To better protect students from harm, Sen. Sturgeon passed legislation in 2021 to close loopholes in Delaware law that once allowed people convicted of crimes against children to run for a seat on their local school board and permitted sitting school board members to remain in office after being charged with a crime against a child.
Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 78 now requires school board candidates to undergo the same background checks required of all Delaware educators. The bill also allows the Delaware Department of Education to disqualify candidates based on those findings.
SB 78 (S) further requires sitting school board members who are charged with a disqualifying crime to be suspended from office and ultimately removed if convicted.