An Act To Amend Title 14 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Teacher Salaries.
Summary
SB 81 amends Delaware’s education code to give certain teachers and specialists salary schedule credit for prior work as Title I or instructional paraprofessionals in public schools. Under the bill, a teacher or specialist who has at least four years of full-time paraprofessional experience and who held a valid paraprofessional permit, or an equivalent out-of-state credential, before becoming a teacher or specialist, would receive one year of experience credit for every two years of qualifying paraprofessional service. The bill applies only to teachers hired after August 9, 2023.
The bill also clarifies when that experience credit begins to count: it starts on the date an application is completed and approved by the employer. In practical terms, SB 81 changes how prior paraprofessional service is recognized for compensation purposes, potentially increasing starting salaries or accelerating movement on the salary schedule for eligible educators.
Impact
SB 81 amends Title 14, Section 1312 of the Delaware Code, which governs experience credit for teachers and specialists on the state salary schedule under Section 1305. The bill expands the categories of prior service that can be counted toward salary placement by recognizing qualifying Title I and instructional paraprofessional experience in public schools. Its effect is limited to teachers hired after August 9, 2023, and it affects school employers, the Department of Education, and eligible educators seeking salary credit based on prior paraprofessional work.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong and unanimous support for the bill in both chambers, with a 20-0 Senate vote and a 40-0 House vote. That suggests broad bipartisan agreement that the measure is a fair way to compensate educators who previously served in paraprofessional roles and then moved into teaching or specialist positions. No committee transcripts were provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate indicating organized opposition.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record, given the unanimous votes in both chambers and the absence of committee testimony. The main policy issue inherent in the bill is whether and how much prior paraprofessional experience should count toward teacher salary placement, which can affect district payroll costs and administrative processing. Any concerns would likely center on fiscal impact, implementation, and eligibility verification, but no specific objections are documented in the materials provided.