PRIA Logo™
DelawareSB 302153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)Senate

AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

Sponsored By: Laura V. Sturgeon (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

School funding follows student needs

Beginning fiscal year 2028, Delaware starts using a three-part model to divide state funding among public schools. Base funding supports staffing and operations, with weights for grade level, special education, and vocational enrollment. Per-student opportunity funding is weighted for low-income students and multilingual learners. Per-student operational funding also accounts for enrollment, special education, and vocational students, alongside low-income students and multilingual learners. The latest funding commission recommendations must inform opportunity and operational weights; full implementation is anticipated by fiscal year 2029. For fiscal year 2028, each school's state funding cannot fall below its fiscal year 2027 amount.

Schools must track targeted student funding

Schools must use opportunity and operational funding for the student groups that generate those allocations. Schools choose how to spend the money, but must report spending annually, keep supporting records, and maintain internal controls. Funding must also support school plans to improve student outcomes. During fiscal year 2027, the education department can work with the funding commission to build an accountability system. It includes public input, regular state and local spending reports by school, funding type, and student group, plus board training and oversight.

Education department can prepare funding changes

During fiscal year 2027, Delaware's education department can take steps and hire services to launch the new school funding model. Contracts can cover funding commission support, computer and financial-process changes, school training, public information, and the accountability system. The Education Secretary can waive some or all specified purchasing requirements for implementation-service contracts. These contracts are also exempt from the specified state contracting chapter. Choosing a vendor for continued commission support requires agreement from the chairs of both legislative education committees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laura V. Sturgeon

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Alonna Berry

    Democratic • House

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

  • Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Cruce

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kimberly Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Kamela T Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Larry Lambert

    Democratic • House

  • S. Elizabeth Lockman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Eric Morrison

    Democratic • House

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

  • Josue O Ortega

    Democratic • House

  • Marie Pinkney

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cyndie Romer

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • Sherae'a Moore

    Democratic • House

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • David P. Sokola

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bryan Townsend

    Democratic • Senate

  • Madinah Wilson-Anton

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 61 • No: 0

House vote • 6/24/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/19/2026

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    6/30/2026Governor

  2. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

    6/24/2026House

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 6 On Its Merits

    6/16/2026House

  4. Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 6 On Its Merits

    6/16/2026House

  5. Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House

    6/11/2026House

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 10 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits

    6/10/2026House

  7. Assigned to Education Committee in House

    5/20/2026House

  8. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    5/19/2026Senate

  9. Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 3 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable

    5/19/2026Senate

  10. Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate

    5/5/2026Senate

  11. Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 5 Favorable

    5/5/2026Senate

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in Senate

    4/30/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Current

    4/30/2026

    HTML

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation