DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

Statutory Authority: 14 Delaware Code, Section 1205(b) (14 Del.C. §1205(b)

14 DE Admin. Code1512

proposed

Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(D)

1512 Issuance and Renewal of Advanced License

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 1512 Issuance and Renewal of Advanced License. Upon review, the Board has amended a few sections of the regulation for clarity and accuracy, and to meet current formatting.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on Thursday, October 1, 2009 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.

1512 Issuance and Renewal of Advanced License

1.0 Content

This regulation shall apply to the issuance and renewal of an Advanced License for educators, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1213 and §1214.

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.

"Educator" means an employee paid under 14 Del.C. §1305 a person licensed and certified by the State under 14 Del.C., Chapter 12, to engage in the practice of instruction, administration or other related professional support services in Delaware public schools, including charter schools, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Standards Board and approved by the State Board. For purposes of 14 Del.C. Chapter 12, the term 'educator' does not include substitute teachers.

"Exigent Circumstances" means unanticipated circumstance or circumstances beyond the educator's control, including, but not limited to serious illness of the educator or a member of his/her immediate family, activation to active military duty, and other serious emergencies which necessitate the educator's temporarily leaving active service. The expiration of an educator's license before the end of the school year shall be considered an exigent circumstance, however the educator's license may only be extended to the end of that current school year.

"Immorality" means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator's effectiveness by reason of his or her unfitness or otherwise.

"Maintenance of Proficiency" means evidence of valid renewal of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.

"National Board Certified Teacher" means an educator who holds National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.

"National Board Certification" means certification of an educator by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

"Standards Board" means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §104 Chapter 12.

"State" means State of Delaware.

3.0 Advanced License

In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1213, the Department, upon receipt of the list of successful candidates provided annually by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, shall issue an Advanced License to any educator who receives National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. An Advanced License is valid for up to 10 years unless extended pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1216 or revoked for cause, as defined in 14 Del.C. §1218.

3.1 The Department shall issue, upon application, an Advanced License to an educator licensed in another jurisdiction who provides verification of receipt of National Board certification.

3.2 The Department shall not act on an application for licensure if the applicant is under official investigation by any state or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications, where the alleged conduct involves allegations of immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.

3.2.1 "Immorality" means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator's effectiveness by reason of his or her unfitness.

4.0 RESERVED (For Equivalent Program)

5.0 Renewal of Advanced License

In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1214, the Department shall renew an Advanced License, valid for an additional 10 years, to an educator who has maintained proficiency through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Proficiency for National Board certification shall be deemed to have been maintained if the educator provides evidence of valid renewal of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.

5.1 The Department shall renew an Advanced License upon receipt of a list of successful Delaware candidates for renewal provided annually by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

5.2 An applicant who elects not to renew with the National Board for Professional Teaching standards or who fails to meet the recertification requirements set forth by the National Board will shall be issued a Continuing License.

6.0 Extension for Exigent Circumstances

The Department may extend an Advanced License for a period not to exceed one year, exigent circumstances warranting the necessity of such extension.

7.0 Leave of Absence

An educator may take a leave of absence of up to three years with no effect upon the validity or expiration of the Advanced License.

8.0 Criminal Conviction History

An applicant shall disclose his or her criminal conviction history upon application for an Advanced License, the renewal of an Advanced License, or upon the issuance of a Continuing License pursuant to section 5.2. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial or revocation of an advanced license or a Continuing License and criminal prosecution as specified in 14 Del.C. §1219.

6 DE Reg. 77 (7/1/02)

7 DE Reg. 956 (1/1/04)

13 DE Reg. 359 (09/01/09) (Prop.)