DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

1201 Christa McAuliffe Award Program

A. TYPE OF REGULATORY ACTION REQUIRED

Repeal of Existing Regulation

B. SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECT MATTER OF THE REGULATION

Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§ 181(15), 183, 3402(c), and 3419, the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), through the Delaware Higher Education Office, proposes to repeal 14 DE Admin. Code 1201 Christa McAuliffe Award Program. In accordance with House Bill 480 of the 151st General Assembly, which was signed into law on August 25, 2022, Christa McAuliffe scholarship loans are no longer awarded. Repayment and forgiveness of Christa McAuliffe scholarship loans that were awarded prior to July 1, 2022 are addressed in statute (14 Del.C. §3419(c)).

In accordance with 14 Del.C. §122(d), the Department is required to perform and issue a written educational impact analysis of any new proposed regulation and of any regulation that is proposed to be continued. Because this regulation is proposed to be repealed, the Department is not required to perform and issue a written educational impact analysis.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by submitting them to the Department of Education, Office of the Secretary, Attn: Regulation Review, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901 or through the Department's online submission form at https://education.delaware.gov/community/delaware-education-laws-and-regulations/provide-public-comment/ by the close of business (4:30 p.m. EST) on or before January 3, 2023. Any person who wishes to receive a copy of the proposed regulation may obtain a copy from the Department at the Office of the Secretary on the second floor of the Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware.

1201 Christa McAuliffe Award Program

The purpose of this regulation is to provide criteria for the Christa McAuliffe Award, a professional incentive program, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §3419 and to encourage academically talented Delawareans to pursue teaching careers in Delaware public schools.

“Award” means a loan under the Christa McAuliffe Award program, the repayment of which is forgiven when the borrower is employed in the teaching profession for the period of time specified in 14 Del.C. §3418(c)(2).

“Critical Need Area” means, for the purposes of this regulation, classifications where there is a shortage of teachers available for employment. These classifications are posted annually on the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) website and are based on federal and state reporting.

“Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO)” is the Department of Education’s office which administers specific programs related to higher education, including, but not limited to, scholarship and loan programs.

“Direct Educational Expenses” means tuition, room and board, mandatory fees, books and supplies.

“Full-Time Student” means a student enrolled in twelve or more college credit hours.

“Grade Point Average (GPA)” means the number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time.

“Part-Time Student” means a student enrolled in six to eleven college credit hours.

“Qualifying Employment” means, for the purposes of this regulation, employment as a teacher in a Delaware public school, whether as an employee of the State, the Department of Education, a school district or an individual school, or as an employee of a private organization providing educational services to Delaware school children under a contract with the State, the Department of Education, a school district or an individual school.

“Resident of the State” means the student meets the definition of residency as defined in 14 Del.C. §3402(f).

“Semester” means a half-year term in a school or college, typically lasting fifteen to eighteen weeks.

“Student Account Access Site” means the webpage on the DHEO’s website where students can access scholarship opportunities.

“Undergraduate” means a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a bachelor's or equivalent degree; typically the first four years of college attendance.

3.1 Applications must be submitted online via the Student Account Access Site accessed via the DHEO’s website.

3.1.1 First time users shall establish an account and provide a valid email and mailing address before being permitted to submit an application online.

3.2 The application acceptance period for this scholarship loan will be posted on the DHEO’s website by December 1 of each calendar year.

3.2.1 Applications shall not be accepted outside of the posted application acceptance period under any circumstances.

3.2.2 Applicants are required to submit:

3.2.2.1 A completed application form, including activities; and

3.2.2.2 An unofficial transcript.

3.2.2.2.1 An applicant is responsible for ensuring that he or she electronically submits his or her unofficial transcript through the Student Account Access Site by the end of the posted application acceptance period.

3.2.2.2.2 An applicant who is a current high school senior enrolled in a public or charter school in Delaware is not required to submit an unofficial transcript.

3.3 Incomplete applications shall not be accepted or processed.

4.1 Applicants shall meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for the Christa McAuliffe Award Program:

4.1.1 Be a Resident of the State; and

4.1.2 Be a high school senior who ranks in the upper half of his or her class and has a minimum combined reading and math score of 1000 on the SAT; or

4.1.3 Be either a Part-Time or a Full-Time Student enrolled at a Delaware college or university in an Undergraduate program leading to teacher licensure and certification and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA; or

4.1.4 Be a Part-Time or a Full-Time Student enrolled at a college or university in a program of study not offered in Delaware leading to teacher licensure and certification and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

5.1 Preference for the award shall be given to applicants planning to teach in a Critical Need Area as annually defined on the DHEO’s website.

5.2 An Award may be pro-rated for Part-Time Students.

5.3 An Award is to be used for, and not in excess of, Direct Educational Expenses.

5.4 For Full-Time Students and Part-Time Students, an Award may be renewed annually for the equivalent of four academic years.

5.4.1 An Award is renewable upon the condition that the student maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA within an eligible program of study leading to teacher certification.

6.1 Students awarded under this program shall sign a promissory note, which includes the terms of repayment and loan forgiveness, annually in order to receive the Award.

6.2 DHEO will contact the student’s college or university to verify the student’s enrollment and eligibility at the start of the fall and spring Semesters prior to an Award payment being disbursed.

6.3 All payments will be disbursed directly to the eligible student’s college or university.