Delaware school system
From Sunshine Review
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The Delaware state constitution requires that the state general assembly "provide for the establishment and maintenance of a general and efficient system of free public schools, and may require by law that every child, not physically or mentally disabled, shall attend the public school, unless educated by other means."[1]
[edit] School revenues, expenditures and budget
- See also: Delaware state budget
The total state budget for fiscal year 2009 was approximately $3.36 billion, of that public education accounts for $1.15 billion. Higher education accounts for $242 million of the total budget. However, for fiscal year 2010 the governor recommended a total budget of $3.06 billion. Education accounts for $1.11 billion of the budget, a difference of $43,912 as compared to FY 2009.[2]
[edit] Personnel salaries
In the 2007-2008 school year there were a total of 8,029 teachers, of that 7,464 teachers were at non-charter public schools and 565 were at charter schools. The Delaware education system has a grand total of 13,579 employees.[3]
According to the American Federation of Teachers, Delaware ranked 12th in the nation for average teacher salary for the 2006-07 school year. In the 2006-07 school year the average teacher salary was $54,537, a 3.9% increase from 2005-06. Delaware ranked 6th in beginning teacher salaries - $39,941, a 3.6% increase from 2005-06.[4]
| School year | Average annual teacher salary | Average beginning teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | $54,537[4] | $39,941[4] |
| 2005-06 | $52,410[4] | $38,503[4] |
| 2004-05 | $52,924[5] | $35,854[5] |
[edit] Role of unions
The main union related to the Nevada school system is Delaware State Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). For the 2003 tax period the union had: $3.68 million in total revenue, $3.47 million in total expenses and $4.24 million in total assets.[6]
Other local Delaware local unions include: New Castle County Education Association and Delaware State Education Association (Newark).[7]
[edit] Role of school boards
The State Board of Education is comprised of seven members, all of which are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state senate. The board is responsible for reviewing and approving regulations for charter schools and establishing long range goals for public education in Delaware. The board has public monthly meetings.[8]
[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying
- See also: Delaware taxpayer-funded lobbying
The main education taxpayer-funded lobbying organization is the Delaware School Boards Association.
[edit] Transparency
- See also: Delaware transparency headlines
The state of Delaware currently does not have a statewide official online spending database. However, in May 2009, Governor Jack Markell announced that, by July 30, 2009, citizens will be able to see the state's expenditures online in a searchable database. Said Markell, "During these historically challenging financial times, it is critical Delawareans are confident their state tax dollars are being spent as effectively and efficiently as possible."[9]
The Caesar Rodney Institute launched an independent government spending transparency website, DelawareSpends.com, which allows users to search state employee payrolls and vendor payments. Visitors to the site can also post their own data, thoughts, questions, and concerns on the DelawareSpends Forum.
[edit] Reports
A 2009 study, Leaders and Laggards, conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workplace, Frederick M. Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Center for American Progress, gave Delaware: "C" in academic achievement; "C" in truth in advertising about student proficiency; "D" in rigor of standards; "F" in post-secondary and workforce readiness; "A" in for its teacher workforce policies; "A" in data quality.[10]
[edit] Academic performance
In the 2007-2008 school year Delaware had a 81.9% graduation rate, compared to a 81.4% graduation rate in the 2006-2007 school year.[3] The chart below details the percentage of students that met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements for the 2008-2009 school year.[11] [3] AYP is used by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program to determine the academic performance of schools.
| Grade | Reading (%) | Mathematics (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 | 85% | 88% |
| Grade 3 | 81% | 79% |
| Grade 4 | 82% | 79% |
| Grade 5 | 85% | 77% |
| Grade 6 | 83% | 75% |
| Grade 7 | 87% | 71% |
| Grade 8 | 81% | 66% |
| Grade 9 | 74% | 55% |
| Grade 10 | 71% | 56% |
[edit] School choice
School choice options include:
- Charter schools: In the state of Delaware a charter school statute was added to the Delaware Constitution in 1995. According to state officials, charter schools were implemented in order to improved student learning, encourage the use of different teaching and learning methods and increase public school opportunities.[12] [13] In the 2009-2010 school year, Delaware had 18 charter schools. Three more charter schools are scheduled to open in 2010.[14] Kent County has 4 charter schools, New Castle County has 13 and Sussex County has 1 charter school.[3]
- Public school open enrollment: the state of Delaware has two open enrollment policies: inter-district and intra-district. In other words, students are permitted to enroll in any school within their neighborhood school district or in any alternative district in the state.[15]
- Online learning: The state opened the Delaware Virtual School pilot program beginning in the 2008-09 school year, however the state lacked the funds to fully implement the program.[16]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ Delaware State Constitution,"Article 10, Section 1," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Office of Management and Budget,"FY 2010 Governor's Financial Summary," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Delaware Department of Education,"School Profiles," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 American Federation of Teachers,"Delaware ranks 12th in the nation for teacher pay," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 American Federation of Teachers,"Delaware ranks 10th in the nation for teacher pay," March 29, 2007
- ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Delaware State Education Association," retrieved November 3, 2009
- ↑ Center for Union Facts,"Delaware teachers unions," retrieved November 3, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Department of Education,"Delaware State Board of Education," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Delaware State Government Will Open Checkbook to Public," May 7, 2009
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute,"Delaware Education Report Card," retrieved November 16, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Department of Education,"Statewide Summary," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Department of Education,"Charter Schools," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Constitution,"Title 14, Chapter 5," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Department of Education,"List of charter schools," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ The Heritage Foundation,"School Choice in Delaware," retrieved November 4, 2009
- ↑ Delaware Department of Education,"Delaware Virtual School," retrieved November 4, 2009
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