Charter Schools in Delaware

Law:   Passed in 1995

Rank:   4th strongest of the nation's 40 charter laws

CER Grade:   A

Schools:   11

Students:   5,262

CELEBRATE: Senator Tom Carper and Representative Michael Castle, both of Delaware, are two of eight U.S. Congressional leaders serving as honorary co-chairs of the Congressional Salute to Charter Schools in conjunction with the fourth annual National Charter Schools Week, April 28-May 2, 2003. The co-chairs will participate in various events showcasing the importance of charter schools in improving all schools.
FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE: Delaware's Georgetown Charter School, a school that had to fight just to come into existence, now faces a battle for its future. The state Education Department is threatening to close the school immediately because of financial issues that the school faces over the rest of the school year, many of which were caused by the Education Department to begin with. The school community, whose children have made significant academic strides and whose parents have rallied 'round with financial support, is fighting back. Learn more at CER Newswire March 12, 2002.

TOP RATE: Delaware has been rated America's 2nd strongest charter school law in CER's most recent rankings. While only a few charter schools have been started so far, their success and health underscore the benefits of strong law states. They too have their challenges with usual bureaucratic tinkering, but Delaware's crop had an open hearing from the state's two chartering authorities, can be run by parents and companies, are given a substantial amount of funding and are autonomous from government entities. From CER's State-By-State Charter Law Ranking Report, October 2001.
TOP SCORES: In 1998 the Charter School of Wilmington achieved the highest average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of all Delaware public secondary schools, with an average score of 1,107. The state average was 964, and the national average was 1,011. Charter Schools Today: A Sampling of Their Successes

Delaware Charter Schools Network 100 W. 10th St., Suite 704 Wilmington, DE 19081	Contact: Martha Manning Telephone: (302) 778-5999 Fax: (302) 778-5998 Website: www.decharternetwork.org Email: martha@decharternetwork.org
Delaware Charter School Network is a nonprofit organization that educates the public about charter schools, provides technical assistance to existing Delaware charter schools and those yet to open, and works to serve as a unified voice for the state’s charter schools at the state and national level.

Delaware Department of Public Information P.O. Box 1402 Dover, DE 19903	Contact: Dr. Larry Gabbert , Charter School Administrator Tel: 302-739-4885 Email: lgabbert@state.de.us
Website: http://www.doe.state.de.us/CharterSchools/charter_schools.htm