EXECUTIVE ORDER
NUMBER THIRTY-THREE
TO: HEADS OF ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
RE: CREATING THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON OPPORTUNITY FUNDING

WHEREAS, Delaware now has over 13,000 English learner students in schools across the state; and

WHEREAS, Delaware now has over 43,000 students from low-income families; and

WHEREAS, a key recommendation from taskforces, workgroups, and committees has been for weighted funding to help these two subgroups; and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure successful implementation of Opportunity Funding, Delaware must engage educators and stakeholders.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN C. CARNEY, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER the following:

1. The Oversight Committee on Opportunity Funding (the Committee) is hereby established and shall consist of 12 members as follows:

a. The Secretary of the Department of Education, or a designee appointed by the Secretary, who shall serve as an ex-officio non-voting member;
b. Three educators with experience working with low-income students or working with English learners, appointed in consultation with the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA);
c. One superintendent, one district office administrator, and one principal appointed in consultation with the Delaware Association of School Administrators (DASA);
d. One elected member of a Delaware school board, appointed in consultation with the Executive Director of the Delaware School Boards Association (DSBA);
e. One parent of a public school student, appointed in consultation with the Delaware PTA;
f. One school-based mental health professional, who may be a full-time school counselor, school social worker, licensed clinical social worker, or a full-time school psychologist; and
g. Two education stakeholders or community leaders.

2. Committee members in 1.b. through 1.g. shall be appointed by and serve at the Governor’s pleasure.

3. The Governor shall appoint a Chair and Vice Chair from among the Committee’s voting members.

4. The Committee shall meet at least six times each year, and advise the Secretary of the Department of Education, the Governor, and relevant state agencies on the successes, challenges, and any recommended programmatic changes to ensure Opportunity Funding is used to best support low-income students and English learner students.

5. The Committee shall be responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of the program annually, publicizing best practices, recommending parameters and mechanisms for the future of the program, and ensuring the public is aware of the work districts and charter schools are doing to close achievement gaps.

6. The Committee shall prepare an annual report describing the progress made by districts and charter schools towards better serving low-income students and English learners, using multiple measures to evaluate progress. This report shall be submitted annually to the Governor, Secretary of Education, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees by December 31 of each year.

7. The Committee shall participate in an annual summit organized and hosted by the Department of Education to spotlight best practices through the use of this funding.

8. Administrative support and space for the meetings shall be provided by DOE.

9. The Committee shall dissolve on December 31, 2022 unless extended by further Executive Order.

APPROVED this 8th  day of August, 2019.

John C. Carney
Governor

ATTEST:
Secretary of State

PDF of Executive Order

Print

Print