CHAPTER 138
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 148
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AND
SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 1008, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1008 Creation of interim boards Wilmington Education Improvement Commission.
(a) The Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC) shall advise the Governor and General Assembly on the planning, recommending, and implementing improvements to the quality and availability of education for children in Pre-K through grade 12 in the City of Wilmington and for which such changes maybe be instructive for addressing needs of all schools within the State with high concentrations of children living in poverty, English language learners, or both. Membership on the WEIC shall be limited to 23 members with full voting rights, including a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons, who shall be appointed according to subsection (d) of this section. At a minimum, the WEIC shall be composed of the following members (or their designees, who shall have full voting rights), who shall be appointed by the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons, and when appropriate, in consultation with the appropriate board, agency, or authority from whom the member is drawn, including, but not limited to:
1. A member of the Delaware State Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore, and a member of the Delaware House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker;
2. A representative of the School Board of the Red Clay Consolidated School District;
3. A representative of the School Board of the Christina School District;
4. A representative of the School Board of the Colonial School District;
5. A representative of the School Board of Brandywine School District;
6. The chair of the Education Committee of the Wilmington City Council;
7. A representative of the Mayor of the City of Wilmington;
8. Two charter school representatives, one located inside the existing boundaries of the City of Wilmington and serving Wilmington students, and one located outside of the City of Wilmington, in New Castle County, serving both Wilmington and County children;
9. Two high school students attending public school, one living in the City of Wilmington, one living outside of the City of Wilmington in New Castle County;
10. Two public school parents, one of a student living in the City of Wilmington, one of a student living outside of the City in New Castle County;
11. Two teachers from the school districts and charter schools, one teaching inside the City of Wilmington, one teaching in New Castle County;
12. A representative from the Delaware State Education Association that represents teachers and/or educational support staff in districts that serve Wilmington students; and
13. Other community leaders or representatives of the Wilmington and greater New Castle County community and educational interests.
(b) An affirmative vote of a majority of all voting members shall be required to take action.
(c) Meetings of the WEIC and all WEIC committees shall be public, unless designated for executive session. Voting membership in WEIC shall be limited to subsection (a) of this section.
(d) The Governor shall appoint a Chairperson and two Vice-Chairpersons. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons shall lead the activities of the WEIC, including WEIC’s coordination with State leaders and agencies and with public education and community stakeholders. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons shall be selected based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
1. A parent of a public school student living within the city limits of Wilmington;
2. A school board official from the districts serving Wilmington students; and
3. A community leader not otherwise affiliated with any school district, charter school, or governmental body.
(e) The WEIC shall convene regularly-scheduled public meetings, and shall meet at least 6 times annually.
(f) The WEIC may form an executive committee from its members. The WEIC shall form standing committees to develop recommendations for consideration by the full Commission including, but not limited to committees on: 1) redistricting; 2) charter schools; 3) serving low income and English language learning students; and 4) funding.
(g) The WEIC shall work with and across all governmental agencies, educational entities, and private and nonprofit institutions to promote and support the implementation of all recommended changes from the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee (WEAC). The WEIC also will also monitor the progress of implementation and recommend policies and actions to the Governor and General Assembly to facilitate progress and to promote the continuous improvement of public education. The WEIC shall develop a transition, resource and implementation plan, for presentation to and approval by the State Board of Education, for the provision of necessary services to schools and students affected by the implementation of the changes recommended by WEAC. WEIC shall also develop a resource plan regarding transitional resources to effectively implement school district realignment. Both the transition plan and resource plan must be submitted first to the State Board of Education and then to the General Assembly and the Governor for final approval. Both are due for submission and related action by December 31, 2015.
(h) The WEIC shall report to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House at least once each fiscal year. Each report shall include:
1. A summary of the work and actions completed by WEIC to accomplish its purposes as stated above; and
2. Recommendations of the WEIC about whether and how to further implement, promote, and achieve the recommendations of the WEAC.
(i) The WEIC shall be staffed by the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. The staff shall be managed by a WEIC policy director from the Institute for Public Administration, approved by the Chairperson of WEIC.
(k) The WEIC shall conclude its operations by June 30, 2021.
Section 2. This bill shall take effect upon its enactment.
Approved August 04, 2015