DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1565 World Language Teacher

I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED

The Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher. The regulation concerns the requirements for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher. The proposed amendments include adding defined terms to Section 2.0; clarifying the requirements for issuing a standard certificate in Section 3.0; specifying the knowledge, skill, and education requirements for obtaining a first and second or subsequent Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher in Section 4.0; specifying the application requirements in Section 5.0; adding Sections 6.0 and 7.0, which concern validity and revocation of a standard certificate; and adding Section 8.0, which concerns local school districts' requests for the Secretary of Education to review standard certificate applications.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on April 1, 2018. The Professional Standards Board did not receive written comments regarding the proposed regulation.

On May 3, 2018, the Professional Standards Board voted to propose 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher for adoption by the Department subject to the State Board of Education's approval.

II. FINDINGS OF FACTS

The Department finds that the proposed regulation is necessary to implement 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 and is designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance. Accordingly, the Department finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher.

III. DECISION TO AMEND THE REGULATION

For the foregoing reasons, the Department concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher subject to the State Board of Education's approval. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 and 1205(b), 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is hereby amended.

IV. TEXT AND CITATION

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher adopted hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A," and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1565 World Language Teacher in the Administrative Code of Regulations for the Department of Education.

V. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDER

The actions hereinabove referred to were taken by the Department pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 and 1205(b) on May 17, 2018. The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 17th day of May 2018.

Department of Education

Susan S. Bunting, Ed.D., Secretary of Education

Approved this 17th day of May 2018.

State Board of Education

1565 World Language Teacher

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for World Language Teacher. This certification Certification is required for grades K to 12.

1.1.1 This certification Certification is limited to the world language in which the Standard Certificate is requested.

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:

“Certification” means the issuance of a certificate, which may occur regardless of a recipient's assignment or employment status.

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

“Educator” means a person licensed and certified by the State under 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 to engage in the practice of instruction, administration or other related professional support services in Delaware public schools, including charter schools, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term ‘educator’ does not include substitute teachers.

"Employing Authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.

“Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development” means college credits or an equivalent number of hours with one (1) credit equating to fifteen (15) hours taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to a degree program from a regionally accredited college or university or a professional development provider approved by the Department. College credit means undergraduate or graduate level coursework and continuing education units (CEUs) completed at or through a regionally accredited college or university or other Department-approved provider.

“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.

“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.

"Passing score Score" means a minimum score as established by the Professional Standards Board, in consultation with the Department, and with the approval of the State Board of Education.

"Professional Development" means a combination of focused, in-depth learning, practice, feedback, reflection, and expert support experiences designed to change participants' attitudes, insights, and/or perspectives; and ultimately results in improved professional practice. Effective professional development programs include ample opportunities for knowledge acquisition, skill mastery, descriptive feedback, and refinement of practice in the work setting.

"Standard Certificate" means a credential issued to certify 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. §1201.

“Target language Language” means, for the purpose of this regulation, the specific world language, as defined in Section 1.0 of 14 DE Admin. Code 505, in which the Standard Certificate is requested. World language means any language other than English that is used by peoples around the world for communicating information and ideas and transmitting its culture(s), including American Sign Language (ASL), Latin, and Greek.

"Valid and Current License or Certificate from Another State" means a current full or permanent certificate or license issued by another state. This means the educator is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification in another state. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state.

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

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License;, or a Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003; and, meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or

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.

3.1.2 Has met the requirements for licensure and holds a Valid and Current License or Certificate from Another State in world language education; or

3.1.3 Has met the requirements for a Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation adopted pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for Certification if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the alleged conduct involves allegations of Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.

4.1 An educator For applicants applying for their first Standard Certificate, the applicants shall also have satisfied each of the following requirements: the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.

4.1.1 Completion of a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major or its equivalent in the target language from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; and The applicant shall have satisfied one of the following requirements:

4.1.1.1 The applicant shall have obtained a World Languages certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

4.1.1.2 The applicant shall have completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a Major or Its Equivalent in the Target Language from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; or

4.1.1.3 The applicant shall have satisfactorily completed an alternative routes for licensure or certification program to teach world language as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1507; or

4.1.1.4 The applicant shall have satisfactorily completed a Department-approved educator preparation program in world language education; or

4.1.1.5 The applicant shall have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactorily completed fifteen (15) credits or the equivalent in Department-approved Professional Development related to world language education of which at least 6 credits must focus on pedagogy.

4.1.1.5.1 The applicant, in consultation with the applicant's Employing Authority, shall select the Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development subject to the Department's approval.

4.1.1.5.2 If the applicant does not have an Employing Authority or is applying for a Standard Certificate outside of the applicant's current spectrum of employment, the applicant shall select the Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development in consultation with the Department and subject to the Department's approval.

4.1.2 Demonstrated The applicant shall have demonstrated oral and written proficiency in the target language Target Language by either:

4.1.2.1 Achieving a passing score on a the Praxis Subject Assessment in the target language; or:

4.1.2.1.1 Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (ETS Test # 5665) a Passing Score of 164; or

4.1.2.1.2 French: World Language (ETS Test # 5174) a Passing Score of 162; or

4.1.2.1.3 German: World Language (ETS Test # 5183) a Passing Score of 163; or

4.1.2.1.4 Latin (ETS Test # 5601) a Passing Score of 152; or

4.1.2.1.5 Spanish: World Language (ETS Test # 5195) a Passing Score of 168; or

4.1.2.2 Based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines:

4.1.2.2.1 Achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in the target language Target Language, and

4.1.2.2.2 Achieving a passing score Passing Score on the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) in the target language Target Language.

4.1.2.2.2.1 For tests using the Roman alphabet, a passing score Passing Score means achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low.

4.1.2.2.2.2 For tests using a non-Roman alphabet, a passing score Passing Score means achieving a minimum level of Intermediate High.

4.2 For applicants applying for their second or subsequent Standard Certificate, the applicants shall have satisfied the following requirement:

4.2.1 Demonstrated oral and written proficiency in the Target Language as provided in subsection 4.1.2 of this regulation.

4.3 Notwithstanding the requirements in subsections 4.1 and 4.2 of this regulation, applicants applying for a Standard Certificate in World Language - American Sign Language, shall have met the following requirements:

4.3.1 Completion of Fifteen (15) credits or Its Equivalent in Professional Development in American Sign Language related to teaching and learning American Sign Language as approved by the Department; and

4.3.2 Achieving on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview a Passing Score of 3.

5.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with the application for an Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.

5.2 For applicants who are applying for their first Standard Certificate, the following documentation is required with the application for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher:

5.2.1 Evidence of obtaining a World Languages certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, if applicable; and

5.2.2 Official transcript from the applicant's regionally accredited college or university.

5.2.2.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant's regionally accredited college or university; or

5.2.2.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

5.2.2.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

5.2.3 If applicable, documents verifying successful completion of Professional Development; and

5.2.4 Official scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment or ACTFL OPI and WPT as provided in subsection 4.1.2; and

5.2.5 If applicable, an experience form must be completed in full and signed by the applicant; and

5.2.6 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.3 For applicants who are applying for their second or subsequent Standard Certificate, the following documentation is required in the application for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher:

5.3.1 Official scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment or ACTFL OPI and WPT as provided in subsection 4.2.1; and

5.3.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.4 For applicants who have met the requirements for licensure and hold a Valid and Current License or Certificate from Another State in a world language, the following documentation is required in the application for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher:

5.4.1 An official copy of the valid and current educator license or certificate from another state or professional license.

6.1 A Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator's License remains current and valid.

6.2 A Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher is not subject to renewal.

7.1 An Educator's Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher shall be revoked in the event the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Standard or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator's Standard Certificate application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.

7.2 An Educator whose Standard Certificate is noticed for revocation is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board.

7.2.1 Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Standards Board's Hearing Procedures and Rules.

The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of the superintendent of a local school district, review credentials submitted in an application for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district.

The Department shall recognize a Standard Certificate for World Language Teacher issued before January 1, 2017 the effective date of this regulation. A teacher An Educator holding such a Standard Certificate issued by the Department before January 1, 2017 the effective date of this regulation shall be considered certified as a World Language Teacher.

This regulation shall be effective on January 1, 2017.