DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

324 Certification Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher

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 324 Certification Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher. This regulation applies to the certification of educators, as established by 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation to align it with changes in statute regarding educator certification, and to update the course requirements for the position. There are no approved educator preparation programs in Delaware for Driver Education teachers, and the programs previously offered in surrounding states have largely been eliminated. Therefore, reference to approved educator preparation program in Driver Education and Traffic Safety has been eliminated. The option of fulfilling the requirements for the position through DOE approved in-service programs has been added, to address the scarcity of course offerings at colleges and universities. The regulation will be renumbered 1564 to denote its movement to the Professional Standards Board portion of the Department of Education regulations. It will also be renamed Standard Certificate Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher to make it consistent with other regulations for standard certificates for educators. This regulation was previously published in the May 1, 2005 Register of Regulations, but a substantive change necessitated re-publication.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the News Journal and the Delaware State News on June 24, 2005, in the form hereto attached as Exhibit “A”. The notice invited written comments. No written comments were received.

II. Findings of Facts

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to adopt this regulation to comply with changes in statute regarding the licensure and certification of educators.

III. Decision to Adopt 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 adopted. 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 1564 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 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2005

Harold Roberts, Chair Sharon Brittingham

Norman Brown Heath Chasanov

Edward Czerwinski Angela Dunmore

Karen Gordon Barbara Grogg

Bruce Harter Valerie Hoffmann

Leslie Holden Carla Lawson

Mary Mirabeau Gretchen Pikus

Karen Schilling Ross Carol Vukelich

FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Valerie A. Woodruff, Secretary of Education

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2005

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jean W. Allen, President

Richard M. Farmer, Jr., Vice President

Mary B. Graham, Esquire

Barbara Rutt

Dennis J. Savage

Dr. Claibourne D. Smith

324 Certification Driver Education And Traffic Safety Education Teacher

Effective July 1, 1993

1.0 The following shall be required for the Standard License for grades 9-12

1.1 Bachelor's degree from an accredited college and,

1.2 Professional Education

1.2.1 Completion of an approved teacher preparation program in Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education or,

1.2.2 A Standard Delaware Teacher's License or,

1.2.3 A minimum of 24 semester hours to include Human Development, Methods of Teaching Driver Education, Identifying/Treating Exceptionalities, Effective Teaching Strategies, Multicultural Education, and student teaching at the secondary (9-12) level and,

1.2.3.1 A valid Delaware driver's license or approval by the Delaware Department of Education and,

1.2.4 Specific Teaching Field

1.2.4.1 A College Major in Driver Education/Traffic Safety Education or,

1.2.4.2 Completion of an approved teacher preparation program in Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education or,

1.2.4.3 A minimum of 12 semester hours as indicated below:

1.2.4.3.1 Required: Driver Education - Methods and Materials -3 semester hours, Driver Education - In-Car Training -3 semester hours, General Safety Education -3 semester hours.

1.2.4.3.2 Elective: 3 semester hours selected from the following:

1.2.4.3.2.1 Alcohol and/or Drug Education, * Motorcycle

1.2.4.3.2.2 Safety Education, Psychology of Accident Prevention,

1.2.4.3.2.3 Organization/Administration/Supervision of Safety, Driver, and/or Traffic Safety Education,

1.2.4.3.2.4 Problems in Driver/Safety Education, First Aid,

1.2.4.3.2.5 Research and Evaluation in Driver/Safety Education, Traffic Engineering, Traffic Law and Enforcement, Principles of Accident Prevention/Safety, * Driving Simulation

1.2.4.3.2.6 Instructional Methods. * Multiple Car and Driving Range Instructional Methods and School Transportation.

* If assigned to teach on driver education equipment designated above, 3 semester hours of course work will be required as preparation for doing so.

2.0 Licenses that may be issued for this position include Standard and Limited Standard.

2.1 The Limited Standard License may be issued upon the request of a Delaware public school for a teacher employed for this position who needs only the 3 semester hour elective course required in 1.2.5.

1564 Standard Certificate Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher

1.0 Content:

This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher.

2.0 Definitions:

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 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher 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 Professional Education.

3.1.1 A bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university; and

3.1.3.1 A minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of pedagogy courses, taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to it, from a regionally accredited college or university to include:

3.1.3.1.1 Human Development;

3.1.3.1.2 Identifying/Treating Exceptionalities;

3.1.3.1.3 Effective Teaching Strategies; and

3.1.3.1.4 Multicultural Education; and

3.1.3.2 A minimum of nine (9) semester hours, or equivalent in-service courses approved by the Department, as indicated below:

3.1.3.2.1 Driver Education - Methods and Materials -3 semester hours;

3.1.3.2.2 Driver Education - In-Car Training -3 semester hours; and

3.1.3.2.3 Three (3) semester hours selected from the following:

3.1.3.2.3.1 Alcohol and/or Drug Education;

3.1.3.2.3.2 Current Issues in Driver Education;

3.1.3.2.3.3 Organization/Administration/Supervision of Safety, Driver, and/or Traffic Safety Education;

3.1.3.2.3.4 Problems in Driver/Safety Education;

3.1.3.2.3.5 Research and Evaluation in Driver/Safety Education;

3.1.3.2.3.6 First Aid;

3.1.3.2.3.7 Teaching Mentally and Physically Challenged Individuals; or

3.1.3.2.3.8 Education for Safe Living.

3.2 Other Requirements.

3.2.1 A valid driver's license.

3.2.2 The applicant’s driving record shall not have more than five(5) points at the time of application.

3.2.3 The applicant’s driver’s license shall not have been suspended, revoked or disqualified in this State or any other jurisdiction for moving violations in the last five years and shall remain valid for the duration of the applicant’s employment under this standard certificate.