DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
PROPOSED
Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant to 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)
1520 Early Childhood 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 1520 Early Childhood 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 given that the existing regulation reverted to 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate in June of 2006. This regulation sets forth the requirements for an Early Childhood Teacher.
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Monday, October 1, 2007 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.
1520 Early Childhood Teacher
This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Early Childhood Teacher (Birth to Grade 2).
2.1 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.
“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to certify 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.
“Standards Board” means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1201.
“State Board” means the State Board of Education of the State of Delaware established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §104.
In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as an Early Childhood Teacher 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 A bachelor’s degree from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in Early Childhood Education; or
3.2 A bachelor’s degree from a state approved educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in Early Childhood Education, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NCATE specialty organization standards for early childhood teacher education; or
3.3 Passage of the appropriate PRAXIS™ II test approved by the Standards Board and the State Board; or
3.4 A bachelor’s degree from an NCATE or state approved program, where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC standards or NCATE specialty organization standards, offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in Primary or Elementary Education; and
3.4.1 At least eighteen (18) semester hours of course work, specific to the birth to age five (5) child, taken either as part of the degree program or in addition to it, as follows:
3.4.1.1 Children’s Growth, Development and Learning (Birth to age five (5)) (3 credits);
3.4.1.2 Early Childhood Curriculum Development, Assessment, Content, and Implementation (6 credits);
3.4.1.3 Language Development and Early Literacy in Young Children (3 credits);
3.4.1.4 Family Development and Service Systems for Children and Families (3 credits); and
3.4.1.5 Development and Programming for Young Children with Special Needs (3 credits); or
3.5 A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any field, and
3.5.1 A minimum of forty five (45) semester hours of general content course work, taken either as part of the degree program or in addition to it, as follows:
3.5.1.1 English, including an upper level composition course and a literature course (9 semester hours);
3.5.1.2 A total of twelve (12) semester hours of science, including one course each in Life and Environmental, Earth and Space and Physical Sciences;
3.5.1.3 Social sciences, including world history, American history, political science, economics and geography (9 semester hours);
3.5.1.4 Mathematics (9 semester hours); and
3.5.1.5 Fine Arts or Humanities (6 semester hours); and
3.5.2 A minimum of thirty nine (39) semester hours of course work, taken either as part of the degree program or in addition to it, as follows:
3.5.2.1 Children’s Growth, Development, and Learning (Birth to age 8) (6 semester hours);
3.5.2.2 Identifying and Teaching Children with Exceptional Needs (6 semester hours);
3.5.2.3 Early Childhood Curriculum Development, Assessment, Content, and Implementation, including a practicum of no less than 50 hours (Birth to age 8) (9 semester hours);
3.5.2.4 Professional Issues in Early Childhood Education (3 semester hours);
3.5.2.5 Language Development, Early Literacy and Reading in Young Children (9 semester hours);
3.5.2.6 Parent, Family, Community Interactions (3 semester hours); and
3.5.2.7 Family Development and Service Systems for Children and Families (3 semester hours).
This regulation shall be effective through June 30, 2006 only. Applicants who apply for a standard certificate as an Early Childhood Teacher after that date must comply with the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1505.
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 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.
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.
If an examination of content knowledge such as Praxis II is not applicable and available, in the area the Standard Certificate is requested, an educator must also meet the following:
4.1 If the educator is applying for their second Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate 3.1.5, the satisfactory completion of fifteen (15) credits or their equivalent in professional development related to Early Childhood Education, selected by the applicant with the approval of the employing school district or charter school which is submitted to the Department.
