SPONSOR:

Rep. K. Williams & Rep. Kowalko & Sen. Sokola

Reps. Baumbach, Bentz, Heffernan, Jaques, Keeley, Mitchell; Sens. Marshall, Poore, Townsend, Walsh

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 85

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Section 506, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignating accordingly:

§ 506 Restrictions.

(b) Preferences in student admissions may be given to:

(3) Students enrolling in a new ( nonconverted ) charter school may be given preference under the following circumstances as long as the school has described its preferences in the school's charter:

a. Students residing within a 5-mile radius of the school;

b. Students residing within the regular school district in which the school is located ​or students residing in any portion of the regular school district that is geographically contiguous with the location of the school ;

c. Students who have a specific interest in the school's teaching methods, philosophy, or educational focus;

d. Students who are at risk of academic failure;

e. Children of persons employed on a permanent basis for at least 30.0 hours per week during the school year by the charter school.

Section 2.  This Act shall be effective for the 2018-2019 school year.  Any charter school currently exercising a preference eliminated by this Act shall cease use of such preference beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

SYNOPSIS

This bill eliminates preferences for students living within a 5-mile radius of a charter school. This change was supported by a majority vote of the Enrollment Preferences Task Force established by House Bill 90 of the 147th General Assembly. The Act will take effect for the 2018-2019 school year, and any charter schools currently using the 5-mile preference must cease application of that preference at that time. This Act will allow a school to exercise a preference for students located in that portion of a district which is geographically contiguous with the location of the school.