Bill Text: DE SCR117 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Establishing The Classroom Behavior And School Discipline Task Force.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-05 - Defeated By Senate. Votes: 6 YES 14 NOT VOTING 1 ABSENT [SCR117 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2023-SCR117-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Buckson & Sen. Sturgeon & Rep. Hilovsky & Rep. K. Williams |
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Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Richardson, Wilson; Reps. Bolden, Matthews, Morris, Osienski, Parker Selby, Vanderwende, Yearick |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 117
ESTABLISHING THE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR AND SCHOOL DISCIPLINE TASK FORCE.
WHEREAS, according to West Ed, a national nonpartisan leader in education research, teachers described feeling exploited, demoralized, and unsafe because of increasingly aggressive behaviors from students and parents; and
WHEREAS, all students deserve the opportunity to learn in a safe environment, free of excess distractions and disruptions; and
WHEREAS, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) cited the following student behaviors were most frequently reported as having increased during the 2021/2022 school year: classroom disruptions from student misconduct (56%), rowdiness outside of the classroom (48%), acts of disrespect towards teachers and staff (48%), and prohibited use of electronic devices (42%); and
WHEREAS, failing to effectively address defiance, disruption, aggression, and hostility in classrooms and on school grounds corrodes school climate contributing to educator attrition and learning loss.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152 nd General Assembly, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Classroom Behavior and School Discipline Task Force (“Task Force”) is established to study and make findings and recommendations to best address classroom behavior concerns in Delaware schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force comprises the following members, or a designee selected by a member serving by virtue of position:
1. Three members of the Senate; two members of the majority party who are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and one member of the minority party who is appointed by the Senate Minority Leader.
2. Three members of the House of Representatives; two members of the majority party who are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member of the minority party who is appointed by the House Minority Leader.
3. The Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.
4. The President of the Delaware State Education Association.
5. Three Delaware public school principals or assistant principals, one from each county, appointed by the Governor.
6. Three Delaware public school educational classroom instructors from Title I schools, one from each county, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
7. Three Delaware public school educational classroom instructors, one from each county, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
8. Three Delaware public school paraprofessionals, one from each county, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
9. Three parents or guardians of students currently attending a Delaware public school, one from each county, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
10. One representative from the Delaware School Bus Contractors Association, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
11. The Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a member serving by virtue of position who is granted the ability to designate another individual to attend a Task Force meeting must provide the designation in writing to the Chair and Vice-Chair. An individual attending a meeting for a member serving by virtue of position has the same duties and rights as a member serving by virtue of position.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Task Force choose 2 co-chairs from among themselves at the initial organizational meeting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a quorum of the Task Force is the majority of the members of the Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall examine and recommend a course of action to address all of the following related to classroom behavior and school discipline:
1. Examine the impact disruptive student behavior has on teacher retention and recruitment.
2. Examine the impact ineffective school discipline has on academic performance measures district wide.
3. Determine the impact restorative practices, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) guidelines, and other district, state, and federal regulations have on discipline in our hallways and classrooms.
4. Provide recommendations on regulatory, policy, or statutory changes that should be adopted to address the need for accountability of students who consistently disrupt the learning process and create stress and trauma for educational professionals and students.
5. Explore improving classroom behavior by developing a pilot program for school based interventions in each of the three counties.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:
1. Official action by the Task Force, including making finding and recommendations, requires the approval of a majority of the members of the Task Force.
2. The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation.
3. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Task Force are responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by doing, at a minimum, all of the following:
a. Setting a date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting.
b. Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the Task Force.
c. Sending to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them.
d. Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.
e. Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly; the Governor; the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council; and the Delaware Public Archives.
4. The Task Force shall hold its first meeting not later than April 1, 2024.
5. The General Assembly is responsible for providing reasonable and necessary support staff, including a legislative attorney, and materials for the Task Force to carry out its mission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Task Force shall compile a report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations related to those issues, and submit the report no later than November 30, 2024.
SYNOPSIS
This concurrent resolution establishes the Classroom Behavior and School Discipline Task Force.
Author: Senator Buckson
