SB 302: AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAWS OF DELAWARE RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

This Act recognizes that the Public Education Funding Committee’s (PEFC) recommended hybrid model formula to determine public education funding is good public policy and that implementation of the hybrid model should not be delayed any longer than absolutely necessary. As such, this Act provides authority for the Department of Education (Department) to begin making the changes to systems that are necessary to implement the hybrid model for Fiscal Year 2028. This Act also encourages that, in collaboration with the PEFC, the Department incorporate elements of the hybrid model in the development of the Governor’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2028 for consideration by the 154th General Assembly. However, during this transition, a school district or charter school should not receive a state appropriation for Fiscal Year 2028 that is lower than the amount that school received in Fiscal Year 2027. The PEFC was established under Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 201 (152nd General Assembly) on June 27, 2024, and then re-established under House Concurrent Resolution No. 2 (153rd General Assembly) on January 21, 2025, to conduct a comprehensive review of public education funding for all students and populations served by school districts and charter schools (public schools) and develop a roadmap of recommendations to implement improvements to the public education funding system. The PEFC’s recommends adopting a new public education funding framework, known as the “hybrid model”, that combines the current, resource-based funding formula with a student-based, weighted funding model. The hybrid model will improve equity in public school funding and facilitate gains in student achievement by increasing flexibility in how public schools may use appropriated money. The PEFC recommendations include accountability measures as an important balance to the increased flexibility and that the equalization formula must be modernized.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 21

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 30, 2026Signed by Governor
2. June 24, 2026Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT
3. June 16, 2026Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 6 On Its Merits
4. June 16, 2026Reported Out of Committee (Appropriations) in House with 6 On Its Merits
5. June 11, 2026Assigned to Appropriations Committee in House
6. June 10, 2026Reported Out of Committee (Education) in House with 10 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
7. May 20, 2026Assigned to Education Committee in House
8. May 19, 2026Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
9. May 19, 2026Reported Out of Committee (Finance) in Senate with 3 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
10. May 5, 2026Assigned to Finance Committee in Senate
11. May 5, 2026Reported Out of Committee (Education) in Senate with 5 Favorable
12. April 30, 2026Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in Senate