Delaware school funding overhaul advances; panel estimates $150M–$200M to launch in FY2028

Delaware is moving toward its first major school funding overhaul in decades, with a state commission advancing a hybrid model that would steer more money to students with higher needs and could require an additional $150 million to $200 million to launch in fiscal year 2028.

On April 27, the Public Education Funding Commission approved five recommendations aimed at getting legislation before the General Assembly, with the goal of implementing the new approach by the 2027‑28 school year. Twenty‑five commissioners met in Dover and endorsed the framework without setting a precise dollar figure, though they established investment benchmarks for the next General Assembly to consider.

Secretary of Education Cindy Marten called it “an important moment for Delaware” during the Monday evening meeting. Commission Chair Sen. Laura Sturgeon described the vote as the “culmination of all the work” so far and said the aim is to file initial legislation by next week.

In a written statement, Gov. Matt Meyer said the recommendations present “the opportunity to fix a system that is critical to the success of our schools,” adding that his administration looks forward to working with lawmakers to finish the job.

The proposed hybrid model would preserve Delaware’s existing unit‑count system—which funds a base of teachers and other resources by converting student counts into “units”—while adding weighted dollars that follow students with greater needs, such as those from low‑income families or learning English.

The commission plans a second phase of work by July 2028 to explore tiers of need, equalization, and local funding reform. Commissioners estimate the state will need to add $150 million to $200 million above current funding levels in the next budget to launch the formula in FY2028, a figure based on current data that could change.

Sturgeon said the starting point would be “in the vicinity of the 150‑to‑200” to at least “hold harmless,” reorienting where state dollars go without taking existing money away from any district. The push follows years of scrutiny. Delaware was sued in 2018 over persistent disparities in how resources reached high‑need student groups.

A 2020 settlement prompted further study and incremental increases, while leaving the state’s roughly 80‑year‑old formula intact. In 2023, an independent report found an “alarmingly clear and negative relationship” between these students and their outcomes and urged additional investment of $600 million to $1 billion.

With roughly two months left in the legislative session, the commission’s recommendations are intended to guide a bill that would put the hybrid model on track for a July 2027 roll‑out, with continued refinements through July 2028.