SB 173 — AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE UNIVERSAL PRE-K CONSORTIUM.

Sturgeon &DELAWARE Sen.STATE SENATE 150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

Lockman1 &TO Rep.SENATE BILL NO.

Jaques173 &AMEND Rep.Senate Bill No.

K.173 between lines 46 and 47 by inserting the following:

Williams"(12) Sens.The President of the Delaware Chief School Officers Association.

Cloutier,(13) Hansen,The SokolaPresident DELAWAREof STATEthe SENATEDelaware 150thAssociation GENERALof ASSEMBLYSchool SENATEAdministrators’ BILLDepartment NO.of School Business Officials.".

173FURTHER ANAMEND ACTSenate TOBill ESTABLISHNo. THE UNIVERSAL PRE-K CONSORTIUM.

WHEREAS,173 aby strongdeleting researchlines base79 demonstratesthrough that81 high-qualityin pre-kindergartentheir (“pre-K”)entirety benefitsand allinserting childrenin withlieu lastingthereof impactsthe onfollowing: education, mobility, employment, health, and crime;

and“comprehensive WHEREAS,plan economicrequired analysesunder predictSection that1 statesof thatthis investAct inand earlysubmit childhoodthe educationfinal stimulatereport economiesto withthe high-achievingGeneral workersAssembly, andthe spendGovernor, lessthe moneyDirector onand remedialthe education,Librarian healthcare,of andthe criminalDivision justice,of creatingResearch anof $11Legislative returnCouncil onno everylater dollarthan invested;January 31, 2021.

andThe WHEREAS,report newmust researchinclude suggestsan advantagesanalysis of universalthe total cost of providing pre-K programsservices becausefor diverse,all inclusiveeligible earlyDelaware childhoodchildren, learningrecommendations environmentsfor benefitpaying childrenfor fromthose allservices, economic,and ethnic,any other findings and racialrecommendations backgrounds;of the Consortium related to the comprehensive plan.”.

SYNOPSIS This Amendment adds the Presidents of the Chief School Officers Association and WHEREAS,the pre-KDelaware moreSchool thanBusiness paysOfficials forto itselfthe Consortium and adds specific information that must be included in boththe report that summarizes the longwork andof shortthe term.Consortium.

Recent studies show a 13% per year return to society on pre-K investments through economic stimulation and savings on remedial education, special education services, health, employment, and criminal justice;

and WHEREAS, less than 4% of Delaware 4 year olds are enrolled in State-funded pre-K.

Delaware ranks thirty-eight in the nation for pre-K access for 4 year olds;

and WHEREAS, 50% of all Delaware 3 and 4 year olds are not enrolled in any pre-K program today;

and WHEREAS, based on the Delaware Early Learner Survey observational tool, 1/3 to 1/2 of Delaware children are entering kindergarten without the skills needed for success;

and WHEREAS, a 2016 scientific poll found that 86% of likely voters in Delaware support voluntary pre-K for all children;

and WHEREAS, according to a 2019 Delaware Readiness Teams survey, 94% percent of parents with children ages 0 to 5 agree that Delaware should make free, public pre-K available;

and WHEREAS, families report that the price of pre-K is cost prohibitive and causes financial distress.

A 2019 Delaware Readiness Teams survey found that 55% of parents say they or their partner could get a job, expand access to full-time employment, go back to school, or get more career training if Delaware instituted voluntary, full-day, high quality universal pre-K;

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06/25/2019 11:30 AM WHEREAS, pre-K has been successfully delivered in a mix of public school, community-based, and Head Start settings and should continue to be delivered in this way to ensure access and options to meet families’ needs;

and WHEREAS, a significant body of national research supports high standards of delivery of pre-K programming, including developmentally appropriate curriculum and qualified educators.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.

The Universal Pre-K Consortium (“Consortium”) is established to recommend a comprehensive plan for the implementation of a mixed-delivery, non-compulsory public pre-K program for all 4 year olds in this State.

Section 2.

The Consortium is composed of the following 11 members serving by virtue of position, or a designee appointed by the member:

(1) A member of the majority caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(2) A member of the minority caucus of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(3) A member of the majority caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representative.

(4) A member of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representative.

(5) The Secretary of the Department of Education.

(6) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.

(7) The President of the Delaware Parent Teacher Association.

(8) The President of the Board of Directors of the Delaware School Boards Association.

(9) The Executive Director of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children.