Military students could get priority in school choice

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Military families in Delaware could receive a scholastic perk in the world of school choice with a new bill that unanimously was voted for in the House Education Committee Wednesday afternoon. House Bill 354, sponsored by Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, D-Wilmington, gives the dependent children of active military members, full-time Delaware National Guard members, and active duty members of a reserve …

Sexual assault has been a major problem on college campuses, and House Bill 308 aims to prevent it. (Photo by motortion/Adobe Stock)

College sexual assault prevention training could be required

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

A bill aimed at reducing the widespread problem of sexual assault on college campuses soared through the House Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 308, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and committee chair, mandates that employees of institutions of higher education and students receive training in sexual assault prevention.  Although the current law makes training available, it has not been …

While most think the financial responsibility training is a good requirement, some believe it doesn't go far enough.

Many happy with mandatory school board finance training bill

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

School board members, who are in large part responsible for the spending decisions of millions of dollars from school districts, could soon be required to undergo financial training. House Bill 312, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and chair of the House Education Committee, which requires school board members to undergo training in financial responsibility.  Legislators in the Senate Education …

Both bills were released by the committee and will next be debated in the House.

Committee releases bills to combat trafficking, ammo theft

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Prostitution and gun ammo were the odd couple of topics to be handled in Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing. House Bill 264, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton, makes the crime of “patronizing a prostitute” a class E felony rather than a misdemeanor when the person from whom prostitution is sought is a minor. Williams’ second bill, House Bill 270, …

The Department of Education, Redding Consortium and Wilmington Learning Collaborative had their yearly state budget requests Wednesday.

Education groups costing ⅓ of state budget face JFC

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Education – what one legislator called the most important investment by the state – consumed Wednesday’s Joint Finance Committee hearing for a category that makes up about one-third of the state’s $6 billion budget.  Appearing in the morning before the committee that decided how and where the state’s budget will be spent was The Redding Consortium and the Wilmington Learning …

DelTech is seeking $525,000 in state funding for salary competitiveness.

DelTech questioned about extra salary funding, pay discrepancy 

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

It was higher education day in the Joint Finance Committee Thursday, in which the big three state institutions – University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College – made their cases for millions in state funding. DelTech, which has $100,460,200 penciled in through the Governor’s Recommended Budget, is asking for additional $525,000 for salary competitiveness, which the …

Proposed bills would create funding for school athletic trainers and allow students to participate in extracurriculars even with lunch debt. (Photo courtesy of Nick Halliday)

Law would create funding for every school to have athletic trainer

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Extracurriculars ruled the day in Wednesday’s House Education Committee meeting.  House Bill 244, sponsored by Rep. Mike Smith, R-Pike Creek, would provide funding for every public high school in the state to have a full-time athletic trainer. The funding would be phased over the next three fiscal years. Both the state and local districts would allocate money for the athletic …

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 …

The resolution aims to provide support to foster children and relatives whom assume their guardianship.

Del. to explore federal program supporting foster children

Jarek RutzGovernment, Headlines

Gov. John Carney has signed a law requiring a state agency for child services to explore joining a federal program that aims to find permanent housing solutions for foster children. Senate Joint Resolution 1, from Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, and Rep. Kim Williams, D-Stanton, directs the Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families to consider participating in the …