DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
1554 Standard Certificate Reading Specialist
proposed
Educational Impact Analysis
Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(D)
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 14 DE Admin. Code 1554 Standard Certificate Reading Specialist. 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 clarify to which educators this regulation applies.
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 new 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 amended regulation? There is no additional cost to local school boards for compliance with the regulation.
1554 Standard Certificate Reading Specialist
1.0 Content:
This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Reading Specialist.
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.
“License” means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.
“Reading Specialist” means an educator who provides one-on-one or small group, diagnostic, prescriptive teaching of reading, and includes, Title I reading teachers, reading resource teachers, Reading First teachers and coordinators, and individuals employed as building or district coordinators/Cadre of reading who work with teachers in reading and communication skills.
“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to certify 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.
3.0 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Reading Specialist to an applicant who holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License; or Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003, and who meets the following requirements:
3.1 Degree
3.1.1 Graduating from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in Reading; or
3.1.2 Graduating from a state approved educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in Reading, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NCATE specialty organization standards; or
3.1.1 3.1.3 Master's degree (or a Bachelor's degree plus 30 graduate credits) from a regionally accredited college or university and,
3.3 Specialized Professional Preparation
3.1.3.1 3.3.1 Minimum of 24 semester hour credits in graduate level reading courses covering the following content areas as specified below unless otherwise specified:
3.1.3.1.1 3.3.1.1 Language Development, , 3 semester hours;
3.1.3.1.2 3.3.1.2 Methods in Process Writing/Language Arts, 3 semester hours;
3.1.3.1.3 3.3.1.3 Assessment and Correction of Reading Difficulties, 6 semester hours;
3.1.3.1.4 3.3.1.4 Practicum in Reading to include application of assessment and correction strategies, parent involvement strategies, and experience in working as a reading resource person with staff, 6 semester hours;
3.1.3.1.5 3.3.1.5 Reading in the Content Areas, 3 semester hours;
3.1.3.1.6 3.3.1.6 Children's or Adolescent Literature Across the Curriculum, 3 semester hours; and
3.1.3.1.7 3.3.2 Minimum of three graduate semester hours from among the following: Seminar in Reading Research, Emergent Literacy, Teaching English as a Second Language or Children's or Adolescent Literature.
3.2 Experience
3.2.1 Minimum of three years of successful teaching experience with at least two years in the K-12 classroom and,
3.3 Specialized Professional Preparation
3.3.1 Minimum of 21 semester hour credits in graduate level reading courses unless otherwise specified:
3.3.1.1 Language Development, graduate or undergraduate, 3 semester hours
3.3.1.2 Methods in Process Writing/Language Arts, 3 semester hours
3.3.1.3 Assessment and Correction of Reading Difficulties, 6 semester hours.
3.3.1.4 Practicum in Reading to include application of assessment and correction strategies, parent involvement strategies, and experience in working as a reading resource person with staff, 3 semester hours.
3.3.1.5 Reading in the Content Areas, graduate or undergraduate, 3 semester hours.
3.3.1.6 Children's or Adolescent Literature Across the Curriculum, 3 semester hours.
3.3.2 Minimum of three graduate semester hours from among the following: Seminar in Reading Research, Emergent Literacy, Teaching English as a Second Language or Children's or Adolescent Literature.
4.0 This regulation shall be effective through June 30, 2006 only. Applicants who apply for a Standard Certificate as a Reading Specialist after that date must comply with the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1516. This regulation shall be effective immediately. Notwithstanding this provision, Reading Specialists hired prior to July 1, 2006, who do not currently meet the requirements set forth herein, but who hold an Initial, Continuing or Advanced License; or a Professional Status Certificate issued prior to August 31, 2003, may be issued a Standard Certificate as a Reading Specialist contingent on their completion of the requirements set forth herein within three (3) years of the effective date of this regulation or their date of employment in the position of Reading Specialist, whichever is later.
