Recognizing that beginning teachers need support, Delaware provides mentors for all beginning teachers and ties the mentoring program to professional teaching standards. These standards, developed by a group of more than 40 educators, administrators, teacher educators, and public representatives, and drawing heavily from the work of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, guide the preparation, induction, and continued professional development of all Delaware's teachers. A pilot program to link mentoring programs to the new teaching standards began in January 1995 in three districts, expanded to eight school districts the following school year, and to 14 in 1996-97. All 19 districts in the state will participate by the 1998-99 school year. Experienced teachers new to Delaware also complete the portfolio assessment process under a modified time line.
Certification is granted if the portfolio assessment meets the established criteria.
Delaware's Professional Standards Council set out seven specifications for the mentoring program, from training mentors to matching mentors with beginning teachers to evaluating the teachers. A consultant, hired by the State Department of Public Instruction, works with the sites. The department also has sponsored statewide conferences for mentors and plans to expand them to new teacher-mentor pairs. Future conferences will focus on different instructional themes. The mentors and beginning teachers will then work on implementing the ideas together at their home schools.