The Joint Finance Committee held a full-day orientation and budget briefing on the Delaware Department of Education's FY27 Governor's recommended budget of $2.479 billion, a 3.81% year-over-year increase. Key tensions included proposed eliminations of substitute teacher funding, athletic trainer grants, and mid-year unit counts, alongside skepticism from members about DOE's ability to improve outcomes after years of declining performance.
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Senator Lawson challenged Secretary Martin directly, stating he has heard similar reform promises for 14 years 'and we continue to go downhill,' and pressed for a yes-or-no commitment to a six-month progress report. The Secretary initially deflected with statements about continuous reporting before Lawson demanded a direct answer, at which point she said 'Yes.' Lawson also cited a total DOE cost per student of $20,660 and a 7.4% cost-per-student increase while questioning Delaware's national standing.
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“It puts a taint in the whole budget process whenever you see that. It just doesn't play well for me.”
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Sign in to subscribeEveryone. If members of the Joint Finance Committee can make their way to their seats, we're going to get started with orientation. We have the. The young bright mind of Russell Ames in front of us. The newest addition to the Controller General Staff. And with that, if Russell, if you could get us. Oh, let's go ahead and do roll call first. So we'll get that done and then we'll move on to orientation. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Representative Bolden. Representative Bolden. Absent. Senator Brown. Senator Brown. Absent. Senator Buckston. Senator Buxton. Present. Representative Chuquocha. Representative Chuquocha. Present. Representative Griffith. Representative Griffith. Absent. Senator Hanson. Senator Hanson. Absent. Senator Lawrence. Senator Lawson. Present. Senator Pardee. Present. Senator Pardee. President. Representative Postols. Representative Postols. Present. Representative Short. Representative Short. Present. Senator Sturgeon. Senator Sturgeon. Absent. Representative Williams. Representative Williams. Present. Mr. Chair. Seven members present. Five absent. Great. The rest will filter in shortly, I'm sure. And let it be known that Representative Postols is resoundingly present present. And with that, Russell, if you would take it away. And thank you, Chair. We'll turn to the final tab of Our briefing binders. Tab 95.00 to cover the Department of Education.…
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