Delaware Senate passes Wilmington charter moratorium

Lawmakers in the Delaware Senate gave final legislative approval on Tuesday to a bill that will halt the authorization of new charter schools in Wilmington through June 2018, or until the state develops a strategic education plan statewide.

Delaware Rep. Charles Potter Jr., a Wilmington Democrat, sponsored the measure. It cleared the House on April 2 and Senate lawmakers sent it to Delaware Gov. Jack Markell's desk with a 12-8 vote on Tuesday. Markell plans to sign the legislation, a spokesman said.

Senate Democrats unanimously supported the legislation. Republicans were near unanimous in opposition. Sen. Catherine Cloutier, R-Heatherbrooke, registered as not voting.

Senate Republicans said the legislation was indicative of an anti-charter school wave in Legislative Hall, where both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

"All of the anti-charter school sentiment I'm picking up in this building over the last few years is absolutely the wrong way to go. Delawareans have told us they want a choice," said Sen. Colin Bonini, a Dover Republican.

Bonini said thousands of Delaware families have "voted with their feet" by leaving traditional schools and enrolling their children in charters.

"Those families need to have a choice," Bonini said. "Especially in those districts where we have failing traditional public schools. We've got to give those families more choice, not less."

The legislation came amid pressure to slow down the authorization of new charter schools. In January, the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee recommended a temporary hold on charter school authorizations in Wilmington until the state developed a strategic plan on how charters fit within the broader education system in Delaware's largest city.

An earlier version of Potter's legislation would have authorized a moratorium statewide, but that was amended out during House debate.

The legislation also formalizes the right of Wilmington's mayor and city council members to review and provide comment on the potential impact of charter school proposals on city students.

Potter's measure references the development of a needs assessment and strategic plan for specialized public education statewide at traditional, magnet, charter, and vocational-technical schools. Development of the plan will cost between $50,000 and $200,000, officials say.

Delaware Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, a Wilmington Democrat and supporter of the bill, said the measure allows Delaware to step back, "take a breath" and review education needs before authorizing new charters in Wilmington. Charters already authorized will be allowed to open during the moratorium.

"I continue to support charter schools," Henry said during Senate debate.

Other Senate Democrats who voted in favor of the legislation, including Sens. David Sokola, D-Newark, and Brian Bushweller, D-Dover, expressed similar support for charter schools broadly.

"I believe the charter school movement in Delaware has been very good for the public school system," Bushweller said.



Contact Jonathan Starkey at (302) 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.