DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
PROPOSED
Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §122(d)
1513 Denial of Licenses
A. Type of Regulatory Action Requested
Amendment to Existing Regulation
B. Synopsis of Subject Matter of Regulation
The Professional Standards Board, acting in cooperation and collaboration with the Department of Education, seeks the consent of the State Board of Education to amend regulation 14 DE Admin. Code 1513 Denial of Licenses. This regulation sets forth the criteria for the denial of Delaware educator licensure, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation due to recent changes in the DE Admin. Code.
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Friday, March 6, 2009 to Mr. Charlie Michels, Executive Director, Delaware Professional Standards Board, The Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware 19901. Copies of this regulation are available from the above address or may be viewed at the Professional Standards Board Business Office.
C. Impact Criteria
1. Will the amended regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The amended regulation addresses student achievement by establishing standards for the issuance of a standard certificate to educators who have acquired the prescribed knowledge, skill and/or education to practice in a particular area, to teach a particular subject or to instruct a particular category of students to help ensure that students are instructed by educators who are highly qualified.
2. Will the amended regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The amended regulation helps to ensure that all teachers employed to teach students meet high standards and have acquired the prescribed knowledge, skill and/or education to practice in a particular area, to teach a particular subject or to instruct a particular category of students.
3. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' health and safety are adequately protected? The amended regulation addresses educator certification, not students’ health and safety.
4. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The amended regulation addresses educator certification, not students’ legal rights.
5. Will the amended regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision-makers at the local board and school level? The amended regulation will preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision makers at the local board and school level.
6. Will the amended regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? The amended regulation will not place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels.
7. Will decision making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated be placed in the same entity? The decision-making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated rests with the Professional Standards Board, in collaboration with the Department of Education, and with the consent of the State Board of Education.
8. Will the amended regulation be consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies? The amended regulation will be consistent with, and not an impediment to, the implementation of other state educational policies, in particular to state educational policies addressing achievement in the core academic subjects of mathematics, science, language arts and social studies.
9. Is there a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the amended regulation? 14 Del.C. requires that we promulgate this regulation.
10. What is the cost to the state and to the local school boards of compliance with the adopted regulation? There is no additional cost to local school boards for compliance with the regulation.
1513 Denial of Licenses
This regulation shall apply to the denial of an Initial License, Continuing License or Advanced License for educators pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1210, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214, and 1217; and to the denial of a Standard or Emergency Certificate pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1220 and 1221.
The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advanced License" means a license issued as part of the three tiered licensure system set forth in 14 Del.C. §1213 and §1214.
"Continuing License" means a license issued as part of the three tiered licensure system set forth in 14 Del.C. §1211 and §1212.
"Department" means the Delaware Department of Education.
"Educator" means a public school employee who holds a license issued under the provisions of 14 Del.C. Ch. 12, and includes teachers and administrators, and as otherwise defined by the Standards Board and the State Board, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203, but does not include substitute teachers.
"Good Moral Character" means conduct which is consistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator.
"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 his or her unfitness or otherwise.
"Initial License" means a license issued as part of the three tiered licensure system set forth in 14 Del.C. §1210.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.
“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to verify 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. §1205.
"State" means the State of Delaware.
"Unfit" means lack of good moral character, misconduct in office, incompetence, a pattern of ineffective teaching, wilful neglect of duty, disloyalty or falsification of credentials, or any conduct that would be grounds for revocation of an educator's license.
The Department may refuse to issue an Initial License, Continuing License, Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate to an applicant upon a finding that the applicant fails to meet the statutory or regulatory requirements for a license or certificate.
The Department may refuse to issue an Initial License, Continuing License, Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate and deny an applicant's request for a license for failure to meet the statutory or regulatory qualifications for a license.
Upon a finding that an applicant is unfit to be licensed or certified in the State, the Department may refuse to issue an Initial License, Continuing License or an Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate to an applicant who otherwise meets the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1510, 1511, 1512, 1515 and 1516.
4.1 The Department may refuse to issue an Initial License, Continuing License, Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate and deny a license to an applicant who otherwise meets the requirements for a license because the applicant is unfit.
4.2 The Department may refuse to issue an Initial License, Continuing License, Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate and deny a license to an applicant who otherwise meets the requirements for a license because the applicant has engaged in any misconduct or conduct that would be a basis for revocation under 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Revocation, Limitation or Suspension of Licenses.
5.1 The Secretary shall give written notice to the applicant of the denial and the reasons therefore. The Department shall not take action to deny a license under this section without providing the applicant with written notice of the reasons for denial and with an opportunity for a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board.
5.2 The notice of denial shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the applicant’s last known mailing address and shall give notice that a full and fair hearing may be requested before the Standards Board within ten (10) days.
5.2.1 The applicant shall report any address changes to the Department and the Standards Board.
6.1 5.3 An applicant who is denied an Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or a Standard or Emergency Certificate may appeal the decision, and is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board.
5.3.1 The applicant's request for a hearing before the Standards Board shall be received by the Standards Board's Executive Director within twenty (20) calendar days of the date the denial notice was mailed.
5.4 In any hearing before the Standards Board to challenge action taken under this regulation, the Standards Board shall have the power to administer oaths, order the taking of depositions, issue subpoenas and compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents and testimony.
5.5 Unless otherwise provided for in this Section, the burden of proof in a license denial action shall be on applicant to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she should not be denied a license because he or she meets the qualification for licensure pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations.
5.5.1 Provided however, if the denial of the license is on the basis that the applicant is unfit or otherwise committed conduct or misconduct that would be the basis for revocation of a license, the Department shall specify the particular conduct and circumstances giving rise to the denial.
5.5.1.1 Prior to a hearing for a license denial under Section 4.0, the Department shall provide full disclosure of the basis of the denial.
5.5.2 Whenever the basis for an action described within this regulation is a guilty plea, a plea of nolo contendere with respect to, or a conviction of a crime, a copy of the record of the plea, nolo contendere or conviction certified by the Clerk of the Court entering the plea, nolo contendere or conviction shall be conclusive evidence thereof.
6.1 5.6 Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Standard Board’s Hearing Procedures and Rules.
Notwithstanding any other provisions stated herein or in 14 DE Admin. Code 1510, 1511, and 1512, no license or certificate shall be issued to an applicant for an Initial, Continuing or Advanced License or Standard or Emergency Certificate if:
56.1 There is legal evidence that the applicant is not of good moral character; or
56.2 The applicant has had a certificate or license revoked in another state for immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty or falsification of credentials.
