DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1583 School Psychologist

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 1583 School Psychologist. Amendments were made to clean up language involving specialist programs. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a School Psychologist.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the Delaware Register of Regulations on October 1, 2015 in the form hereto attached as Exhibit "A". The notice invited written comments. Public comments were received from the Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens and the State Council for Persons with Disabilities that both endorsed the proposed changes to the regulation. The proposed change that was suggested was considered by the Professional Standards Board, but no change was made at this time.

II. FINDINGS OF FACTS

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to amend this regulation under the five year review cycle.

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 hereto as Exhibit "B" 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 hereto as Exhibit "B", and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1583 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 5th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2015

IT IS SO ORDERED the 19th day of November, 2015.

Department of Education

Steven Godowsky, Secretary of Education

Approved this 19th day of November, 2015.

State Board of Education

1583 School Psychologist

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for School Psychologist. This certification is required for all School Psychologists providing services to children within the Delaware public school system.

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.

2.2 The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Internship” means a supervised, culminating, comprehensive field experience, completed at or near, the end of formal training, through which school psychology candidates have the opportunity to integrate and apply professional knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses and practica, as well as to acquire new competencies consistent with training program goals.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a School Psychologist to an educator who has met the following:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or 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 Has satisfied the additional requirements in this regulation.

4.1 An educator shall also have satisfied at least one (1) of the following additional education and internship requirement Options:

4.1.1 NASP or APA School Psychology Degree:

4.1.1.1 Has successfully completed an organized graduate level program of study in “School Psychology” offered by a regionally accredited college or university and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or the American Psychological Association (APA), culminating in an Masters with an additional Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree or its equivalent or a Doctoral degree in School Psychology; and

4.1.1.2 Has successfully completed a supervised internship.

4.1.2 NCSP Certificate:

4.1.2.1 Holds a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Certificate from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

4.1.3 License or certificate from other state:

4.1.3.1 Holds a valid and current license or certificate from another state in school psychology.

An internship must be in an institution or agency approved by the Department or the applicant’s graduate program.

An Emergency Certificate for a School Psychologist is not available.