Sunset Joint Committee Reviews Delaware State Board of Education

The Sunset Committee reviewed the State Board of Education, they met on February 1, 2017. You can see all the documents that the State Board of Education submitted to the Sunset committee members, I have highlighted a few of the documents below. I sat in during the review, here are a few things that I took away from the review. I found former Rep. Scott’s comments supporting the State Board of Education interesting, I believe former Rep. Scott  was the enabler with respect to the State Board of Education when he chaired the House Education committee. I was also surprised by Dr. Allen’s letter of support, the State Board of Education would not allow Dr. Allen or Dr. Rich to speak at certain times during the WEIC presentations.

• School districts do not feel that the State Board of Education is an ally.
• They do not hold meetings in the evening; teachers, community members, parents, and legislators cannot make their meetings.
• They do not allow for public comment for all items on the agenda.
• They are not accountable to anyone.
• Their meetings are too long.
• They do not take a formal vote when they oppose or support legislation, the executive director attends House/Senate Education Meetings and gives comments.
• Sunset Committee requested a list of State Board of Education members and the committees/task forces etc. that they have served on.
• Charters go to the State Board of Education first instead of the local boards.
• One person who came out and offered a positive comment with respect to the State Board of Education was former State Representative Darryl Scott.
• A few charter school leaders were there as well.
• No school districts were present or to my knowledge sent in any comments about the State Board of Education.
• Dr. Tony Allen sent in a letter of support as well.

State Board of Education Questionnaire

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State Board of Education FOIA Complaints

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State Board of Education – Executive Directors Job Description

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Education Funding Improvement Commission, Are the Recommendations in Place Already?

Senate Joint Resolution Number 4 created the Education Funding Improvement Commission to review and make recommendations to modernize and improve Delaware’s System for Funding Public Education. The chair of this commission is former State Representative Scott from Dover. My impression from working with him on the House Education Committee, he is a big supporter of a weighted funding formula.  I do not support removing the unit count; I support enhancing it by adding a weighted funding formula, like the state does for Special Education.

Note: The state does not fund Basic Special Education kindergarten through 3rd grades. I filed House Bill 30 last year, it is currently in House Appropriations Committee, this would add Basic Special Education funding for kindergarten through 3rd grades.

After attending the meeting this week, I got the impression that the recommendations may already be developed, I could be wrong. I think we are heading down a dangerous road if the unit count is removed completely. Just because something has been in place for many years does not always mean it is a bad thing. Lets see if this commission and WEIC Funding Student Success Committee agree on each others recommendations.

Click here to read Senate Joint Resolution #4. You can read more about the commission by clicking here.

The commission is suppose to make recommendations regarding the following:

(1) Transitioning to a student-focused funding system and weighting funding based on demographic characteristics of students.

(2) Introducing more flexibility for the state, districts, and schools to raise and spend resources more effectively for their students.

(3) Improving the way revenues are collected and allocated for education throughout the State.

The Commission may also consider the following topics:

(1) The amount of funding necessary to prepare a student to be successful.

(2) More effective uses of current funding sources.

(3) Those groups of students that would benefit the most from receiving additional funding, such as low-income students, high-need students, rural students, and English language learners, and the amount of resources or nature of support that those groups would need to be successful.

(4) Adequacy of resources available for students with special needs.

(5) Whether additional resources are needed to better serve students who are homeless, have behavior challenges, or are adjudicated delinquent.

(6) Whether, and how, different types of funding should be allocated, including operational funds, capital funds, and grants.

(6) Ways to provide more flexibility for schools and districts to use funding to best serve student needs.

(7) Current and future system resource constraints and demographic trends.

WEIC Public Hearing

A second public hearing will be held in the Red Clay School District on Tuesday, December 8th 6:30 pm at Warner Elementary School, 801 West 18th Street. If you cannot make the meeting, you can submit a public comment here or email to solutionsfordelawareschools@gmail.com.

Below is the Executive Summary of the report. Click here to read the entire report.

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WEIC Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held in the Red Clay School District on Monday, December 7th 6:30 pm at Brandywine Springs, Duncan Road. If you cannot make the meeting, you can submit a public comment here or email to solutionsfordelawareschools@gmail.com.

Below is the Executive Summary of the report. Click here to read the entire report.

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Funding Student Success Meeting

There is a Funding Student Success Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th 2:00 at Baltz Elementary School, Board Conference Room.

Click here, to view the minutes.

Public Comment is Now Open on the WEIC DRAFT/INTERIM proposal

Below is the DRAFT/INTERIM proposal: “Redistricting in the City of Wilmington and New Castle County: A Transition, Resource and Implementation Plan”

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Below is the Appendix section that supports the DRAFT proposal.

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If you wish to have your thoughts formally considered, you must submit them via email to solutionsfordelawareschools@gmail.com, through the public comment submission webpage: https://docs.google.com/…/1af6f3vOPGdg2xIfowwfyOq_…/viewform, in writing to Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, c/o The Institute for Public Adminsitration, 111Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, or in person at one of our public hearings taking place between November 30 and December 7. Dates, times and locations will be posted to this page and our website.

Redistricting Committee Update

I attended the WEIC Redistricting Committee meeting last night. I have concerns about the tight timeline and have expressed my concerns to the commission. There just does not seem like there is going to be enough time given to the public to review the recommendations and to have their concerns heard or their questions answered. The final report is not completed and the public hearing comment window opens on November 30th. How is the public going to go on record when they have not been given the report or enough time to review the report?  The public hearings start in 16 days.

I know everyone on the commission and each of the committees have worked extremely hard and are committed to making positive changes for all our students. But, if you want public support we must inform them of the plans.

The next Redistricting Committee meeting will be held on November 19th from 4:00 until 6:00 at Baltz.

Below is a schedule of the public hearings.

November 19th – State Board of Education Committee Meeting

The State Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting starting at 1:00 on November 19th. The meeting will be held in the Cabinet Room – Townsend Building in Dover. Click here to view the agenda.

The Accountability Framework Working Group recommendations will be voted on, it will interesting to see if the State Board changes the recommendations that the AFWG submitted to DOE. WEIC will be presenting, they just presented to the State Board at their retreat on November 5th.

Red Clay School Board Special Public Session – November 2nd

Special Public Session of the Red Clay Board on Monday, November 2, 2015.  The meeting will begin at 5:30 at District Office in the First Floor Conference Room.  Main focus of the meeting will be discussion of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC).

Link to WEIC Sub Committee Minutes

Stay informed, click here to read WEIC Sub Committee minutes.