DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
PROPOSED
Education Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)
1591 School Principal and Assistant Principal
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 1591 School Principal and Assistant Principal. 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 provide research-based pathways to certification for school building leaders. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a School Principal or an Assistant Principal.
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 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.
1591 School Principal and Assistant Principal
1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate for School Principal and Assistant Principal, 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:
"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 the Principal or Assistant Principal of an elementary or intermediate school, a middle school, a high school, or a school for exceptional students.
3.1 Educational requirements
3.1.1 A master’s 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 from a regionally accredited college or university, or
3.1.2 A master’s degree in education 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 and a current and valid Principal or Assistant Principal certificate from another state, or
3.1.3 A master’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university and successful completion of a Delaware approved alternative routes to certification program for school leaders. Until approval and implementation of an alternative routes to certification program occurs, candidates completing the Standard Certificate in accordance with 3.1.3.1 of this regulation shall fulfill the following requirements.
3.1.3.1 A three semester hour graduate level course in each of the following areas:
3.1.3.1.1 School Administration (at the level to be initially assigned),
3.1.3.1.2 Supervision and Evaluation of Staff,
3.1.3.1.3 Curriculum Development,
3.1.3.1.4 School Business Management,
3.1.3.1.5 School Law or Legal Issues in Education,
3.1.3.1.6 Human Relations, and,
3.1.3.1.7 Child, Adolescent or Human Development, if not taken at the undergraduate level.
3.2 Experience requirements
3.2.1 A minimum of three (3) years of teaching experience at the level to be initially assigned as a school Principal or Assistant Principal, except at the middle level, where the teaching experience may be at any pK to 12 level, or as a Principal or Assistant Principal of a school for exceptional students, where the teaching experience must have been with one or more of the categories of exceptional children served by the school.
1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a) for School Principal and Assistant Principal. This certification is required for all School Principals and Assistant School Principals working in Delaware’s public school system.
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:
“Certification Program for Leaders in Education” means a program comprised of education components as defined and approved by the Standards Board and the State Board pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education.
“School Principal Course of Study” means a course of study approved by the Standards Board and the State Board pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education.
3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a School Principal or an Assistant School Principal to an educator who has met the following:
3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a 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 master’s or 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 master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field and the successful completion of one of the following:
4.1.1.2.1 A School Principal Course of Study, as defined in 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education; or
4.1.1.2.2 A School Principal Certification Program pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education.
4.2 Experience requirements.
4.2.1 An educator must have a minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience.
5.1 Program Application Procedures
5.1.1 Program application procedures are specified in 14 DE Admin. Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education.
5.2 Program Evaluation Procedure
5.2.1 Program Evaluation Procedures are specified in 14 DE Admin Code 1595 Certification Programs for Leaders in Education.
6.1 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.
6.1.1 Educators currently enrolled in a school leader course of study prior to the effective date of this regulation will have eighteen (18) months subsequent to the effective date to apply for the previous School Principal or Assistant Principal Standard Certificate. Educators are responsible for providing the Department evidence of enrollment via submission of appropriate transcripts.
6.2 An Emergency Certificate for a School Principal or Assistant Principal is not available.
6.3 The Department shall also recognize a Standard Certificate for School Principal or Assistant Principal issued by the Department prior to the effective date of this regulation.
