DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLENTING ORDER

1520 Early Childhood 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 approval of the State Board of Education to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher. The regulation concerns the requirements for a Standard Certificate for Early Childhood Teacher. The proposed changes include adding a definition of the term "passing score" to subsection 2.2; striking Limited Standard Certificate from subsection 3.1.1 to be consistent with the language of 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate; adding subsection 3.1.3; and adding Section 4.0 to specify the required examination of content knowledge and passing score for a Standard Certificate for Early Childhood Teacher.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on August 1, 2017 in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A." Persons who wished to present their views regarding the proposed regulation were invited to do so in writing by August 31, 2017. The Professional Standards Board did not receive written comments.

On September 7, 2017, the Professional Standards Board voted to propose for adoption by the Department of Education 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A" subject to the State Board of Education's approval.

II. Findings of Fact

The Professional Standards Board found that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher to add a definition of the term "passing score" to subsection 2.2; strike Limited Standard Certificate from subsection 3.1.1 to be consistent with the language of 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate; add subsection 3.1.3; and add Section 4.0 to specify the required examination of content knowledge and passing score for a Standard Certificate for Early Childhood Teacher.

The Professional Standards Board believes that the proposed regulation serves to improve the quality of instruction for Delaware's children and that the amendments are designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance.

III. Decision to Amend the Regulation

For the foregoing reasons, the Professional Standards Board concluded that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher.

Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 & 1205(b), the regulation attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is hereby approved.

IV. Text and Citation

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher amended shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1520 Early Childhood Teacher in the Administrative Code.

V. Effective Date of Order

The actions hereinabove referred to were taken by the Professional Standards Board on September 7, 2017 and by the State Board of Education on September 19, 2017 pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 & 1205(b). The effective date of the State Board of Education's Order will be ten (10) days from the date the Order is published in its final form in the Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 19th day of September, 2017.

Department of Education

Susan Bunting, Ed.D., Secretary of Education

Approved this 19th day of September, 2017 by the State Board of Education.

1520 Early Childhood Teacher

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Early Childhood Teacher. This certification is valid for birth to grade two (2); however, certification as an Elementary Teacher may also be used in K to grade 2.

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 word and term, 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 Professional Standards Board, in consultation with the Department and with the approval of the State Board of Education.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as an Early Childhood Teacher to an educator who has met the following:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or a Limited Standard, 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 An educator shall have also met the following:

4.1.1 achieved on the Praxis Subject Assessment - Education of Young Children (ETS Test # 5024) a Passing Score of 160.