School safety, and competing resolutions that would create task forces to improve it, sparked debate in the Senate Tuesday.

2 senators battle over dueling school safety resolutions

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

On the day Gov. John Carney preached the impact of working together in his State of the State address, the Senate watched a tense interaction divided by party lines that one legislator called “childish behavior.” The interaction between Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, and Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark/Glasgow, and their similar education task force resolutions were enough to cause comment from …

The proposed Bill of Rights would help protect and assist the nearly 130,000 student loan borrowers in Delaware. (Photo by designer491/Getty Images)

Student loan borrowers could get Bill of Rights

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Laws that would establish a Bill of Rights for student loan borrowers and adjust the transfer of leave days for educators garnered support in a Senate Education Committee hearing Wednesday.  Senate Bill 132, sponsored by Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington, would make Delaware the 19th state to have a Bill of Rights for student loan burrowers.  Of the 18 states who …

Rep. Mike Smith's bill would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly.

Republicans push bill to allow Delawareans to file ethics complaints

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A proposed law that intends to hold state legislators accountable for unethical behavior was showcased in the second of a series of press conferences each Wednesday by the Republican Party. House Bill 261, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would establish the Office of Legislative Ethics for the General Assembly to ensure that valid allegations of wrongdoing by state …

The PECC has been working over the past year on recommendations for pay adjustments for Delaware educators.

Educator pay raise proposals to get joint hearing Jan. 11

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Delaware’s General Assembly will have its first public look and discussion about proposed educator pay raise recommendations next week. At 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, the House and Senate education committees will come together to listen to a presentation on the final report from the Public Education Compensation Committee. Watch the meeting here. The 15-person compensation committee – made of …

School test scores dismal again despite new math, reading plans

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

There was little cheering news Tuesday when Delaware released its 2023 state assessment results. The numbers are still grim, with the majority of students across the board failing to reach proficiency in math and reading.  “I can’t imagine anyone looking at these test results and saying they are good enough,” said Julia Keleher, the new executive director of First State …

The second round of bonuses for child care workers will be for $700. (Unsplash)

Delaware offers second round of child care worker bonuses

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Tiny Tots Childcare Director Jessica Burns got good news Wednesday: A second round of relief checks for Delaware’s child care professionals. That will help her workers pay for their certifications, which cost between $300 and $500, she said. “This definitely is a retention effort by the state,” she said. “My staff is very, very excited and hoping to get to …

Child care affordability and access (Unsplash)

Child care: 1st State lacks affordable options, report finds

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

A new report from Rodel shows that First State families do not have adequate access to affordable child care. A coalition of advocacy groups – including Rodel, the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, Delaware Readiness Teams and the First State Pre-K – conducted a survey with hundreds of Delaware families to gauge their feelings about child care …

Delaware's teacher union wants the state to follow Maryland's lead and start teachers' salary at $60,000.

State teachers’ union asks for base pay hike

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Delaware’s teacher union proposed a new salary schedule Monday that includes a base pay of $60,000. Of that base pay, $42,000 would come from the state — $12,000 more than it’s currently paying.  Under the plan, teacher salaries would be raised over three years, costing the state $134.5 million in total. By the final year, total teacher salaries would cost …

Get ready, Del.: 10-digit dialing requirement starts Oct. 24

Ken MammarellaGovernment & Politics, Headlines

(Ken Mammarella photo) Georgetown native Brian Pettyjohn remembers the past, when Delawareans in the same telephone exchange could call each other by dialing four digits. He is also prepared for the future, when Delawareans with (302) phone numbers will need 10 digits to call others in the 302. And the future starts Oct. 24. The switch to 10-digit dialing – …