DIRECTING THE DELAWARE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (DIAA) TO ANALYZE DATA REGARDING THE DISPARITY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SANCTIONED EVENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE COMMITTEE REPORT.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Buckson & Rep. Dukes

Sens. Hocker, Pettyjohn, Wilson; Rep. Morrison

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 91

DIRECTING THE DELAWARE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (DIAA) TO ANALYZE DATA REGARDING THE DISPARITY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SANCTIONED EVENTS, AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE COMMITTEE REPORT.

WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 193 of the 152nd General Assembly directed the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) to analyze the growing disparity in outcomes of state-sanctioned team championships among public, private, and charter schools; and

WHEREAS, during the 2023–2024 school year alone, private schools won 25 of the DIAA’s 34 state team titles; and

WHEREAS, over the last 3 years, there have been 102 DIAA-sponsored team championships; 73 have been won by private schools, 23 by public schools, and 6 by charter schools; and

WHEREAS, the once powerful Blue Hen Conference, comprised mainly of northern New Castle County high schools, has been disproportionately affected by the imbalance, having won only 3 of the 102 team titles in the past 3 years; and

WHEREAS, several states separate private and public schools in some way from sanctioned athletic association team championships; and

WHEREAS, the 152nd General Assembly passed 4 bills, Senate Bills No. 259, 260, 280, and 281, all of which are the result of the DIAA Task Force and, together, make several core changes to the DIAA’s board composition and processes, including the student athlete transfer and waiver process; and

WHEREAS, the DIAA has begun examining these underlying issues and committed to determining an appropriate path forward to preserve the integrity of interscholastic athletics and ensure a level playing field for all Delaware student-athletes.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153

rd

General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association shall review data from the most recent five years of state-sanctioned team championship events and analyze the disparities in outcomes among public, private, and charter schools.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DIAA Board of Directors shall utilize the findings of its Public-Private Committee, along with any national best practices and applicable policy frameworks, to identify and compile a list of potential proposals to address these disparities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the list of proposals and recommendations, including a summary of the Board’s deliberations and rationale for any proposed changes, shall be included in a report submitted no later than April 30, 2026, to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Controller General, and the Director and Librarian of the Division of Legislative Services.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution directs the DIAA to review five years of data on state championships to address the dominance of private schools in athletics. It calls for policy recommendations to ensure fair competition, with a report due to the General Assembly by April 30, 2026.

Author: Senator Buckson