Legislation Document

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

Section 1. Amend § 1605A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1605A. Prevention component.

The Family Services Cabinet Council (Council), with the The Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families acting as lead agencies, shall must administer a program to offer prevention-related student support services (prevention services) to students to prevent them from becoming discipline problems and from failing academically to promote positive student behavior and prevent them from failing academically in our schools. Within the limits of appropriations made for this purpose, the Council shall Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families must provide rules and regulations for the award of prevention grants and the conduct of prevention programs authorized under this section, subject to the following limitations:

(1) The Council shall The Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families must issue prevention funding to local school districts proposing to establish an integrated plan to deliver prevention services including, but not limited to, including:

a. academic Academic tutoring and student mentoring programs to provide at-risk students with the extra help they may need to succeed academically and with positive adult role models; role models.

b. outreach Outreach programs to promote parental, family family. and community involvement in students’ academic studies and in reducing and resolving school discipline problems; challenges to positive student behavior.

c. school-linked School-linked support services to help students with family or health problems that may be adversely affecting their academic performance and their conduct at school; school.

d. training Training to help students and school personnel resolve conflicts peacefully and non-disruptively; non-disruptively.

e. Removing barriers that prevent or limit the time available for school-based mental health professionals to proactively provide necessary direct or indirect services to students, compensating school employees to serve as school climate content experts, and assistance to help teachers better manage the behavior of students in their classrooms. classrooms, including training in restorative practices, and support for district-level committees to revise discipline policies to reduce subjectivity and provide greater clarity regarding behavioral expectations and appropriate consequences.

(2) Applications for funding pursuant to this section shall be made by school districts in accordance with procedures and standards established by the Council. Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. Each applicant shall set forth an integrated plan to provide prevention services consistent with paragraph (1) of this section. To avoid duplication of effort, maximize the impact of limited resources, and increase the effect of efforts by state, local, community and private, nonprofit agencies through increased coordination and cooperation, the Council Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families shall give preference to applications which:

a. Are submitted by 2 or more school districts working in concert, where appropriate;

b. Include private, nonprofit agencies and community organizations as partners in the application, and identify the roles those agencies and organizations are to play in delivering prevention services in the community;

c. Indicate how grants from the federal government and foundations will be used or sought to help deliver prevention services in the community; and

d. Identify the roles state and local agencies are to play in delivering prevention services in the community.

(3) The Council shall Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families must provide technical assistance to districts preparing applications and ongoing assistance to districts awarded funding pursuant to this section.

(4) The Council shall Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families must establish a timetable for the award of grants pursuant to this section which shall provide, at minimum, for a period of 1 month for joint planning between the Council Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families and the applicants that the Counsel Departments selects select as finalists eligible for a funding award. During such joint planning, the Council Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families and the applicant shall refine the applicant’s prevention plan, ensure that the plan makes cost-effective use of the resources and services of state, local, community and private, nonprofit agencies, and consider the incorporation of successful elements of other districts’ prevention programs into the applicant’s plans. Final awards shall be made by the Council Department of Education and the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families on or before January 15 of each year for the subsequent school year, contingent upon the appropriation of funds for such purpose in the annual appropriations act.

SPONSOR:	Rep. Berry & Sen. Sturgeon
Reps. Morrison, Gorman