Rep. Cyndie Romer

Thank you to the 2026 Delaware Teacher Pathways Conference for having me as a panelist for the conversation on literacy and thank you to all the Teachers doing the hard work! I was inspired by the work being done in our Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) K-5 spaces all around the state.

The state’s current Early Literacy Plan (2025–2028) is making a hard push for the Science of Reading in K–3 classrooms, but I also know that waiting until a child hits kindergarten means missing the most explosive window of brain development.

By age five, roughly 90% of a child’s brain structure is already built. But now under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay and the Interagency Resource Management Committee (IRMC) we are developing a coordinated, laser-focused strategy for the Birth-to-5 space on early childhood education.

With the Lt Lieutenant Governor and the incredible guidance of Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, we have a powerhouse team. Their visions complement each other perfectly.

Over the next 5 years, I believe we are going to see marked, historic changes in our state.

Effective June 1, a 2.85% user fee will be applied to utility payments made using credit cards, debit cards, or Instant Pay Network services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

To help residents avoid additional fees, the City will continue to absorb all transaction costs for ACH and eCheck payments, which will remain available as convenient, fee-free options. ACH and eCheck transaction fees are significantly lower than the fees associated with credit card transactions.

Residents are encouraged to consider no-fee payment options when making utility payments. Additional information about payment methods and how to enroll in ACH or eCheck services is available through the City’s website or by contacting Payments and Utility Billing at 302.366.7000.