department of education

Professional Standards Board

14 DE Admin. Code 1528

Statutory Authority: 14 Delaware Code,

Section 122(d) (14 Del.C. §122(d))

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)

1528 Standard Certificate Foreign Language Teacher Comprehensive

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 14 DE Admin. Code 1528 Standard Certificate Foreign Language Teacher Comprehensive. The regulation concerns the requirements for certification of educational personnel, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation to update the course requirements for the position, and to provide more appropriate options for native speakers to seek certification, while, at the same time, documenting their competence in the spoken and written language they seek to teach. References to foreign languages have been changed to world language to reflect contemporary practice around language instruction. The regulation will be renamed Standard Certificate World Language Teacher to reflect the change in terminology.

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 new 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 amended regulation? There is no additional cost to local school boards for compliance with the regulation.

1528 Standard Certificate Foreign Language Teacher Comprehensive

1.0 Content

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Foreign Language Teacher Comprehensive (Grades K-12).

2.0 Definitions

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

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

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

“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to certify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill, and/or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.

3.0 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Foreign Language Teacher Comprehensive to an applicant who 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 who meets the following requirements:

3.1 Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university and,

3.2 Professional Education

3.2.1 Completion of an approved teacher education program in Elementary and Secondary Foreign Language Teaching in the language to be taught; or,

3.2.2 A minimum of 27 semester hours to include Human Development, Methods of Teaching Foreign Language (methods courses to include second language acquisition); Identifying and Treating Exceptionalities; Effective Teaching Strategies; Multicultural Education; Second Language Assessment and Testing; Curriculum and Material Design; and,

3.2.3 Major in the language to be taught, including at least one semester, one winter session, or one summer session of study in a country in which the foreign language is spoken natively* or,

3.2.4 A minimum of 30 semester hours above the intermediate level in the language to be taught, or 24 semester hours above the intermediate level in the language to be taught if the teacher has earned 30 semester hours in another language, including at least one semester, one winter session, or one summer session of study in a country in which the foreign language is spoken natively* or,

3.2.5 Demonstrated fluency in the language to be taught as determined by passing scores on the PRAXIS II tests in that language, as adopted by the Standards Board and the State Board and an Advanced Low Level on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and verification of study (at least as extensive as that noted above) in a country or community in which the foreign language is spoken natively.*

* Persons not meeting the requirement for study abroad upon employment shall fulfill the requirement within three years. Through 3.3.4 an individual can meet the requirement for study abroad by demonstrating that he/she grew up and was educated in a country or an ethnic community (such as a China Town or Spanish Harlem) where the target language is the dominant language.

4.0 This regulation shall be effective through June 30, 2006 only. Applicants who apply for a Standard Certificate as a Foreign Language Teacher - Comprehensive after that date must comply with the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1516.

1528 Standard Certificate World Language Teacher Comprehensive

1.0 Content

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for World Language Teacher Comprehensive (Grades K-12).

2.0 Definitions

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

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

“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 thirty (30) semester hours of course work in a particular content area.

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

“State Board” means the State Board of Education of the State pursuant to 14 Del.C. §104.

3.0 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a World Language Teacher Comprehensive to an applicant who 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 who meets the following requirements:

3.1 A bachelor's degree from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in the world language for which a Standard Certificate is sought; or

3.2 A bachelor’s degree from a state approved educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in the world language for which a Standard Certificate is sought, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC standards or NCATE specialty organization standards; or

3.3 A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in any field, and passage of the appropriate PRAXIS™ II tests approved by the Standards Board and the State Board in the world language for which a Standard Certificate is sought; or

3.4 A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in any field; and

3.4.1 Where no PRAXIS II test is available, nationally recognized equivalent tests, such as the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test, may be substituted, in conjunction with completion of the courses set forth in 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 below. For tests of languages using a Roman alphabet, candidates are required to achieve an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Advanced Low Level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. For tests of languages using a non-Roman alphabet, an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Intermediate High level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines are required; and

3.4.2 A minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of language pedagogy courses from a regionally accredited college or university, taken either as part of a degree program or independent of it, to include at least three (3) credits in each of the following:

3.4.2.1 Standards and Approaches in Teaching World/Second Language;

3.4.2.2 Second Language Acquisition

3.4.2.3 Assessment and Testing in Second Languages;

3.4.2.4 Curriculum Design and Classroom Management for World /Second Language; and

3.4.3 A minimum of three (3) semester hours of general education courses from a regionally accredited college or university, taken either as part of a degree program or independent of it, chosen from among the courses listed below:

3.4.3.1 Human Development/Educational Psychology;

3.4.3.2 Identifying and Treating Exceptionalities;

3.4.3.3 Multicultural Education/ International Education.

9 DE Reg. 54 (7/1/05) (Prop.)