DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
PROPOSED
PUBLIC NOTICE
Education Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)
1565 World Language Teacher
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 1565 World Language Teacher The regulation concerns the requirements for certification of educational personnel, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is necessary to amend this regulation to update oral and written proficiency requirements in the target language. This regulation is also being reviewed as part of the five year review cycle. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a World Language Teacher.
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Monday, October 31, 2016 to Mr. Chris Kenton, 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. §1205 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.
1565 World Language Teacher
1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for World Language Teacher. This certification is required for grades K to 12.
1.1.1 This certification is limited to the world language in which the Standard Certificate is requested.
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:
"Passing score" means a minimum score as established by the Standards Board, in consultation with the Department, and with the approval of the State Board.
“Target language” means, for the purpose of this regulation, the specific world language, as defined in Section 1.0 of 14 DE Admin. Code 505, in which the Standard Certificate is requested.
3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a World Language Teacher to an educator who has met the following:
3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a 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.
4.1 If an examination of content knowledge such as Praxis II is not applicable and available for the World Language Standard Certificate requested, an educator must also meet the following:
4.1.1 Available ACTFL Tests
4.1.1.1 When the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test is available in the World Language requested, the applicant shall achieve a passing score on the examination.
4.1.1.2 For purposes of this regulation the following shall be considered a passing score:
4.1.1.2.1 For tests of languages using a Roman alphabet, candidates are required to achieve as a minimum score an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Advanced Low Level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
4.1.1.2.2 For tests of languages using a non-Roman alphabet, candidates are required to achieve as a minimum score an Advanced Low Level on the oral skills and an Intermediate High level on the writing skills based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
4.1.2 If ACTFL tests are not available, the educator must meet one of the following:
4.1.2.1 Specialized Education
4.1.2.1.1 The applicant shall have completed fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development in the area of the World Language requested.
4.1.2.1.1.1 The fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development in the area of the World Language requested for certification must be selected by the applicant with the assent of the employing school district or charter school and subsequently submitted to the Department for final approval.
4.1.2.1.1.2 In the case where the educator is seeking certification independently or there is no employing school district or charter school, the Department shall review the proposed fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development selected by the applicant in the area of the World Language, for final determination of acceptance.
4.1.2.1.1.3 If approved by the Department, the educator may use past coursework or professional development; or
4.1.2.2 Approved Certification of Content Knowledge
4.1.2.2.1 The applicant has earned an approved certificate in the World Language requested.
4.1.2.2.2 The Standards Board may recognize certificate programs that establish the minimum content knowledge in a World Language. Certificates are approved by the Standards Board in consultation with the Department and with the concurrence of the State Board in the same manner as examinations of content knowledge.
4.1.2.2.3 The Department shall make publicly available a list of approved World Language certificates.
4.1 An educator shall also have satisfied each of the following requirements:
4.1.1 Completion of a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major or its equivalent in the target language from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; and
4.1.2 Demonstrated oral and written proficiency in the target language by either:
4.1.2.1 Achieving a passing score on a Praxis Subject Assessment in the target language; or
4.1.2.2 Based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines:
4.1.2.2.1 Achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low on the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in the target language, and
4.1.2.2.2 Achieving a passing score on the ACTFL Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) in the target language.
4.1.2.2.2.1 For tests using the Roman alphabet, a passing score means achieving a minimum level of Advanced Low.
4.1.2.2.2.2 For tests using a non-Roman alphabet, a passing score means achieving a minimum level of Intermediate High.
The Department shall recognize a Standard Certificate World Language Teacher issued before January 1, 2017. A teacher holding such a Standard Certificate issued by the Department before January 1, 2017 shall be considered certified as a World Language Teacher.
This regulation shall be effective on January 1, 2017.
