DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1580 School Library Media Specialist

I. Summary of the Evidence and Information Submitted

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 1580 School Library Media Specialist. The regulation concerns the requirements for certification of educational personnel, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a). It is appropriate to amend this regulation as it has been 5 years since the last review of this regulation and some clarification was warranted. This regulation sets forth the requirements for a School Library Media Specialist.

Notice of the proposed amendment of the regulation was published in the News Journal and the Delaware State News on January 5, 2009 in the form hereto attached as Exhibit “A”. The notice invited written comments. No comments were received.

II. Findings of Facts

The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education find that it is appropriate to amend this regulation to comply with changes in statute.

III. Decision to Amend the Regulation

For the foregoing reasons, the Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education conclude that it is appropriate to amend the regulation. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1205(b), the regulation attached hereto as Exhibit “B” is hereby amended. Pursuant to the provision of 14 Del.C. §122(e), the regulation hereby amended shall be in effect for a period of five years from the effective date of this order as set forth in Section V. below.

IV. Text and Citation

The text of the regulation amended shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit “B”, and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1580 of the Administrative Code of Regulations of the Department of Education.

V. Effective Date of Order

The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Delaware Register of Regulations.

APPROVED BY THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD THE 5TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2009

FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Lillian Lowery Ed.D., Secretary of Education

IT IS SO ORDERED THIS 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2009

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

1580 School Library Media Specialist

This regulation shall apply to the requirements for a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Library Media Specialist.

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.

In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Standard Certificate as a Library Media Specialist 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 Bachelor's degree in any content area from a regionally accredited college or university; and,

3.2 Completion of a Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an American Library Association (ALA) approved program in School Library Media; or,

3.3 Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any other content area, including a general Media Library Specialist (MLS) degree, and completion of a program in School Library Media approved by the Department pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code 290 which meets ALA Standards.

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for School Library Media Specialist. This certification is required for grades K to 12.

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 a School Library Media Specialist to an educator 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,

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.

An educator shall also meet the following:

4.1 Has satisfied at least one of the following additional requirements:

4.1.1 Holds a Masters or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an American Library Association approved program in School Library Media; or

4.1.2 Holds a Masters or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any area; and

4.1.2.1 Has completed a Department approved School Library Media program which meets American Library Association Standards.