Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/145076
Legislative Wrap-Up How'd we do? Governor and General Assembly continue their support of public education – through funding and policy improvements ere are highlights of the state's budget for July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014, House H Bill 30. • 110 New Teacher Units - $8.7 million to cover projected increases in student enrollment. • Para Pay Policy – The epilogue language of the budget continues to commit the General Assembly to bring the state salary of paraprofessionals to 70% of the federal poverty level for a family of four within a four-year time frame. As a result, state-funded paras will receive a 4.5% pay increase. The new state salary schedule is printed here. No other state employee group is receiving a raise. Public school employees, if eligible, will receive step increases (an additional $8.5 million for next year). The teacher, para, food service worker, custodian and school secretary salary scales are online at www.dsea.org. Click on Salaries at the top to go to your particular salary schedule. School bus drivers, by the way, do not have a state salary schedule, but are paid through the Transportation Dept., not the Education portion of the state budget. • Federal sequestration cuts for federally-funded employees covered - $3.2 million for approximately 100 positions – mostly full-time, part-time and temporary contracts – in most districts. These positions are mainly instructional and service aides funded through Title I and Special Education Grants. School districts must apply to the state for these funds no later than September 30, with disbursement occurring no later than October 30. While this is definitely a win for us, employees laid off may see an interruption in their service. One-time grants for Accelerated Academic Programs - $300,000. See page 3. The deadline to apply is July 15! • Charter School Transportation Funds – Budget epilogue language requires that any charter school transportation funds left over in a school's budget must be used for educational purposes only . • Technology Block Grants - $2.25 million for school districts. The budget gives school districts authorization to institute a Technology Match Tax. • Computer leasing for state testing - $2.6 million for school districts to lease any additional computers they made need for state testing. • School Safety Plans - $300,000 was allocated to accelerate the implementation of school safety plans so that districts can purchase materials and equipment they may need sooner. • At-risk youth summer and after-school programs - $2.2 million • 30 more mental health professionals in middle schools - $3.3 million allocated. The administration promises to budget funds next year so that every middle school in Delaware has a mental health professional. Currently, only three middle schools have full-time mental health professionals. Credit monitoring will continue for state retirees Retirees using the free credit monitoring from Experian will receive another free year of service. After more than 22,000 Delaware state retirees had their personal information posted on the state's website back in August 2010, many signed up for free credit monitoring provided by the state. Originally, the service was only supposed to last for three years and would end in August 2013. On Friday, June 21, the State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC) unanimously voted to prolong the credit monitoring until August 2014. 4 July 2013 DSEA ACTION! State Salary Schedule for Aides and Paraprofessionals 2013-2014** Ten months, 7.5 hours/day Step Service Aides* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Instructional Aides* 18,401 19,216 20,067 20,956 21,884 22,854 23,866 24,924 26,028 27,181 *Annual salary in whole dollars 21,093 22,028 23,004 24,023 25,087 26,198 27,359 28,571 29,836 31,158 Years of Experience 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 **Applies only to state funded paras and aides More rigorous application and oversight for new charter schools overnor Markell has signed House Bill 165, the first major overhaul to the charter school system in Delaware since its creation 18 years ago. The debate over amending the charter school law has been going on for the last five to six years. Because DSEA has been involved in these conversations, the Governor asked our organization to participate in a stakeholder group to share ideas. DSEA did participate, with the following goals in mind: G 1. Raise the bar for starting charter schools with a pre-screening process; applicant interviews; and additional opportunities to use public input regarding the impact of new and expanded charter schools on local communities and districts. 2. Set and enforce consistent expectations for charter schools with authorizer-charter agreements; board member training; breakfast and lunch for eligible students; clear school closure protocols to protect educators and students; and a revised renewal process aligned to charter performance frameworks. Bill improves charter school accountability - a long-time DSEA priority We were able to accomplish these goals. In fact, our top priority - consideration of the impact of a charter school on the neighboring community schools - was achieved. Is the bill perfect, however? No, the bill is a compromise, where everyone reached for something, but each side was willing to give a little to get a little. While the bill does update the charter school law to better hold charter schools accountable,it also strengthens the state's financial support for charter schools. The bill allows for increased charter flexibility and support, with 10year terms for high-performing charters; more timely allocation of funding; clear allowance of conduit financing for capital improvements and equalized minor capital funding; and the creation of a Charter School Performance Fund ($2 million for FY2014) for high-performing charters, particularly those looking to expand the number of high-need students they serve. The Performance Fund is subject to appropriation by the state legislature, which cannot allocate more than $5 million dollars to it annually This year, the state legislature . appropriated $2 million to the www.dsea.org