Yesterday, by a vote of 8-6, the Delaware House Education Committee released House Bill 50 which would allow parent opt-out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment to become a part of state law if passed. I have received the exact votes from the members of the committee:
Yes: Kim Williams, Sean Matthews, Edward Osienski, Charles Potter, Michael Ramone, Sean Lynn, Kevin Hensley, and Harvey Kenton
No: Earl Jaques, Deborah Heffernan, Michael Barbieri, and Stephanie Bolden
Absent: Joseph Miro and Timothy Dukes (was at meeting but must have left early)
The following organizations were NOT IN SUPPORT of House Bill 50 and parent opt-out:
Delaware Department of Education, Delaware State Board of Education, Delaware Business Roundtable, Delaware Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, First State Montessori Charter School, One Parent, A special education teacher in Milford School District, four legislators, Brandywine Superintendent Dr. Mark Holodick
The following organizations SUPPORT House Bill 50 and parent opt-out:
Delaware PTA, Delaware State Educators Association (DSEA), Delaware Parents & Teachers for Public Education, Several Parents, Several Teachers, eight legislators, Exceptional Delaware, Delaware Parents & Teachers for Public Education
The following school district boards in Delaware have passed resolutions similar to House Bill 50 in the respect they will honor parent opt-out and will not penalize the opted out student: Capital, Christina, Red Clay Consolidated
Our work needs to focus on the entire Delaware House of Representatives and the Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf.
The Season Of Myths 