AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

This Act addresses the relation between land development and school capacity and facilitates greater coordination between the counties and local school districts with regard to planning. Section 1 of the Act amends Chapter 26 of Title 9 of the Delaware code pertaining to New Castle County by requiring that New Castle County’s comprehensive plan for planning and development include an educational element concerning the construction and allocation of school facilities within school districts. Section 2 of the Act makes these same changes to Chapter 49 of Title 9, concerning Kent County, and Section 3 of the Act makes these same changes to Chapter 69 of Title 9, concerning Sussex County. Section 4 of the Act directs the Department of Education to develop guidance and policies for implementing Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Act. The Department of Education is to develop these guidance and policies by July 1, 2024. Section 5 of the Act provides that, effective as of January 1, 2023, the Counties must include the educational element in their comprehensive plans within the next comprehensive plan update following the Act’s enactment into law.