Delaware education officials may prepare for a proposed school funding plan in fiscal 2027

Delaware’s Education Department may prepare systems, training, and public resources for the proposed school funding plan. The work concerns a proposed funding plan for Delaware school districts and charter schools. The department may waive certain state contracting rules for this work. The chairs of both legislative education committees must agree on a vendor before the department signs a contract to support the funding commission. This permission applies during fiscal 2027.

The Education Department may put parts of the plan in the governor’s proposed budget and develop public reports on school funding. The work concerns Delaware school districts and charter schools. Reports about money under the plan depend on that money being provided. The department must work with the funding commission on this work. Lawmakers would consider the proposed budget. This permission applies during fiscal 2027 and concerns the fiscal 2028 budget.

Delaware recommends a funding plan that combines money for school staff with per-student amounts tied to enrollment and student needs. The plan covers Delaware school districts and charter schools. One per-student part counts students from low-income households and multilingual learners. Another also counts students in special education and vocational programs. Lawmakers would need to adopt the plan later. The funding recommendation compares each district’s or charter school’s fiscal 2028 state funding with its fiscal 2027 amount.

Districts and charter schools receiving the plan’s per-student money must use it for the students it targets, report spending, and keep records. The rules cover money tied to students from low-income households, multilingual learners, students in special education, and students in vocational programs. Districts and charter schools may decide how best to support those students. They must keep records showing how they spent the money.