Delaware public schools would bar discrimination against students

Public schools would be barred from discriminating against students for the listed reasons, including when charter schools admit students. The rule covers Delaware school districts and charter schools, their students, and students seeking charter admission. A charter school specifically authorized to enroll one gender could still limit admission by gender.

The bullying rule would cover qualifying acts tied to a listed ground or age, and school investigators would check whether those reasons played a part. The rule covers acts aimed at students and district or charter school employees and volunteers. An act must be intentional and one a reasonable person should know would cause a harm covered by the bullying rule. Investigators would check whether a listed reason played any part in targeting someone.

Delaware’s Department of Education would update its rules about discrimination. The requirement covers the department’s regulations related to discrimination. The updates would reflect the protected grounds listed in the proposed public school rule.