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INFORMATION
Citizen Participation

 

 

1.0 Content

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). The Charter School Leader Standard Certificate is required for leaders of Charter Schools in Delaware who were hired prior to June 30, 2023. The Charter School Leader Standard Certificate authorizes an individual to practice as a leader in a Charter School.

1.2 The Charter School Leader Standard Certificate shall not be used to practice as a leader in a traditional or vocational-technical public school in Delaware.

1.3 The Charter School Leader Standard Certificate shall not be used for any Charter School Leader hired after June 30, 2023. In order to practice as a leader in a Charter School, the individual must hold 1 of the following Standard Certificates:

1.3.1 School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1591); or

1.3.2 Certified Central Office Personnel (14 DE Admin. Code 1592); or

1.3.3 Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1593); or

1.3.4 Special Education Director (14 DE Admin. Code 1594).

 

2.0 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:

"Charter School" means a public school that operates under a charter granted by a public school district or the Department pursuant to 14 Del.C. Ch. 5.

"Charter School Leader" means an administrator at a charter school.

"Department" means the Delaware Department of Education.

"Educator" means a person licensed and certified by the State under 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 to engage in the practice of instruction, administration or other related professional support services in Delaware public schools, including charter schools, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term 'educator' does not include substitute teachers.

"Employing Authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.

"Immorality" means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator's effectiveness by reason of the educator's unfitness or otherwise.

"License" means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.

"Regionally Accredited" means educational accreditation by a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education offered by the institutions of higher education it accredits, including Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

"Standard Certificate" means a credential issued to certify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.

"Standards Board" means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1201.

"Valid and Current License or Certificate" means a current full or permanent certificate or license as an educator issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the applicant is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification as an educator in another state or jurisdiction and is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state or jurisdiction.

 

3.0 Issuance of a Standard Certificate

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate to an applicant who:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or a Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003 and meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or

3.1.2 Has met the requirements for an educator's license in Delaware and presents proof of a Valid and Current License or Certificate as a charter school leader issued by another state or jurisdiction.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the allegations include but are not limited to conduct such as Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.

 

4.0 Prescribed Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements

4.1 The applicant shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.

4.1.1 The applicant earned a bachelor's degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university in any content area.

4.1.2 The applicant completed a charter leader portfolio by June 30, 2024 and earned a rating of accomplished based on the Delaware Performance Appraisal System II for administrators.

 

5.0 Application Requirements

5.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with the application for the Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.

5.2 If the applicant is also applying for the issuance or renewal of an educator's license or paraeducator's permit, the applicant must disclose the applicant's criminal conviction history upon application. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial of the license or permit application as specified in 14 Del.C. §1219 and it could delay the processing or result in the denial of the application for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate.

5.3 For an applicant who is applying under subsection 3.1.1 of this regulation, the following documentation is required with the application for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate:

5.3.1 Official transcript from the applicant's Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.3.1.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant's Regionally Accredited college or university; or

5.3.1.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

5.3.1.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

5.3.2 Documentation verifying completion a charter leader portfolio and a rating of accomplished based on the Delaware Performance Appraisal System II for administrators, if applicable; and

5.3.3 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.4 For an applicant who is applying under subsection 3.1.2 of this regulation, the following documentation is required with the application for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate:

5.4.1 An official copy of the Valid and Current License or Certificate; and

5.4.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

 

6.0 Secretary of Education Review

The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a Charter School Leader Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school. Requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school's board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school's head of school.

 

7.0 Validity of a Standard Certificate

7.1 A Charter School Leader Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator's License remains current and valid.

7.2 A Charter School Leader Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.

 

8.0 Disciplinary Action

8.1 An Educator's Charter School Leader Standard Certificate may be revoked, suspended, or limited for cause as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits.

8.2 An Educator's Charter School Leader Standard Certificate shall be revoked if the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator's application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.

8.3 An Educator whose certificate is noticed for disciplinary action is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with 14 DE Admin. Code 1515 Hearing Procedures and Rules.

 

9.0 Contact Information and Change of Name or Address

9.1 All applicants and Educators are required to update their contact information in DEEDS if their contact information changes.

9.2 An Educator who legally changes the Educator's name and wishes to change the name on the Charter School Leader Standard Certificate shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.

9.3 An applicant or Educator whose mailing address, email address, or phone number changes shall provide the Department with the new mailing address, email address, or phone number within 14 calendar days of the change.

27 DE Reg. 39 (07/01/23)