Mental health was a theme of three bills in the House Education Committee.

Student ‘mental health days’ bill among 5 on way to House 

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A busy day in the House Education Committee Wednesday – headlined by a law that would give students mental health days – ended with five bills sent to the full House.  House Bill 3, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, provides for excused absences for the mental or behavioral health of a student. It requires any student …

The Senate voted unanimously on almost every bill Thursday. (Pexels)

Senators unanimously agree on 14 of 15 bills Thursday

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

It was a day of unanimous votes for the Delaware Senate Thursday, with 14 of the 15 items  passed without any ‘no’ votes. Sen. Darius Brown, D-Wilmington, was the only legislator to vote against House Substitute 1 for House Bill 34, a law that would require school boards from district and charter schools to hold public comment on each agenda …

Members of the House Education Committee agreed Wednesday about the importance of mentoring and literacy. (Unsplash)

Bill to foster mentoring in schools draws bipartisan support

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would establish a 17-person task force to focus on mentoring and improving literacy rates for Delaware’s youth unanimously passed the House Education Committee Wednesday.  “We believe that the 18,222 children in charter schools across our state benefit not just from the educators in the building, but from the village that helps educate them,” said Kendall Massett, executive …

The educator pay committee delayed a vote on a recommendation Monday. (Pexels)

Educator pay committee delays salary vote over budget, timeline

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Plans to recommend how the state will significantly hike salaries of teachers as well as school administrators and nurses stalled Monday night amid concerns about the state budget and the  timeline of raises. The 15-person Public Education Compensation Committee debating the issue was created this year to make recommendations on Delaware educator compensation.  Officials hope raises will both address the …

HB 33 would increase funding for preschool students with special needs. (Unsplash)

Preschool special ed. funding bill draws staffing, money concerns

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that would increase funding for preschool students with disabilities was released by the House Education Committee Wednesday, but not without some concerns.  House Bill 33, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton, would increase funding for those students by revising the current ratio of 12.8 students per education unit to 8.4 students per unit for preschoolers 3 years and …

Two senators suggested school boards should have public comment before each action item. (Unsplash)

Does school board public comment bill go far enough? 

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Education

A bill that blew through the House unanimously got some blowback Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee. House Bill 34, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton, chair of the House Education Committee, would require district and charter school boards to hold a public comment period before the board moves on to action items requiring a vote.  It will not require …

All education workers will get a 3% raise, and all school teachers and specialists will get a 9% raise in Gov. John Carney's budget recommendations for next year. (Unsplash)

Carney’s education raises cause stir in compensation committee

Jarek Rutz Education, Headlines

Gov. John Carney’s announcement last week of a 9% pay raise for teachers caused a lot of comment in Monday night’s Public Education Compensation Committee. Also discussed was a proposal to keep teachers in their Delaware jobs by giving them full pension benefits at 25 years of service instead of making them wait until they reach 30 years. Carney said …

HB 39 would pump $20 million into the state's police agencies to help in recruitment efforts. (Unsplash)

Bill to give police $20 million heads to House floor

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

A bill authorizing a one-time $20 million fund for Delaware police agencies to use for recruiting passed unanimously Wednesday through the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Wednesday.  In the same meeting, a bill that would create a separate offense for the theft of mail, including packages, from a residence was heard, but the vote outcome was not clear.  …

The House voted for a bill that would tackle excessive noise from motor vehicles. (Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

House passes bill to address excessive motor vehicle noise

Jarek Rutz Headlines, Government

A bill that would crack down on excessive motor vehicle noise passed the House Tuesday. Just one legislator, Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, voted no, but gave no comment. House Bill 35 would require the Department of Safety & Homeland Security to present a report and plan to the General Assembly for a comprehensive motor vehicle noise and abatement program.  The …