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: Sen. Sturgeon & Sen. Townsend & Sen. Lockman &
Rep. K. Williams
Sens. Cruce, Pinkney, Sokola; Reps. Berry, Chukwuocha,
Lambert, S. Moore, Morrison, Neal, Ortega, Romer,
Ross Levin, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall, Wilson-Anton
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE BILL NO. 303
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION
FUNDING COMMISSION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
1 Section 1. Amend Chapter 17, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and
2 insertions as shown by underline as follows:
3 § 1727. Public Education Funding Commission.
4 (a) The Public Education Funding Commission (Commission) is established to review public education funding
5 policies and formulas on a regular basis and make recommendations on how public education funding policies and
6 formulas can be improved for all students and communities served by public schools, including charter schools (schools).
7 (b) The Commission is comprised of the following 33 members:
8 (1) The following members who serve by virtue of position:
9 a. The Secretary of the Department of Education, or the Secretary may designate the Deputy Secretary.
10 b. The Controller General, or the Controller General may designate the Deputy Controller General.
11 c. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or the Director may designate the Deputy
12 Director.
13 d. The Chair of the Senate Education Committee.
14 e. The Chair of the House Education Committee.
15 f. The student member of the Delaware State Board of Education. If the student does not choose to be a
16 member of the Commission, the State Board of Education shall select the student member.
17 (2) The following members who serve by virtue of position, or a designee selected by the member serving by
18 virtue of position:
19 a. The President of the Delaware State Education Association.
20 b. The Executive Director of the Delaware Association of School Administrators.
DLS : DIG : AF Page 1 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126
21 c. The President of the Delaware Association of School Administrators’ Delaware Association of School
22 Principals.
23 d. The President of the Delaware Association of School Administrators’ Delaware Chief School Officers
24 Association.
25 e. The Executive Director of the Delaware School Boards Association.
26 (3) The following members, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (President Pro Tempore),
27 as follows:
28 a. A member of the minority caucus of the Senate.
29 b. Two school principals, representing geographical diversity, as follows:
30 1. One principal must be from an elementary school and 1 must be from a secondary school.
31 2. Each must be the principal of a school that has a high percentage of students who are multilingual
32 or low-income, or both.
33 3. The President Pro Tempore may consider potential nominees from a list provided by the Delaware
34 Association of School Administrators’ Delaware Association of School Principals.
35 c. Three professional educators, representing geographical diversity, as follows:
36 1. One or more professional educators must be a specialist.
37 2. The President Pro Tempore may consider potential nominees from a list provided by the Delaware
38 State Education Association.
39 d. A representative of a community organization that serves students who live in households with
40 incomes below the poverty level.
41 e. A representative of a community organization that services students who are multilingual learners
42 because they are learning English.
43 f. A representative of an education policy organization who has special knowledge of education finance
44 or other expertise to contribute to Commission discussions.
45 g. A member of the community who has knowledge of education funding policy.
46 h. A representative of a parent advocacy organization who has knowledge of special education policies
47 and practices.
48 (4) The following members, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Speaker), as follows:
49 a. A member of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives.
DLS : DIG : AF Page 2 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126
50 b. Three members who are school financial officers, representing geographical diversity. The Speaker
51 may consider potential nominees from a list of names provided by the Delaware Association of School
52 Administrators’ Delaware Association of School Business Officials.
53 c. A charter school administrator who is responsible for the school’s finances.
54 d. Three education support professionals, representing geographical diversity as follows:
55 1. One or more of the education support professionals must be a paraprofessional.
56 2. The Speaker may consider potential nominees from a list of names provided by the Delaware State
57 Education Association.
58 e. A special education director employed by a school. The Speaker may consider potential nominees from
59 a list of names provided by the Delaware Association of School Administrators’ Delaware Association of Special
60 Education Professionals.
61 f. A representative of the Vision Coalition. The Speaker may consider potential nominees from a list of
62 names provided by the Vision Coalition.
63 g. A representative of the Special Education Strategic Plan Advisory Council. The Speaker may consider
64 potential nominees from a list of names provided by the Special Education Strategic Plan Advisory Council.
65 (c)(1) A member appointed under paragraphs (b)(3) or (b)(4) of this section serves a term of 2 years and may serve
66 1 additional term, as follows:
67 a. Each term expires on the date specified in the appointment. Notwithstanding this paragraph (c)(1) of
68 this section:
69 1. An individual may continue to serve as a member until a replacement is appointed.
70 2. The member serves at the pleasure of the individual in the position that makes their appointment.
71 b. The President Pro Tempore or the Speaker may appoint a member for a term of fewer than 2 years so
72 that members have staggered terms. If a member is appointed for a term of fewer than 2 years, the term of fewer
73 than 2 years is not counted toward the member’s term limit.
74 c. After a member serves 2 terms under this paragraph (c)(1), the individual is eligible for membership 3
75 years after the member’s second term expires under paragraph (c)(1)a. of this section.
76 (2)a. An organization with a member of the Commission under paragraph (b)(2) of this section must provide
77 written notice to the chair when the member serving by virtue of position changes.
78 b. A member of the Commission under paragraph (b)(2) of this section with the ability to designate
79 another individual to attend a meeting, must select the designee from that member’s organization and provide the
DLS : DIG : AF Page 3 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126
80 designation in writing to the chair. An individual attending a meeting for a member as a designee has the same
81 duties and rights as the member.
82 c. A designee appointed by a member under paragraph (b)(2) of this section serves at the pleasure of that
83 member.
84 (d)(1)a Every 2 years, the Commission shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members.
85 b. The Secretary of the Department of Education serves as the temporary chair until a chair is elected or if
86 the positions of chair and vice-chair become vacant at the same time.
87 (2) The Commission must meet 2 or more times each calendar year.
88 (3)a. The Commission may adopt rules necessary for its operation, including for the creation of working
89 subcommittees that include individuals who are not members of the Commission.
90 b. If the Commission does not adopt rules or the adopted rules do not govern a given situation, Mason’s
91 Manual of Legislative Procedure controls.
92 (4) The chair of the Commission may invite individuals with relevant expertise to participate in the
93 Commission’s discussions.
94 (5) The Department of Education shall provide reasonable and necessary technical support for the
95 Commission, including staff.
96 (e)(1)a. A quorum of the Commission is a majority of the members. A vacancy on the Commission is not counted
97 for quorum.
98 b. A quorum of the Commission must be present to conduct official business.
99 c. Official action by the Commission requires the approval of a quorum of the Commission.
100 (2) A member receives no compensation but may be reimbursed for the member’s actual and necessary
101 expenses incurred in the performance of the member’s official duties.
102 (f) The Commission shall review the public education funding system to ensure that the public education funding
103 system does all of the following:
104 (1) Maintains funding stability and predictability.
105 (2) Supports all of the following goals, with strategies based on research:
106 a. Student achievement.
107 b. Student and educator well-being.
108 c. The recruitment and retention of educators.
109 d. Equitable funding for students, across school districts and charter schools.
DLS : DIG : AF Page 4 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126
110 (3) Provides adequate funding to do all of the following:
111 a. Address student needs.
112 b. Provide positive classroom conditions and conducive learning facilities.
113 c. Recruit and retain educators.
114 d. Address wealth disparities that exist between schools.
115 (4) Provides flexible funding to meet student needs.
116 (5) Ensures that a minimum, state-appropriated share of teacher compensation is guaranteed for all schools
117 and that educators are paid in accordance with the findings and recommendations of the Public Education
118 Compensation Committee.
119 (6) Addresses any other goals, problems, or disparities that the Commission identifies.
120 (g) The Commission’s work under this section must include all of the following:
121 (1) Public input, including input from educators, parents, school administrators, school district boards, and
122 representatives from higher education.
123 (2) Review of public school appropriations in the annual budget appropriation bill under Chapter 64 of Title
124 29 and consideration of where specific appropriations can be consolidated or revised to provide greater flexibility and
125 to meet the goals under subsection (f) of this section.
126 (3) Review of how schools spent state appropriations for the current and previous fiscal years, including in
127 regard to all of the following:
128 a. All required accountability reports and measures.
129 b. The educational outcomes achieved as a result of these funds.
130 (4) Review of this State’s laws and regulations that impact education funding to identify conflicting mandates
131 or the inconsistent allocation of resources.
132 (h) The Commission shall make recommendations regarding changes to the public education funding system that
133 would better meet the goals under subsection (f) of this section, including in regard to all of the following:
134 (1) The amount of this State’s appropriations to schools.
135 (2) This State’s laws and regulations.
136 (3) Improvements to the equalization formula so that schools receive equitable funding regardless of the value
137 of real property in each school district.
138 (4) The identification of changes needed as part of local funding reform.
DLS : DIG : AF Page 5 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126
139 (i) The Commission must provide an annual report containing a summary of the review conducted under this
140 section and recommendations for improvements to the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees, the
141 Governor, and the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services.
142 Section 2. This Act is effective immediately and must be implemented as follows:
143 (1) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives must make their
144 appointments under § 1727(b)(3) or § 1727(b)(4) of Title 14 no less than 30 days after [the effective date of this Act].
145 (2) Notwithstanding § 1727(d)(2) of Title 14, the Commission must meet 1 or more times in 2026.
SYNOPSIS
Under Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 201 (152nd General Assembly) and House Concurrent Resolution No. 2
(153rd General Assembly), the Public Education Funding Commission (Commission) has studied how to improve
Delaware's public education funding policies so that public school funding is equitable and appropriated in a manner that
allows public schools, including both school districts and charter schools, to not only spend all money that is appropriated
but to do so in a manner that best meets the needs of the students in each school. This Act implements the Commission’s
recommendation that the Public Education Funding Commission be established as a permanent body.
As set forth in Senate Bill No. 302 (153rd General Assembly), the Commission recommended that the General
Assembly enact what is known as the hybrid formula. The hybrid formula combines elements of the current funding
calculations with a weighted needs-based approach that provides additional funding for students who receive career and
technical education or special education services, who are multilingual learners, and who live in low-income households.
Codified, the Commission will have a crucial role in implementing and maintaining the benefits of the hybrid
model by continually reviewing the hybrid model, including the amounts of the required weights, if school spending of
state appropriations complies with the applicable requirements, and making recommendations for improvements. The
continual review of public education funding by the Commission will allow adjustments to be made on a gradual and
incremental basis as needed.
Author: Senator Sturgeon
DLS : DIG : AF Page 6 of 6 Released: 04/29/2026 04:39 PM
5971530126Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.