CHAPTER 54
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 220
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL AND DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend § 154(a), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking § 154(a) in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(a) The Department shall create a program to provide the public with objective information about the academic performance of all Delaware public schools through the School Profiles required pursuant to § 124A of this title. The program shall classify schools based on the performance of their student bodies on the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. The Department shall classify schools by utilizing four ratings of school performance to be known as Superior Performance, Commendable Performance, Under School Improvement, and Unsatisfactory Performance.".
Section 2. Amend § 154(b), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "for superior performance" where it appears in the first sentence thereof.
Section 3. Amend § 154(b)(1), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the word "two" where it appears in the final sentence thereof and inserting the word "multiple" in lieu thereof.
Section 4. Amend § 154(b)(2), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "1998-1999" where it appears in the final sentence thereof and inserting the phrase "1999-2000" in lieu thereof.
Section 5. Amend § 154(c), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the third and fourth sentences therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"Annual monetary awards in the amount of $10,000 per school shall be made available to those schools which demonstrate superior absolute performance, superior improvement performance or superior distributional performance. A school shall receive a monetary award for each category in which it demonstrates superior performance.".
Section 6. Amend § 154(c), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the last sentence therein.
Section 7. Amend § 154(d), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by deleting the first paragraph in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"The Department shall establish criteria to consider absolute performance, improvement performance and distributional performance in determining whether a school's performance is classified as Superior, Commendable, Under School Improvement or Unsatisfactory. Such criteria shall place significant emphasis on improvement and distributional performance.".
Section 8. Amend § 154(d)(1), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the subsection in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(1) Schools classified as Under School Improvement shall be evaluated by a School Review Committee composed of representatives from the Department of Education as well as educators from other Delaware public schools. The School Review Committee shall assess the performance of the school using additional evidence of school performance. The School Review Committee shall recommend to the Secretary of Education whether or not the school has demonstrated Commendable Performance using additional evidence of school performance. The Department shall define by regulation the composition of School Review Committee and criteria for other evidence of school performance.".
Section 9. Amend § 154(d)(2), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the first two sentences in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"Upon the recommendations of the School Review Committee, the Secretary of Education may reclassify a school to Commendable Performance subject to the consent of the State Board of Education. Schools not demonstrating Commendable Performance using other evidence shall remain classified as Under School Improvement and shall be required to develop a school improvement plan which must be approved by the local board of education at a public meeting. The school shall create a school based committee to develop and help implement the school improvement plan.".
Section 10. Amend § 154(d)(2), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the last two sentences therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"The Department of Education shall provide technical and/or financial assistance to schools developing and implementing school improvement plans pursuant to this section. The amount available for financial assistance shall be provided for in the annual appropriations act.".
Section 11. Amend § 154(d)(3), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "on accreditation watch" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "under school improvement.".
Section 12. Amend § 154(d)(3), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "non-accredited" and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "unsatisfactory performance.".
Section 13. Amend § 154(d)(3) a. 9., Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the word "State" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Student.".
Section 14. Amend § 154(d)(4), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "non-accredited" and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "unsatisfactory performance.".
Section 15. Amend § 154(e), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the word "accreditation" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "performance.".
Section 16. Amend § 155, Title 14, of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "on accreditation watch" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "under school improvement.".
Section 17. Amend § 155, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "non-accredited" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "unsatisfactory performance.".
Section 18. Amend § 155, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "superior accredited" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "superior performance.".
Section 19. Amend § 155, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "accredited" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "commendable performance.".
Section 20. Amend § 155, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the phrase "receive full accreditation from" wherever it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase "be classified by.".
Section 21. Amend § 155(e)(1) a. 7., Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the word "State" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "Student.".
Section 22. Amend § 155(f), Title 14 of the Delaware Code by striking the word "accreditation" and inserting in lieu thereof the word "performance.".