WHEREAS, Delaware began education reform in the early 1990s with the development of content standards; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) was developed to be a valid and reliable measure of individual student performance relative to the Delaware content standards; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is to ensure that students can apply their academic skills to realistic, everyday activities and to provide timely reports of students’ progress toward the content standards; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) in reading, mathematics, and writing has been administered to students in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 since 1998; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) in science and social studies has been administered and continues to be administered in grades 4, 6, 8 and 11 since 2000; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is currently administered in reading and mathematics in grades 2 through 10 and in writing in grades 3 through 10; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) is the foundation for school and district accountability; and

WHEREAS, advancements have been made in the field of assessment since Delaware developed the current assessment system; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Department of Education strongly endorses continuous improvement; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to review best practices in state assessment programs.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 143^rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that a Task Force be created for the purpose of examining best practices in state assessment programs and explore the next steps in improving the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP). Such examination will include, but not be limited to, models of assessment programs from other states, the use of formative assessments, and the use of statewide end of course examinations.

The Task Force will be managed and staffed by the Delaware Department of Education and will consist of the following members:

1. Chairperson of the House Education Committee, Delaware House of Representatives;

2. Chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, Delaware State Senate;

3. One (1) person chosen by the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA);

4. One (1) person chosen by the Delaware School Boards Association (DSBA);

5. One (1) person chosen by the Delaware Association of School Administrators (DASA);

6. One (1) person chosen by the Chief School Officers Association (CSOA);

7. One (1) person chosen by the State Board of Education;

8. One (1) person chosen by the Delaware Business Roundtable;

9. One (1) person chosen by the Delaware State Chamber;

10. One (1) person chosen by the State Budget Office;

11. One (1) person chosen by the Charter School Network;

12. One (1) district DSTP test coordinator to be chosen by the Test Coordinators group;

13. Two (2) parents, one (1) parent to be chosen by the Chairperson of the House Education Committee and one (1) parent to be chosen by the Chairperson of the Senate Education Committee; and

14. The Secretary of Education or her designee, to act as Chairperson of the Task Force.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall submit recommendations to the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Governor by March 31, 2006 on improvements and/or changes to the current Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) for the purpose of ensuring that the assessment system continues to be a valid and reliable measure of individual student performance on the state content standards.

SPONSOR:	Rep. Wagner & Sen. Sokola