Delaware
State Information
The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.
Local control?
Yes
Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?
Yes
- Creation of state-approved adoption list for evidence-based, reading instruction curricula for grades K-3; districts & charters must adopt from the list by the start of the 2027-2028 school year
- Districts & charters must provide job-embedded, competency-based PL on their reading curricula to all personnel providing reading instruction or coaching (grounded in the science of reading)
- Identify an individual responsible for assisting each school with the implementation of the curricula adopted
- DDOE and districts/charters must report annually on the state of adoptions and professional learning
- Creation of a state list of universal reading screeners and literacy intervention approaches by Dec 1, 2022 that are aligned with the essential components of evidence-based reading instruction. Requires inclusion of curriculum and special education supervisors, as well as elementary school teachers and elementary special education teachers, from districts and charters in the development of the lists of aligned screeners and interventions.
- Specifies educators must be given time during the contractual day to complete duties associated with the universal reading screener, including DDOE provided professional learning.
- DDOE and districts must report annually on the the number and percentage of students identified with a potential reading deficiency and the literacy intervention approaches being provided.
- Requires, beginning July 1, 2023, that teacher preparation programs must provide instruction in evidence-based reading instruction.
- Requires the DDOE to establish a minimum number of hours of training that instructors in educator preparation programs must complete in evidence-based reading instruction.
Does your state have an approved curriculum list?
Yes, the state has an approved list as required by the above legislation that can be found on DE’s early literacy website as part of our Publisher Profiles
Delaware’s recommended list of High Quality Instructional Materials support the full scope of the science of reading aligned to DE Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 4 of the 151st General Assembly and the state’s HQIM Initiative
Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?
Yes, the DDOE started with curriculum that is rated green across all gateways on EdReports. We then asked a series of questions and gathered information from every curriculum provider that can be seen via DE’s Publisher Profiles.
Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
In 2019, the Delaware Department of Education released the K-3 Early Literacy Plan which supports the elements of the science of reading through its strategic intents and professional learning opportunities.
Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?
Yes. DE House Bill 304 requires regular screening. The state has provided the NCII tools chart as a starting place for schools which can be found on the Delaware Early Literacy Website. The state has also provided asynchronous modules to support districts and charters in understanding how to select resources from the NCII Tools Chart.
Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable
DE’s Publisher Profiles provide additional assessment information to support districts and charters in selecting assessment resources that are most closely aligned to daily instruction.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?
Yes. DE-MTSS Regulation 508 and supplemental guidance supports regular screening and interventions aligned to evidence based reading instruction.
Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development
Yes. The professional learning section of the early literacy website provide options for professional learning aligned to the science of reading.
These options include LETRS, AIM Pathways, micro-credentials, PL offered by curriculum publisher (vetted by DOE), PL vendors who offer PL aligned to the science of reading (vetted by DOE).
We also use Learning Forward’s Professional Learning Standards as the basis of Regulation 1598. We are the process of updating this regulation to include Learning Forward’s revised PL standards.
Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?
Yes. Delaware has developed a suite of early literacy micro-credentials aligned to the science of reading.
Delaware has developed a suite of early literacy courses and facilitator/participant toolkits with training modules to support school-based, PLC facilitated science of reading professional learning. These courses are housed within the state’s Learning Management System, Schoology.
The DELI Early Initiative Modules have been updated to include a competency base for use within a collaborative environment. For more information on how to use these resources within your school or district contact
The state has also produced overview videos that provide information on early literacy concepts related to the science of reading.
Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable
The state offers Reimagining Professional Learning Grants that connect high quality instructional materials to high quality professional learning.
The state also offers Reading Based – Extended School Year Grants to support extended services to students beyond the age of 7 who are not reading at grade level.
These are both competitive grants and any successful awardees must contain literacy practices aligned to the science of reading.
Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?
No. Delaware continues to use the Common Core State Standards as the adopted literacy standards.
Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?
Yes. Delaware has released a Delaware Delivers Strong Readers Guide (in multiple languages) for parents to better understand the elements of literacy and how to support students at home.
To access multiple language select the DE Delivers Strong Early Readers Resources section of the DE Early Literacy Website and then select the At Home Strong Readers Guide. Multiple languages will be available.
Family resources are available on the Delaware Early Literacy Website
Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?
Yes. The Delaware Literacy Coalition worked in tandem with the DDOE to create the Delaware Literacy Strategic Plan for grades 4-8.
The DDOE also offers professional learning year round for educators who support secondary students who struggle with reading proficiency.
Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners?
DDOE worked with national and local experts to create a policy paper regarding MLL and the science of reading.
The purpose of this document is to clarify implications, recommendations, and actionable resources for Delaware Educators to navigate new legislation at the intersection of the Science of Reading and High-quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for Multilingual Learners (MLLs).
Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?
Yes. Senate Bill 133
- Requires, beginning July 1, 2023, that teacher preparation programs must provide instruction in evidence-based reading instruction.
- Requires the DDOE to establish a minimum number of hours of training that instructors in educator preparation programs must complete in evidence-based reading instruction.
We are currently working with IHEs in DE to build rubric and program approval expectations. Delaware Regulation 290 will be updated to match.
Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?
Interactive State Map
Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.
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The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.
