State Policy Report Card 2014

Delaware

2014 STATE RANK

12

2014 OVERALL GRADE

C1.83

Delaware has continually adopted student-centered education policies in recent years, though there is still signicant room to improve. Delaware has a robust educator evaluation system, which serves as a model for other states. Delaware also has created model alternative pathways into teaching and holds preparation programs accountable for performance. Unfortunately, Delaware does not yet make educator effectiveness the driving factor in all personnel decisions. Delaware can also improve how well it empowers parents, beginning with providing comprehensive A-to-F school report cards to inform decision-making and providing parents with the opportunity to demand the turnaround of failing schools. Additionally, while Delaware supports charter schools with comparable funding, schools lack broad access to excess facilities and robust facilities nancing options. Finally, Delaware could encourage districts to spend more wisely by requiring a link between spending and student outcomes and by providing districts with greater exibility in procurement.

State Momentum: This year, Delaware improved its alternative certication pathways by requiring all programs to have rigorous
entry standards, such as a 3.0 GPA, a minimum score on a standardized test, and a demonstration of content knowledge through an exam. The state has also developed a Talent Cooperative initiative that provides signicant nancial awards to highly effective teachers that apply and agree to stay and/or teach at schools with high populations of traditionally underserved students.
Pillar 1 Pillar 1 Pillar 1 Pillar 2 Pillar 2 Pillar 2 Pillar 3 Pillar 3 Pillar 3

Elevate The Teaching Profession

STATE RANK

+ C+ 25 D - 25 - 18 C D- D-Wisely C- C9 C+ 9 9 25 18& C 18 Parents 2.64 2.64 2.64 0.82 0.82 0.82Govern 1.78 1.78 1.78 Well
STATE RANK STATE RANK STATE RANK STATE RANK STATE RANK STATE RANK

STATE RANK Empower

STATE RANK Spend

Delaware, a leader in its efforts to elevate the teaching profession, ensures that effective teachers and principals are recruited, developed, recognized, and retained by districts. If Delaware wants to further strengthen its educator corps, it should:  Require districts to use teacher effectiveness as the driving factor in major personnel decisions like maintenance of tenure status and reductions in force. These policy changes will help Delaware recognize and develop great teachers and treat them like the + 0.00 professionals they are.

All parents deserve access to quality school options for their children and meaningful information about their kids schools. To empower parents, Delaware should:  Provide meaningful school performance information to parents using an A-F letter grading system;

Delawares Department of Education is able to provide some support to low-performing school districts, but state policy could be improved to streamline accountability and help ensure that resources are spent wisely. To make every dollar count, the state should:  Allow mayoral control or direct state intervention in low-performing schools;

X+

 Give parents the authority to petition local Tato Pulvinar Velit Tellus Scelerisq  Link spending data to student outcomes; and school districts turn around struggling Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nam nibh. Nunc varius facilisis eros. schools; and  Restructure the existing back-loaded, dened

+ 0.00 X These policy

benet retirement plan as a cash-balance  Prioritize the growth of high performing consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nam nibh. Nunc varius facilisis eros. Sedante. Cras elit lectus, bibendum a, adipiscing vitae, commodo et, dui. U Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nam plan. charter schools through stronger nibh. Nunc varius facilisis Sedante. Cras elit lectus, bibendum a, adipiscing vitae, commodo et, accountability and greater access to eros. facilities. Such policy changes will encourage districts to
dui. U Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nam nibh. Nunc varius facilisis eros.

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X+

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maximize state and local resources to increase changes will parents Sedante. Cras elitempower lectus, bibendum a, adipiscing vitae, commodo et, dui. U Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. Nam and nibh. Nunc varius achievement. facilisis eros. Sedante. Cras elit lectus, bibendum student across the stateconsectetuer with inuence, information, a, adipiscing commodo et, dui. UaLorem ipsum opportunity so that no childvitae, is forced to attend low-performing school.

X+

0.00

Delaware New York

State Policy Report 2014 State Policy Report Card Card 2013

Elevate the Teaching Profession

Establish Comprehensive Evaluations
Strong evaluation systems that recognize excellence, support development, and address ineffectiveness are foundational to improving teacher and principal quality. In order for evaluations to be effective, they must be meaningful, objective, and fair. Delaware is a leader in this area. Delaware teachers and principals are evaluated using multiple measures and a four-tiered rating system. Student growth signicantly informs evaluations, as educators cannot receive either of the two highest performance ratings if they do not produce gains in student achievement. Delaware has also exempted evaluations from contract negotiations. Delaware should continue to invest in highquality educators by incorporating student feedback within the teacher evaluation framework.
OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Use Evaluations for Personnel Decisions

To ensure that schools have the ability to attract and retain effective teachers, teacher evaluations must serve as the foundation for key personnel decisions. In Delaware school leaders use performance as a determining factor in awarding tenure and are OBJECTIVE to exit ineffective teachers from the WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) However, authorized system. the state still allows districts utilize harmful policies like the forced 3 placement 9 and the use x 3of teachers Identify to Performance of Teachers of seniority as a factor during a RIF, meaning that schools may be prevented from 9 3 x 3 Identify Performance of Principals building and maintaining effective instructional teams. Research and evidence show 4 progressing, 4 x 1 Separate Evaluations from Contracts that effective teachers positively impact student achievement. Although Delaware can do more to leverage teacher effectiveness to enhance a culture that GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 22 7 = 3.14 prioritizes all else. OBJECTIVE students and effective educators above WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4)

3.14

Identify Performance of Teachers Identify Performance of Principals

OBJECTIVE

3 3 4

x x x

3 3 1

9 9 4

B B 3.14 C
2.00 3.14

OBJECTIVE

Identify Performance of Teachers Identify Performance of Principals End Forced Placement & Dismiss Ineffective Teachers Separate Evaluations from Contracts End Seniority-Based Layoffs

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

9 9 9 4 3 2

Separate Evaluations from Contracts Identify Performance of Teachers

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Reform or Elminate Tenure

OBJECTIVE

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

3 3 4 1 2

x x x x x

GPA = 22 7 = 3.14

3 3 1 3 1

B C 3.14
2.00

GPA = 22 7 = 3.14

9 9

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 14 7 = 2.00

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Identify Performance of Principals

Value Effective Teachers

4 4 x 1 Separate Evaluations from Contracts 9 3 x 3 End Forced Placement & Dismiss Ineffective Teachers GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 22 7 = To develop and maintain an effective educator workforce, pay should 3.14 be based on a 3 1 x 3 End Seniority-Based Layoffs teachers performance in the classroom rather than on other less signicant factors 2 districts to 2 still x requires 1 Reform or Elminate Tenure held. Though Delaware like seniority or degrees school OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL implement a minimum salary schedule based on years of experience and GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 14 7 = 2.00credentials, 9 teachers in 3 x most 3 effective Endstate Forced has Placement & Dismissan Ineffective Teachers the developed initiative aimed at placing the high-need schools through differentiated compensation The state can make 3 1 x models. 3 End Seniority-Based Layoffs these workforce changes sustainable by making measures of effectiveness the primary OBJECTIVE SCORE 2 2 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL Reform or Elminate Tenure criteria for determining pay increases in every school district. 6 2 x 3 Reward Performance with Pay
GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Expand Pathways to Teaching

OBJECTIVE

End Forced Placement & Dismiss Ineffective Teachers

Reform Salary Schedules

OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE

GPA = 14 7 = 2.00

C 2.00 D+ D+ A 1.50 A
4.00 4.00 1.50

3 1 x 3 End Seniority-Based Layoffs 6 2 x 3 Reward Performance with Pay Delaware a leader in policies related to alternative teacher The state 2 2 x 1 preparation. Reform oris Elminate Tenure 0 0 x of providers 1 Reform Salary Schedules allows alternative routes to teaching through a variety without limiting GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 14 7 = 2.00 the grades or subjects taught. With a new law Weight in 2013, Delaware GPA = Subtotal Total GPA = 6 4 now = 1.50requires all educator preparation programs to institute rigorous admissions requirements with a 3.0 GPA and a passing score on a basic skills exam normed to the general, college-bound OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL OBJECTIVE Teacher candidates can demonstrate (3 or 1) through SUBTOTAL an exam. SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT population. content mastery 6 2 evaluating, x 3 and decommissioning Reward Performance with Pay Delaware also has clear processes for authorizing, 12 4 x 3 Create High Quality Alternative Pathways alternative certication programs. All programs are 0 and annually 0 required x 1 to collect Reform Salary Schedules 4 4 x 1 Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways report data on candidate effectiveness for ve years post-graduation.

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

C + 2.00 D
1.50

+ D A

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 6 4 = 1.50 GPA = 16 4 = 4.00

1.50 4.00

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

GPA = 6 4 = 1.50

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Reward Performance with Pay Reform Salary Schedules Create High Quality Alternative Pathways

Create High Quality Alternative Pathways Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways

4 4

x x

3 1

12 4

Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways

OBJECTIVE

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

0 4 4

x x x

GPA = 6 4 = 1.50

1 3 1

0 12 4

A
4.00

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 16 4 = 4.00

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

GPA = 16 4 = 4.00

Create High Quality Alternative Pathways Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways

4 4

x x

3 1

12 4

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Methodology

Issue School Report Cards Provide Parent Notication

0 0

x x

3 1

0 0

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 16 4 = 4.00

F F F

Establish policy Parent Trigger The StudentsFirst State Policy Report Card assesses each states educational landscape to determine 0 x A 1 3.70 to0 4.00 0.00 GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 0 5 = 0.00 whether the state has created the policy conditions necessary to improve our public education system. A- 3.50 to 3.69

B+ 3 3.30 to0 3.49 Issue School Report Cards StudentsFirst designed a rubric for each of the 24 policy objectives in the Report Card, then analyzed and scored 0 x OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL B 1 3.00 to0 3.29 Provide Notication each states policies using a 0 to 4 scale, with 4 3representing the strongest leverParent for reform. Of the 24 policies, 0 x 0 0 x Issue School Report Cards 0 0 x 3 Provide Opportunity Scholarships 12 were given the designation of anchor policy, which were assigned a 3x weight. 0 x Establish Parent Trigger B- 1 2.70 to0 2.99 0.00 0 0 x 1 Provide Parent Notication 2 2 x 1 Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion GPA = Subtotal Total Weight C+GPA = 0 5to = 0.00 2.30 2.69 0 0 x 1 Establish Parent Trigger Overall grade point averages (GPAs) were then calculated for 0.00 each state.Establish For more information, please visit the 0 x 3 0 Accountability for Charters 0.29 OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL C 2.00 to 2.29 GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 0 5 = 0.00 website at reportcard.studentsrst.org. GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 2 7 = 0.29 0 0 x 3 Issue School Report Cards OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) C1.70 to 1.99 0 0 x 1 Provide Parent Notication 0 x 3 Provide Opportunity Scholarships Denotes an Anchor Policy. D+ 1.30 to0 1.69 OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL 0 0 x 1 Establish Parent Trigger 0.00 2 2 x 1 Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion 0 0 x 3 Provide Opportunity Scholarships D 3 1.00 to9 1.29 3 x Fund Students Fairly GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 0 5 = 0.00 0 0 x 3 Establish Accountability for Charters The following scale 2 2 x 1 Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion D- 1 0.70 to1 0.99 0.29 1 x Enable an Equitable Access to Facilities was GPA used convert GPAs = to Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 2 7 = 0.29 0 0 x 3 Establish Accountability for Charters 2 x Finance Charter Facilities F 1 0.00 to2 0.69 2.40 0.29 to letter grades: OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

F F F F

F C+

Provide Opportunity Scholarships

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 2 7 = 0.29

0 2

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

OBJECTIVE

GPA = 12 5 = 2.40

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion

Fund Students Fairly

3 x GPA 3 = 14 7 = 9 Identify Performance of Principals GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 2.00

2.00 B 3.14

Provide Opportunity Scholarships Create High Quality Alternative Pathways

Delaware New York

OBJECTIVE

Separate Evaluations from Contracts

2 2 1(3 or 1) SUBTOTAL Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion 4 4 (0-4) xWEIGHT Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways SCORE OBJECTIVE 0 x Provide Parent Notication GPA = Subtotal Total Weight Establish Parent Trigger
OBJECTIVE

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

GPA = 22 7 = 3.14

Reward Performance with Pay

2 3

x x

3 3

6 9 3

OBJECTIVE

Reform Salary Schedules End Forced Placement & Dismiss Ineffective Teachers End Seniority-Based Layoffs Elminate Tenure

SCORE 0 0 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 6 4 = 1.50

D+ 1.50 C A B 4.00 3.14 + D

1.50 2.00

0 0 x GPA 3 = 16 4 =0 Establish Accountability for Charters GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 4.00 0 x 3 Issue School Report Cards
GPA 1 = 2 7 =00.29

F A State Policy Report 2014 State Policy Report Card Card 2013 0.29 4.00 F
0 4 x 3 0 12 0 3 x x 1 3 0 9 1

0.00

Empower Parents
Create High OBJECTIVE Identify Teachers EstablishPerformance Accountabilityof for Alternative Pathways
OBJECTIVE

Reform or OBJECTIVE

2 2 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE 4 3 x 1 3 4 9

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = or 141) 7 =12 2.00 4 (0-4) xWEIGHT 3 (3 Quality Alternative Pathways SUBTOTAL SCORE

Empower Parents with Information GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 4.00 3 x GPA 3 = 16 4 = 9 Identify Performance of Principals
SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

There are a number of steps that Delaware should take to empower parents with 6 K-12 schools 2should 3 Reward Performance with Pay 4 4 x require 1 Separate Evaluations from Contracts information and educational options. First, the state that all receive annual report card that includes an Weight A-F letter grade based 0 x GPA 1 Reform an Salary Schedules GPA = Subtotal Total = 22 7 =0 3.14 on student achievement. Delaware could empower its parents further by notifying parents when GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 6 4 = 1.50 their child is placed with an ineffective teacher and prohibiting students from being OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3Also, or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) years. placed with an ineffective teacher for two consecutive Delaware should adopt a parent trigger policy that allows of parents to together at the OBJECTIVE or band 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE 9 3 (0-4) x WEIGHT 3 (3 End Forced Placement & Dismiss Ineffective Teachers a majority grassroots level andAlternative petition to turn around low-performing schools 12 throughout the 4 x 3 Create High Quality Pathways 3 1 x 3 End Seniority-Based Layoffs state. 4 4 x 1 Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways 2 2 x 1 Reform or Elminate Tenure
OBJECTIVE

C+ Spend Wisely & Govern Well 2.40 F Promote Governance Structures that Streamline 0.29 Accountability F
Fund Students Fairly Enable an Equitable Access to Facilities OBJECTIVE FinanceOpportunity Charter Facilities Provide Scholarships
OBJECTIVE

SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA(3 =or 01) 5 = 0.00

1 x 1 SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) 2 0 x x 1 3

SUBTOTAL

2 0 0 0

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 2 x GPA 1 = 12 5 =22.40 Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion
SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Establish Accountability for Charters Issue School Report Cards

Issue School Report Cards Provide Parent Notication

OBJECTIVE

(3 or SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT GPA = = Subtotal Subtotal Total Total Weight GPA = = 161) 7 4 = 2.00 4.00 GPA Weight GPA 14 =

C A 2.00

The ability to turn around failing schools is often red 0 0 hampered x 1 by bureaucratic Provide Parent Notication tape and politics. To address this, Delaware allows the Department of Education to 0 0 x 1 Establish Parent Trigger designate its persistently low-achieving schools as Partnership Zone schools, but this OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 0 The 5 = 0.00 intervention somewhat limitedGPA to additional resources and support. state lacks an 9 3 x 3 Fund Students Fairly atternative governance structure to oversee the lowest-performing schools directly, 1 mayors lack 1 Delaware Enable of an the Equitable Access to Facilities outside traditional district system. On the 1 localxlevel, OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL districts. SCORE (0-4) in authority to streamline accountability through governing poor-performing 2 2 x 1 Finance Charter Facilities 0 0 x 3 Provide Opportunity Scholarships

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

0 0

x x

GPA = 2 7 = 0.29

3 3

0.00

0 0

0 0 2

x x x

1 1 3

Establish Parent Trigger Reward Performance with Pay Reform Salary Schedules

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 0 5 = 0.00

0 6 0

F 0.00 D+
1.50

4.00

Promote Charter OBJECTIVE

Establishment & Expansion

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

2 2 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE 0 1 x 3 0 3

23 7 = 1.00 0.29 GPA = 3

GPA = 12 5 = 2.40

Accountability for Charters Establish State and Mayoral Control

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

C+ 2.40 F 0.29 D
1.00

Increase Quality Choices OBJECTIVE

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 6 4 = 1.50

Delaware should increase the number of high quality options to0ensure that all 0 school x 3 Provide Opportunity Scholarships OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3a orcap 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) students have access to great schools. Delaware does not have on the number of OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) 2 the number of 2 x 1 can limit Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion charter schools that can be established, but local school boards 12 4 x 3 Create High Quality Alternative Pathways 0 0 should x 3 Issue School ReportitCards charter applications will consider in a year. The state prohibit such 0 restrictions 0 x 3 Establish Accountability for Charters 4 4 x 1 Establish Accountability for Alternative Pathways and instead set Notication a clear performance threshold for charter replication. Furthermore, 0 0 x 1 Provide Parent GPA = = Subtotal Subtotal Total Total Weight Weight GPA GPA 2 4 7= = 4.00 0.29 == 16 Delaware lacks clear policiesGPA for holding charter schools and authorizers accountable 0 0 x 1 Establish Parent Trigger for student learning. Finally, the state should establish a statewide scholarship program GPA = attending Subtotal Total Weight GPA schools = 0 5 = 0.00 prioritizing low-income students low-performing that includes OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL multiple accountability requirements for participating schools. 9 3 x 3 Fund Students Fairly

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

F A 0.29 F
4.00 0.00

+ Spend Taxpayer Resources Wisely to Improve 1 1 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL Enable an Equitable Access to Facilities OBJECTIVE SCORE Outcomes for Students 2 2 x 1 Promote Fiscal Transparency & Accountability Finance Charter Facilities 2.40 +
Fund Students Fairly 3 x 3 9

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

OBJECTIVE Enable an

Equitable Access to Facilities Provide Opportunity Scholarships Finance Charter Facilities

SCORE 1 1 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

0 0 x 3 2 2 x 1 2 x GPA 1 = 12 5 = 2 Promote Charter Establishment &= Expansion GPA Subtotal Total Weight 2.40 0 0 x 3 Establish Accountability for Charters
OBJECTIVE

C+ 2.40 F
0.29

The resources available for public education are often limited, it is 2.40 important that 4 x 1 = so Promote Stafng and Programmatic Flexibility GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA 12 5 = 4 OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) states focus on making every dollar count towards improving outcomes for students. 1 1 class x size 1 restrictions, Establish has Management Alternatives 3 1 x 3 Establish State and Mayoral Control Delaware succeeded in eliminating unnecessary providing school leaders with exibility to = staff according to student needs. Delaware should GPA = Subtotal Subtotal Total Total Weight Weight GPA =3 7 3 3 = 1.00 2.33 GPA GPA = = improve its scal transparency by expanding existing nancial reporting requirements and requiring a direct link between student achievement and school spending. Lastly, the state should enable governance changes when resources are mismanaged to OBJECTIVE WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) ensure every dollar is used for its original purpose 2 educating 6 x 3 students. Promote Pension Reform

C C 2.33 D
1.00

OBJECTIVE

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA 3 = 2.00 (3 = or6 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT

Promote Fiscal Transparency & Accountability Promote Stafng and Programmatic Flexibility Establish Management Alternatives Establish State and Mayoral Control
OBJECTIVE

2 4 1 1

x x x x

1 1 1 3

2 4 1 3

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

F Provide Comparable Resources for All Public0.00 C+ Options

Issue School Report Cards Fund Students Fairly Establish Parent Trigger 0 x 3 0 Provide Parent Notication OBJECTIVE 0 (0-4) x WEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SCORE 3 0 x 3 1 0 SUBTOTAL 9 0 1 x GPA 1 = 0 5 =1 Enable an Equitable Access to Facilities GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 0.00

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 0.29 (3= or2 1) 7 SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 7 3 = 2.33 GPA = 3 3 = 1.00

C 2.00 + C 2.33 D C 2.00 + C C

2.00 1.00

OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL Make Teacher Pensions Portable & Fair

2 x comparable 1 Finance Charter Facilities Delaware generally provides charter schools with 2 funding to that given to traditional public schools, except that transportation funding is capped and authorizer GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 12 5 = 2.40 OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL fees are not prohibited. Children not served well by their neighborhood public school 0 0 their 3 (3 orand Provide Opportunity Scholarships OBJECTIVE 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) x WEIGHT should have the option to attend another school of choice, Delaware should 3 1 3 Establish State and Mayoral are Control ensure that these students not punished by 2 the state through reduced funding. 2 x 1 Promote Charter Establishment & Expansion Delaware has taken steps to GPA support charter school facilities. However, its law could = Subtotal Total Weight 1.00 0 x GPA 3 = 3 3 =0 Establish Accountability for Charters provide schools with clearer access to unused school facilities and provide a perGPA = Subtotal Totalschools Weight can GPA =27= 0.29 serve more student allowance for facilities so that charter expand and students across the state.

2.40

F D 0.29

1.00

6 2 x 3 Promote Pension Reform In order to attract high-quality candidates to the teaching profession, states must offer GPA = Subtotal Total Weight 6 3 career = 2.00 exibility. retirement plans that ensure all teachers are treated fairly GPA and = have OBJECTIVE SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL Delaware has made some progress. Teachers may elect to pay into in a limited dened 2 depending on 2 benet x 1 Promote Fiscal Transparency Accountability contribution plan intended to& supplement the dened plan, and, the budget, the state match teachers contributions 4 state permits 4 xto this 1 plan. The Promote Stafng andmay Programmatic Flexibility some charter schools to offer their own plans. To ensure that all teachers have career 1 x 1 Establish Management mobility and retirement Alternatives security, the state should1 convert the primary back-loaded, GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA dened benet system to a cash-balance plan. Furthermore, all charter should = 7 3 = schools 2.33 be able to create their own plans.

2.33

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE Fund Students

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE 9 3 (0-4) x WEIGHT 3 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Fairly Promote Fiscal Transparency & Accountability Enable an Equitable Access to Facilities

2 1 2 1

x x x x

1 1 1 3 1

2 1

Promote Stafng and Programmatic Flexibility OBJECTIVE Finance Charter Facilities State and Mayoral Control Establish Management Alternatives

2 3 1 GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 12 5 = 2.40

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA = 3 7 3 = 1.00 2.33

4 4 (0-4) xWEIGHT 1 (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL SCORE

+ C C+

Promote Pension Reform

GPA = Subtotal Total Weight

GPA = 6 3 = 2.00

D C

2.40 2.33 1.00

OBJECTIVE

SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT (3 or 1) SUBTOTAL

Promote Pension Reform

OBJECTIVE

or61) 3 SUBTOTAL SCORE (0-4) WEIGHT GPA = Subtotal Total Weight GPA(3= = 2.00

Delaware New York

State Policy Report 2014 State Policy Report Card Card 2013

How Are Students in Delaware Doing?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the Nations Report Card, is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what Americas elementary and secondary students know and can do in various subject areas. It is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and has been conducted since 1969. Since NAEP assessments are administered uniformly using the same sets of test booklets across the nation, NAEP results serve as a common metric for all states and selected urban districts. The assessment stays essentially the same from year to year, with only carefully documented changes. This permits NAEP to provide a clear picture of student academic progress over time.

Total Students, 2012-2013

128,946

NAEP Prociency, 2013

4TH GRADE MATH 4TH GRADE READING
10 20 10 20

BASIC & BELOW BASIC

PROFICIENT & ADVANCED

50 60 70

8TH GRADE
90

BASIC & BELOW BASIC

10 20 3067% 40 50

PROFICIENT & ADVANCED

60 70 80

58 30 %

40

42 80%

MATH 8TH GRADE

33% 90

BASIC & BELOW BASIC

PROFICIENT & ADVANCED

50 60 70

BASIC & BELOW BASIC

10 20 30

PROFICIENT & ADVANCED

50 60 70 80

62 30 %

40

38 80 %

90

READING

67% 40

33% 90

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, and 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

Why a State Policy Report Card?

We are on a mission to transform public schools and equip every child with the skills and inspiration necessary to achieve their lifes dreams. We are driven by the belief that every childregardless of backgroundhas the capacity to learn if put in the right school environment. Like most states, however, Delawareseducation policy continues to put the interests of adults ahead of the interests of students. Its time for a new approach that puts kids at the center of education policy. We created this to empower every teacher, parent, and concerned citizen with information so you can demand and advocate for change. Whether it is writing a letter-to-the-editor, spreading the message to friends and family, or urging your elected official to support reform, you have incredible power to make a difference.

About StudentsFirst
StudentsFirst is a national movement of more than two million parents, teachers, students, administrators, and concerned citizens mobilizing for one purpose: to make sure every child in America attends a great school with great teachers. Driven by the power of our members, we have already helped pass more than 100 student-centered policies in states across the nation. Get involved today and help us put students first. Visitstudentsfirst.orgto learn more about our movement.

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