1.0 Content
This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). The School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate is required for all Reading Specialists in Delaware public schools.
16 DE Reg. 770 (01/01/13)
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
2.0 Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:
"Department" means the Delaware Department of Education.
"Educator" means a person licensed and certified by the State under 14 Del.C. Ch. 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 Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term 'educator' does not include substitute teachers.
"Employing Authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.
"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 the educator's unfitness or otherwise.
"License" means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.
“Reading Specialist” means an educator whose responsibility is to improve reading achievement in the educator's assigned school or district position. A Reading Specialist may provide one-on-one or small group, diagnostic teaching of reading. Responsibilities may include coaching and leading school reading programs. Reading Specialists’ assignments may include Title I reading teachers, reading resource teachers and educators who work with teachers in reading and communication skills, including, but not limited to literacy coaches and coordinators, and individuals employed as building or district coordinators of reading or in Reading Cadre positions. Reading Specialists may also serve as a resource in reading and writing for educational support personnel, administrators, teachers, and the community, provide professional development based on historical and current literature and research, work collaboratively with other professionals to build and implement reading programs for individuals and groups of students, and serve as advocates for students who struggle with reading.
"Regionally Accredited" means educational accreditation by a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education offered by the institutions of higher education it accredits, including Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
"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.
"Valid and Current License or Certificate" means a current full or permanent certificate or license as an educator issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the applicant is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification as an educator in another state or jurisdiction and is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state or jurisdiction.
16 DE Reg. 770 (01/01/13)
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
3.0 Issuance of a Standard Certificate
3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate to an applicant who:
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 meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or
3.1.2 Has met the requirements for an educator's license in Delaware and presents proof of a Valid and Current License or Certificate as a Reading Specialist issued by another state or jurisdiction.
3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the allegations include but are not limited to conduct such as Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.
16 DE Reg. 770 (01/01/13)
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
4.0 Prescribed Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements
4.1 An applicant for a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 through 4.1.3.
4.1.1 The applicant shall have satisfied both of the education requirements in subsections 4.1.1.1 and 4.1.1.2.
4.1.1.1 The applicant shall have satisfied 1 of the following:
4.1.1.1.1 Earned a master's degree in reading or literacy or its equivalent from a Regionally Accredited college or university or a state-approved educator preparation program for a reading/literacy specialist; or
4.1.1.1.2 Earned a bachelor's degree and completed 30 graduate-level credit hours in any content area from a Regionally Accredited college or university. In addition, the applicant shall have satisfactorily completed 24 graduate-level credit hours that are aligned to either the International Literacy Association (ILA) Standards for Reading/Literacy Specialists or the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Standards for Teachers of Reading in the following areas:
4.1.1.1.2.1 Assessment and instruction in writing (3 credits);
4.1.1.1.2.2 Assessment and instruction in reading that is based on the five core principles of phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension (6 credits);
4.1.1.1.2.3 Practicum in reading to include application of strategies in assessment, instruction, and parent involvement (6 credits);
4.1.1.1.2.4 Literacy in the content areas (3 credits);
4.1.1.1.2.5 Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits); and
4.1.1.1.2.6 Literacy acquisition (3 credits).
4.1.1.1.3 Earned a master's degree in any content area and satisfactorily completed 24 graduate-level credit hours that are aligned to either the International Literacy Association (ILA) Standards for Reading/Literacy Specialists or the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Standards for Teachers of Reading in the areas specified in subsections 4.1.1.1.2.1 through 4.1.1.1.2.6.
4.1.1.2 The applicant shall have satisfactorily completed at least 1 course related to leadership, adult learning theory, or coaching adult learners, taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to a degree program from a Regionally Accredited college or university.
4.1.2 The applicant shall have achieved the minimum score on 1 of the following examinations:
4.1.2.1 A minimum score of 164 on the Praxis Subject Assessment - Reading Specialist (ETS Test Code # 5301); or
4.1.2.2 A minimum score of 165 on the Praxis Subject Assessment - Reading Specialist (ETS Test Code #5302).
4.1.3 The applicant shall have completed a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience, including meeting students on a regularly scheduled basis, planning and delivering instruction, developing or preparing instructional materials, and evaluating student performance under a state credential in any Pre-K to 12 public school setting or an equivalent setting as approved by the Department.
16 DE Reg. 770 (01/01/13)
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
5.0 Application Requirements
5.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with the application for the Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.
5.2 An applicant must disclose the applicant's criminal conviction history upon application for a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial of a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate as specified in 14 Del.C. §1219.
5.3 For applicants who are applying for the School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.1, the following documentation is required:
5.3.1 Official transcript from the applicant's Regionally Accredited college or university.
5.3.1.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant's Regionally Accredited college or university; or
5.3.1.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.
5.3.1.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and
5.3.2 Official score on the Praxis Subject Assessment as provided in subsection 4.1.2; and
5.3.3 The Department-approved form verifying the applicant's completion of the experience requirement as provided in subsection 4.1.3; and
5.3.4 Additional documentation as required by the Department.
5.4 For applicants who are applying for the School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.2, the following documentation is required:
5.4.1 An official copy of the Valid and Current License or Certificate as a Reading Specialist; and
5.4.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
6.0 Secretary of Education Review
6.1 The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.
6.1.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.
6.1.2 For charter schools, requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school's board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school's head of school.
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
7.0 Validity of a Standard Certificate
7.1 A School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator's License remains current and valid.
7.2 A School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
8.0 Disciplinary Action
8.1 An Educator's School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate may be revoked, suspended, or limited for cause as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits.
8.2 An Educator's School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate shall be revoked if the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator's application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.
8.3 An Educator whose certificate is noticed for disciplinary action is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with 14 DE Admin. Code 1515 Hearing Procedures and Rules.
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
9.0 Past Certificate Recognized
The Department shall recognize a School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate that was issued by the Department prior to the effective date of this regulation. An Educator holding such a Standard Certificate shall be considered certified to practice as a Reading Specialist.
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
10.0 Contact Information and Change of Name or Address
10.1 All applicants and Educators are required to update their contact information in DEEDS if their contact information changes.
10.2 An Educator who legally changes the Educator's name and wishes to change the name on the School Reading Specialist Standard Certificate shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.
10.3 An applicant or Educator whose mailing address, email address, or phone number changes shall provide the Department with the new mailing address, email address, or phone number within 14 calendar days of the change.
7 DE Reg. 775 (12/01/03)
8 DE Reg. 899 (12/01/04)
10 DE Reg. 100 (7/1/06)
Renumbered effective 6/1/07 - see Conversion Table
16 DE Reg. 770 (01/01/13)
26 DE Reg. 320 (10/01/22)
Authenticated PDF Version