DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
FINAL
REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER
370 Certification Teacher of Autistic/Severely Disabled Children
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 370 Certification Teacher of Autistic/Severely Disabled Children. The regulation concerns the requirements for certification of educational personnel to the certification of educators, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation to align it with changes in statute regarding licensure and certification of educators, and to update the course requirements for the position. The regulation will be renumbered 1571 to reflect its movement to the Professional Standards Board section of the Department of Education regulations. It will also be renamed Standard Certificate Teacher of Children with Autism or Severe Disabilities to make it consistent with other regulations for standard certificates for educators.
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. Written comments were received from the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens supporting the amendment of the regulation.
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 1571 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
370 Certification Teacher Of Autistic/Severely Disabled Children
Effective July 1, 1993
1.0 The following shall be required for the Standard License.
1.1 Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Special Education, Education for the Severely Disabled, or associated fields and,
1.2 Professional Education
1.2.1 Completion of an approved program in the area of autism/severely disabled at either graduate or undergraduate level or,
1.2.2 Standard Delaware License Exceptional Children (Mildly and/or Moderately Disabled) and 15 semester hours relating to Autistic/Severely Disabled:
1.2.2.1 Nine semester hours required in Introduction/Survey of Autism and Severe Developmental Disabilities, Methods and Curriculum for Teaching the Autistic/Severely Disabled and Functional Communication Training.
1.2.2.2 Six semester hours from the following topic areas. Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis Adaptive Recreation Vocational Education for the Disabled, to include the Severely Disabled Transition & Community-based Programming for the Disabled, to include the Severely Disabled Preschool Education for the Disabled, to include the Severely Disabled.
1.2.3 Practicum of six semester hours of experience under supervision in a setting or settings specifically intended for the education of developmental and communication disorders. This requirement will apply only to individuals who met Standard Exceptional Children certification requirements without a student teaching experience.
2.0 The following shall be required for the Limited Standard License (not renewable)
2.1 The Limited Standard License may be issued for a period of three years at the request of a Delaware Public School District to a person who meets the requirements listed below and who is assigned as a teacher of autistic/severely disabled, to allow for the completion of the requirements for the Standard License as listed in 1.0.
2.1.1 The individual meets the base Delaware License requirements for Exceptional Children (Mildly/Moderately Disabled) and is eligible for a Standard License as stated under 1.1, 1.2,and 1.3 of the Exceptional Children License or,
2.1.2 The individual has a current, valid Delaware teaching License in the area of Exceptional Children (Mildly/Moderately Disabled) or,
2.1.3 The individual is eligible for a Standard Delaware License in the area of Exceptional Children (Mildly/Moderately Disabled) through the Interstate Reciprocity or National/Regional Accreditation systems or,
2.1.4 The individual is considered eligible for a Limited Standard License if successful completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Tests is the only requirement necessary or,
2.1.5 The individual is considered eligible for a Limited Standard License if the only requirement to be met is six semester hours refresher course work for certification in any area of Exceptional Children or renewal of a Delaware License in any area of exceptionalities.
3.0 Present Autistic Teachers Protected
3.1 Those teachers authorized prior to March 28, 1974, to teach classes for children with autism on the basis of Standard Elementary or Secondary Teaching Licenses, and who have the continued recommendation of the local district superintendent, shall be authorized to continue in such a teaching assignment in the district where the assignment was authorized. Authorization to teach in this circumstance does not constitute a license transferable to any other school district. If re-assignment out of autism occurs, the new requirements for Autistic/Severely Disabled must be met upon re-entry into any autistic/severely disabled position.
3.2 Those teachers authorized since January 1982 to teach classes for children with autism on the basis of a Standard Teacher of the Autistic Child License, shall be authorized to continue in such a teaching assignment, as well as to be authorized for a teaching assignment with severely disabled children.
3.3 Anyone holding a Limited Standard License issued previously and based on the 1/82 certification requirements for "Teacher of the Autistic Child" shall be allowed to complete those requirements, if on schedule. Should it seem advantageous to be re-evaluated based on the 7/90 requirements, such may be requested; however, the total time for the Limited Standard License will remain as on the original license.
4.0 Licenses that may be issued for this position include Standard and Limited Standard.
1571 Standard Certificate Teacher of Students with Autism or Severe Disabilities
1.0 Content:
This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for a Teacher of Students with Autism or Severe Disabilities (Valid Grades K-12).
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 Teacher of Students with Autism or Severe Disabilities 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 A bachelor’s or a master’s degree from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in special education with a concentration in autism or severe disabilities; or
3.2 A bachelor’s or a master’s degree from a state approved educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in special education with a concentration in autism or severe disabilities, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC standards or NCATE specialty organization standards; or
3.3 A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in special education; and
3.3.1 A minimum of fifteen (15) graduate credits in the areas of autism or severe disabilities from a regionally accredited college or university, as more specifically set forth in 3.3.1.1 through 3.3.1.5. With approval of a Committee comprised of the candidate’s principal or other designated school administrator, the State Director of Autism Programs, a higher education representative who teaches one of the approved courses, and a DOE representative, other verifiable professional experiences may be substituted for no more than nine (9) of the required credits.
3.3.1.1 Introduction/Survey of Autism and Severe Developmental Disabilities;
3.3.1.2 Methods of Instruction and Functional Curriculum for Students with Autism/Severe Disabilities;
3.3.1.3 Functional Communication Training;
3.3.1.4 Advanced Practicum in Behaviorally Based Teaching Techniques; and
3.3.1.5 One elective chosen from among the following. To be considered as an elective for certification, a course must specifically reference students with autism and/or severe disabilities in the title, catalog description, or syllabus and address an area known to be of critical importance to students with autism and/or severe disabilities:
3.3.1.5.1 Medical Aspects of Severe and Profound Disabilities;
3.3.1.5.2 Consultation and Collaboration;
3.3.1.5.3 Assistive Technology;
3.3.1.5.4 Augmentative Communication;
3.3.1.5.5 Evaluation and Assessment for Students with Significant Needs;
3.3.1.5.6 Seminar in Families and Autism;
3.3.1.5.7 Transition from Secondary Special Education;
3.3.1.5.8 Adaptive Recreation; or
3.3.1.5.9 Vocational Training and Assessment: Severe Disabilities; or
3.3.1.5.10 Education of Students with Severe Disabilities/ Sensory Impairments.
4.0 Present Teachers of Students with Autism or Severe Disabilities Protected
4.1 The Department shall recognize a Standard Teacher of the Autistic Child Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department between January 1, 1982 and August 31, 2005, if otherwise valid. A teacher holding a Standard Teacher of the Autistic Child Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued between January 1, 1982 and August 31, 2005shall be considered certified to teach classes for children with autism and/or severe disabilities.
