Facts on Redistricting
“What I see is a true fundamental change–we are addressing systematic issues within our schools. We are giving our school leaders, we are giving our district leaders the opportunity to do things differently. No one in my city believes this four-district model is working. No one. But no one is willing to step up and change and say ‘let’s do it differently.” – State Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, Co-Chair of the Redding Consortium’s Redistricting Effort
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Redistricting FAQs
What is the Redding Consortium’s role in redistricting?
The Redding Consortium for Educational Equity (Redding Consortium) is a state body created in 2019 to recommend policies and practices to the Governor and Delaware General Assembly that will achieve educational equity and improve educational outcomes for all Pre-K to grade twelve students in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County (NCC). As required by House Bill 222, one of the main charges of the Redding Consortium is to address redistricting in the City of Wilmington and northern NCC.
What is redistricting and why is it necessary?
Redistricting in this context refers to changing school district boundaries. Currently, schools in the City of Wilmington are within four school districts – Brandywine, Christina, Red Clay, and Colonial. This governance structure has not adequately met the needs of students in the City of Wilmington. For decades, students in this community have experienced lower educational outcomes and inequitable access to necessary educational resources. A new governance structure will be established with redistricting to better support students in the City of Wilmington.
What is the difference between governance and redistricting?
Governance is the organizational structure of school districts to ensure shared vision, goals, and standards for the entire school community. It streamlines a decision-making process, outlining who is responsible for creating and implementing policies and procedures to best meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff.
Redistricting creates new district boundaries and facilitates the implementation of a targeted educational plan to best serve students in the area.
How will the Redding Consortium’s redistricting plan impact the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s work?
The Redding Consortium for Educational Equity and the Wilmington Learning Collaborative (WLC) are separate groups with different responsibilities, reporting guidelines, and metrics of success. Both groups have similarities in the desired impact of their work, which includes improving outcomes for the students in the City of Wilmington. The work of the Redding Consortium and the WLC are to be complementary and produce longstanding systemic change. To learn more about the similarities and differences in their scope of work, review information here.
What is the Redding Consortium’s Interim Plan?
The interim plan is a framework guiding the Redding Consortium through the development of a final redistricting plan. It also informs both the State Board of Education (SBE) and the community about the Redding Consortium’s path forward regarding boundary shifts for school districts, immediate support for city of Wilmington schools, the timeline and engagement process to develop a final redistricting plan, and policy ideas and reforms to address systemic and systematic change for Wilmington students. Representative Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Councilman Jea Street will lead the redistricting group with a subcommittee structure, to ensure the final plan meets the 13 stipulations outlined in Delaware Code. This group will inform and engage with the full body of Redding Consortium and community members throughout the plan development.
What is the timeline for the development of the redistricting plan?
Timeline overview:
March-May 2024: Interim Plan Development
June 2024 – Fall 2025, at the latest: Final Redistricting Plan Development
October 2025, at the latest: Submit a Final Plan to the State Board of Education (SBE)
January 2026, at the latest: Fiscal Impact Analysis
Spring 2026, at the latest: Submit a Final Plan to the General Assembly
June 2026, at the latest: General Assembly Approval of Plan
I am a parent, will my child’s school district change?
There will be no immediate changes to your child’s school district. The Redding Consortium’s redistricting project group will dedicate about 18 months to craft the final redistricting plan. This plan will then have to be reviewed and approved by the SBE, the Delaware General Assembly, and the Governor. The current understanding is that student shifts will not occur for another 3-5 years, but the appropriate transition and implementation period remains to be determined during the plan’s development and adoption.
I am an educator serving students in the city of Wilmington, will the school district I teach in change?
The current understanding is that personnel shifts will not occur for another 3-5 years, but the appropriate transition and implementation period remains to be determined during the plan’s development and adoption.
Will the public have an opportunity to comment on the final redistricting plan?
Absolutely! The interim plan includes various opportunities for the public to share their feedback about the developing redistricting plan. The redistricting project group will also reach out to members of the impacted school communities for their insights. Key stakeholders such as educators, school staff, parents, and students will be meaningfully engaged throughout this process. Lastly, for added transparency, the redistricting group will report their progress bi-monthly at public Redding Consortium meetings.
How can I stay informed on the Redding Consortium’s progress in developing the final redistricting plan?
Stay up to date on the Redding Consortium by checking out: solutionsfordelawareschools.com/
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