department of EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
Educational Impact Analysis Pursuant To 14 Del.C. Section 122(d)
1542 Standard Certificate Science Teacher Middle Level
proposed
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 1542 Certification Science Teacher Middle Level. It is necessary to amend this regulation to remove the requirements for earth science and physical science from this regulation, as middle school science is taught as an integrated science. This amendment aligns the requirements for a Standard Certificate with the Delaware content standards in Science.
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.
1542 Standard Certificate B Science Teacher B Middle Level
1.0 Content
This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Science Teacher - Middle Level (required for grades 7-8, and valid in a middle level school, grades 5-6).
7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)
2.0 Definitions
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, and/or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.
“State Board” means the State Board of Education of the State pursuant to 14 Del.C. §104.
7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)
3.0 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Science Teacher – Middle Level 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 Bbachelor’s degree from an NCATE specialty organization recognized educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in general science, middle school science, or a science discipline; and or
3.2 Professional Education A bachelor’s degree from a state approved educator preparation program offered by a regionally accredited college or university, with a major in general science, middle school science, or a science discipline where the state approval body employed the appropriate NASDTEC standards or NCATE specialty organization standards; or
3.3 Passage of the appropriate PRAXIS™ II test approved by the Standards Board and the State Board in science; or
3.4 A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in general science, middle level science, or a science discipline; and
3.4.1 Completion of at least the semester hours indicated below A minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of pedagogy courses from a regionally accredited college or university to include:
3.4.1.1 Human development;
3.4.1.2 Methods of teaching middle school or secondary science;
3.4.1.3 Teaching of reading in the content areas or identifying/treating exceptionalities;
3.4.1.4 Effective teaching strategies; and
3.4.1.5 Multicultural education; and or
3.3.3.1 Earth science:
3.3.3.1.1 Courses should include at least 42 semester hours, with at least 3 semester hours in each of the following: geology, geography, climatology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, laboratory safety, biology, chemistry, and mathematics.
3.4.1.2 1General Science:3.3.3.2.1 Courses should include at least 39 semester hours, with at least 3 semester hours in each of the following, except where noted: laboratory safety,
3.5 Completion of the pedagogy requirements set forth in section 3.4.1 and a total of thirty-six (36) semester hours in science, with a minimum of:
3.5.1 Mathematics (3 semester hours);
3.5.2 Environmental education (3 semester hours);
3.5.3 Earth science (6 semester hours); and
3.5.4 12 semester hours in bBiology (12 semester hours); and
3.5.5 12 semester hours in Cchemistry, physics, and physical science (12 semester hours combined with a minimum of 3 semester hours in each area).
3.3.3.3 Physical science:
3.3.3.3.1 Courses should include at least 42 semester hours, with at least 3 semester hours in each of the following, except where noted: chemistry (12 semester hours); physics (12 semester hours); laboratory safety, biology, mathematics (6 semester hours); and earth science.
3.2.1 Completion of an approved teacher education program in science; or
3.2.2 Aa minimum of 24 semester hours to include human development; methods of teaching middle school or secondary science; teaching of reading in science or identifying/treating exceptionalities; effective teaching strategies; multicultural education; and
3.3 Specific Teaching Field
3.3.1 Major in the area of the certificate sought; or
3.3.2 Completion of an approved teacher education program in the area of the certificate sought; or
4.0 This regulation shall be effective through June 30, 2006 only. Applicants who apply for a Standard Certificate as a Science Teacher B Middle School after that date must comply with the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1516.
7 DE Reg. 775 (12/1/03)
