DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1572 Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and Talented

I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED

The Professional Standards Board, acting in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Education, seeks the consent of the State Board of Education to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teachers of Students Who are Gifted And Talented. This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a teacher of gifted or talented students. It was necessary to amend this regulation in order to update and clarify some of the definitions, requirements and to align title as this certification is required in programs that are identified as specific to students who have been identified as gifted or talented through assessments and other criteria set forth by local school districts or other programs specifically identified by the Department as programs for students who are gifted or talented.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on November 1, 2014. The notice invited written comments. Comments were received from the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities that solely addressed grammar and formatting. The suggested changes have been taken into consideration and the regulation has been subsequently amended.

II. FINDINGS OF FACTS

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to amend this regulation in order to update and clarify some of the definitions, requirements and to align title as this certification is required in programs that are identified as specific to students who have been identified as gifted or talented through assessments and other criteria set forth by local school districts or other programs specifically identified by the Department as programs for students who are gifted or talented.

III. DECISION TO AMEND THE REGULATION

For the foregoing reasons, the Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education conclude that it is appropriate to amend the regulation. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1205(b), the regulation attached is hereby amended. Pursuant to the provision of 14 Del.C. §122(e), the regulation hereby amended shall be in effect for a period of five years from the effective date of this order as set forth in Section V. below.

IV. TEXT AND CITATION

The text of the regulation amended shall be in the form attached, and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 of the Administrative Code of Regulations of the Department of Education.

V. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDER

The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Delaware Register of Regulations.

APPROVED BY THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD THE 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mark T. Murphy, Secretary of Education

Approved this 4th day of December, 2014

State Board of Education

1572 Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and or Talented

[Non-regulatory note: Passage on an examination of content knowledge may also be required to obtain this certification. Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220 and 14 DE Admin. Code 1505, an examination of content knowledge is required when applicable and available. An examination of content knowledge is applicable and available when approved by the Professional Standards Board with the concurrence of the State Board of Education. See the Department of Education website for additional information.]

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and or Talented (Category). This certification is required in programs that are identified as specific to students who have been identified as gifted and or talented through assessments and other criteria set forth by local school districts or other programs specifically identified by the Department as programs for students who are gifted or talented.

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.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and or Talented to an educator who has met the following:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a Limited Standard, 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 Holds a Standard Certificate in a subject (content), grade level, or area; and

3.1.34 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, in the area the Standard Certificate is requested, an educator must also meet the following An educator shall also have satisfied one of the following additional education requirements:

4.1.2 If the educator is applying for a first Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate 3.1.5.1 the required 15 credits or their equivalent in professional development required in 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate 3.1.5.1 that must be satisfactorily completed for this standard certificate must at a minimum include the following areas;

4.1.1 Holding a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major or its equivalent in [gifted or talented education, teaching gifted students, or special education with a gifted or talented endorsement or specialization, from a National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) specialty organization recognized educator preparation program or from a state approved educator preparation program where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; or an area listed in 4.1.1.1 from a program approved or recognized as provided in 4.1.1.2.

4.1.1.1 Approved majors

4.1.1.1.1 gifted or talented education;

4.1.1.1.2 teaching gifted students; or

4.1.1.1.3 special education with a gifted or talented endorsement or specialization.

4.1.1.2 Required Program Approval or Recognition

4.1.1.2.1 National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) recognized educator preparation program; or

4.1.1.2.2 The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) specialty organization recognized educator preparation program; or

4.1.1.2.3 State approved educator preparation program where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; or]

4.1.2 Completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development as approved by the Department, with a focus in special education for gifted or talented students or students who are gifted or talented in the following content areas:

4.1.2.1 Foundations of Giftedness, including Cultural and Socioeconomic Equity (3 credits);

4.1.2.2 Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies for Gifted Students (3 credits);

4.1.2.3 Psychology of Gifted Students (3 credits); and

4.1.2.4 Creative and Critical Thinking Skills (3 credits); [and]

4.1.2.5 Practicum or Internship (3 credits).

4.1.3 If the educator is applying for a second Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate 3.1.5, the satisfactory completion of fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development in the areas of:

4.1.3.1 Foundations of Giftedness, including Cultural and Socioeconomic Equity (3 credits);

4.1.3.2 Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies for Gifted Students (3 credits);

4.1.3.3 Psychology of Gifted Students (3 credits); and

4.1.3.4 Creative and Critical Thinking Skills (3 credits).

The Department shall recognize a Standard Certificate Teacher of Students who are Gifted and Talented previously issued by the Department. A teacher holding a Standard Certificate Teacher of Students who are Gifted and Talented shall be considered certified to instruct the particular category of students specified herein as required by this regulation.