Dover, Del. – Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (all D-Del.), joined Governor Matt Meyer, Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay, former U.S. Senator Tom Carper, and Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen for the grand opening of the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) and Early Childhood Lab School at Delaware State University. This project received approximately $15 million in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act which was championed by Coons, Blunt Rochester, and Carper. Blunt Rochester and Carper attended the event announcing this investment in November 2021.
The ECIC will provide professional credentials and career advancement opportunities for people educating and caring for children in pre-kindergarten, with a focus on providing access to advanced credentials such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate and post-secondary associate or bachelor’s degrees. The two-story, 14,000 square foot building will serve children ages zero to five. The Early Childhood Laboratory School is a high-quality early education and childcare experience for young children, toddlers through kindergarten prep.
“I was proud to help celebrate the grand opening of the Early Childhood Innovation Center and Early Childhood Lab School at Delaware State University,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “When we passed the American Rescue Plan Act, this was the exact type of investment we had in mind. Together, we will forge the path ahead for early childhood education in Delaware for years to come.”
“Far too many Delawareans struggle to find quality, affordable childcare for their kids,” said Senator Coons. “We are at our best when we invest in the future – in our children – and the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University is absolutely critical to our future. I’m proud to have played my part in the Senate to fund this project, so we can train more educators who will then go off and make a difference in the lives of children up and down our state.”
“Every child deserves a strong start, and every educator deserves the training, support, and respect their work demands,” said Representative McBride. “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and the leadership of Senators Carper, Coons, and Blunt Rochester, the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University is a bold investment in Delaware’s future—expanding access to high-quality early learning and building pathways for early educators to grow and thrive. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone for our children, our families, and our workforce.”
“The opening of the Early Childhood Innovation Center at Delaware State University is a big deal for our university, and for the future of early childhood education in our state,” said Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University. “The ECIC, a significant partnership with the state and federal governments, is dedicated to training the next generation of early childhood educators and driving policy action that will make early childhood education more affordable and accessible for all Delaware families. We believe the ECIC should serve as a national model to prioritize investment and innovation in early childhood education. I want to thank Governor Meyer, former Governor Carney, Senators Carper, Coons and Blunt Rochester, Congresswoman McBride, and all our state and federal partners who advocated for this important center. I also want to recognize Dr. Shelley Rouser and Dr. Kim Krzanowski, who are leading the ECIC at DSU. Now let’s get to work.”
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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.