Here we go again! House Bill 60 is on the agenda for the House Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 14th, at 2:30pm. It is the ONLY bill on the agenda. Most educators should be done with school by then. Parents, teachers, students, and Delaware citizens: I invite you to attend this committee meeting and give public comment on why you feel this bill should pass!
Delaware Governor John Carney has been very quiet on the subject of opt out. When he was a U.S. Congressman, he voted against a part of the reauthorization of the ESEA which would have honored a parent’s right to opt their child out of the state assessment prior to the bill becoming the Every Student Succeeds Act. When the last opt out bill, House Bill 50, overwhelmingly passed the Delaware House and Senate, former Governor Jack Markell vetoed the bill within weeks. An attempted override of that veto led to a lot of shady deal-making between Markell’s office and legislators and the attempt failed.
While opt out has not been a huge topic, it is more important than ever. I feel the bill should also include personalized learning assessments and any “stealth” assessments embedded in digital technology. While these aren’t the norm in Delaware yet, they will be. These mini assessments will replace the once a year test in a competency-based education arena.
Due to an actual “gag order” by National PTA concerning opt out, we will not be able to get support from the Delaware PTA this go-around. So any participation in this committee meeting will have to be a grassroots effort by parents. Please spread the word. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please email the members of the House Education Committee asking for their support of House Bill 60. As well, you can sign this petition on Change.Org which can be found here: Please release House Bill 60 from the House Education Committee
Here are their emails:
earl.jaques@state.de.us
kimberly.williams@state.de.us
sean.matthews@state.de.us
sean.lynn@state.de.us
michael.ramone@state.de.us
Charles.Postles@state.de.us
joseph.miro@state.de.us
edward.osienski@state.de.us
charles.potter@state.de.us
debra.heffernan@state.de.us
david.bentz@state.de.us
melanie.g.smith@state.de.us
harvey.kenton@state.de.us
stephanie.bolden@state.de.us
ruth.briggsking@state.de.us
timothy.dukes@state.de.us
kevin.hensley@state.de.us
The Season Of Myths 