I will be supporting House Bill 50 Veto Override Today!

Today, in the House, there will be an attempt at overriding Governor Markell’s veto of House Bill 50, Parent Opt Out bill. I will be voting yes to the override. House Bill 50 originally passed the House 36 Yes, 3 No (Barbieri, Dukes, and Jaques) and 2 absent.  I don’t agree with the Governor vetoing House Bill 50 and his reasons behind his veto. I am for useful assessments; assessments that will provide meaningful data that can be used to direct resources to our schools, to our classrooms and to individual students. I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House will join me in overriding House Bill 50 veto today!

What’s going on in Dover this week!

Today, David Bentz was sworn in as the State Representative representing the 18th District, he replaces Rep. Mike Barbieri. Former Rep. Barbieri stepped down from his seat during the summer to become the new director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

Tomorrow, House Bill 186, charter audit bill, will be heard in the Senate Education Committee, I am hopeful it will be released from the committee. We have seen the abuse that has taken place with some of our charter schools using taxpayer funds inappropriately. Currently, charter schools hire their own auditors, they are not required by law to go through the State Auditor’s Office.  All Delaware school districts including votechs go through the State Auditor’s Office for their audits.

Thursday, Rep. Kowalko will attempt to override Governor Markell veto on House Bill 50, Opt Out bill.

Letter from State PTA to Delaware Legislators asking Them to Support House Bill 50 Veto Override

Good Morning Everyone,

Happy New Year. As you begin the new legislative session,  I would like to share the number one thing that is weighing on parent’s minds this year; the ability for a parent’s right to choose to opt out of the state assessment, SBAC.

Delaware PTA is very aware that the way the law reads now they can opt out however, they do so with a fear of repercussions and penalties for their children and their children’s schools.  They do so with no protection from threats. They do so with no guarantee of constructive instruction while other students test. Parents want to exercise choices when it comes to their children’s education. Our membership of over 8000  finds no value in SBAC. We appreciate the assessment inventory task force however, did you know there is no PTA representative on this task force. There is no representation solely of parents. How can this be permitted? So we, as parents, turn to you to make this right.

As an aside, Delaware PTA is not opposed to assessments. We understand they are necessary to measure the progress of our children. However, SBAC is not a valid growth measure, does not inform instruction, and the results are received by parents after their child begins a new school year and is promoted. These are just a few reasons we do not support the use of SBAC.

Parents want the choice of opting their children out of the the state assessment. This is something you all voted on and it was passed by a majority vote in The House last Spring. That was the  democratic process at work. The Senate then voted to pass the bill. The veto by Governor Markell was disrespectful to the democratic process. The people spoke, but the Governor did not listen. When HB#50 passed there were hundreds of your constituents all thrilled that you listened to their voices.Thank you for that. Now it is time to listen to them again. Please make this right by voting to override the Governor’s veto of HB#50

With all due respect to Governor Markell, he ignored the voice of the parents, and quite frankly of the General Assembly. It is wrong on so many levels. I am confident you will make this right. We are asking all of you to vote in favor for first, suspending the rules and second , in favor of an override of the veto of HB#50.

Delaware PTA will be presenting a petition signed by hundreds of parents from up and down Delaware this Thursday Jan 14, 2016. We would like to invite each of to join us at a rally on the steps of Legislative Hall at 1 pm that same day. We invite you to listen to the voices of parents and to speak if you so choose on this issue.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to making a difference together.

Best Regards,
Yvonne Johnson
National PTA Board of Directors
Immediate Past President Delaware PTA
VP for Advocacy Delaware PTA
Region VP for Red Clay ( acting)
State President’s Club Secretary/Treasurer
T- 302-753-7107
yjohnson@delawarepta.org

johnsonyvonneb@gmail.com

yjohnson@pta.org