development: Developing the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen transportation, storage, and distribution to support a robust hydrogen network is a major focus of MACH2 and will be supported by the Hall-Long Administration.</li><li>Delaware's Center for Clean Hydrogen: Through Delaware's Center for Clean Hydrogen, the Hall-Long Administration will continue collaborating with Delaware industries that utilize hydrogen in their processes and build out the necessary relationships with other partners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and regionally. </li></ul>Batteries: Storage is an integral part of renewable energy usage. The ability to store solar and wind energy when the sun is not shining, and the wind is not blowing is an issue that deserves more focus and attention. The Hall-Long Administration will identify policies that work for Delaware in prioritizing battery usage for individual households and on a larger scale. Energy Efficiency: The least expensive energy is the energy you never use.&nbsp; Investments in energy efficiency pay off in the long run by helping us achieve our renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. This means working with the building community to set aggressive and achievable goals with our building codes, providing grants and loans to individuals and businesses to perform energy audits and take up energy efficiency initiatives, and providing education and incentives to individual homeowners. Working through the State Energy Office, the Sustainable Energy Utility, and others there is much untapped potential that the Hall-Long Administration will focus on.&nbsp; Upgrade Grid Infrastructure/Prioritize Grid Stability&nbsp; Renewable energy generation is only part of the story. As important is delivering that energy to our homes, businesses, and industries.&nbsp; Our electric grid is a delivery system of wires, poles, transmission stations, and other equipment. As in all other states, the grid in Delaware is based on a design over 100 years old, accommodating only one-way electric flow. Today's electric grid needs to accommodate two-way flow with the excess energy generated from renewable sources feeding back into the system. It also requires new materials and equipment to handle increased loads and a fair system for allocating the cost of expensive upgrades.An issue at our doorstep today is maintaining grid stability. Without it, we could face power shortages. Our rapid transition of bringing new renewable energy into the grid and phasing out fossil-fuel sources requires a delicate, thoughtful balance and precision forecasting to maintain grid stability. Our next step in this process is a full grid study of our state to determine what infrastructure capabilities exist today, where any current incompatibilities or deficiencies exist, and where we should be planning for expansions and modernization. At the same time, we need to discuss how funding for significant upgrades can move forward fairly and expeditiously.&nbsp; Electric Vehicles (EVs) Nearly a third of the greenhouse gas emissions in our state come from the transportation sector. Switching over to electric vehicles is an important pathway for reducing these emissions. We need to speed up the installation of EV charging equipment, but that does not mean that the goal is to see EV charging stations as common as gas stations.&nbsp; This is because most EV owners will eventually charge their vehicles at home or work.&nbsp; However, public charging stations that are easily located, accessible, and reliable need to become commonplace.&nbsp;Additionally, we need to work with our car dealerships and building community to ensure that we are identifying and overcoming roadblocks on this fast ramp-up to common EV usage. Still, an important consideration is the cost of the vehicles and equipment. Until those costs come down to a reasonable level, the government should continue to provide subsidies and incentives for buyers. Energy Workforce Development&nbsp; Building the energy workforce we need today and tomorrow requires study, planning, and sustained attention. We need to charge a single entity with looking at both the sector's broad needs and employers' specific needs. Then coordinating with our educational institutions to implement appropriate degree programs, training, and proper credentialing. Then, there needs to be follow-up to make sure that we are hitting the targets with successful placements and continuous monitoring of the new skill sets necessary within this industry. This will be a focus of the Hall-Long Administration. Clean Water Clean rivers and streams for fishing, swimming, and recreating are vital for healthy outdoor life in Delaware.&nbsp; This means taking steps to limit discharges and upsets and curb activities that result in water degradation. Using our state's revolving funds wisely, we can assist our local governments with their water treatment needs and our communities that are still reliant on old, improperly functioning, community-wide septic systems. We also need to hold dischargers accountable for their actions, including getting our arms around emerging contaminants like PFAS/PFOA. Delaware is fortunate to be benefitting from several legal settlements which have delivered tens of millions of dollars to our state for the investigation and clean-up of these chemicals.&nbsp; That work must be made more publicly accessible and the decision-making more transparent. Clean Air Clean air is vital for our quality of life.&nbsp; There are several major components that we need to&nbsp;control, each with public policy issues that we need to navigate.&nbsp; Holding industrial emissions to permitted levels while growing our manufacturing and clean industries is a continuous balancing act.&nbsp; Making our transition to renewable energy, and paying close attention to our transition to electric vehicles while maintaining reasonable consumer costs and reliability is another continuously evolving, multi-faceted public discussion with substantial policy implications. Lastly, recognizing the health implications of poor air quality on our citizens, young and old, rich and poor, is a perspective that the Hall-Long Administration is uniquely qualified to drive. These are all challenges, but the Hall-Long Administration is up to the challenge and ready to fully engage on all of these issues. Land Use Land use that conserves and protects our natural environment while allowing for reasonable growth and development is essential to our economic stability. Local governments (counties, municipalities) make most land use decisions with state-level oversight on broad issues.&nbsp; However, defining the line between what should be a local decision versus what issues are of such state-level importance that the state should play a role is a prickly one. Development in and around sensitive environmental areas like forests and wetlands is a consistent issue where broad and sustained stakeholder engagement is necessary.&nbsp;We also need a sharper focus on land use planning that takes into account our changing environment, whether it's sea level rise, increasing temperature, flooding, property insurance availability, or government funding of infrastructure, the Hall-Long Administration is prepared to lead the large, public discussions on these issues that concern Delawareans and impact our lives.&nbsp; Biodiversity Delaware is losing many of its native species of plants and animals due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and the presence of invasive species. This loss in biodiversity affects human health in many ways, from the degradation of our air and waterways, impacts on biomedical research that relies on natural products, increasing disease from exposure to new pathogens or pathways, to impacts on our food supply from a reduction of pollination.&nbsp; In short, sustaining and improving our natural environment directly improves the baseline health of our communities. We have a lot of work to do in this area, and we need a new focus on the link between a healthy environment and healthy communities. Climate Change Everyone in Delaware is affected by climate change.&nbsp; Flooding and drainage problems have become much more common. Not only are individuals spending more money on their property to fix basement, window, and roof leaks, property drainage problems, and tree damage from more frequent and severe storms. On top of that, the government is spending more money to fix and upgrade expensive infrastructure like roadways, stormwater piping, and wastewater treatment facilities, and on disaster response.&nbsp; Increasing temperature is also changing our ecosystem by bringing in new mosquito and tick-borne illnesses and fueling an increase in heat-related and heat-exacerbated illnesses. There is also a clear correlation between increasing temperature and increased violence and suicides, along with a worsening of mental health issues.&nbsp;&nbsp; Along with ushering in our transition to renewable fuels, we need to take a broader, health-based focus in responding to climate change. This is particularly true for those in our marginalized communities who have less access to clean water, adequate healthcare, and air conditioning and whose jobs require that they work outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Environmental Justice Delaware has tens of thousands of people that live in communities that are socio-economically disadvantaged. Oftentimes, these are the same communities which carry the largest burden of industrial pollution, suffer from a lack of adequate healthcare and healthy food, lack of access to clean water and air-conditioning, all within a built environment replete with lead-based paint, lead pipes, asbestos, and inescapable heat.&nbsp; Working with our Justice 40 partners and others, we need to broaden our focus on environmental justice to include not only reductions in the air, water, and land pollution of these communities but also look even further at the discrepancies in their health outcomes and the underlying causes. For example, someone unable to afford air-conditioning in a heat wave may spend more time outside, exposing them to tick and mosquito-borne illness that remains untreated if they do not have adequate healthcare, resulting in severe disease or worse.&nbsp;Government can assist by attacking the underlying inequities in issues such as clean energy access and healthcare availability by rehabilitating our infrastructure. Such as roadways and rooftops to capture less heat, providing cooling stations, supporting neighborhood food gardens and ecological restoration, providing education on heat-related illnesses, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp; Aquaculture&nbsp; Our aquaculture industry in Delaware is small, but it has a lot of potential. As the lowest-lying state in the country, with an extensive coastline, inland bays, marine and brackish waters, great research institutions, an existing community of watermen (and women), and a culture that embraces coastal living and cuisine, we are uniquely situated to grow this industry.&nbsp; But, we have to take advantage of these strengths and put more effort into aquaculture – an industry with great potential for job growth, food sourcing, and environmental benefits.&nbsp;To foster the aquaculture industry, Delaware needs:<ul><li>Clear and Efficient Permitting: Simplify the permitting process for aquaculture operations, making it more transparent and efficient while ensuring environmental safeguards.</li><li>Supportive Regulations: Develop regulations that support sustainable aquaculture practices, balancing industry growth with environmental protection.</li><li>Grants and Subsidies: Provide financial assistance through grants, low-interest loans, or subsidies to help new and existing aquaculture businesses with startup costs, expansion, and technology upgrades.</li><li>Tax Incentives: Offer tax breaks or incentives for investments in aquaculture infrastructure, research, and sustainable practices.</li><li>Partnerships with Universities: Continue and grow our great partnerships with the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and others to promote our fledgling oyster hatchery and conduct studies, develop innovative technologies, and provide technical assistance to aquaculture businesses.</li><li>Workforce Development: Create training programs to develop a skilled workforce in aquaculture, including technical training, business management, and sustainable practices.</li><li>Water Quality Management: Ensure high water quality standards through effective monitoring and management, essential for healthy aquaculture operations.</li></ul>

Protecting our Climate &amp; Communities

Environment

Economic Development

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Universal Childcare/Early Education&nbsp; In the Hall-Long Administration, passing and implementing comprehensive universal childcare is a top priority. Lt. Governor Hall-Long chairs the Delaware Office of Early Learning Advisory Task Force with the Hunt Institute's professional guidance. The Committee<a href="https://ltgov.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2023/01/Final-Report-Early-Learning-Advisory-Committee-compressed-1-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> released a report in 2023</a> that will serve as a guideline for implementing universal childcare. Year by year, the infrastructure will need to be built up to support additional children entering early education centers.&nbsp; This includes growing the early educator workforce, creating and expanding early education centers, and centralizing and simplifying the governance structure while ensuring equity.&nbsp; 90% of a child's brain develops in the first 1,825 days (birth -&nbsp; five years). High-quality early childhood education has long-term benefits such as:<ul><li>Improved cognitive educational, and social-emotional outcomes</li><li>Better long-term career/employment prospects</li><li>Enhanced overall general well-being and health</li><li>Reduced trauma and decrease in long-term justice involvement&nbsp; </li></ul>None of this can happen without early educators earning a livable wage. Over 10,000 Delawareans are employed in the early education sector, and many of those employees do not make a livable wage. Education levels for early educators correlate with improved learning and development outcomes for children. Delaware requires early educators to have only a high school diploma with some training toward a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.<ul><li>Establish a wage scale that promotes the recruitment and retention of providers</li><li>Develop a pay structure that supports tiered, equitable compensation based on credentials, certifications, and lived experiences</li><li>Support and expand early education pathways in the state's high schools and higher education institutions</li><li>Change payment policies to ensure funding stability for providers&nbsp;</li><li>Incentivize expansion and new construction of early education centers </li></ul>Universal early education will be a significant boost to our economy, increasing equity and opportunities for Delawareans to participate in the workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Delaware had 33,000 job openings in February 2024. Around 67% of Delaware's parents are in the workforce. Studies show that parents report not buying a house or not working and staying at home with their children due to the cost of childcare. A young family that does not qualify for the purchase of care benefit at its current levels can expect to spend around $15,000 a year per child on full-time early education from ages 0-3. (<a href="https://ltgov.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2023/01/Final-Report-Early-Learning-Advisory-Committee-compressed-1-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Early Learning Advisory Committee Report</a>) Addressing the Barriers to Student Success The Hall-Long administration will ensure all children have the opportunity for college &amp; career success, no matter their zip code. A student's ability to show up to school ready to learn is directly impacted by their physical and behavioral health and the societal conditions in which they live. A student cannot learn on an empty stomach, and we know that 1 in 6 Delaware children face food insecurity. Students with social or emotional challenges need support beyond just academic help to maximize their potential. Students facing housing insecurity and community violence are exposed to levels of toxic stress that make it more difficult for them to succeed academically. While the challenges students face are significant, there are opportunities for the state to serve students where they are by integrating support into the school environment:<ul><li>Provide universal free breakfast and lunch for all public school students.</li><li>Address student behavioral health challenges by fully funding mental health professionals in schools and strengthen the pipeline of these essential education professionals.</li><li>Invest in school-based wellness centers and wraparound services in schools.</li><li>Ensure all students have access to social-emotional learning programs in schools after school.</li><li>Expand access to community schools and community health workers to help connect students and families with the community support and resources they need to thrive. </li></ul>Fostering a High-Quality Educator Workforce Delaware, like other states, is experiencing an education staffing crisis. For every 10,000 students, there are 15 teaching vacancies. In 2021, 37 percent of schools with teaching vacancies found it difficult or could not fill them during the school year. As a state, we can only improve student learning by having fully staffed schools and a high-quality, diverse educator workforce.Promoting diversity in the workforce benefits all students. Increasing educator diversity positively impacts student achievement and student social and emotional development. While 60 percent of Delaware's students are people of color, only 18 percent of teachers and 33 percent of those enrolled in Educator Preparation Programs are people of color.&nbsp;<ul><li>Competitive starting salaries for educators across school districts, making Delaware a regional destination for educators</li><li>A compensation structure that promotes growth and retention and recognizes additional responsibilities and competencies.</li><li>Increase tuition assistance and student loan forgiveness programs for all educators.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Promote pathways and eliminate barriers into the education profession, especially for students and school staff, to boost educator diversity.</li><li>Ensure educators can work and care for their families by considering new incentives (ie. PTO vs traditional sick time, childcare, housing&nbsp; tax credits)&nbsp; as well as protecting their healthcare and retirement benefits. </li></ul>Improving Student Learning Conditions and Educator Working Conditions Students and educators deserve to learn and work in classrooms with the support and resources needed to succeed. They also deserve to go to school without fearing for their physical safety and free from persistent disruptions that interrupt academic instruction. In addition to ensuring schools have access to the staff support and policies needed to promote learning, the physical conditions of school buildings also directly impact student achievement.<ul><li>Promote appropriate class sizes and equitable staff support so educators can foster strong relationships with students and families.</li><li>Ensure that special education professionals and school-based mental health professionals have manageable caseloads and the time needed to meet student's unique needs.</li><li>Fund building repairs and promote strong building maintenance standards to ensure students have access to schools free of health and safety hazards.</li><li>Address the ongoing rise in student discipline issues by funding programs that promote prevention and supporting policies that create an equitable accountability system. </li></ul>Equitably and Fully Fund Public Schools Delaware's education funding system is seven decades old and must be changed to prioritize equity, transparency, and stability. Community members, educators, and independent experts agree that reform is needed. Using the recent funding assessment completed by the American Institutes for Research as a guide, Delaware has the opportunity to update our funding system to ensure that every child is able to get a great education in our state, no matter their zip code or family background. Opportunity Funding must continue to be increased for equalization.&nbsp;<ul><li>Create a funding structure for public education that provides additional resources according to student needs, including English language learners, low-income students, and students requiring special education services.</li><li>Promote a funding system that gives districts the funding they need to ensure classrooms have the staff support and resources they need.</li><li>Ensure students from lower-wealth communities can access fully funded public schools by accounting for local wealth disparities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>Empowering Community Members and Educators to Drive Change Actively engaging families and educators in decision-making processes can benefit student achievement and educator retention. Active community and educator engagement can help foster community trust in schools and can positively impact the school climate.<ul><li>Empower educators to actively participate in the policymaking process to enhance student achievement and create a better learning environment.</li><li>Create the Governor's Education Advisory Council in the Governor's office and also create advisory school committees to ensure those impacted by education decisions have a seat at the table.</li><li>Guarantee families and educators have formal representation on education decision-making committees and other public bodies. </li></ul>Fighting to Protect the Right to Union Representation<ul><li>Fight for due process and collective bargaining rights for union members.</li><li>Oppose any efforts to weaken the right to organize.</li></ul>

A Great Public Education No Matter Your Zip Code

Education

The U.S. and the State of Delaware face a severe affordable housing crisis driven primarily by a lack of sufficient housing supply. This crisis encompasses high homeownership costs and skyrocketing rents, exacerbated by a national housing shortfall estimated by Freddie Mac at 3.8 million units.&nbsp; According to the DSHA 2023 Housing Needs Assessment, Delaware has a major shortage of affordable homes, including more than 20,000 homes for low-income renters. To keep up with demand, the state will need to add 24,400 new units by 2030.This crisis harms both renters and homeowners. Half of renters in Delaware are cost-burdened, and the homeownership rate has dropped. Creating more housing options will benefit these households and our economy, helping create affordable places for our workforce to live. Create a Statewide Housing Action Strategy w. Stakeholders at the Table The Hall-Long Administration will govern with communities, not around them. Developing a long-term housing strategy will require involving all stakeholders. This means citizens, non-profits, businesses, legislators, and local governments will have their voices heard when crafting policy proposals. Homes are not built overnight, so long-term planning is essential.&nbsp;<ul><li>Delaware State Housing Authority Statewide Housing Needs Assessment: Use the assessment as a guide to identify where funding can make the most impact</li><li>Public Awareness: Educate the public on the importance of affordable housing and the steps needed to address the crisis.</li><li>Measure Progress: Establish metrics to track the effectiveness of housing policies and initiatives over time. </li></ul>Make Investment in Affordable Housing a Permanent Budget Component The State of Delaware currently has yet to dedicate an annual funding source for the development and renovation of affordable housing. The Hall Long Administration will create dedicated funding and establish well-funded permanent programs that help Delawareans jump from renting to home ownership. These programs will resemble the Home Sweet Home Program and the Delaware Diamonds Home Loan.&nbsp;<ul><li>Dedicated funding sources: Establish dedicated funding streams for affordable housing development, similar to neighboring states.</li><li>Increase state investments: Build on existing efforts, such as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments and previous budget allocations, to scale up funding for affordable housing.</li><li>Expand DSHA programs: Increase the capacity and reach of the Delaware State Housing Authority's programs to meet the growing demand for affordable housing.<ul><li>Down Payment Assistance Programs&nbsp;</li><li>State Mortgage Programs&nbsp;</li><li>Targeted assistance programs for high-need workforce<ul><li>Teachers, Nurses, First Responders&nbsp; </li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>Encourage Local Government Support for Affordable Housing Developments We can only solve the housing crisis once we remove red tape that prevents sustainable new construction and creates starter homes and affordable rental options. This is most apparent in New Castle County. It can take years, and in some cases, over a decade, just to get a shovel in the ground. The County's zoning policies over the past decade have made it so developers can only profit from building affordable workforce housing with substantial financial assistance from the government.&nbsp; The Hall-Long Administration will work with local governments and incentivize zoning reforms across the state for affordable housing. If those efforts are unsuccessful, the Hall-Long Administration will advocate for legislation that overrides local zoning laws that stifle the development of affordable housing units.<ul><li>Incentivize Zoning Reforms: Provide incentives for local governments to reform restrictive zoning laws and reduce opposition to affordable housing developments.</li><li>Promote Land Use Reforms: Support localities in enacting land use policies that remove barriers to affordable housing development and reduce unnecessary costs and delays.</li><li>Foster Mixed Housing Options: Encourage the development of a mix of housing types, including affordable homeownership opportunities (e.g., smaller starter homes) and income-restricted rental units.</li><li>Preemption for Affordable Housing: Local zoning laws in Delaware, especially in New Castle County, are a major hurdle for the development of affordable housing. The state will intervene if local governments do not reform in a timely manner.&nbsp;</li><li>Affordable Housing Preservation </li></ul>Relief for RentersRenters in our state, especially those with low incomes, face an extreme cost burden. They spend over 50% of their income on housing. The state is short roughly 19,000 affordable housing units for people making between 0 and 50% of the area's median income. This forces them to move often to avoid higher rent and causes homelessness. While producing more affordable rental units is the long-term goal, other ways exist to help low-income renters.<ul><li>Prevent evictions with state funding to the DSHA emergency rental assistance program on top of the temporary federal funds that currently fund the program</li><li>Discrimination protections for unhoused individuals seeking housing</li><li>Funding emergency utility assistance programs</li></ul>

Safe &amp; Affordable Homes for All Delawareans

Housing

As a longtime state leader, nurse, and mom, Bethany Hall-Long has the experience and vision to make Delaware the best place to live, work, and raise a family. 

Bethany for Delaware

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