Lawmakers and students alike are still in session
While school is winding down for many, Legislative Hall is buzzing right along.
And from student mental health and child care, to diverse curriculums and required sexual-assault awareness training, the two have been intersecting quite a bit lately. To catch up, keep scrolling.
In addition, students are being honored across the state — while also doing the honoring. Six scholars just landed student-athlete awards, while one Delaware school is planning a 5K and community event for first responders throughout the First State.
Also to note, Cape Henlopen School District set for its revised referendum Tuesday, trimming down previous requests. The Sussex County system will now seek 39.1 cents per $100 of assessed value, tightened from 54.9 cents per $100 previously rejected.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.
[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.]
Group aiming to boost Asian American representation in Delaware schools, governance grips wins
Asian American communities have grown in the First State, but feeling “visible” hasn’t come so easily.
That’s what Y.F. Lou, Devin Jiang and Make Us Visible Delaware have been pushing for since launching last fall. They started under the mission to boost more Asian American history in Delaware’s K-12 curriculums, through engagement and legislative action.
This session has already brought a few wins.
As of last week, a bill looking to require the Department of Education to “update content standards and regulations using a non-exhaustive list of racial, ethnic and cultural groups,” awaits the Senate floor, after clearing its education committee. This would include AAPI studies, as understood by the group and sponsoring Sen. Bryan Townsend, but theoretically not stop there.
The bill does not get into specifics or accountability guardrails. But, it does start by adding to the state’s standards in code.
“We would hate to have to constantly add another group, another group, another group — this is allows us to be as non-exhaustive and as inclusive as possible,” said Sen. Laura Sturgeon, a cosponsor noting more Latino inclusion would also be impactful. “So it’s a great approach.”
Another bill — passed in the House nearly unanimously in April — looks to create a new statewide commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture. Last week, it cleared committee and too looks ahead for consideration on the full Senate floor.
“DSEA believes in the importance of curricula that accurately portrays and recognizes the roles, cultures and history of diverse groups,” said Taylor Hawk, speaking for Delaware’s largest teacher’s union on SB 297. “And an established body of research affirms what educators have long known: Culturally responsive education benefits all students.”
6 Delaware students land state student-athlete awards, with $9,000 among them
There were 15 applicants. And they didn’t make it easy.
“The Sportsmanship Committee had a difficult job this year as this year’s applicants were exemplary. It is a testament to student athletes committed to their academic and athletic achievements,” writes David Baylor, executive director of Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association, in a press release last week.
The association’s board of directors had to consider its 2024 Harry RobertsSenior Scholar Athlete Awards among seniors in DIAA schools, earning at least two varsity letters in different sports, maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher, alongside applying via essay submission.
DIAA divides the awards by female and male students. Six students took home the honor:
● 1st place: Megann Dombchik, Concord High School ($2,000)
● 2nd place: Elizabeth Dill, Dover High School ($1,500)
● 3rd place: Addison Kennedy, Newark Charter High School ($1,000)
● 1st place: Krish Shjpaul, Newark Charter Senior High School ($2.000)
● 2nd place: Patrick Craig, Ceasar Rodney High School ($1,500)
● 3rd place: Samuel Felice, Salesianum High School ($1,000)
Bill seeks to require sexual assault training across university students, staff
Although current law makes training in sexual assault awareness available — and many schools implement a version of it across their student body and faculty — a bill is working its way through Legislative Hall to require it in Delaware colleges and universities.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, passed in the House and just cleared committee in the Senate last week. It now awaits consideration on the Senate floor.
If passed, it would go on to define the reporting period that these academic institutions must share campus sexual assault figures from the calendar year to the academic year — while also requiring the DOJ to post such annual reports from the previous five years on its website, with aggregate data from the previous five years added in each report. This hopes to track trends more easily.
This legislation comes as crimes reported by campuses across the U.S. have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, per federal data. And it follows protests that rocked Delaware State University last year, when the state’s only HBCU was brought to the spotlight by students over concerns with campus safety, particularly sexual assaults, leading to further updates on campus. University of Delaware has faced similar battles with this issue.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the new requirements would go into effect June 30, 2025.
5K color run to honor first responders in Newark
The Independence School is expecting to host community members and first responders from across the state this week.
The private Newark school is set to host its 15th annual Indy 5K and Color Us Kids Run. It all starts at 5 p.m., Tuesday, at 1300 Paper Mill Road, with more than 250 runners expected. The run will be met with demonstrations from local first responders — including troops from Delaware State Police, New Castle County, University of Delaware, Hockessin, Newark, Wilmington, New Castle, Newport, Middletown and more, according to the school.
Food trucks and a DJ will also join the fold.
The energy here makes sense. At Independence, students who have a parent actively employed as a full-time first responder — as police, fire, emergency response or within military service — receive a discount toward tuition during each year. All proceeds from the race and event support this “First Responders Community Partnership Fund” at the school.
Rewarding such service falls in line with the PreK-8 school’s prescribed mission, too: inspiring citizenship and engagement in students.
Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/ The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191.