DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

Statutory Authority: 14 Delaware Code, Sections 1203 and 1205(b) (14 Del.C. §§1203 & 1205(b))

14 DE Admin. Code 1583

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §122(d)

1583 School Psychologist

A. TYPE OF REGULATORY ACTION REQUESTED

Amendment to Existing Regulation

B. SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECT MATTER OF REGULATION

Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 and 1205(b), the Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1583 School Psychologist. The regulation concerns the requirements for a School Psychologist Standard Certificate in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220. The proposed amendments include adding defined terms to Section 2.0; clarifying the requirements for issuing a School Psychologist Standard Certificate in Section 3.0; specifying the education, knowledge, and skill requirements for obtaining a School Psychologist Standard Certificate in Section 4.0; specifying the application requirements in Section 5.0; adding Section 6.0, which concerns the validity of a School Psychologist Standard Certificate; adding Section 7.0, which concerns disciplinary actions; adding Section 8.0, which concerns requests for the Secretary of Education to review standard certificate applications; and adding Section 9.0, which concerns recognizing past certificates that were issued by the Department.

The proposed amendments were published in the Register of Regulations on February 1, 2021. The Board received written submittals from the State Council for Persons with Disabilities ("SCPD"), the Delaware Association of School Psychologists ("DASP"), and the Delaware State Education Association ("DSEA"). On March 4, 2021, the Board considered the written submittals. Both DASP and DSEA each commented that proposed language in subsection 4.1.1.1, i.e., "the equivalent of an Ed.S. degree," is vague and suggested that the Board add language from the 2020 National Association of School Psychologist Professional Standards. As a result of DASP's and DSEA's comment, the Board added the suggested language to the subsection to define the equivalent of an Ed.S. degree. The Board decided not to make any additional changes as a result of DASP's and DSEA's other comments or SCPD's comments.

On April 1, 2021, the changes that were originally published on February 1, 2021 and the additional change to define the equivalent of an Ed.S. in subsection 4.1.1.1 was published in the Register of Regulations. The Board received written submittals from DASP, the Delaware Association of School Personnel Administrators, and the Delaware Association of Special Education Professionals within the Delaware Association of School Administrators. On May 6, 2021, the Board considered the written submittals. The Board withdrew the proposed amendments that were published on April 1, 2021.

A review of the Praxis Subject Assessment - School Psychology was held on June 4, 2021. On July 8, 2021, the Board considered data concerning the Praxis Subject Assessment - School Psychology, including the results of the Praxis review, the requirements for a school psychology educator's license or certificate in the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and information on current school psychologists in Delaware. The Board added clarifying language to subsection 3.1.2, which concerns applicants who hold a valid and current license as a school psychologist that is issued by another jurisdiction. The Board voted to publish the changes that were published on April 1, 2021 as well as the additional clarifying language in subsection 3.1.2.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before September 1, 2021, to the Department of Education, Office of the Secretary, Attn: Regulation Review, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901 or to DOEregulations.comment@doe.k12.de.us. A copy of this regulation may be viewed online at the Registrar of Regulation's website, http://regulations.delaware.gov/services/current_issue.shtml or obtained at the Department of Education's Office of the Secretary, located at the address above.

C. IMPACT CRITERIA

1. Will the amended regulation help improve student achievement as measured against state achievement standards? The education, knowledge, and skill requirements in Section 4.0 are designed to improve the quality of the educator workforce, which will help to improve student achievement.

2. Will the amended regulation help ensure that all students receive an equitable education? The education, knowledge, and skill requirements in Section 4.0 are designed to improve the quality of the educator workforce, which will help to ensure students in Delaware public schools receive an equitable education.

3. Will the amended regulation help to ensure all students' health and safety are adequately protected? The amended regulation addresses a standard certificate for educators and is not designed to help ensure students' health and safety is protected.

4. Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The amended regulation addresses a standard certificate for educators and is not designed to help ensure students' legal rights are respected.

5. Will the amended regulation preserve the necessary authority and flexibility of decision-makers at the local board and school level? The amended regulation does not change authority and flexibility of decision makers at the local board and school level. By statute (14 Del.C. § 1224), a school district or charter school may request that the Secretary of Education review the credentials of an applicant who does not meet the requirements for a School Psychologist Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the district or school. Proposed Section 8.0 is consistent with the statute.

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 does not place unnecessary reporting or administrative requirements or mandates upon decision makers at the local board and school levels. The application requirements in Section 5.0 apply to individual applicants.

7. Will decision making authority and accountability for addressing the subject to be regulated be placed in the same entity? The Department implements the rules and regulations promulgated and adopted pursuant to 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 relating to licensure and certification of educators.

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 is consistent with, and not an impediment to, the implementation of other state educational policies, and 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? There is not a less burdensome method for addressing the purpose of this amended regulation.

10. What is the cost to the state and to the local school boards of compliance with the amended regulation? There is no expected cost to the state and to the local school boards of complying with this amended regulation.

1583 School Psychologist

1.0 Content

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the requirements for issuance of a School Psychologist Standard Certificate, pursuant pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for School Psychologist. This certification The School Psychologist Standard Certificate is required for all School Psychologists school psychologists providing services to children within the Delaware public school system in Delaware public schools.

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.

14 DE Reg. 562 (12/01/10)

2.0 Definitions

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.

2.2 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 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.

“Internship” means a supervised, culminating, comprehensive field experience, completed at or near, the end of formal training, through which school psychology candidates have the opportunity to integrate and apply professional knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses and practica, as well as to acquire new competencies consistent with training program goals.

“License” means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.

“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 issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the educator is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification 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.

14 DE Reg. 562 (12/01/10)

3.0 Issuance of a Standard Certificate

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a School Psychologist Standard Certificate as a School Psychologist to an educator applicant who has met the following:

3.1.1 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, 2003 and meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation;

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 Has met the requirements for an educator’s license in Delaware and presents proof of a Valid and Current License or Certificate as a school psychologist issued by another state or jurisdiction.

3.1.3 Has satisfied the additional requirements in this regulation.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a School Psychologist 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.

14 DE Reg. 562 (12/01/10)

4.0 Additional Prescribed Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements

4.1 An educator shall also have satisfied at least one (1) of the following additional education and internship requirement Options:

4.1.1 NASP or APA School Psychology Degree:

4.1.1.1 Has successfully completed an organized graduate level program of study in “School Psychology” offered by a regionally accredited college or university and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or the American Psychological Association (APA), culminating in an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree or its equivalent or a Doctoral degree in School Psychology; and

4.1.1.2 Has successfully completed a supervised internship.

4.1.2 NCSP Certificate:

4.1.2.1 Holds a valid Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Certificate from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

4.1.3 License or certificate from other state:

4.1.3.1 Holds a valid and current license or certificate from another state in school psychology.

4.1 An applicant for a School Psychologist Standard Certificate shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 through 4.1.3.

4.1.1 The applicant shall have earned one of following:

4.1.1.1 An Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, the equivalent of an Ed.S. degree, or a doctoral degree through a program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) at a Regionally Accredited college or university. The equivalent of an Ed.S. degree means a degree earned by completing a specialist-level program of study in school psychology that includes a minimum of three years of full-time study at the graduate level or the equivalent, inclusive of structured field experiences, and at least 60 graduate semester hours or the equivalent, with at least 54 hours exclusive of credit for the supervised specialist-level internship; or

4.1.1.2 A doctoral degree in school psychology through a program approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) at a Regionally Accredited college or university.

4.1.2 The applicant shall have achieved a minimum score of 147 on the Praxis Subject Assessment - School Psychology (ETS Test Code # 5042).

4.1.3 The applicant shall have completed a supervised, culminating, comprehensive field experience of at least 1,200 hours, 600 hours of which must have been completed in an educational setting, in an institution or agency that is approved by the applicant’s graduate program or the Department, completed at or near the end of formal training, through which the applicant had the opportunity to integrate and apply professional knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses and practica as well as to acquire new competencies consistent with training program goals.

4.2 Notwithstanding subsection 4.1, the Department may issue a School Psychologist Standard Certificate to an applicant who holds a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) certificate from NASP that is in good standing.

14 DE Reg. 562 (12/01/10)

19 DE Reg. 624 (01/01/16)

5.0 Internship Application Requirements

An internship must be in an institution or agency approved by the Department or the applicant’s graduate program.

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 For applicants who are applying for the School Psychologist Standard Certificate under subsections 3.1.1 and 4.1, the following documentation is required:

5.2.1 Official transcript from the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.2.1.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university; or

5.2.1.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

5.2.1.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

5.2.2 Official score on the Praxis Subject Assessment as provided in subsection 4.1.2;

5.2.3 The Department-approved form verifying the applicant’s completion of the requirement in subsection 4.1.3; and

5.2.4 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.3 For applicants who are applying for the School Psychologist Standard Certificate under subsections 3.1.1 and 4.2, the following documentation is required:

5.3.1 Documentation that the applicant holds a NCSP certificate from NASP that is in good standing; and

5.3.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.4 For applicants who are applying for the School Psychologist 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; and

5.4.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

6.0 Emergency Certificate Validity of a Standard Certificate

An Emergency Certificate for a School Psychologist is not available.

6.1 A School Psychologist Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator's License remains current and valid.

6.2 A School Psychologist Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.

7.0 Disciplinary Action

7.1 An Educator's School Psychologist 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.

7.2 An Educator's School Psychologist 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.

7.3 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.

8.0 Secretary of Education Review

8.1 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 Psychologist 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 Psychologist Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.

8.1.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.

8.1.2 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.

9.0 Past Certificate Recognized

The Department shall recognize a School Psychologist 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 school psychologist.

8 DE Reg. 448 (09/01/04)

Renumbered effective 06/01/07 - see Conversion Table

14 DE Reg. 562 (12/01/10)

19 DE Reg. 624 (01/01/16)

25 DE Reg. 131 (08/01/21) (Prop.)