DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1565 World Language Teacher

I. Summary of the Evidence and Information Submitted

The Professional Standards Board, acting in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Education, seeks the approval of the State Board of Education to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher. The proposed regulation adds a clarifying sentence under subsection 1.1.1; adds definitions of “passing score” and “target language” for the purpose of the regulation under subsection 2.2; amends the additional requirements under section 4.0; and adds section 6.0, which recognizes a Standard Certificate World Language Teacher issued before January 1, 2017.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on October 1, 2016 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A.” Persons who wished to present their views regarding the proposed regulation were invited to do so in writing by October 31, 2016. The Professional Standards Board did not receive written comments. The Professional Standards Board believes that the proposed regulation serves to improve the quality of instruction for Delaware’s children and that the amendments are designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance.

II. Findings of Fact

The Professional Standards Board finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher to add a clarifying sentence under subsection 1.1.1; add definitions of “passing score” and “target language” for the purpose of the regulation under subsection 2.2; amend the additional requirements under section 4.0; and add section 6.0, which recognizes a Standard Certificate World Language Teacher issued before January 1, 2017.

III. Decision to Amend the Regulation

For the foregoing reasons, the Professional Standards Board concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher.

Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203, the regulation attached hereto as Exhibit “A” is hereby proposed subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. If approved by the State Board of Education, the proposed regulation will have the force and effect of law.

IV. Text and Citation

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher amended hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher in the Administrative Code.

V. Effective Date of Order

The actions hereinabove referred to were taken by the Professional Standards Board pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203 on November 3, 2016 and by the State Board of Education on November 17, 2016. The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in its final form in the Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 3rd day of November, 2016 by the Professional Standards Board.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 17th day of November, 2016.

Department of Education

Steven H. Godowsky, Secretary of Education

Approved this 17th day of November, 2016

State Board of Education

1565 World Language Teacher

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for World Language Teacher. This certification is required for grades K to 12.

1.1.1 This certification is limited to the world language in which the Standard Certificate is requested.

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.

2.2 The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Passing score" means a minimum score as established by the Standards Board, in consultation with the Department, and with the approval of the State Board [of Education].

“Target language” means, for the purpose of this regulation, the specific world language, as defined in Section 1.0 of 14 DE Admin. Code 505, in which the Standard Certificate is requested.

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

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,

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.

4.1 If an examination of content knowledge such as Praxis II is not applicable and available for the World Language Standard Certificate requested, an educator must also meet the following:

4.1.1 Available ACTFL Tests

4.1.1.1 When the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test is available in the World Language requested, the applicant shall achieve a passing score on the examination.

4.1.1.2 For purposes of this regulation the following shall be considered a passing score:

4.1.1.2.1 For tests of languages using a Roman alphabet, candidates are required to achieve as a minimum score an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Advanced Low Level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

4.1.1.2.2 For tests of languages using a non-Roman alphabet, candidates are required to achieve as a minimum score an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Intermediate High level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

4.1.2 If ACTFL tests are not available, the educator must meet one of the following:

4.1.2.1 Specialized Education

4.1.2.1.1 The applicant shall have completed fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development in the area of the World Language requested.

4.1.2.1.1.1 The fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development in the area of the World Language requested for certification must be selected by the applicant with the assent of the employing school district or charter school and subsequently submitted to the Department for final approval.

4.1.2.1.1.2 In the case where the educator is seeking certification independently or there is no employing school district or charter school, the Department shall review the proposed fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development selected by the applicant in the area of the World Language, for final determination of acceptance.

4.1.2.1.1.3 If approved by the Department, the educator may use past coursework or professional development; or

4.1.2.2 Approved Certification of Content Knowledge

4.1.2.2.1 The applicant has earned an approved certificate in the World Language requested.

4.1.2.2.2 The Standards Board may recognize certificate programs that establish the minimum content knowledge in a World Language. Certificates are approved by the Standards Board in consultation with the Department and with the concurrence of the State Board in the same manner as examinations of content knowledge.

4.1.2.2.3 The Department shall make publicly available a list of approved World Language certificates.

4.1 An educator shall also have satisfied each of the following requirements:

4.1.1 Completion of a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major or its equivalent in the target language from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; and

4.1.2 Demonstrated oral and written proficiency in the target language by either:

4.1.2.1 Achieving a passing score on a Praxis Subject Assessment in the target language; or

4.1.2.2 Based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines:

4.1.2.2.1 Achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in the target language, and

4.1.2.2.2 Achieving a passing score on the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) in the target language.

4.1.2.2.2.1 For tests using the Roman alphabet, a passing score means achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low.

4.1.2.2.2.2 For tests using a non-Roman alphabet, a passing score means achieving a minimum level of Intermediate High.

The Department shall recognize a Standard Certificate World Language Teacher issued before January 1, 2017. A teacher holding such a Standard Certificate issued by the Department before January 1, 2017 shall be considered certified as a World Language Teacher.

This regulation shall be effective on January 1, 2017.