(a) The Public Education Compensation Committee (hereinafter “Committee”) is hereby convened to review Delaware’s educator compensation structure and its ability to compete with regional school districts, Delaware’s private business sector, and other governmental agencies, in recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse educators, and to develop recommendations to establish a new compensation structure for educators in Delaware, including the following:
(1) Make recommendations that strengthen Delaware’s ability to compete with regional school districts in recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse educators.
(2) Make recommendations for competitive base pay for educators at all steps in the compensation structure.
(3) Make recommendations for achieving competitive career level earnings in fewer, more meaningful steps.
(4) Specify how educators can achieve additional opportunities for career advancement, which must be based in part on years of experience but must otherwise be based on acquisition of relevant degrees, certifications, and competencies, the acceptance of leadership responsibilities, and must fairly compensate for additional professional responsibilities.
(5) Make recommendations that include approaches to the acquisition of skills and knowledge that are timely, relevant, and affordable. Recommendations shall include access to additional compensation that may vary depending on the degree, certification, or competency achieved. The Committee must also consider how additional compensation under this section will be approved and administered.
(6) Provide recommendations on the creation of leadership roles through which educators will receive additional compensation for assuming leadership responsibilities. Recommendations should also allow school districts flexibility to determine the number and type of leadership roles. The Committee should consider positions that:
a. Have meaningful adult leadership responsibilities in the areas of curriculum, casework, instruction, student support, family and community engagement, and professional development;
b. Maintain a meaningful connection to student learning; and
c. Are supported by classroom or office coverage during times when the educator is away from the classroom or students.
Recommendations should include language indicating educators serving in leadership roles shall not be assigned additional responsibilities that are not substantially related to their leadership roles and classroom or professional obligations.
(7) Make recommendations for a process that provides additional compensation for professional responsibilities that are not generally required in the classroom, including special education casework. The Committee shall discuss and make recommendations regarding the types of responsibilities that could qualify for additional compensation. The Committee must also consider how additional compensation under this section will be approved and administered.
(8) Make recommendations regarding the applicability of the new system, which would apply to all educators as defined by § 1202 of this title or person paid under §§ 1305, 1306, 1307, 1310 and 1321 of this title. The Committee should provide a timeline and mechanism for transition and implementation.
(9) Review and provide recommendations to increase base levels of pay for education support staff as defined by §§ 1308, 1311, 1322, and 1324 of this title that shall be competitive with other districts in the region.
(10) Identify and consider adopting state pay scales for job categories where 1 does not exist, including bus drivers and information technology employees.
(b) The Committee shall present its recommendations, including a fiscal note and implementing legislation, to the Governor no later than November 15, 2023, so that its recommendations may be considered for inclusion in the Governor’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2025 to be presented to the General Assembly in January 2024.
(c) The Committee shall consist of the following members, or a designee selected by the member serving by virtue of position:
(1) The Secretary of Education.
(2) The Controller General.
(3) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(4) The Executive Director of the Delaware State Education Association.
(5) The Executive Director of the Delaware Association of School Administrators.
(6) An educator appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore.
(7) Two school financial officers appointed by the Governor.
(8) One school superintendent appointed by the Governor.
(9) A charter school administrator appointed by the Speaker of the House.
(10) A representative of the Office of the Governor.
(11) The Chair of the House Education Committee.
(12) The Chair of the Senate Education Committee.
(13) One member of the House minority caucus appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(14) One member of the Senate minority caucus appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(d) The Committee will elect a chair from amongst the membership.
(e) The Committee shall seek input from others including educators, parents, school administrators, local school boards, and higher education representatives. The Committee shall hold public meetings in person or virtually to specifically gather input from educators.
(f) The Department of Education shall provide staff assistance to the Committee and shall convene the first meeting no later than August 1, 2022.