Bill Text: DE SB261 | 2009-2010 | 145th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 14 Of The Delaware Code To Encourage Parents To Become Involved In Public Schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-06-23 - Amendment HA 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill [SB261 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2009-SB261-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Sen. Sokola & Rep. Schooley

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 261

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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

WHEREAS, parental involvement in children's schools is an essential element of a successful education; and

WHEREAS, the State of Delaware wishes to encourage schools to make vigorous, formal efforts to emphasize to parents the importance of regular involvement in their children's schoolwork; and

WHEREAS, Delaware law does not currently require any formal steps by schools or school districts to emphasize parental involvement, nor does it provide the public with a means to monitor which schools and school districts are diligently seeking out parental involvement; and

WHEREAS, the public should have the opportunity to scrutinize schools' compliance with federal parental involvement requirements;

NOW, THEREFORE:

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

Section 1.Amend Title 14, Section 157 of the Delaware Code by eliminating subsections (c) and (d) and replacing them with the following:

"(c)Within 60 days after enactment of this Act, the Department of Education shall promulgate a Parents' Declaration of Responsibilities reflecting the elements set forth in subsection (b) of this section and such other elements of effective parental and family involvement as the Department identifies. Said Declaration shall be prepared with input from statewide and local parent/teacher organizations and representatives of teachers and school administrators.Such Declaration shall identify responsibilities for parents and families, as well as the commitment of the public schools to actively collaborate in promoting student success.

(d)Local school districts and charter schools shall adopt the Parents' Declaration of Responsibilities or a district or school level declaration satisfying the intent of subsection (c) as local policy, and shall ask each parent/guardian at the beginning of each school year to execute a Parent/School Agreement based upon that Declaration of Responsibilities.Parents and guardians shall not be compelled to sign the Parent/School Agreement.".

Section 2.Amend Title 14, Section 124A of the Delaware Code by deleting paragraph (8) of subsection (c) of that Section and replacing it with the following:

"(8)Information pertaining to parent and community involvement in the school and school district, including but not limited to (i) the percentage of parents at the school who have signed the Parent/School Agreement required by Section 157(d) of this Title; (ii) a description of the school or school district's use of federal funds for parental involvement as required by 20 U.S.C. §6318 or its successor (including the uses of such funds by individual schools within districts); and (iii) a copy of the school or school district's parental involvement policy as required by 20 U.S.C. §6318 or its successor.Except as otherwise indicated in this Title, information compiled pursuant to this subsection is not intended to be used in making accountability determinations under Subchapter III of this Chapter or any provisions of Chapter 12 of this Title."

SYNOPSIS

Section 1 of this bill would require schools to seek the signature from each parent of a parent/school compact at the beginning of each school year, reflecting an updated Parents' Declaration of Responsibilities to be prepared by the State and parent organizations.Existing law encourages, but does not require, that parents be asked to sign such a compact.Section 2 of this bill would significantly expand the parental involvement portion of schools' Delaware Public Education Profiles, in order to inform the public about which schools are diligently pursuing parent/school compacts, and how schools that receive federal Title 1 funds are using those funds to enhance parental involvement.

Author:Senator Sokola