CHAPTER 546
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 937
AN ACT TO AMEND DELAWARE CODE, TITLE 14, IN ORDER TO PROVICE A BASIC SKILLS INSTRUCTIONAL FUNDING UNIT AND AUTHORIZING STAFF OR SERVICES OR MATERIALS FOR SUCH UNITS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Delaware Code, Title 14, §1321 (e) by inserting an additional item to be inserted and numbered after item (13) but prior to the final paragraph of subsection (e) as follows:
"(14) Specialists - (i) basic skills specialist which shall be assigned at the teacher salary level and may include a teacher of pupils or a specialist serving other teachers in the reading and communication skills or in mathematics for a period of ten (10) months per year at the rate of 1 for each 600 pupils enrolled in a school district, grades K through 12. Districts shall qualify for partial funding for a basic skills specialist for a fractional part of 600 pupils enrolled in grades K through 12.
(ii) Each pupil may be counted only once in a district or districts. For purpils who attend schools in more than one district during each school day, the pupil is to be counted in the school district from which he or she will receive a high school diploma or certificate of attendance.
(i) When a single person is employed to fill the position herein described that person shall be paid and assigned according to the provisions of this Chapter; §1305, except that the assignment of 180 pupil days and 185 employment days described in §1305 (c) may be assigned during any of the months of a 12 month fiscal year beginning July 1.
(i) A school district may exercise the option of substituting for the employment of a teacher/specialist in this position, certain basic skills services as described in Chapter 17 of this Title under the heading of 'Basic Skills Unit and Funding'.
(i) The provisions of this Title, §1716, relating to the supplemental nature of a basic skills unit are applicable to this Section (14)."
Section 2. Amend Delaware Code, Title 14, by adding to Chapter 17 a new section as follows:
'§1716. Basic skills unit and funding
(a) 'Basic skills unit' is defined for funding purposes as one (1) funding unit for each six hundred (600) enrollees in a
school district, grades K through 12. Districts shall qualify for partial funding for a basic skills unit for a fractional part of 600 pupils enrolled in grades K through 12.
(b) 'Basic skills' shall include reading and the communication skills and mathematics, further defined according to rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.
(c) Funds appropriated in support of this unit may be used for expenditures under Division I or Division II for the purchase of services from persons or agencies or for the purchase of supplies to be used in the teaching of basic skills only, upon the decision of a school district board of education to use the funds for that purpose in substitution for the employment of a teacher or specialist as authorized in 11321 (e) of this Title under the heading of 'Specialists - Basic skills specialist'.
(d) The dollar value of this unit when applied to the employment of a 'specialist or teacher' shall be as provided in this Title, but when applied as herein described for services or supplies and materials shall be the number of dollars set in the State supported salary schedule for a teacher holding a Master's Degree with ten (10) years of experience and employed for ten (10) months. The calculation of this funding shall be for the current school year. Expenditures on behalf of this unit when used for the purchase of services, supplies, or materials shall be up to, but not in excess of, the amount herein authorized.
(e) Any school district wishing to use funds under any of the options set forth in this section shall make application to the State Board of Education for that use. The application shall indicate that these funds are being used to supplement programs in the school district and that their use will not supplant personnel, services, supplies or materials provided during fiscal year 1978 from local funding sources.
(f) In the case of New Castle County, these funds may be used to carry out a part of the Order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, January 9, 1978, in the establishment of reading and communication skills programs and shall, as indicated in this section, supplement not supplant previous programs. The provisions of this paragraph shall also be applicable to the employment of 'Specialists - basic skills specialist' as authorized in this Title, 11321 (e).
(g)Funds appropriated to a school district under the provisions of this section and 11321 (e) relating to 'Specialists - basic skills' may be used by the district, subject to Federal statutes and regulations, as matching funds to earn any Federal funds available in the area of reading, mathematics or compensatory education."
Approved September 16, 1978.