DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education 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 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher. The regulation concerns the requirements for a Standard Certificate for Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher. The proposed changes include adding a Standard Certificate issued prior to August 31, 2003 to satisfy the requirement under subsection 3.1.1 to be consistent with 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate; adding "Technology and Teaching Driver's Education" under subsection 4.1.1.7 to allow educators an additional, optional area of professional development; and adding subsection 4.4 to specify that educators are not required to take an examination of content knowledge for this Standard Certificate.

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 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education 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 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher to add a Standard Certificate issued prior to August 31, 2003 to satisfy the requirement under subsection 3.1.1 to be consistent with 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate; add "Technology and Teaching Driver's Education" under subsection 4.1.1.7 to allow educators an additional, optional area of professional development; and add subsection 4.4 to specify that educators are not required to take an examination of content knowledge for this Standard Certificate.

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 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education 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 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher amended shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education 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

1553 Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education Teacher.

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.

The definitions set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate, including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Driver Education and Traffic Safety Education 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 An educator shall also have met the following:

4.1.1 Education requirements:

4.1.1.1 A minimum of twenty-one (21) credits, taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to it from a regionally accredited college or university, or their equivalent in professional development approved by the Department in the following areas:

4.1.1.1.1 Human Development (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.2 Identifying and Treating Exceptionalities (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.3 Effective Teaching Strategies (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.4 Cultural Diversity (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.5 Driver Education, Methods and Materials (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.6 Driver Education, In Car Training (3 credits); and

4.1.1.1.7 Three (3) credits selected from one (1) of the following areas:

4.1.1.1.7.1 Alcohol and Drug Education (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.7.2 Current Issues in Driver Education (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.7.3 Problems in Driver and Safety Education (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.7.4 First Aid (3 credits);

4.1.1.1.7.5 Teaching Students with Disabilities (3 credits); or

4.1.1.1.7.6 Education for Safe Living (3 credits).; or

4.1.1.1.7.7 Technology and Teaching Driver's Education.

4.1.2 Driver’s License Requirements.

4.1.2.1 The applicant shall hold a valid driver's license.

4.1.2.2 The applicant’s driving record shall have no more than five (5) points total from Delaware or any other jurisdiction at the time of application.

4.1.2.3 The applicant’s driver’s license shall not have been suspended, revoked, or disqualified in Delaware or any other jurisdiction in the last five (5) years and the applicant’s driver’s license shall remain valid for the duration of the applicant’s employment under this Standard Certificate.

4.1.3 The educator shall notify the Department immediately if they fail to meet the Driver’s License Requirements.

4.1.4 Testing Requirement:

4.1.4.1 The applicant is not required to take and achieve a passing score on an examination of content knowledge.