DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of the Secretary
PROPOSED
PUBLIC NOTICE
Education Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)
1202 Delaware Teacher Corps Program
A. TYPE OF REGULATORY ACTION REQUIRED
New Regulation
B. SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECT MATTER OF THE REGULATION
The Secretary of Education intends to create 14 DE Admin. Code 1202 Delaware Teacher Corps Program to provide guidance relative to the implementation of the program. This regulation is being created to establish the purpose, eligibility and other criteria for the award of this program.
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before August 7, 2017 to Tina Shockley, Education Associate, Department of Education, Regulatory Review, at 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901. A copy of this regulation may be viewed online at the Registrar of Regulation's website, http://regulations.delaware.gov/services/current_issue.shtml, or obtained at the Department of Education, Finance Office located at the address listed above.
C. IMPACT CRITERIA
1. Will the regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The regulation does not address the improvement of student achievement as measured against state achievement standards.
2. Will the regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The regulation is intended to help ensure all students who meet the established criteria will receive equal opportunity for this scholarship.
3. Will the regulation help to ensure that all students' health and safety are adequately protected? The regulation does not address students' health and safety.
4. Will the regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The regulation continues to help ensure that all student's legal rights are respected.
5. Will the regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision making at the local board and school level? The regulation does not change the decision making at the local board and school level.
6. Will the regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? The regulation does not place any unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements on decision makers.
7. Will the 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 does not change because of this regulation.
8. Will the 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 regulation is consistent with and not an impediment to the implementation of other state educational policies.
9. Is there a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the regulation? There is not a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of the regulation.
10. What is the cost to the State and to the local school boards of compliance with the regulation? There is no expected cost to implementing this regulation.
1202 Delaware Teacher Corps Program
The purpose of this teacher incentive program is to encourage academically talented Delawareans to pursue teaching careers in Delaware public schools.
The following words and terms, for the purposes of this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Award" means a loan under the Delaware Teacher Corps Program, the repayment of which is forgiven when the borrower is employed in the teaching profession for the specified period of time.
"Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO)" is the Department of Education's office which administers specific programs related to higher education, including, but not limited to, scholarship and loan programs.
"Full-Time Student" means a student enrolled in a minimum of college credit hours as required by the student's college or university for full-time status. Generally, for an undergraduate program this is a minimum of 12 credit hours per term or for a graduate program a minimum of 9 credit hours.
"High Priority Program" means classifications with the highest shortest of teachers and persistent need for teachers available for employment. These classifications of a subset of the identified Critical Need Areas. They will be posted annually on the Delaware Higher Education Office (DHEO) website and are based on federal and state reporting.
"Qualifying Employment" means employment as a teacher in a Delaware public school, whether as an employee of the State, the Department of Education, a school district or an individual school, as an educator in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families or as an employee of a private organization providing educational services to Delaware school children under a contract with the State, the Department of Education, a school district or an individual school.
"Resident of the State" means the student meets the definition of residency as defined in 14 Del.C. §3402(f).
"Semester" means a half-year term in a school or college, typically lasting fifteen to eighteen weeks.
"Student Account Access Site" means the webpage on the DHEO's website where students can access scholarship opportunities.
"Tuition" means the cost of attendance excluding room, board, mandatory fees, books and supplies.
"Undergraduate" means a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a bachelor's or equivalent degree; typically the first four years of college attendance.
3.1 Applications must be submitted online via the Student Account Access Site accessed via the DHEO's website.
3.1.1 First time users shall establish an account and provide a valid email and mailing address before being permitted to submit an application online.
3.2 The application acceptance period for this scholarship loan will be posted on the DHEO's website by December 1 of each calendar year.
3.2.1 Applications shall not be accepted outside of the posted application acceptance period under any circumstances.
3.2.2 Applicants are required to submit:
3.2.2.1 A completed application form, including activities; and
3.2.2.2 An unofficial transcript.
3.2.2.2.1 An applicant is responsible for ensuring that he or she electronically submits his or her unofficial transcript to the DHEO.
3.2.2.2.2 An applicant who is a current high school senior enrolled in a public or charter school in Delaware is not required to submit an unofficial transcript.
3.3 Incomplete applications shall not be accepted or processed.
4.1 Applicants shall meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered for the Delaware Teacher Corps Program:
4.1.1 Be a Resident of the State; and
4.1.2 Be a Full-Time Student; and
4.1.3 Be enrolled at a Delaware college or university; and
4.1.4 Be admitted into a Department of Education-approved teacher prep program leading to certification; and
4.1.5 Be in a High Priority Program leading to teacher licensure and certification and have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
5.1 The number and amount of Awards each year will vary and is subject to General Assembly appropriations for the Delaware Teacher Corps Program.
5.2 Awards shall first be provided to applicants planning to teach in one of the High Priority Program areas as listed on the DHEO website.
5.3 An Award is to be used for, and not in excess of, Tuition.
5.4 For Full-Time Students an Award may be renewed annually for up to three additional academic years depending on the degree program.
5.4.1 An Award is renewable upon the condition that the student maintains enrollment in an eligible program of study leading to teacher certification in a High Priority Program.
6.1 Students awarded under this program shall sign a promissory note, which includes the terms of repayment and loan forgiveness, annually in order to receive and disburse the Award.
6.2 DHEO will contact the student's college or university to verify the student's enrollment and eligibility at the start of the fall and spring Semesters prior to an Award payment being disbursed.
6.3 All payments will be disbursed directly to the eligible student's college or university only.
7.1 An individual shall meet the definition of Qualifying Employment, as defined within this regulation, in order to be eligible for loan forgiveness.
7.2 For each year of Qualifying Employment, one year of the Award payment will be forgiven.
