Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Delaware General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the current version. The official bill page.
SPONSOR: Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Sturgeon
Reps. Lynn, Berry, Harris
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 309
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend § 1332, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
3 § 1332. Statewide program for services for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
4 (a) The Department shall provide training and technical assistance across all public schools within this State on
5 behalf of students with an educational classification of autism spectrum disorder (“ASD”). Educational programming
6 provided under this chapter must have high-quality instruction based on research and evidence-based practice.
7 (b) The Department, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall designate a school district or other
8 entity to administer the statewide program (“program”) Department must administer statewide support and services for
9 students with an educational classification of ASD. If no district or other entity is willing to administer the statewide
10 program, the Department must act in that role.
11 (c) The entity administering the program The Department must employ a statewide director (“Director”) for a
12 period of 12 months each year. to oversee statewide supports and services for ASD. The Director must be hired in
13 consultation with the Peer Review Committee and have the following qualifications and expertise with ASD:
14 (1) Doctorate degree in psychology, special education, applied behavior analysis, analysis (“ABA”),
15 educational leadership, or other related field (master’s degree considered with extensive experience).
16 (2) Minimum 10 years of experience working with individuals with ASD; at least 5 years in a supervisory role
17 in an education setting, as well as experience in program evaluation.
18 (3) Graduate-level training in evidence-based practices in curriculum, instruction, and behavioral support
19 (ABA and other instructional strategies). such as ABA.
20 (4) Experience planning or leading skill development, as well as implementation of evidence-based practices
21 in educational settings for individuals with ASD.
HD : KRW : DS Page 1 of 5 Released: 03/04/2026 04:48 PM
0841530009
22 (5) Successful experience leading the development and implementation of a structured staff and parent
23 professional development program (academic, behavioral, and social-emotional learning).
24 (6) Knowledge and experience with implementation of evidence-based practice; at least 5 years of experience
25 providing consultation to all school staff, and experience with program development in a school setting (public school
26 preferred).
27 The administering entity Department may include other desirable preferences as needed.
28 (d) The Department shall pay the Director a salary in an amount for which the Director qualifies under § 1305(a),
29 (b), and (d) of this title plus an amount for administrative responsibility determined in accordance with § 1321(c) of this
30 title. The Director’s salary, including “years of experience,” shall be determined in accordance with rules and regulations
31 adopted by the Department with the approval of the State Board of Education.
32 (e) The program shall provide training and technical assistance for all public schools. The training and technical
33 assistance under this subsection is a 3-year pilot program that ends on June 30, 2021, unless extended by an act of the
34 General Assembly.
35 (1)(e) The program Department must provide training and technical assistance for all public schools by doing all
36 of the following:
37 a. (1) Identifying those and promoting evidence-based practices specifically relevant specific to the
38 education of students with an educational classification of ASD that are established as evidence-based through the
39 best available outcome supported by the most current research or by expert consensus.
40 b. Promoting utilization of these practices by leading training, and technical assistance activities
41 specifically relevant to students with an educational classification of ASD. (2) Supporting statewide
42 implementation of evidence-based practices by providing leadership, training, and technical assistance to
43 educators and related service providers who work with students with an educational classification of ASD.
44 c. Assisting with implementation of all aspects of training and technical assistance in all public schools,
45 for students from birth to age 21 with an educational classification of ASD. (3) Assisting districts and charter
46 schools with systemwide implementation of training, coaching, and technical assistance in all public schools, for
47 students from birth to age 22 with an educational classification of ASD.
48 d. Supervising or managing (4) Overseeing and coordinating contracts and professional staff responsible
49 for delivering ASD-related training, coaching, and technical assistance, including specialists for training specialists
50 employed under paragraph (e)(2) of employed or contracted under this section.
HD : KRW : DS Page 2 of 5 Released: 03/04/2026 04:48 PM
0841530009
51 e.(5) Consulting and working collaboratively collaborating with the Department stakeholders on all
52 aspects of education programs related to ASD. policies, programming, curriculum, and initiatives that impact
53 students with an educational classification of ASD, ensuring alignment with current research and state priorities.
54 f. (6) Serving as the primary liaison between the Department and other state agencies, committees,
55 advisory groups, and community and programs on matters related to educational programming questions regarding
56 programs for students with an educational classification of ASD.
57 (2)(7) The program must have Employing 5 training specialists as follows:
58 a. At least 1 training specialist per 100 students with an educational classification of ASD. The total
59 number of positions must be determined annually through the September 30 count of students with an educational
60 classification of ASD. The program must be phased in with a minimum of 2 training specialists in Fiscal Year
61 2019, 2 training specialists added in Fiscal Year 2020, and additional training specialists added each fiscal year
62 until the number of training specialists required under this paragraph (e)(2)a. is met or the pilot program ends
63 under this subsection.
64 b. a. “Training specialists” must include qualified speech-language pathologists, behavior analysts, and
65 other personnel with expertise in evidence-based instruction for people with ASD in classroom, community, and
66 home-based consultation.
67 c. b. Training specialists must serve eligible students within all public schools. public school districts and
68 school teams as well as community teams and families.
69 d. c. A training specialist must have a master’s degree and 3 years of experience of demonstrated
70 consultative experience working with students with an educational classification of ASD.
71 e. d. The duties of a training specialist include providing training and technical assistance for staff
72 working with students with an educational classification of ASD, including classroom consultation; plan
73 development and performance feedback; parent training; and providing training for regular education staff on ASD
74 and evidence-based strategies for inclusion practices.
75 (3) (8) The program may, after approval by the Department, purchase Purchasing specialized services, as
76 appropriate, instead of hiring staff to provide the education and training required under this section.
77 a. The dollar value of each full-time equivalent, when purchasing services to be provided by an outside
78 contractor, is the number of dollars set in the state-supported salary schedule for a teacher holding a master’s
79 degree with 10 years of experience and employed for 12 months.
80 b. The calculation of this funding is for the current school year.
HD : KRW : DS Page 3 of 5 Released: 03/04/2026 04:48 PM
0841530009
81 c. The State Board of Education may review any objection to the Department’s decision.
82 (4) State appropriations must be phased in over several years, starting in Fiscal Year 2019 and in equal
83 increments each subsequent fiscal year until fully funded or the pilot program ends under this subsection.
84 (5) Additional funding may be provided through any of the following:
85 a. Units and funds appropriated by the General Assembly.
86 b. Units and funds allocated by the Department.
87 c. Pass though funds and direct grants.
88 d. Tuition funds from public school districts as established by the rules and regulations of the
89 Department, according to Chapter 6 of this title.
90 e. Fees for service for support where other funding is inadequate.
91 f. Other funds as available, including funds in excess of standard match funding under this title.
92 (f) The Department, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall adopt such rules and regulations to
93 establish and provide for the following committees:
94 (1) Parent Advisory Committees (“PAC”).
95 (2) (1) Peer Review Committee (“PRC”) which, at the request of the Department, may also that must review
96 educational procedures and programming for students with an educational classification of ASD and related
97 disabilities. ASD.
98 (3) (2) Statewide Monitoring Review Board (“SMRB”), composed of no less than 7 members, including 2
99 nonvoting public representatives nominated annually by the PAC. determined annually by the Department. A public
100 representative may not have a child with an educational classification of ASD enrolled in a Delaware public school
101 program. program during the representative’s term of service.
102 a. The SMRB shall review, at least annually, the education and provision of related services provided to
103 students with an educational classification of ASD throughout all public schools to ensure the application of
104 evidence-based practice and opportunities for meaningful and measurable progress and inclusion, as appropriate,
105 are afforded to all such students. Annually, the SMRB shall evaluate whether the educational methods and
106 curricula are consistent with evidence-based practices for students with an education classification of ASD,
107 including reviewing and making recommendations on proposed new practices throughout all public schools to
108 ensure opportunities for meaningful and measurable progress and inclusion, as appropriate, are afforded to all such
109 students with an educational classification of ASD.
HD : KRW : DS Page 4 of 5 Released: 03/04/2026 04:48 PM
0841530009
110 b. The SMRB shall review data from annual reviews conducted by the Department on educational
111 programming for students with a primary educational classification of ASD throughout all public schools and
112 make findings and recommendations based on its review findings to include data measuring these specific
113 recommendations and suggestions for corrective action to ensure consistent quality and equity of services
114 throughout this State.
115 c. The Department in collaboration with the SMRB shall submit its findings and recommendations, at
116 least annually, to the Department and the Education Committees of the General Assembly. The SMRB’s report
117 must be available on each school district or school website. Assembly and make the report available on the
118 Department website.
119 d. The SMRB shall resolve disputes within or between public schools and the Director. This paragraph
120 (f)(3)d. does not diminish the procedural safeguards guaranteed to children with an educational classification of
121 ASD, their parents or guardians, or public schools or agencies.
122 e. d. If a public school is found to be out of compliance with the specific recommendations in this
123 paragraph (f)(3), made under this section, the Department and the Director must allow the public school the
124 opportunity for technical assistance and progressive implementation of a corrective action plan for improvement
125 agreed upon by the school and the Director.
SYNOPSIS
The Autism Program was transferred to the Department of Education in 2023 through epilogue language in the
budget bill. This Act updates the code relating to the statewide program to align with the DOE’s current practices and
responsibilities.
HD : KRW : DS Page 5 of 5 Released: 03/04/2026 04:48 PM
0841530009Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.