DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

PROPOSED

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

1593 School Leader II

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 regulation 14 DE Admin. Code 1593 School Leader II. The regulation concerns the requirements for certification of educational personnel, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation in order to upgrade the requirement’s rigor and to build upon the amended pathways to certification for school building leaders in 14 DE Admin. Code 1592 School Principal, and district level leaders in 14 DE Admin. Code 1592 Certified Central Office Personnel. This regulation sets forth the requirements for Superintendent.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Monday, December 3, 2012 to Mr. Charlie Michels, Executive Director, Delaware Professional Standards Board, The Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware 19901. Copies of this regulation are available from the above address or may be viewed at the Professional Standards Board Business Office.

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

1593 School Leader II

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate for School District Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220.

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

“Full Time School Leadership” means full time experience as a principal or assistant principal or as a district level administrator.

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

“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to verify 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.

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

“Teaching Experience” means meeting students on a regularly scheduled basis, planning and delivering instruction, developing or preparing instructional materials, and evaluating student performance in any pK to 12 setting.

The following shall be required for the Standard Certificate for School District Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents.

3.1 Educational requirements.

3.1.1 A doctoral degree in educational leadership from an NCATE or state approved program where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC or NCATE specialty organization standards offered by an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program or from a state approved educator preparation program where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC or NCATE specialty organization standards from a regionally accredited college or university, or

3.1.2 A master’s or doctoral degree in education from a regionally accredited college and a current Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent certificate from another state, or

3.1.3 A master’s or doctoral degree in any field from a regionally accredited college and successful completion of a Delaware approved alternative routes to certification program for school leaders and superintendents. Until approval and implementation of an alternative routes to certification program occurs, candidates completing the Standard Certificate in accordance with 3.1.3 of this regulation shall provide evidence of graduate course work in the following areas, either as part of the master’s or doctoral degree program or in addition to it.

3.1.3.1 Personnel Administration

3.1.3.2 Supervision and Evaluation of Staff

3.1.3.3 Curriculum Development and Instruction

3.1.3.4 School Business Management

3.1.3.5 School Law or Legal Issues in Education

3.1.3.6 Human Relations

3.1.3.7 Organizational Management

3.1.3.8 Child or Adolescent Development, if not taken at the undergraduate level.

3.2 Experience requirements

3.2.1 A minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience at the pK to 12 level; or

3.2.2 A minimum of five (5) years of full time pK to 12 leadership experience; or

3.2.3 Any combination of these types of experience which totals a minimum of five (5) years.

3.2.4 The required experience may be acquired at either the building or district level.

1593 Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.

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:

“Certified Central Office Experience” means being certified and employed as a Director, Supervisor, Administrative Assistant, Coordinator or Manager in an instructional area in an employing authority’s central office.

“Education Experience” means working with students under a State credential in any PreK to 12 public school setting or the equivalent as approved by the Department.

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

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a Limited Standard, 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 must also have met the following additional requirements:

4.1 Education requirements.

4.1.1 An educator shall also have satisfied at least one (1) of the following additional education requirements:

4.1.1.1 A doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in educational leadership offered by an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program or state approved educator preparation program where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC or NCATE specialty organization standards; or

4.1.1.2 A masters or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field and one of the following:

4.1.1.2.1 The successful completion of an approved Superintendent Program pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education; or

4.1.1.2.2 Holding a Standard Certificate Certified Central Office Personnel or a Standard Certificate Special Education Director; and

4.1.1.2.3 Successful completion of an additional nine (9) graduate level credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university in educational leadership or the equivalent in professional development approved by the Department.

4.2 Experience requirements.

4.2.1 An educator must have a minimum of seven (7) years of education experience consisting of the following:

4.2.1.1 A minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience; and

4.2.1.2 A minimum of two (2) years of full time leadership experience working in any of the following areas:

4.2.1.2.1 A School Principal or an Assistant School Principal; or

4.2.1.2.2 A Certified Central Office Personnel educator; or

4.2.1.2.3 A Special Education Director; or

4.2.1.2.4 Other leadership position.

5.1 This regulation shall be effective no less than ten (10) days from the date the Order amending the regulation has been published in its final form in the Delaware Register of Regulations.

5.1.1 Educators currently enrolled in a School Leader II course of study will have eighteen (18) months subsequent to the effective date to apply for the previous School Leader II Standard Certificate. Educators are responsible for providing the Department evidence of enrollment via submission of appropriate transcripts.

5.2 An Emergency Certificate for Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent is not available.

5.3 The Department shall also recognize a Standards Certificate for Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent issued by the Department prior to the effective date of this regulation.