Expanding SEED scholarship program to give more college access to Delawareans

DELAWARE – More access to education and breaking down barriers.

Delaware’s Senate Bill 12 aims to do just that.

“It’s a win-win for everyone, it’s a win for our students, it’s a win for our business community,” Dr. Mark Brainard, President of Delaware Technical Community College, said.

Governor John Carney signed the Delaware Student Excellence Equals Degree Act this week, expanding the state’s existing SEED scholarship program, a program that motivates young people to go to college.

“Was to say to young people going to Delaware high schools that if you work hard, get good grades, you stay out of trouble you can go to college for free, it’s the law,” Dr. Brainard said.

And changes have been made to expand that access and broaden who’s covered under the scholarship. Delaware Technical Community College will play a critical role in this effort. One change you’ll see removing the requirement that SEED scholars come to Delaware Tech immediately out of high school.

“So, someone can be out of college for a number of years, as long as they are 25 years of age and they are residents of Delaware for at least 5 years they can become a seed scholar and come to Delaware Tech for free,” Dr. Brainard said.

But, that’s not all. It also includes applying more access to workforce training certification programs.

“As we come out of the COVID situation we’re finding that we have a lot of vacant jobs in the economy but we are lacking qualified candidates to take those jobs, so applying the SEED program to short-term certifications is really a game-changer,” Dr. Brainard said.

And, another change people with non-violent felonies will now be eligible.

Something the ACLU of Delaware said is important.

“By removing these barriers it’s going to allow individuals who have successfully rehabilitated who want to get a fresh start with their lives to have that opportunity,” Mike Brickner, Executive Director of the ACLU Delaware, said.

And they hope that continues moving forward.

“In the future, the state legislator thinks about expanding this even more, this bill really only covers people with certain types of felonies and there may be people who have other types of felonies who have successfully rehabilitated themselves,” Brickner said.