The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) promotes culturally responsive education in every district and charter school classroom.

DDOE defines culturally responsive education as intentionally acknowledging and valuing the diversity, contributions, and experiences of every educator and learner by providing opportunities for individuals to see themselves and others in their learning.

Culturally responsive education leads to:

  • Academic achievement
    • There must be evidenced belief that all students are capable of academic success.
    • There must be evidenced support for academic achievement for all students.
  • Cultural competence
    • There us be affirmation of students’ cultural identities.
    • There must be opportunities for students to develop understanding of and respect for others’ culture.
  • Socio-political consciousness
    • There must be a willingness to engage students in recognizing, understanding, and critiquing social inequities.

Please note: Delaware schools operate under local control, which means operational decisions – including classroom curriculum – are determined at the individual district and charter school level. For questions regarding classroom instruction, please contact your local district, charter or school board.

Current Initiatives

Black History Education

Black History Education (House Bill 198): Requires each Delaware public school district and charter school to provide instruction in Black History for their students in kindergarten through grade 12 through curricula developed or identified by the school district or charter school.

One – Develop and make publicly available a list of resources to assist a school district or charter school in creating Black History curricula.

Two – Annually collect HB 198 contact names and a report from each district/charter.

HB 198 reports by districts, Black History Education (HB 198) – Delaware Department of Education.

Three – Submit a written report annually to the GA (General Assembly).

Each year, DDOE collects district and charter HB 198 information, which is then collated into a single report. This report is submitted to the Delaware governor, members of the General Assembly, and the director of the Delaware Division of Research no later than January 15 of each year.

Annual HB 198 reports by districts, Black History Education (HB 198) – Delaware Department of Education.

LGBTQ+ History Education

LGBTQ+ History Education (House Concurrent Resolution 90): Encourages DDOE with key stakeholders to identify age-appropriate lessons for students in grades 7-12 related to LGBTQ+ history by the start of 2024-25 school year. Also encourages DDOE to survey school districts and charter schools regarding the utilization of related materials and short lessons by the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Holocaust and Genocide Education

Holocaust and Genocide Education (House Bill 318) – Requires DDOE to establish and implement a curriculum on the Holocaust and genocide for Delaware students in grades 6 through 12.

Important Links

Digital DE – Find the most-current resources for Delaware educators to support students in all learning environments.

Professional learning – Opportunities for educators to participate in deep and engaging professional learning focused on implementing and sustaining DE-MTSS to improve student outcomes. Includes access to PDMS.

Social Studies – DDOE equips public school staff with guidance and resources to effectively teach.

Contact Us

Have questions about culturally responsive education? Please send us an email.