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 1509

PROPOSED

PUBLIC NOTICE

1509 Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation

A. TYPE OF REGULATORY ACTION REQUESTED

Repeal of Existing Regulation

B. SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECT MATTER OF REGULATION

The Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), seeks to repeal 14 DE Admin. Code 1509 Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203 and 14 Del.C. §1205(b). In 2005, Delaware participated in the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate program, which was a reciprocal licensing agreement with other states in the region through the Mid-Atlantic Regional Teachers Project. The agreement no longer exists. As a result, the regulation is being repealed.

Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before April 1, 2020 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.

1509 Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation

1.0 Content

This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation to a candidate for an Initial License who meets the criteria set forth by the Mid Atlantic Regional Teachers Project, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1210.

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.

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

“Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation” means a designation of excellence for new teachers which enables them to teach in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

“Met the Highest Standard” means achieved the highest grade or score awarded by the institution.

“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”.

3.0 Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Requirements

3.1 An applicant for an Initial License who meets the requirements for an Initial License and who also meets the criteria set forth by the Mid Atlantic Regional Teachers Project shall have a Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation affixed to the Initial License, upon receipt of a recommendation from the candidate’s teacher preparation program that the candidate be awarded the designation of Meritorious New Teacher Candidate.

3.2 Criteria for the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation are:

3.2.1 Verbal Skills

3.2.1.1 Scores in the upper quartile of students nationally at the time the test was taken on the verbal portion of the SAT, ACT, or GRE.

3.2.2 Content Knowledge

3.2.2.1 Elementary Education (Grades pre K to 6):

3.2.2.1.1 A minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in an undergraduate professional education program, or a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA in a graduate professional education program; and

3.2.2.1.2 Scores in the upper quartile of students nationally at the time the test was taken in math, science, social studies, and English language arts in the PRAXIS II Content Knowledge for Elementary Teachers test or Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment test.

3.2.2.2 Middle School Education (Grades 6 to 8):

3.2.12.2.1 A minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in an undergraduate academic major or a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA in a graduate program in the subject area in which a standard certificate is sought; and

3.2.2.2.2 Scores in the upper quartile of students nationally at the time the test was taken on the PRAXIS II test in the applicant’s specialty area.

3.2.2.3 Secondary Education (Grades 9 to 12):

3.2.2.3.1 A minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in an undergraduate academic major or a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA in a graduate program in the subject area in which a standard certificate is sought.

3.2.2.3.2 Scores in the upper quartile of students nationally at the time the test was taken on the PRAXIS II test in the applicant’s specialty area.

3.2.3 Professional Preparation and Recommendation:

3.2.3.1 Completion of a state approved teacher preparation program, of traditional or alternative format, with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in an undergraduate professional studies program, or a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA in a graduate professional education program.

3.2.3.2 Completion of a minimum of 400 hours of supervised clinical experience, of which at least 300 hours are directed instructional student teaching. Clinical experience may occur within any state approved model, including total immersion experiences as teachers of record.

3.2.3.3 Met the highest standard of both the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher on the institution’s formal student teacher or immersion component of the required clinical experience.

3.2.3.4 Met the highest standard on the institution’s professional preparation assessment.

3.2.3.5 Received a recommendation by the teacher preparation program that the candidate be awarded the designation of Meritorious New Teacher Candidate.

4.0 Expedited Application

Applicants for initial licensure and the Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation who completed teacher preparation in Delaware will be given expedited consideration of their application by the Delaware Department of Education.

5.0 License from Other Jurisdiction Honored

A Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation issued to a licensee from one of the participating jurisdictions who has less than three (3) years of teaching experience, shall be honored by the Department. The applicant shall be issued a Delaware Initial License pursuant to 14 DE Admin. Code §1510 with a Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation and any Delaware Standard Certificate for which the candidate qualifies.

6.0 Validation

This designation shall be valid for the duration of the individual’s initial license

8 DE Reg. 446 (09/01/04)

16 DE Reg. 625 (12/01/12)

23 DE Reg. 719 (03/01/20) (Prop.)