PRIVATE SCHOOL TESTING ALERT BILL NUMBER AND STATUS: HR 62 (Passed) SUMMARY: HR 62 resolved that there will be a committee to evaluate and propose new legislation concerning testing of all Delaware students. THE RISK: If the Committee doesn't make it clear that all testing regulations will only apply to public schools, then the DOE can possibly interpret the new testing statutes to mean that private school reporting requirements must include standardized testing results. HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT US: If all children are tested by the government, then there will no longer be a significant difference between public and private education. The government will determine our curriculum through testing. THE GOOD NEWS: It is not too late. When the committee is formed, we can let every member on the committee know that their constituents want the language to be very clear that testing regulations only apply to students who are enrolled in the public school system. Instead of referring to "students," it would be more consistent with the purpose of the State if they refer only to public school students. WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: Write your letters now. When the committee is formed, we will provide all of the contact info and all you will have to do is send them out. You might want to include a request that you receive a copy of the report. This will happen sooner than you might think. The committee has to submit its report by March 15, 2000. THE BIG PICTURE: How This Relates to Other Legislation Delaware public school students didn't test very well in 1998 and this has created an accountability push that might not be limited to public school students. New legislation, including HR 62, to address the need for statewide student testing does not use limiting language. It is worth noting that while education legislation has historically emphasized public instruction, new language refers to all Delaware students. The DOE shift in focus from public education to the standardized education of all Delaware students is consistent with the Federal Goals 2000 and Outcome-Based Education. It is not consistent with the original purpose of the Department, which is to administrate the system of free public education. (See: Tittle 14, Part I, Chapters 1 and 2.) We must remind legislators that even though DPI/DOE changed their name from Department of Public Instruction to the Department of Education, they have no constitutional jurisdiction over private education. (See: Delaware Constitution, Article X.) Contact List for Delaware Elected Officials: http://www.state.de.us/contacts/ Delaware Bill Search: http://aosta.state.de.us/LIS/LIS140.NSF?opendatabase Submitted By Elizabeth Garner 08-00
