DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

final

Regulatory Implementing Order

1522 Elementary School Counselor

I. Summary of the Evidence and Information Submitted

The Professional Standards Board, acting in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Education, seeks the consent of the State Board of Education to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1522 Elementary School Counselor. It is necessary to amend this regulation given that the existing regulation reverted to DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate in June of 2006. This regulation sets forth the requirements for an Elementary School Counselor.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the News Journal and the Delaware State News on Monday, October 1, 2007 in the form hereto attached as Exhibit “A”. The notice invited written comments. Written comments were received from the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities. Some of their suggested comments were incorporated within the regulation.

II. Findings of Facts

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to amend this regulation to comply with changes in statute.

III. Decision to Amend the Regulation

For the foregoing reasons, the Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education conclude that it is appropriate to amend the regulation. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1205(b), the regulation attached hereto as Exhibit “B” is hereby amended. Pursuant to the provision of 14 Del.C. §122(e), the regulation hereby amended shall be in effect for a period of five years from the effective date of this order as set forth in Section V. below.

IV. Text and Citation

The text of the regulation amended shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “B”, and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1522 of the Administrative Code of Regulations of the Department of Education.

V. Effective Date of Order

The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Delaware Register of Regulations.

APPROVED BY THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD ON THE 1ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2007

Kathleen Thomas, Chair Cathy Cathcart

Joanne Christian Marilyn Dollard

Sandra Falatek Karen Gordon

Barbara Grogg Leslie Holden

Lori Hudson Dorothy McQuaid

Mary Mirabeau Wendy Murray

Gretchen Pikus Karen Schilling-Ross

Michael Thomas Carol Vukelich

FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Valerie A. Woodruff, Secretary of Education

IT IS SO ORDERED this 15th day of November, 2007

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jean W. Allen, President Richard M. Farmer, Jr., Vice President

Mary B. Graham Jorge Melendez

Barbara Rutt Dennis J. Savage

Terry Whittaker

1522 Elementary School Counselor

This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Counselor Elementary School (Required in grades 1 to 6 and valid in a middle level school, grades 5 to 8).

7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)

2.1 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.

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

“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.

7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)

3.1 Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an approved program in Elementary School Counseling and,

3.2 A minimum of three years' professional experience in an elementary school setting; or three years of appropriate experience as approved by the Department of Education; or a supervised school counseling internship of one full year in an elementary school setting which is part of a graduate degree program in elementary school counseling, or arranged by the Department of Education. The internship may be completed over a two year period on a half time basis or,

3.3 A Master's degree from a regionally accredited college in any field and,

3.4 A minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate course work in the areas of: Principles and Practices of the Guidance Program, Individual Counseling Skills, Group Counseling Skills, Human Development, Developmental Group Guidance, Individual and Group Testing for Counselors, Supervised Practicum in Elementary School Counseling, Counseling Theory, Consultation, and

3.5 Experience as in 3.2.

7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)

7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Elementary School Counselor. This certification is required for grades 1 to 6, and is valid in grades 5 to 8 in a Middle Level school. [A Middle Level School Counselor must have either an Elementary or Secondary School Counselor certificate.]

1.2 Except as otherwise provided, the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin Code 1505 Standard Certificate, including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

2.1 The definitions set forth in 14 DE Admin Code 1505 Standard Certificate, including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as an Elementary School Counselor to an educator who has met the following:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a Limited Standard, Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003; and,

3.1.2 Has met the requirements as set forth in 14 DE Admin Code 1505, Standard Certificate including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto: and

3.1.3 Has satisfied the additional requirements in this regulation.

An educator must also meet the following:

4.1 Has satisfied at least one of the following additional education requirements:

4.1.1 Graduated from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program or from a state approved educator preparation program, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC or NCATE specialty organization standards, offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a Masters degree in Elementary School Counseling; or

4.1.2 Graduated from a regionally accredited college or university with a Masters degree in any content area and [satisfactory completion of satisfactorily completed] 27 semester hours of graduate course work in the areas of:

4.1.2.1 Principles and Practices of the School Counseling Program

4.1.2.2 Individual Counseling Skills

4.1.2.3 Group Counseling Skills

4.1.2.4 Human Development

4.1.2.5 Developmental Group Guidance

4.1.2.6 Individual and Group Testing for Counselors

4.1.2.7 Supervised Practicum in Elementary Counseling

4.1.2.8 Counseling Theory

4.1.2.9 Consultation; and

4.2 Has met at least one of the following experience requirements:

4.2.1 A minimum of three years professional experience in an elementary school setting; or,

4.2.2 A minimum of three years of equivalent experience as approved by the Department of Education; or,

4.2.3 A supervised school counseling internship of one full year in an elementary school setting which is part of a graduate degree program in Elementary School Counseling or arranged by the Department of Education. The internship may be completed over a two year period on a half-time basis.

7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)