DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

REGULATORY IMPLEMENTING ORDER

1521 Elementary Teacher

I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED

The Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher. The regulation concerns the requirements for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher. The proposed amendments include adding defined terms to Section 2.0; clarifying the requirements for issuing a standard certificate in Section 3.0; specifying the knowledge, skill, and education requirements for obtaining a first and second or subsequent Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher in Section 4.0; specifying the application requirements in Section 5.0; adding Sections 6.0 and 7.0, which concern validity and revocation of a standard certificate; and adding Section 8.0, which concerns local school districts' requests for the Secretary of Education to review standard certificate applications.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on March 1, 2018. The Professional Standards Board did not receive written comments regarding the proposed regulation.

On April 12, 2018, the Professional Standards Board voted to propose 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher for adoption by the Department subject to the State Board of Education's approval.

II. FINDINGS OF FACTS

The Department finds that the proposed regulation is necessary to implement 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 and is designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance. Accordingly, the Department finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher.

III. DECISION TO AMEND THE REGULATION

For the foregoing reasons, the Department concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher subject to the State Board of Education's approval. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 and 1205(b), 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is hereby amended.

IV. TEXT AND CITATION

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher adopted hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit "A," and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1521 Elementary Teacher in the Administrative Code of Regulations for the Department of Education.

V. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDER

The actions hereinabove referred to were taken by the Department pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203 and 1205(b) on April 19, 2018. The effective date of this Order shall be ten (10) days from the date this Order is published in the Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 19th day of April, 2018.

Department of Education

Susan S. Bunting, Ed.D., Secretary of Education

Approved this 19th day of April, 2018.

State Board of Education

1521 Elementary Teacher

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Standard Certificate, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a), for Elementary Teacher. This certification is required for grades K to 6.

1.1.1 Notwithstanding the above subsection 1.1, the Early Childhood Teacher certification Certification may be used for K to grade 2 in lieu of this certification Certification.

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.

The definitions set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate, including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

2.1 The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Certification" means the issuance of a certificate, which may occur regardless of a recipient's assignment or employment status.

"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.

"Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development" means college credits or an equivalent number of hours with one (1) credit equating to fifteen (15) hours taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to a degree program from a regionally accredited college or university or a professional development provider approved by the Department. College credit means undergraduate or graduate level coursework and continuing education units (CEUs) completed at or through a regionally accredited college or university or other Department-approved provider.

"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 his or her unfitness or otherwise.

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

"Major or Its Equivalent" means a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of course work in a particular content area.

"Passing Score" means a minimum score as established by the Professional Standards Board, in consultation with the Department, and with the approval of the State Board of Education.

"Professional Development" means a combination of focused, in-depth learning, practice, feedback, reflection, and expert support experiences designed to change participants' attitudes, insights, and/or perspectives; and ultimately results in improved professional practice. Effective professional development programs include ample opportunities for knowledge acquisition, skill mastery, descriptive feedback, and refinement of practice in the work setting.

"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 from Another State" means a current full or permanent certificate or license issued by another state. This means the educator is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification in another state. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state.

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

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 as set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1505 Standard Certificate, including any subsequent amendment or revision thereto.

3.1.2 Has met the requirements for licensure and holds a Valid and Current License or Certificate from Another State in elementary education; or

3.1.3 Has met the requirements for a Meritorious New Teacher Candidate Designation adopted pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1203.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for Certification 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 alleged conduct involves allegations of Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.

4.1 For an applicant who is applying for his or her first Standard Certificate, the applicant shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.

4.1.1 The applicant shall have:

4.1.1.1 Obtained an Early Childhood/Generalist certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

4.1.1.2 Completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a Major or Its Equivalent in elementary education from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; or

4.1.1.3 Satisfactorily completed an alternative routes for licensure or certification program to teach grades K to 6 as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1507; or

4.1.1.4 Satisfactorily completed a Department-approved educator preparation program in elementary education; or

4.1.1.5 Completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactory completion of fifteen (15) credits or the equivalent in Department-approved Professional Development related to elementary education of which at least six (6) credits must focus on pedagogy.

4.1.1.5.1 The applicant, in consultation with the applicant's Employing Authority, shall select the Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development subject to the Department's approval.

4.1.1.5.2 If the applicant does not have an Employing Authority or is applying for a Standard Certificate outside of the applicant's current spectrum of employment, the applicant shall select the Fifteen (15) Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development in consultation with the Department and subject to the Department's approval.

4.1.2 The applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on one of the following examinations:

4.1.2.1 On the Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (ETS Test Code # 5001), the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the following subtests:

4.1.2.1.1 Reading and Language Arts Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5002) a Passing Score of 157; and

4.1.2.1.2 Mathematics Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5003) a Passing Score of 157; and

4.1.2.1.3 Social Studies Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5004) a Passing Score of 155; and

4.1.2.1.4 Science Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5005) a Passing Score of 159; or

4.1.2.2 On the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (ETS Test Code # 7801), the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the following subtests:

4.1.2.2.1 Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7802) a Passing Score of 156; and

4.1.2.2.2 Mathematics CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7803) a Passing Score of 143; and

4.1.2.2.3 Science CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7804) a Passing Score of 144; and

4.1.2.2.4 Social Studies Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7805) a Passing Score of 155; or

4.1.2.3 The applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the following subtests:

4.1.2.3.1 Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Reading Language Arts Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5002) a Passing Score of 157 or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Reading and Language Arts CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7802) a Passing Score of 156; and

4.1.2.3.2 Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Mathematics Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5003) a Passing Score of 157 or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7803) a Passing Score of 143; and

4.1.2.3.3 Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Social Studies Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5004) a Passing Score of 155 or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Social Studies Subtest (ETS Test Code #7805) a Passing Score of 155; and

4.1.2.3.4 Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Science Subtest (ETS Test Code # 5005) a Passing Score of 159 or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching Science CKT Subtest (ETS Test Code # 7804) a Passing Score of 144.

4.2 For an applicant who is applying for his or her second or subsequent Standard Certificate, the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on one of the following examinations:

4.2.1 On the Praxis Subject Assessment - Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects (ETS Test Code # 5001), the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the subtests as provided in subsection 4.1.2.1; or

4.2.2 On the Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (ETS Test Code # 7801), the applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the subtests as provided in subsection 4.1.2.2; or

4.2.3 The applicant shall have achieved a Passing Score on each of the subtests as provided in subsection 4.1.2.3.

5.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with the application for an Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.

5.2 For applicants who are applying for their first Standard Certificate, the following documentation is required with the application for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher:

5.2.1 Evidence of obtaining an Early Childhood/Generalist certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, if applicable; and

5.2.2 Official transcript from the applicant's regionally accredited college or university.

5.2.2.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the Employing Authority or by the applicant's regionally accredited college or university; or

5.2.2.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.

5.2.2.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

5.2.3 If applicable, documents verifying successful completion of Professional Development; and

5.2.4 Official scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching as provided in subsection 4.1.2; and

5.2.5 If applicable, an experience form must be completed in full and signed by the applicant; and

5.2.6 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.3 For applicants who are applying for their second or subsequent Standard Certificate, the following documentation is required in the application for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher:

5.3.1 Official scores on the Praxis Subject Assessment or Praxis Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching as provided in subsection 4.2; and

5.3.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.4 For applicants who have met the requirements for licensure and hold a Valid and Current License or Certificate from Another State in elementary education, the following documentation is required in the application for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher:

5.4.1 An official copy of the valid and current educator license or certificate from another state or professional license.

6.1 A Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher 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 Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher is not subject to renewal.

7.1 An Educator's Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher shall be revoked in the event the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Standard or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator's Standard Certificate application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.

7.2 An Educator whose Standard Certificate is noticed for revocation is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board.

7.2.1 Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Standards Board's Hearing Procedures and Rules.

The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of the superintendent of a local school district, review credentials submitted in an application for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a Standard Certificate for Elementary Teacher but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district.