DelawareSussex County vocational school uses lotteries to admit students
When applications exceed available places, Sussex County’s vocational-technical district must use a random lottery to fill its allowed enrollment capacity.
What it does
When more students apply than the district can admit, it must use a random lottery, drawing applicants in order until it reaches its allowed enrollment capacity.
The district may favor siblings of current students and children of permanent employees who work at least 30 hours a week. Low grades or a failed eighth-grade course alone cannot keep an applicant out of the lottery.
Before removing a student for discipline, the district must get consent from both the student’s parent or guardian and home school district. This rule does not cover expulsions under state law.
Argument forKeeping low grades or a failed eighth-grade course from automatically blocking an applicant could let more students enter the lottery, if they meet promotion standards.
Argument againstA random draw could leave applicants uncertain about whether they will get one of the district’s limited places.
More detail
The district must use a random lottery when applications exceed its allowed enrollment capacity. This applies in school years when applications to the Sussex County Vocational-Technical High School District exceed available places. The lottery proceeds in numbered order until the district reaches its allowed enrollment capacity.
The district may give admission preference only to siblings of current students and children of certain employees. These provisions apply to applicants to the Sussex County Vocational-Technical High School District. An employee must work for the district permanently for at least 30 hours per week during the school year. A low GPA or a failed eighth-grade course alone cannot keep an applicant out of the lottery, unless the student is not eligible for promotion under Department of Education standards.
The district must get consent before removing a student for disciplinary reasons. The rule applies to students enrolled in the Sussex County Vocational-Technical High School District. The student’s parent or guardian and school district of residence must both consent. This restriction does not apply to an expulsion under section 4130 of Title 14.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Sep 2Signed by Governor Matt MeyerBecame Law
- May 22Passed By Senate. Votes: 19 YES 2 ABSENTPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- May 15Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 4 On Its MeritsMinor
- Apr 8Assigned to Education Committee in SenateMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENTPassed House
- Apr 8Amendment HA 1 to HB 90 - Passed In House by Voice VoteMajor
- Mar 27Amendment HA 1 to HB 90 - Introduced and Placed With BillMinor
- Mar 26Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 2 Favorable, 12 On Its MeritsMinor
- Mar 20Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in HouseIntroduced
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