DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

1202 Delaware Teacher Corps 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, and 3402(c), the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), through the Delaware Higher Education Office, proposes to repeal 14 DE Admin. Code 1202 Delaware Teacher Corps Program. The regulation is being repealed as a result of House Bill 480 of the 151st General Assembly, which was signed into law on August 25, 2022.

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 Because this regulation is proposed to be repealed, the Department is not required to perform and issue a written educational impact analysis.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.

1202 Delaware Teacher Corps Program

The purpose of this teacher incentive program is to encourage academically talented Delawareans to pursue teaching careers in Delaware public schools.

The following words and terms, for the purposes of this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Award" means a loan under the Delaware Teacher Corps Program, the repayment of which is forgiven when the borrower is employed in the teaching profession for the specified period of time.

"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.

"Full-Time Student" means a student enrolled in a minimum of college credit hours as required by the student's college or university for full-time status. Generally, for an undergraduate program this is a minimum of 12 credit hours per term or for a graduate program a minimum of 9 credit hours.

"High Priority Program" means classifications with the highest shortage of teachers and persistent need for teachers available for employment. These classifications of a subset of the identified Critical Need Areas. They will be posted annually on the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) website and are based on federal and state reporting.

"Qualifying Employment" means 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, as an educator in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families 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.

"Tuition" means the cost of attendance excluding room, board, mandatory fees, books and supplies.

"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 to the DHEO.

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 Delaware Teacher Corps Program:

4.1.1 Be a Resident of the State; and

4.1.2 Be a Full-Time Student; and

4.1.3 Be enrolled at a Delaware college or university; and

4.1.4 Be admitted into a Department of Education-approved teacher prep program leading to certification; and

4.1.5 Be in a High Priority Program leading to teacher licensure and certification and have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.

5.1 The number and amount of Awards each year will vary and is subject to General Assembly appropriations for the Delaware Teacher Corps Program.

5.2 Awards shall first be provided to applicants planning to teach in one of the High Priority Program areas as listed on the DHEO website.

5.3 An Award is to be used for, and not in excess of, Tuition.

5.4 For Full-Time Students an Award may be renewed annually for up to three additional academic years depending on the degree program.

5.4.1 An Award is renewable upon the condition that the student maintains enrollment in an eligible program of study leading to teacher certification in a High Priority Program.

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 and disburse 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 only.

7.1 An individual shall meet the definition of Qualifying Employment, as defined within this regulation, in order to be eligible for loan forgiveness.

7.2 For each year of Qualifying Employment, one year of the Award payment will be forgiven.