Proposed Legislation Would Require Rapid Action to Fix Poorly Performing Schools
Legislation awaiting consideration in the Senate would require immediate steps to address profoundly underperforming schools in Delaware. Under the measure, superintendents of districts with failing schools would be required to collaborate with the Department of Education and school administrators to create short-term and long-term plans to raise performance. The bill, sponsored by State Reps. Bryan Shupe (Milford South) & Kim Williams (Newport, Stanton) and State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn (Georgetown), aims to mandate remedial action plans in any public school where less than 10% of students are meeting proficiency standards in English Language Arts or mathematics.
Additional Information from Legislative Hall
âThe long-term plan is designed to address the systemic issues that led to these schoolsâ underperformance,” explained Rep. Shupe. “However, we must also consider the students currently enrolled in these schools. They may have one, two, or more years left in their academic journey. The short-term plan is tailored to provide them with immediate assistance to enhance their proficiency while the schoolâs underlying structural issues are being resolved.â
The bill stipulates that the district superintendent must present the short-term and long-term plans for approval at a school board meeting. Furthermore, the superintendent is required to provide annual updates on the plansâ implementation, including any proposed changes. These plans must be easily accessible on both the school’s and Department of Education’s websites.
âA big part of this bill is making sure that parents are informed and involved in these plans,â Rep. Shupe said. âThatâs a cornerstone to turning these schools aroundâto ensure transparency, accountability, parental involvement, and that students and families are heard through this process.â
Supporters of the measure note that there are 17 Delaware public schools where over 90% of their students either do not read and write or do not perform math at grade level.
âThis is a statewide problem, from Claymont to Delmar,â said Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, the prime Senate sponsor of the legislation. âIt cuts across geographic, demographic, and political boundaries. Itâs intolerable that any school would have a grade-level cohort where nearly all the students do not meet basic academic standards. We’re setting these kids up to further failure if we donât get them the help they need. Frankly, Iâm shocked we must enact legislation to address such blatant shortcomings.â
The bill has already unanimously passed the House of Representatives and has been released from the Senate Education Committee. It is on the Ready List and is eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.
âI am going to urge the Senate leadership to add this bill to the agenda as soon as possible so we can hopefully approve it and send it to the governor for his signature,â Sen. Pettyjohn said.
04082024 Bill to Address Profoundly Underperforming Schools w Subtitles – YouTube
