DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

ORDER

1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal

I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED

Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203, 1205(b), and 1220, the Professional Standards Board, acting in consultation and cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal. The regulation concerns the requirements for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220. The proposed amendments in this regulation include amending Section 1.0 to add language concerning the Charter School Leader Standard Certificate; revise and strike defined terms in Section 2.0; revise Sections 4.0 and 5.0 to remove outdated language and assessments and decrease the number of years of experience required; add subsection 6.2, which concerns the disclosure of criminal convictions; move the section concerning Secretary of Education review; remove School Leader I from Section 10.0; and add Section 11.0, which concerns applicant's and educators' contact information.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on September 1, 2024. The Professional Standards Board received written submittals from Lindsay Williams, Julia Tulloch, and Emily Curtain concerning the proposed regulation. All three commented against the proposed regulation because "it excludes Speech-Language Pathologists working in schools and employed by districts from ever obtaining a principal or assistant school principal certificate." They further commented that "Speech-Language Pathologists working in schools have experience educating students, lesson planning and collaborating with others" and that they "should be afforded the same career advancement opportunities as any other educator, and be permitted to complete a principal certificate program and advance in their career."

II. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STATE'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS AND RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The Secretary of Education has reviewed the proposed regulation as required by 29 Del.C. §10118(b)(3) and has determined that any assessment of the impact of the proposed regulation is not practical.

III. FINDINGS OF FACTS

On October 7, 2024, the Professional Standards Board considered the written submittals. The Professional Standards Board found that speech-language pathologists are related services professionals who are licensed through the Division of Professional Regulation and are not licensed as educators through the Department. The Professional Standards Board reviewed data regarding leadership certificates after amendments from 2020. The Professional Standards Board also found that there is a pathway for a speech-language pathologist to be issued a Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate because they can become licensed and certified as special education directors and later become certified as principals and assistant school principals. The Professional Standards Board determined not to make any changes as a result of the written submittals and voted to propose 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, for adoption by the Department subject to the State Board of Education's approval.

The Department finds that the proposed amendments to the regulation are necessary to implement 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 and are designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance. Accordingly, the Department finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal.

IV. DECISION TO AMEND THE REGULATION

For the foregoing reasons, the Department concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal subject to the State Board of Education's approval. On October 17, 2024, the State Board of Education approved amending 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203, 1205(b), and 1220, 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby amended.

V. TEXT AND CITATION

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal amended hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal in the Administrative Code of Regulations for the Department.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDER

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

IT IS SO ORDERED the 17th day of October, 2024.

Department of Education

Mark A. Holodick, Ed.D., Secretary of Education

Approved this 17th day of October, 2024.

State Board of Education

*Please note: Electronic signatures ("/s/") were accepted pursuant to 6 Del.C. §12A-107(d).

1591 School Principal and Assistant School Principal

This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). This Standard Certificate is required for all principals and assistant principals who are working in Delaware public schools. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirement, the Charter School Leader Standard Certificate (14 DE Admin. Code 1596) may be used for principals and assistant principals who work in a charter school.

The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

“Educator” means a person licensed and certified by the State under 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 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 Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term “educator” does not include substitute teachers.

"Employing Authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, includes school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.

“Immorality” means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator’s effectiveness by reason of the educator’s unfitness or otherwise.

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

“Major or Its Equivalent” means a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in a particular content area.

"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.

“Regionally Accredited” means educational accreditation by a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education offered by the institutions of higher education it accredits, including Middle States Commission on Higher Education institutional accreditation from an agency that was designated as a regional accreditor before July 1, 2020, and is currently recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable indicator of the institution's educational quality.

“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.

“Standards Board” means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1201.

“Valid and Current License or Certificate” means a current full or permanent certificate or license as an educator issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the educator applicant is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification as an educator in another state or jurisdiction and is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state or jurisdiction.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate to an applicant who:

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 meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or

3.1.2 Has met the requirements for licensure an educator's license in Delaware and presents proof of a Valid and Current License or Certificate as a school principal or assistant school principal from another state or jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially similar to the requirements in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or

3.1.3 Has met the requirements for licensure in Delaware and meets the requirements set forth in Section 5.0 of this regulation.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the allegations include but are not limited to conduct such as Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation’s resolution.

4.1 The Department may issue a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate to an applicant who has satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 through 4.1.3.

4.1.1 The applicant shall have satisfied one 1 of the following education requirements:

4.1.1.1 Earned a master’s or doctoral degree with a Major or Its Equivalent minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in Pre-K to 12 educational leadership from a Regionally Accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); or

4.1.1.2 Earned a master’s or doctoral degree in any content area from a Regionally Accredited college or university and satisfactorily completed an alternative routes for licensure or certification program for school principals as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or

4.1.1.3 Earned a master’s or doctoral degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactorily completed a Department-approved educator preparation program for school principals as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 290 Approval of Educator Preparation Programs.

4.1.2 The applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score minimum score on one 1 of the following examinations:

4.1.2.1 A Passing Score of 160 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6011); or

4.1.2.2 A Passing Score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6021); or

4.1.2.3 4.1.2.1 A Passing Score minimum score of 151 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6990); or

4.1.2.4 4.1.2.2 A Passing Score minimum score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6991).

4.1.3 The applicant shall have completed a minimum of five 4 years of experience as an educator with satisfactory annual summative evaluations or the equivalent thereof on a state-approved educator evaluation system under a state credential in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or an equivalent setting as approved by the Department.

5.1 If an applicant is already licensed or certified as a school principal or assistant school principal in a state or jurisdiction whose requirements are not substantially similar to the requirements in Section 4.0, the applicant shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 5.1.1 through 5.1.3 in order for the Department to issue a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate:

5.1.1 The applicant shall hold a Valid and Current License or Certificate as a school principal or assistant school principal.

5.1.2 The applicant shall have earned a master’s or doctoral degree in a Pre-K to 12 education-related field from a Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.1.3 If the applicant has less than five 4 years’ experience working as a principal or assistant principal in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or an equivalent setting as approved by the Department, the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score minimum score on one 1 of the following examinations:

5.1.3.1 A Passing Score of 160 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6011); or

5.1.3.2 A Passing Score of 160 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6021); or

5.1.3.3 5.1.3.1 A Passing Score minimum score of 151 on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6990); or

5.1.3.4 5.1.3.2 A Passing Score minimum score of 162 on the School Superintendent Assessment (ETS Test Code # 6991).

6.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with an application for an Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.

6.2 If the applicant is also applying for the issuance or renewal of an educator's license or paraeducator's permit, the applicant must disclose the applicant's criminal conviction history upon application. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial of the license or permit application as specified in 14 Del.C. §1219 and it could delay the processing or result in the denial of the application for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate.

6.2 6.3 For applicants who are applying for the School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.1, the following documentation is required:

6.2.1 6.3.1 Official transcript from the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university with advanced preparation accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for applicants who are applying under subsection 4.1.1.1 or official transcript from the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university for applicants who are applying under subsections 4.1.1.2 and 4.1.1.3.

6.2.1.1 6.3.1.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university; or

6.2.1.2 6.3.1.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

6.2.1.3 6.3.1.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

6.2.2 6.3.2 Official score on an examination as provided in subsection 4.1.2.

6.2.3 6.3.3 The Department-approved form verifying the applicant’s completion of the experience requirement as provided in subsection 4.1.3; and

6.2.4 6.3.4 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

6.3 6.4 For applicants who are applying for the School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.2, the following documentation is required:

6.3.1 6.4.1 An official copy of the Valid and Current License or Certificate; and

6.3.2 6.4.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

6.4 6.5 For applicants who are applying for the School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.3, the following documentation is required:

6.4.1 6.5.1 An official copy of the Valid and Current License or Certificate; and

6.4.2 6.5.2 Official transcript from the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university.

6.4.2.1 6.5.2.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university; or

6.4.2.2 6.5.2.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

6.4.2.3 6.5.2.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

6.4.3 6.5.3 Official score on an examination as provided in subsection 5.1.3.

6.4.4 6.5.4 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

7.1 The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.

7.1.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.

7.1.2 For charter schools, requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school's board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school's head of school.

7.1 8.1 A School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator’s License remains current and valid.

7.2 8.2 A School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.

8.1 9.1 An Educator’s School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate may be revoked, suspended, or limited for cause as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits.

8.2 9.2 An Educator’s School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate shall be revoked if the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Standard or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator’s application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.

8.3 9.3 An Educator whose certificate is noticed for disciplinary action is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with 14 DE Admin. Code 1515 Hearing Procedures and Rules.

9.1 The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.

9.1.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.

9.1.2 For charter schools, requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school’s board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school’s head of school.

The Department shall recognize a School Leader I and a School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate that was issued by the Department prior to the effective date of this regulation. An Educator holding such a Standard Certificate shall be considered certified to practice as a school principal and an assistant school principal.

11.1 All applicants and Educators are required to update their contact information in DEEDS if their contact information changes.

11.2 An Educator who legally changes the Educator's name and wishes to change the name on the School Principal and Assistant School Principal Standard Certificate shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.

11.3 An applicant or Educator whose mailing address, email address, or phone number changes shall provide the Department with the new mailing address, email address, or phone number within 14 calendar days of the change.