Time to Transform Delaware Public Education

December 2, 2025

By Dr. Jeff Hilovsky, State Representative, District 4

The world is changing nearly faster than we can react. Education in Delaware can lead the way by wisely incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into classrooms now.

Education must change, as the centuries-old teacher/student/classroom model has been in force since the beginning of education in our country over 250 years ago. 

Now we have proven tools (when used effectively) to model new technologies that will enable our students to be competitive in the workforce of the future. Each student enters school each day with the expectation of a safe, clean, distraction-free environment for learning, and they have little control over instructional content or delivery. Since almost all students have no vote or voice, or no say in their education, they place their trust in visionary adult leaders to guide them, expecting not to be dictated to on what to think, but to be provided with tools to teach them how to think. AI must now be a part of the education reality.

With urgency, education leaders and legislators must craft a plan to transform Delaware's schools from underperformers to beacons of excellence. In the 1990s, Delaware consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally in education results. However, since 2013, our system has spiraled downward, and we now rank near the bottom nationally.  Delaware ranks 37th overall and 48th in 4th-grade and 8th-grade student outcomes.

Our challenges do not stem from a lack of dedicated teachers or talented students but from a culture focused on proficiency rather than mastery. Proficiency means passing tests and meeting minimums, settling for average. Mastery requires deep understanding, critical thinking, and innovative application. Not all students will master every subject, but aiming higher can elevate them all. This paradigm shift prioritizes success over mediocrity, demanding bold investments in students combined with visionary leadership to drive change.

To spark this shift, we must integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) into K-12 curricula. These tools will personalize learning, empower educators, and prepare our workforce for 21st-century demands, benefiting students, teachers, and Delaware's economy while positioning us as a national leader.

A proficiency model fosters a bland, average approach that can lead many students to disengage and drop out of school. In 2023, 1,768 students dropped out of Delaware high schools. Incorporating AI can change that by adapting content to individual needs, thereby personalizing learning. For example, an AI tutor could analyze algebra errors in real time, customize learning to meet students at their level, and develop learning initiatives to maximize results. Studies show AI personalization improves math and reading outcomes by 20-30% when biases are addressed.

Additionally, this will foster success by adding confidence and improving attendance by making school rewarding. Graduates emerge innovative, confident, and prepared for real-world challenges. Adding Virtual Reality will immerse students in experiences like exploring ancient civilizations or simulating experiments, engaging with virtual robots to learn robotics, thereby boosting engagement by up to 90% and improving outcomes for all types of learners.

Importantly, leaders must be vigilant to protect against inappropriate or biased content, such as explicit material, stereotypes, or skewed data, that could perpetuate inequalities. Installing proper systems and processes to effectively monitor AI tools against explicit content, overt or covert bias, sensationalism, and other potentially harmful content will protect our students. Agreements with AI providers must mandate transparency, bias audits, guardrails (such as filters), and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)-compliant privacy, with no data sharing without consent. Penalties should include heavy fines, severe penalties for violating contract terms, and accountability through significant liability. Oversight must be present at all levels, including school boards, parents, educators, and administrators.

Teachers would benefit too. Overburdened with administrative tasks and large class sizes, they currently have little time for mentorship. Imagine a day when teachers can spend most of their day teaching and mentoring. AI can free them from the mundane tasks of lesson planning and grading, while helping to identify areas for improvement.

Tools already in use, such as IBM Watson or Khan Academy's Khanmigo, can efficiently create quizzes and reports. Additionally, professional development trains teachers to serve as deep-learning facilitators, equipped to address biases. In Delaware, with 15%+ teacher turnover, AI will reduce burnout, improve retention, and may reignite passion.

Pilots in selected school districts could showcase better work-life balance and fulfilling classrooms, making teachers masters who model lifelong learning while demonstrating success for statewide implementation.

For Delaware's workforce, AI integration is key. Top industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing already use AI. Innovation hubs like the University of Delaware's Star Campus, INBRE, and Delaware State University can be bridges to industry, starting in high school. Unfortunately, only some of our high schoolers are college-ready or career-ready. Current results show graduates have low proficiency in English (40%) and math (30%). Embedding AI education from elementary levels that emphasize problem-solving, ethics, and data literacy, combined with VR simulation that matches job demands and addresses ethical issues, can reverse and radically change those dismal statistics.

The World Economic Forum reports AI will create 97 million jobs if workers are skilled. AI/VR-educated graduates can fill gaps in industries such as autonomous vehicles, personalized medicine, agriculture, and the trades, attracting businesses, boosting tax revenue, and ensuring a responsible workforce that rockets productivity while unlocking unlimited student potential.

Implementation from top leadership to include Delaware Education Secretary Cynthia Marten and her team, collaborating with legislators on statutes for revolutionary change. To offset costs, eliminate outdated "old school" redundancies and ineffective programs, and reallocate those funds to minimize additional funding burdens.

This AI/VR integration is a paradigm shift that honors student potential, teacher expertise, and workforce strength while incorporating ethical protections. Thoughtful implementation, strategic vision, and tactical execution, combined with AI and VR integration, could make Delaware the model of national excellence. We must have the courage to embrace the future, to leave behind our mediocre past, and to guarantee success for the next generation of leaders in Delaware. Transforming education will add value to students, their families, their communities, Delaware, and the global marketplace.

Let's not settle for the low rankings any longer. I urge fellow legislators, educators, and citizens to support this initiative. Bold initiatives never attempted are just dreams never fulfilled. Together, we can build an education system that doesn't just pass the test but masters the future.