DSBA legislative priorities highlighted to Colonial board: burden of proof, behavioral health funding, SAT concerns
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Summary
The Colonial School Board received an Oct. 14 briefing from Dr. Dorsey on DSBA legislative committee priorities, including proposals to shift burden of proof in complaint cases, calls for flexible funding for mental and behavioral health, and concerns about reliance on the SAT for accountability.
The Colonial School Board received an update Oct. 14 from Dr. Dorsey, the district’s DSBA legislative committee representative, on topics the Delaware School Boards Association is advancing to state policymakers.
Dr. Dorsey told the board the DSBA legislative committee discussed "flipping the burden of proof" in complaint cases so that the complainant, rather than the district, must establish a violation in certain proceedings; the goal cited was to reduce district costs associated with cases that do not proceed to resolution. "Instead of having the burden of proof being placed on the district, having the burden of proof placed on the complainant to prove that there's been a violation," Dorsey said.
Dorsey said the committee also emphasized mental and behavioral health services, urging unit-based funding and funding flexibility so districts can better direct resources to students and families with increased behavioral health needs. "DSPA supports unit-based funding and funding flexibility," he said, adding that such flexibility would support increased services for students and families.
On statewide assessment policy, Dorsey described DSBA's position that the SAT is not an accurate reflection of overall school performance and that the association supports development of a more balanced and equitable accountability system. He noted concerns that mandatory testing for all eleventh-graders can skew comparisons with states that test only voluntary test-takers.
Dr. Dorsey said the DSBA committee will continue engagement and that the next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 4. Board members asked clarifying questions about accountability measures and whether Colonial still administers the PSAT to eleventh-graders; Dorsey and staff answered that PSAT administration practices remain in place in some schools, while SAT is the state accountability measure for grade 11.
No formal board action was taken on these legislative items during the meeting.