FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 30, 2026
Contact: Sarah Fulton (302) 401-1114
DOVER —Following the votes taken at Monday night’s Public Education Funding Commission (PEFC) meeting, Sen. Laura Sturgeon and Rep. Kim Williams filed legislation that would modernize the way Delaware funds its schools.
“The evidence is clear: states that spend more per pupil and target more funds towards low-income and multilingual learners have better overall outcomes when it comes to testing, graduation rates, employment rates, and many other key indicators of success,” said Sen. Sturgeon, chair of the PEFC and the Senate Education Committee. “I am immensely proud to announce that after years of collaboration with education stakeholders who were once lightyears apart on how Delaware should tackle this issue, the members of the Commission have reached consensus on our path forward for a more equitable, flexible, and transparent school funding formula here in the First State. This new framework will maximize the benefit of every dollar that gets invested into our schools.”
Senate Bill 302 would direct the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) to begin implementing the Commission’s recommendations for a hybrid funding formula that better supports the breadth of needs across Delaware’s K-12 population, including English language learners (ELL) and students from low-income areas.
SB 302 defines 3 components of Delaware school funding:
- Base funding — provides appropriations for positions, weighted to maintain student to teacher ratios
- Opportunity funding — a flexible, per-pupil appropriation that is based on the number of students who are in low-income households, are multi-lingual learners, or both
- Operational funding — a flexible, per-pupil appropriation to support school operations that is weighted for a variety of student demographics
Delaware’s public education funding formula for base funding currently follows an outdated resource-based model that only 5 other states across the country still use. Under this model, state funding for educator positions is allocated based on student demographics in a given district at the time of the annual September 30 unit count date. While students with higher needs factor into the total number of units allocated to a particular district, the resource-based funding system allocates the same per-pupil amount to each student.
The PEFC’s proposed hybrid model outlined in SB 302 blends the current resource-based system with a student-based, weighted funding model that better accounts for the inequities that exist in the current funding model alone. Following its passage by the Delaware General Assembly, DDOE will immediately begin adopting the hybrid model, with full implementation set for the 2027-2028 school year.
“For too long, our funding model has not fully aligned resources with the realities students bring to school each day,” said Cindy Marten, Delaware’s Secretary of Education. “But let’s be clear: a funding formula alone does not improve outcomes. What improves outcomes is how resources are used, whether they strengthen teaching, accelerate learning, and create real results for students. That is why this next phase must remain grounded in clear strategy, transparency, and accountability.”
SB 302 will allow for continued refinement of the funding formula over time, including by modifying weights, adding additional student demographics to the weighted categories, and changing the overall level of investment in public schools.
One notable vote taken at the April 27 Commission meeting was Item #2 on the meeting agenda, recommending a “hold harmless” provision. The Commission voted to ensure that local education agencies (LEAs) do not experience any loss of state funding related to the implementation of the hybrid model until such time that Phase 2 of the formula is fully implemented and funded. Phase 2 is currently scheduled for July 2028 (FY 2029).
To that end, lawmakers also introduced Senate Bill 303, which codifies the PEFC as a permanent body. The Commission will continue to meet during the implementation of Phase 1 and 2 of the new funding formula, and will be able to make recommendations going forward to refine and optimize the model moving forward.
“Over the last several years, we have focused on improving educational outcomes for all students. This can be seen from our efforts with our earliest learners surrounding literacy reform to programs that recruit & retain high quality educators. We have seen the difference that these programs have in our schools from year-long teacher residencies, teacher academies for students aspiring to be educators, grow-your-own programs and the state’s investment with increasing educator salaries,” said Rep. Kim Williams. “The way we fund our schools has a direct impact on students, not just while they are in the classroom, but also on opportunities that shape the rest of their lives. That’s why getting this right is so important. I want to thank my fellow members of the Public Education Funding Commission and the Chair Senator Laura Sturgeon for the hard work they have put in over the last year and a half to create a model that better serves our students. I’m also grateful to the Meyer Administration for their partnership and commitment to ensuring this is funded and implemented successfully in the years ahead.”
Senate Bills 302 and 303 have been assigned to the Senate Education Committee and will be considered on Tuesday, May 5.
About the Public Education Funding Commission: First established by SCR 201, which was passed by the 152nd General Assembly in June 2024, this Commission (the “PEFC”) is charged with conducting a comprehensive review of public education funding for all students and populations served by district and charter schools.
The PEFC, which was formally reestablished by HCR 2 to continue into the 153rd General Assembly, will also develop a roadmap of recommendations to implement improvements to the public education funding system and will serve as an ongoing body to review the funding annually and recommend updates and changes.
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