SJR #2 – Directing the DOE to Study Student Assessment Testing – Update

Appointments from the House and Senate were completed in August and September.

View the entire bill, click here – SJR #2.

The amount of testing required of our students and educators has grown significantly in recent years. While the General Assembly recognizes the need to administer assessments that provide valid and reliable data about how Delaware’s students are growing academically, it is also committed to maximizing time in the classroom for our educators to teach, and our students to learn.

The Department of Education is already coordinating an inventory of all assessments required at the state, district, and school level. This Joint Resolution requires the Department of Education to report the inventory results, and any assessments that districts or the state propose to eliminate, to the public and to the House and Senate Education Committees of the General Assembly. It also requires the Department to convene a group, consisting of members of the General Assembly and the public, to conduct an in-depth review of the inventory results and make recommendations for consolidation or elimination of assessments.

Membership Information 

Membership:	Appointing Authority:
Three House Members of the House Education Committee (two members of the majority party and one member of the minority party)	Speaker of the House
Three Senate Members of the Senate Education Committee (two members of the majority party and one member of the minority party)	President Pro Tempore
President of the Delaware State Education Assoc. or designee
President of the Chief School Officer’s Assoc. or designee
A rep. of the civil rights’ community	Governor
A parent	Governor

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Appointee Information 

Appointee:	Appointed by:	Appointment Date:
Rep. Earl Jaques	Speaker of House	08/21/2015
Rep. Sean Matthews	Speaker of House	08/21/2015
Rep. Timothy Dukes	Speaker of House	08/21/2015
Sen. David Sokola	President Pro Tempore	09/15/2015
Sen. Nicole Poore	President Pro Tempore	09/15/2015
Sen. Ernesto Lopez	President Pro Tempore	09/15/2015

 

SJR #4 – Education Funding Improvement Commission – Update

Appointments from the House and Senate were completed in August and September.

ESTABLISHING THE EDUCATION FUNDING IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE DELAWARE’S SYSTEM FOR FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

View the entire bill, click here – SJR #4.

While Delaware is deeply committed to preparing every child to reach his or her full potential and succeed in the new economy, the State will not be able to build a world-class education system for its children without modernizing the 70-year-old education funding system. This Joint Resolution establishes the Education Funding Improvement Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of Delaware’s public education funding system and make recommendations to modernize and strengthen the system. The Commission will include stakeholders from across the education system and will submit a report and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly no later than March 31, 2016.

Membership Information 

Membership:	Appointing Authority:
Chair	Governor
Two Senate Members (1 from each caucus)	President Pro Tempore
Two House Members (1 from each caucus)	Speaker of House
Controller General
Secretary of Education
Director of Office of Management and Budget
President of Delaware State Board of Education
President of Delaware State Education Assoc.
One parent	Delaware Parent Teaacher Assoc.

One superintendent	President of the Chief School Officers Assoc.
One superintendent Vocational Technical District	President of Chief School Officers Assoc.
One traditional public school administrator employed at a school with high population of at-risk students.	Delaware Assoc. of School Administrators
One charter school leader employed at school with a high population of at-risk students	Delaware Charter Schools Network
One local school board member	Delaware School Board Assoc.
Council Chair of Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens
One business representative	Governor
One member of community organization serving student in poverty	Governor
One member of community organization serving students learning English.
	Governor

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Appointee Information 

Appointee:	Appointed by:	Appointment Date:
Rep. Earl Jaques	Speaker of House	08/12/2015
Rep. Ruth Briggs	Speaker of House	08/12/2015
Sen. David Sokola	President Pro Tempore	09/15/2015
Sen. F. Gary Simpson	President Pro Tempore	09/15/2015

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Minutes, Reports & Information