department of education

Professional Standards Board

14 DE Admin. Code 1584

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1584 School Social Worker

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 1584 School Social Worker. 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 follow current formatting trends and to include references to 1505 Standard Certificate. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a School Social Worker.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the News Journal and the Delaware State News on April 1, 2011 in the form hereto attached as Exhibit “A”. The notice invited written comments. Positive written comments were received from the State Council for Persons with Disabilities. The Governor’s Advisory Committee for Exceptional Citizens asked the Board to consider the elimination of the one year internship in a school setting. As this language has been within the regulation and the Department has not identified this as a concern, the Board chose to maintain the language.

II. FINDINGS OF FACTS

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to amend this regulation to comply with changes in statute.

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 1584 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 MAY, 2011

IT IS SO ORDERED the 19th day of May, 2011.

Department of Education

Lillian M. Lowery, Ed. D., Secretary of Education

Approved this 19th day of May, 2011

State Board of Education

1584 School Social Worker

Effective July 1, 1994

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for School Social Worker.

2.1 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.

“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 or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.

In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a School Social Worker 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 Master's Degree School Social Worker (MSW)

3.1.1 Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from a regionally accredited college or university and,

3.1.2 Two years successful full time work experience as a social worker, and

3.1.3 One year of supervised experience in a school setting, or a one year internship of 1000 hours approved by the Department of Education and supervised by an appropriate school designee.

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

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.

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 School Social Worker 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.

An educator shall also meet the following:

4.1 Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from a regionally accredited college or university; and

4.2 Two years successful full time work experience as a social worker; and

4.3 One year of supervised experience in a school setting, or a one year internship of 1000 hours approved by the Department of Education and supervised by an appropriate school designee.