2025 School Board VoteDelaware Questionnaire Responses: Beth Twardus

1. Our country’s history is incomplete without acknowledging the legacy of discrimination and lived experiences of historically marginalized communities. Additionally, Delaware passed a law in 2021 requiring schools to develop and incorporate an African American curriculum for K-12 public schools. Nonetheless, some schools have adopted curricula which fail to teach the full history of the treatment of marginalized communities. Do you commit to adopting curricula which include the perspectives and full histories of all historically marginalized communities?

YES
Curriculum should provide full histories and voices of the diverse people that have created the country and the world. A diverse curriculum fosters critical thinking, problem solving and civic engagement while protecting the freedom of students to engage in diverse ideas. Education should foster curiosity and open mindedness, not censorship.

2. Book bans in school libraries are misguided attempts to suppress student ability to explore ideas, encounter new perspectives, and learn to think for themselves. These efforts target LGBTQ+ identities and censor discussions about how gender and sexuality impact people’s daily lives under the guise that such topics are not age appropriate. Will you commit to protecting students’ ability to see themselves represented in the books they’re reading?

YES
Books should offer students the ability to see themselves in positive uplifting ways. This includes texts that promote diversity as the critical thinking and problem solving that will occur create open-mindedness and support of diversity.

3. The 2023-2024 School Discipline Improvement Plan (SDIP) emphasizes the need to address the disproportionate discipline of Black students, low-income students, male students, and students with disabilities. Schools listed under SDIP are required to submit corrective plans. How will you work with your district to eliminate excessive, unjust, and exclusionary disciplinary practices?

Addressing unjust and exclusionary disciplinary practices is essential to fostering an equitable and supportive educational environment. I believe working with the district to Implement Restorative Justice Practices with fidelity with a focus on repairing harm and restoring relationships. This will require comprehensive professional development based on cultural competency, implicit bias recognition and trauma informed teaching. This training should be designed to help understand diverse backgrounds and the addressing of behavior with empathy and fairness. The district should have clear fair discipline practices that are transparent that address the root cause of the misbehavior and promote the success of the school. There must also be an engagement of families and communities to create a collaborative approach to student behavior and management. These solutions must also be paired with data analysis to identify patterns and disparities. This will help to create informed decisions and implement targeted interventions. These items in a well balanced, collaborative setting will create school environments that promote respect, accountability and academic success for every student.

4. Research shows that the presence of police officers also known as school resource officers (SROs) can lead to disparate discipline for Black and brown students. As a school board member, would you oppose adopting or continuing to implement school safety plans which include the use of SROs?

NO
Addressing the role of School Resource Officers (SROs) in our schools requires careful consideration of their impact on the student safety and learning environment. I believe this should be a balanced approach that prioritizes student well-being and equitable practices. It is essential that SROS receive ongoing professional development in conflict resolution and adolescent development. There should be clear guidelines in the roles and responsibilities of the SROs through established MOUs. Additionally, prioritizing mental health support within the school is imperative. Schools with SROs should also have effective mental health support in the form of counselors and school social workers. These staff members can help to support mental health counseling and can address underlying issues leading to disciplinary problems. These systems must be monitored and evaluated via a regular assessment to establish if the goals of the position are being met.

5. How would you ensure that budgets and other resources are equitably distributed to serve high-needs students (i.e. English language learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income households) across a school district and that those financial decisions are more transparent?

The current unit-based funding formula is focused on staffing ratios and does not address the needs of low-income, special education, or multilingual learners. In order to improve the funding we must implement a weighted student funding formula that will allocate resources based on student needs, ensuring equitable support for all. There should also be an increase in state investment in public education. This enhanced funding will address disparities and provide adequate resources for schools in communities. There also needs to be increased transparency and flexibility allowing districts to allocate resources to effectively meet student needs.

6. A December 2023 independent report, commissioned by the State of Delaware as a result of education funding litigation brought by the ACLU, found that public schools across the state are underfunded by at least $600 million dollars and recommended increased per-pupil funding, transparency, and the flexibility to allocate resources. What would you propose to ensure districts close the funding deficit to provide a constitutionally adequate education?

To close the funding deficit and ensure a constitutionally adequate education, Delaware must adopt an equitable, student-centered funding model. The ACLU supports shifting from the outdated unit-based system to a weighted funding formula, ensuring schools serving low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities receive additional resources.

The state must increase overall education funding to meet constitutional obligations, ensuring every child—regardless of zip code—has access to quality teachers, facilities, and programs. Transparent audits and accountability measures should track spending to prevent inequities.

Additionally, progressive tax reforms should ensure education funding is both sufficient and sustainable, with corporations and high-income earners contributing their fair share. The state should also leverage federal grants to support underfunded schools.

Delaware must prioritize equity, transparency, and fairness in education funding to guarantee all students receive the education they are entitled to under the state constitution.

7. School Districts such as Red Clay Consolidated and Christina have implemented policies to create a culture in which transgender and gender diverse students feel safe, supported, and fully included by assuring access to the curriculum, social events, clubs, athletic participation, and all other basic curricular and extracurricular activities. Will you commit to adopting or expanding policies in your school district which ensure that LGBTQ+ students are fully included in social events, clubs, athletic participation, and all other basic curricular and extracurricular activities?

YES
Every student deserves a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment, regardless of their background or identity. Schools should be a place where all students feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed.

8. Immigrant students and their families have the right to access public education without fear of discrimination or intimidation. Will you support a district-wide policy that protects students’ personal information (including immigration status), provides clear guidance on interacting with ICE, and ensures staff, students, and families are aware of relevant state, school, and community resources?

YES
Every student deserves a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment, regardless of their background or identity. Schools should be a place where all students feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed.

9. When staff, students, and families know what the law says, they are better equipped to protect themselves and the school community. Will you support distributing Know Your Rights resources—specifically related to immigrant and LGTBQ+ protections—in classrooms, offices, school websites and communications, and other easily accessible locations?

YES
Every student deserves a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment, regardless of their background or identity. Schools should be a place where all students feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed.

10. Over the past few decades, many immigrants have chosen to make Delaware their home and have become vital members of our schools. Will you ensure that students and families with limited English proficiency have access to translated classroom materials and in-person translators for school meetings and events?

YES
Ensuring families have access to English translation services is essential for equity and inclusivity in education. All families deserve to fully engage with their child’s school, regardless of language barriers. Schools should provide translated materials, interpreters at meetings, and multilingual staff to support communication.