DA RRYL M.

SCO T T
S TATE R E P R E S E N TATIV E
31st District

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATE OF DEL AWARE

COMMIT TEES
Education, Chair
Health & Human Development
Judiciary
T el e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , I n t e r n e t
& Tec h n o l o g y

4 11 L EGI SL ATI VE AV EN UE
DOVER, DEL AWARE 19 90 1

House Education Committee Meeting Minutes

6/4/14
Chair Scott called the meeting to order at 2:38 p.m. Members present included Reps. K. Williams, Bolden,
Heffernan, Jaques, Potter, Kowalko, Osienski, Barbieri, Blakey, Dukes, Kenton, and Miro. For a list of guests,
please see the attendance list below.
After calling the meeting to order, Chair Scott recognized Rep. Blakey to address HR 23 - CREATING A
TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SCHOOL RETENTION
AND SOCIAL PROMOTION. Rep. Blakey explained that a student dropping out of school represents a
situation where the student and society are being pulled in opposite directions which doesnt give us any
progress or get us anywhere. Rep. Blakey said that it is felt by the writer of this Resolution that this practice of
school retention and social promotion really needs to be thought out and researched by a committee of people
who are responsible for creating the direction of the State of Delaware. It is his hope that the results are
something that would be picked up by other states and will be used as an example. Rep. Blakey described that
neither school retention nor social promotion are effective measures for improving student achievement; the
question is, what is effective? The purpose of this task force is to answer this question. Rep. Blakey explained
that this task force would consist of highly knowledgeable and experienced individuals that could come up with
alternatives to school retention and social promotion.
Rep. Jaques expressed support for HR 23 and thanked the sponsor for bringing this forward. He believes this is
an issue that the State needs to get a handle on and commended the sponsors effort. Rep. Potter also applauded
the sponsor for the creation of this Resolution. Rep. Heffernan said that this Resolution makes a lot of sense and
is in line with getting more students to graduate and keeping them out of the pipeline to prison.
Following the conclusion of committee comments, Chair Scott opened the floor for public comment.
Bill Doolittle, of the Parent Teacher Association, thanked Rep. Blakey for bringing this Resolution forward.
Robert Overmiller, Governors Advisory Council for Exceptional Children, expressed support for helping
students stay within the school system and out of prison.
A motion was made by Rep. Kenton, and seconded by Rep. Potter to release HR 23.Motion carried. Yes- 12
(Reps. Scott, K. Williams, Bolden, Heffernan, Jaques, Potter, Kowalko, Osienski, Barbieri, Blakey, Kenton,
Miro); Absent- 1 (Rep. Dukes). HR 23 was reported out of committee with a vote of 2F, 7M.
Chair Scott brought HB 340 - AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING
TO THE OMNIBUS SCHOOL SAFETY ACT before the committee for consideration. He explained that the
bill changes the date that schools are to be in compliance with the Omnibus School Safety Act from September
102 Cobblestone Lane, Dover, DE 19904
Home: 302-735-1781 House Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313 email: Darryl.Scott@state.de.us

2017 to September 2014. Additionally, the bill changes the requirement that schools conduct exercises annually
and tabletop exercises biannually to require that they conduct tabletop exercises every year and at least 2
lockdown/intruder drills per school year.
Rep. Kenton asked if schools are allowed to combine their lockdown drills with fire drills.
Chair Scott recognized R.L. Hughes, of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, who explained that
intruder drills and lockdown drills are different from fire drills; students are evacuate the school buildings
during fire drills but intruder drills and lockdown drills do not necessarily involve evacuation. Mr. Hughes
clarified that lockdown/intruder drills and fire drills may not be able to be conducted at the same time
depending on the scenario of the drill.
After the conclusion of committee comments, Chair Scott opened the floor to public comment; however, none
were made.
A motion was made by Rep. Jaques, and seconded by Rep. Potter to release HB 340. Motion carried. Yes- 12
(Reps. Scott, K. Williams, Bolden, Heffernan, Jaques, Potter, Kowalko, Osienski, Barbieri, Blakey, Kenton,
Miro); Absent- 1 (Rep. Dukes). HB 340 was reported out of committee with a vote of 8M.
A motion was made by Rep. Scott and seconded by Rep. Heffernan to suspend rules to consider HB 334.
Motion carried. Yes- 8 (Reps. Scott, K. Williams, Heffernan, Jaques, Barbieri, Blakey, Dukes, Kenton); No- 5
(Reps. Bolden, Potter, Kowalko, Osienski, Miro).
Chair Scott brought HB 334 - AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATED
TO EDUCATION before the committee. There were no comments from committee members. Chair Scott
opened the floor for comments from the public.
Frederika Jenner, Delaware State Education Association (DSEA), commented that she learned many important
details about the change from the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) to the Smarter
Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) at the Departments presentation at the May Education Committee
hearing and at the presentation made by the Delaware State Board of Education. She explained that DSEA has
held Take-the Test nights for educators, legislators, and parents so that they can try out the tests and be better
informed on their details. Ms. Jenner said that DSEAs members are concerned about getting the public and the
students ready for the new test and that there may be rushed efforts to implement the Common Core State
Standards. Ms. Jenner asked that that committee and the State consider at least another one-year waiver for the
use of the tests in teacher evaluation so that implementation can be strengthened.
G. Scott Reihm, of the Association of School Administrators, expressed his support and the support of his
Association for the bill.
Bill Doolittle, Parent Teacher Association, thanked the committee for tabling HB 334 the previous week. This
allowed the stakeholders to learn more about the legislation and identify where their concerns are. Mr. Doolittle
stressed that the State must have a quality test and must ensure that the test is being used in a proper manner.
Susan Francis School Board Association, commented that she has some concerns with the bill but believes that
they will be worked out and she is in support of the legislation.
Rep. Kowalko commented that he hopes the sponsors of the bill will consider adding an amendment that would
delay the implementation of the use of the assessments for teacher evaluation for an additional year.
102 Cobblestone Lane, Dover, DE 19904
Home: 302-735-1781 House Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313 email: Darryl.Scott@state.de.us

Rep. Heffernan asked, if these assessments were to be delayed another year, how will the State continue the use
of the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System when it is her understanding that the current contract for
the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System is up at the end of this school year.
Mary Kate McLaughlin, Department of Education, explained that the Department would have to negotiate
another contract to continue the use of the current assessment system.
Rep. Kowalko voiced his concerns with using a standardized test for evaluating teacher performance.
A motion was made by Rep. Barbieri and seconded by Rep. Heffernan to release HB 334. Motion carried. Yes 10 (Reps. Scott, K. Williams, Bolden, Heffernan, Jaques, Osienski, Barbieri, Blakey, Dukes, Kenton); No - 3
(Reps. Potter, Kowalko, Miro). HB 334 was reported out of committee with a vote of 7M, 1U.
Chair Scott adjourned the meeting at 3:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Alexandra Leach

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House Education Committee Meeting Attendance List

6/4/14
Name
Organization
Federika Jenner
Delaware State Education Assocation
G. Scott Reihm
Delaware Association of School Administrators
R. L. Hughes
Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Bill Doolittle
Delaware Parent Teacher Association
Robert Overmiller
Governors Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens
Deborah Stevens
Delaware State Education Association
Vicki Gehrt
New Castle County Vo-Tech School District
Penny Schwinn
Delaware Department of Education
Tina Shockley
Delaware Department of Education
Susan Francis
Delaware State Bar Association
Melissa Hopkins
Rodel Foundation
Carolyn Lazar
Delaware Department of Education
Mary Kate McLaughlin
Delaware Department of Education
Lindsay OMara
Governors Office
Donna Johnson
Delaware State Board of Education
Kristin Dwyer
Delaware State Education Association
Dr. Janice Tildon-Burton
OBGYN

102 Cobblestone Lane, Dover, DE 19904

Home: 302-735-1781 House Office: 302-744-4351 Fax: 302-739-2313 email: Darryl.Scott@state.de.us