DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

Statutory Authority: 14 Delaware Code, Section 122(d) (14 Del.C. §122(d))

14 DE Admin. Code 1508

PROPOSED

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

1508 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification

A. TYPE OF REGULATORY ACTION REQUESTED

Reauthorization of 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 reauthorize regulation 14 DE Admin. Code 1508 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification It is necessary to review this regulation in order to comply with the 5 year regulation review process. No changes have been deemed necessary. This regulation sets forth the requirements for the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Wednesday, October 31, 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 reauthorized regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The reauthorized 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 reauthorized regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The reauthorized 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 reauthorized regulation help to ensure that all students' health and safety are adequately protected? The reauthorized regulation addresses educator certification, not students’ health and safety.

4. Will the reauthorized regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The reauthorized regulation addresses educator certification, not students’ legal rights.

5. Will the reauthorized regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision-makers at the local board and school level? The reauthorized regulation will preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision makers at the local board and school level.

6. Will the reauthorized regulation place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels? The reauthorized 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 reauthorized 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 reauthorized 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 reauthorized 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.

1508 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification

1.0 Content

This regulation shall apply to the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1250 through 1252.

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.

“Educator” means a person licensed and certified by the State under chapter 12 of 14 Del.C. 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 Standards Board and approved by the State Board, but does not include substitute teachers.

“Emergency Certificate” means a certificate issued to an educator who holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License, but lacks necessary skills and knowledge to meet certification requirements in a specific content area.

“Examination of Content Knowledge” means a standardized test which measures knowledge in a specific content area, such as PRAXIS™ II.

“Examination of General Knowledge” means a standardized test which measures general knowledge and essential skills in mathematics or quantitative and verbal skills, including reading and writing, such as PRAXIS™I and which, for the purposes of this regulation, means a pre-professional skills test.

“Initial License” means the first license issued to an educator that allows an educator to work in a position requiring a license in a Delaware public school.

“Major or Its Equivalent” means no fewer than thirty (30) credit hours in a content area.

“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.

“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to verify 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.

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

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

3.0 Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification

One or more of Delaware’s teacher training institutions may establish a Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification to provide a program for college graduates without a license and/or certificate to become licensed and certified to teach in Delaware public schools. Tuition may not be charged to participants.

3.1 Candidates for admission to a Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification shall:

3.1.1 Hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Education from a regionally accredited college or university, with a major or its equivalent in a content area that has designated as a critical needs area by the Department.

3.1.2 Have a grade point index in the major field of the bachelor’s degree which is two-tenths of a point higher than the grade point index required for students entering regular teacher education programs at the teacher education institution(s).

3.1.3 Pass an examination of general knowledge, such as PRAXIS™ I, or provide an acceptable alternative to the PRAXIS™ I test scores, as set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1510.

3.1.4 Must agree to teach at least one (1) year in a Delaware public school for each year funding was received. Such service must be completed within five (5) years of successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification program.

3.1.4.1 Failure to meet the requirement set forth in 3.1.4 above shall result in the individual within sixty (60) days arranging for repayment of a sum equivalent to the tuition which would have been paid for the coursework leading to licensure and certification; or

3.1.4.2 An individual may also satisfy the requirement set forth in 3.1.4 above by providing a notarized statement, accompanied by evidence of unsuccessful applications, that the individual has made a good faith effort to seek employment in at least five (5) Delaware public school districts, but has been unable to secure a teaching position in any of those districts.

3.1.4.3 An individual whose license and certificate have been revoked for cause prior to fulfilling the service set forth in 3.1.4 shall, within sixty (60) days, arrange for repayment of their remaining obligation.

4.0 Format of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification

4.1 A Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification in a secondary content area which corresponds to the major field of study in the bachelor’s degree program shall consist of:

4.1.1 One (1) summer of courses in the Special Institute;

4.1.2 One (1) semester of student teaching or one (1) year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and

4.1.3 Additional coursework as set forth by the teacher training institution which constitutes the program of study leading to initial licensure and certification.

4.2 A Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification in elementary or special education shall consist of:

4.2.1 Two (2) summers of courses, one (1) immediately before and one (1)after a student teaching experience or one year of full-time teaching experience;

4.2.2 One (1) semester of student teaching or one (1) year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and

4.2.3 Additional coursework as set forth by the teacher training institution which constitutes a program of study leading to initial licensure and certification.

5.0 Examination of Content Knowledge

Prior to completion of the Special Institute for Licensure and Certification, participants must successfully pass the appropriate examination of content knowledge, such as the PRAXIS™ II examination, if applicable and available.

6.0 Licensure and Certification of Special Institute Participants

6.1 The Department shall issue an Initial License of no more than three (3) years duration conditioned on continued enrollment in the Special Institute and an Emergency Certificate to an individual employed to complete the one (1) year of full-time teaching experience in lieu of student teaching.

6.2 Upon successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification program, an individual shall be issued an Initial License valid for the balance of the three (3) year term, and a Standard Certificate.

9 DE Reg. 1184 (2/1/06)

Renumbered effective 6/1/07 - see Conversion Table

16 DE Reg. 354 (10/01/12) (Prop.)