department of education
Professional Standards Board
PUBLIC NOTICE
Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant
to 14 Del.C. Section 122(D)
proposed
1518 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification
A. Type of Regulatory Action Requested
New Regulation
B. Synopsis of Subject Matter of Regulation
The Professional Standards Board, acting in cooperation and collaboration with the Department of Education, seeks the approval of the State Board of Education to adopt regulation 1518 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification. It is necessary to adopt this regulation to provide regulatory guidance for the implementation of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1250 through 1252. This regulation concerns the establishment by one or more of Delaware’s institutions of higher education of a special institute for teacher licensure and certification for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education to participate in coursework and other experiences necessary to be eligible for teacher licensure and certification in critical needs areas, including special education.
C. Impact Criteria
1. Will the amended regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The amended regulation concerns educator licensure and certification, not student achievement. The regulation will assist well-qualified individuals in becoming qualified to teach in critical needs areas.
2. Will the amended regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The amended regulation helps ensure that all educators demonstrate high standards for the issuance of an initial license and a standard certificate.
3. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' health and safety are adequately protected? The amended regulation addresses educator licensure and certification, not students’ health and safety issues.
4. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The amended regulation addresses educator licensure and certification, not students’ legal rights.
5. Will the amended regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision makers at the local board and school level? The amended regulation will preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision makers at the local board and school level.
6. Will the amended regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? The amended regulation will not place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels.
7. Will decision making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated be placed in the same entity? The decision-making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated rests with the Professional Standards Board, in collaboration with the Department of Education, and with the consent of the State Board of Education.
8. Will the amended regulation be consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies? The amended regulation will be consistent with, and not an impediment to, the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies.
9. Is there a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the new regulation? 14 Del.C. requires that we promulgate this regulation.
10. What is the cost to the state and to the local school boards of compliance with the new regulation? There is no additional cost to local school boards for compliance with the regulation.
1518 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification
1.0 Content
This regulation shall apply to the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1250 through 1252.
2.0 Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.
“Educator” means a person licensed and certified by the State under chapter 12 of 14 Del.C. 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 Standards Board and approved by the State Board, but does not include substitute teachers.
“Emergency Certificate” means a certificate issued to an educator who holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License, but lacks necessary skills and knowledge to meet certification requirements in a specific content area.
“Examination of Content Knowledge” means a standardized test which measures knowledge in a specific content area, such as PRAXIS™ II.
“Examination of General Knowledge” means a standardized test which measures general knowledge and essential skills in mathematics or quantitative and verbal skills, including reading and writing, such as PRAXIS ™ I and which, for the purposes of this regulation, means a pre-professional skills test.
“Initial License” means the first license issued to an educator that allows an educator to work in a position requiring a license in a Delaware public school.
“Major or Its Equivalent” means no fewer than thirty (30) credit hours in a content area.
“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.
“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to verify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill and/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.
“State Board” means the State Board of Education of the State pursuant to 14 Del.C. §104.
3.0 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification
One or more of Delaware’s teacher training institutions may establish a Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification to provide a program for college graduates without a license and/or certificate to become licensed and certified to teach in Delaware public schools. Tuition may not be charged to participants.
3.1 Candidates for admission to a Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification shall:
3.1.1 Hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Education from a regionally accredited college or university, with a major or its equivalent in a content area that has designated as a critical needs area by the Department.
3.1.2 Have a grade point index in the major field of the bachelor’s degree which is two-tenths of a point higher than the grade point index required for students entering regular teacher education programs at the teacher education institution(s).
3.1.3 Pass an examination of general knowledge, such as PRAXIS™ I, or provide an acceptable alternative to the PRAXIS™ I test scores, as set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1510.
3.1.4 Must agree to teach at least one (1) year in a Delaware public school for each year funding was received. Such service must be completed within five (5) years of successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification program.
3.1.4.1 Failure to meet the requirement set forth in 3.1.4 above shall result in the individual within sixty (60) days arranging for repayment of a sum equivalent to the tuition which would have been paid for the coursework leading to licensure and certification; or
3.1.4.2 An individual may also satisfy the requirement set forth in 3.1.4 above by providing a notarized statement, accompanied by evidence of unsuccessful applications, that the individual has made a good faith effort to seek employment in at least five (5) Delaware public school districts, but has been unable to secure a teaching position in any of those districts.
3.1.4.3 An individual whose license and certificate have been revoked for cause prior to fulfilling the service set forth in 3.1.4 shall, within sixty (60) days, arrange for repayment of their remaining obligation.
4.0 Format of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification
4.1 A Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification in a secondary content area which corresponds to the major field of study in the bachelor’s degree program shall consist of:
4.1.1 One (1) summer of courses in the Special Institute;
4.1.2 One (1) semester of student teaching or one (1) year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and
4.1.3 Additional coursework as set forth by the teacher training institution which constitutes the program of study leading to initial licensure and certification.
4.2 A Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification in elementary or special education shall consist of:
4.2.1 Two (2) summers of courses, one (1) immediately before and one
(1)after a student teaching experience or one year of full-time teaching experience;
4.2.2 One (1) semester of student teaching or one (1) year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and
4.2.3 Additional coursework as set forth by the teacher training institution which constitutes a program of study leading to initial licensure and certification.
5.0 Examination of Content Knowledge
Prior to completion of the Special Institute for Licensure and Certification, participants must successfully pass the appropriate examination of content knowledge, such as the PRAXIS™ II examination, if applicable and available.
6.0 Licensure and Certification of Special Institute Participants
6.1 The Department shall issue an Initial License of no more than three (3) years duration conditioned on continued enrollment in the Special Institute and an Emergency Certificate to an individual employed to complete the one (1) year of full-time teaching experience in lieu of student teaching.
6.2 Upon successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification program, an individual shall be issued an Initial License valid for the balance of the three (3) year term, and a Standard Certificate.
