HB44 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MIGRANT EDUCATION.

Children Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lynn
Last action: 2025-05-07
Official status: Out of Committee 5/7/25
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text states purposes include helping children overcome barriers like health problems and social isolation, but does not detail how these will be addressed beyond general program support.

HB44: Migrant Education Program Requirements

This bill requires Delaware to maintain a migrant education program that provides specific services and ensures funding does not stop if federal money is too low.

What This Bill Does

Requires the state to have a migrant education program for migratory children.
Mandates that the program provide all services offered or required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as of January 19, 2025.
Requires the Department of Education to find extra money from the state or other sources if federal funding is not enough.
Ensures there are no interruptions in school services for migratory children.

Who It Names or Affects

Migratory children and their families.
The Delaware Department of Education.
Schools providing the migrant education program.

Terms To Know

Migrant education program: A state plan designed to meet the unique educational needs of children who move frequently for work-related reasons.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA): The federal law that sets rules and funding requirements for schools in the United States, used here as a standard for services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not list specific dollar amounts or exact dates when new state funds must be found.
It is unclear how long it will take to identify or transfer money if federal funding drops short.
The text does not explain the process for choosing which 'other sources' of funding to use.

Bill History

2025-05-07 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Administration) in House with 4 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits
2025-04-16 Delaware General Assembly
Not Worked in Committee
2025-03-06 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Administration Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MIGRANT EDUCATION.
This Act requires the State to have a migrant education program to ensure that migrant children’s educational needs are met. The program must provide the same services that were provided or were required to be provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on January 19, 2025. If federal funding is insufficient to meet the needs of migratory education, the Delaware Department of Education must identify, transfer, or request the appropriation of supplemental funding from the State or other sources to ensure no interruption in services.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Lynn & Rep. Ortega & Sen. Hoffner & Sen. Pinkney

Reps. K. Johnson, Lambert, Morrison, Phillips, Snyder-Hall, Wilson-Anton, Neal, Berry

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 44

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MIGRANT EDUCATION.

WHEREAS, in addition to being moral and ethical, the education of migrant children is essential to the agricultural industry in Delaware,

NOW, THEREFORE:

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

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

Chapter 48. Migrant Education Program.

§ 4801. Purposes.

The purposes of this chapter are:

(1) To support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs and services during the school year and, as applicable, during summer or intersession periods, that address the unique educational needs of migratory children.

(2) To ensure that migratory children receive full and appropriate opportunities to meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet.

(3) To help migratory children overcome educational disruption, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, various health-related problems, and other factors that inhibit the ability of such children to succeed in school.

(4) To help migratory children benefit from State and local systemic reforms.

§ 4802. Funding.

The Department must ensure that migratory children’s educational needs are met. If federal funding is insufficient to meet the needs of migratory education, the Department shall identify, transfer, or request the appropriation of supplemental funding from the State or other sources so as to ensure no interruption in services under this chapter.

§ 4803. Services.

The services provided under this program must include all services that were provided by this State on January 19, 2025, or that were required to be provided in accordance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq. as of January 19, 2025.

§ 4804. Regulations.

(a) The Department may promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires the State to have a migrant education program to ensure that migrant children’s educational needs are met. The program must provide the same services that were provided or were required to be provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on January 19, 2025. If federal funding is insufficient to meet the needs of migratory education, the Delaware Department of Education must identify, transfer, or request the appropriation of supplemental funding from the State or other sources to ensure no interruption in services.