HB330 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN EDUCATOR AND EDUCATION STAFF BILL OF RIGHTS.

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Michael Smith
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: House Education 3/25/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status label indicates the bill passed both chambers, but the digest notes show a date of 'Not Worked in Committee' on April 15, 2026. This creates uncertainty about whether the final legislative process was completed before that specific committee action note.

Delaware Educator and Education Staff Bill of Rights

HB330 adds a new section to Delaware law that lists specific rights for educators and education staff regarding safety, respect, reporting student behavior, classroom resources, and benefits after assault.

What This Bill Does

Creates the 'Educator and Education Staff Bill of Rights' in Title 14 of the Delaware Code.
Requires schools to treat educators and staff with civility and respect their professional judgment or discretion.
Allows teachers and staff to report student behavior that is errant, offensive, or abusive without penalty.
States that employees have a right to defend themselves and students from physical violence or harm.
Prohibits requiring educators or staff to use personal money for classroom supplies or equipment.
Provides benefits if an employee misses work due to injury caused by assault during employment.

Who It Names or Affects

Educators, defined as teachers, principals, assistant principals, and others required to hold a valid license in Delaware public schools.
Education staff, defined as any individual employed by the public schools of this state.

Terms To Know

Educator: Any teacher, principal, assistant principal, or other person required to hold a valid license for employment in Delaware public schools.
Education Staff: Any individual employed by the public schools of this state.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill states educators can share student information with parents unless state law or federal privacy rules (FERPA) forbid it.
The text lists rights but does not explain specific steps schools must take to enforce them if they are violated.

Bill History

2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly
Not Worked in Committee
2026-03-25 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN EDUCATOR AND EDUCATION STAFF BILL OF RIGHTS.
This act creates an educator and education staff bill of rights relating to their educational work in the course of their employment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Michael Smith & Sen. Buckson

Reps. Hensley, Shupe, Yearick; Sens. Richardson, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 330

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AN EDUCATOR AND EDUCATION STAFF BILL OF RIGHTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 49, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 49. Educator and Education Staff Bill of Rights.

§ 4901. Title.

This act shall be known and cited as the “Educator and Education Staff Bill of Rights”.

§ 4902. Definitions. For purposes of this act, “Educator” means any teacher, principal, assistant principle, or other individual required by law to hold a valid license of qualification for employment in the public schools of this state. “Education Staff” means any individual employed by the public schools of this state.

§ 4903. Educator Rights.

An educator has the right to:

(1) Be treated with civility and respect;

(2) Have their professional judgment and discretion respected;

(3) Report any errant, offensive, or abusive content or behavior of students to school officials or appropriate agencies;

(4) Provide students with a classroom and school in which the educators, education staff, students, the property of the educator, education staff, students, and peers will be safe;

(5) Defend themselves and their students from physical violence or physical harm;

(6) Share information regarding a student’s educational experience, health, or safety with the student’s parent or legal guardian unless otherwise prohibited by state law or the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g);

(7) Review all instructional material or curriculum prior to those materials being utilized for instruction of students;

(8) Not be required to use their personal money to appropriately equip or supply a classroom;

(9) Report students who commit offenses of assault and battery or vandalism on school property endangering the life, health, or safety of others; and

(10) Receive benefits if the educator is absent from their assigned duties as a result of personal injury caused by a physical assault or other violent act committed against the individual in the course of their employment activities.

§ 4904. Education Staff’s Rights.

An education staff has the right to:

(1) Be treated with civility and respect;

(2) Have their judgment and discretion respected;

(3) Report any errant, offensive, or abusive content or behavior of students to school officials or appropriate agencies;

(4) Provide students with a classroom and school in which the educators, education staff, students, the property of the educator, education staff, students, and peers will be safe;

(5) Defend themselves and their students from physical violence or physical harm;

(6) Not be required to use their personal money to appropriately equip or supply a classroom or school facility;

(7) Report students who commit offenses of assault and battery or vandalism on school property endangering the life, health, or safety of others; and

(8) Receive benefits if the education staff member is absent from their assigned duties as a result of personal injury caused by a physical assault or other violent act committed against the individual in the course of their employment activities.

SYNOPSIS

This act creates an educator and education staff bill of rights relating to their educational work in the course of their employment.