Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/april2018/proposed/21%20DE%20Reg%20774%2004-01-18.htm
Timestamp: 2018-10-23 05:33:08
Document Index: 311530177

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1210', '§1305', '§1211', '§1210', '§1211', '§1215', '§1212', '§1597', '§1590']

The Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1511 Issuance and Renewal of Continuing License. This regulation concerns the requirements for issuance and renewal of a continuing license for educators pursuant to 14 Del.C. Ch. 12. Proposed changes to make the regulation consistent with amendments to 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 were initially published on September 1, 2017. Thereafter, the Board made additional substantive changes to the definitions in Section 2.0 and the professional development options. The proposed changes in this regulation include the changes that were initially published on September 1, 2017 and additional changes to Sections 2.0 and 13.0.
Persons wishing to present their views regarding this matter may do so in writing by the close of business on or before May 2, 2018 to Mr. Chris Kenton, Executive Director, Delaware Professional Standards Board, The Townsend Building, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware 19901. 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 Professional Standards Board's Office, located at the address above.
3.	Will the amended regulation help to ensure all student's health and safety are adequately protected? The amended regulation addresses a continuing license for educators, not students' health and safety.
4.	Will the amended regulation help to ensure that all students' legal rights are respected? The amended regulation addresses a continuing license for educators, not students' legal rights.
"Activity Documentation Form" means the official form approved by the Standards Board Department that includes specific details about the activity to be used for License renewal and the signature of an instructional leader within the Professional Learning Community, or a school, district or charter school instructional leader the applicant is responsible to.
"A Product Shall Be Made Available For for Verification" means that the culminating, tangible result of the professional development Professional Development activity is accessible by the individual signing the certificate of participation or the Activity Documentation Form. Examples of a product include, but are not limited to, a publication, a Professional Learning Community protocol, standards-based assessments or curriculum, copies of a presentation or other substantial work as a result of Action Research.
"Clock Hour" means actual time spent in professional development Professional Development, not credit hours.
"Educational Project" means an individual professional growth project of 15 or more clock hours Clock Hours, including a research project not related to a course for which credit is claimed, completed to enhance the individual's professional practice, with the development of a final product or report.
"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 developed by the Standards Board, in consultation and cooperation with the Department, and approved by the State Board of Education. The term ‘educator’ does not include substitute teachers.
"Experienced Educator" is an educator who holds a Continuing or Advanced License, or an educator who held a Professional Status Certificate issued prior to August 1, 2003. An educator from another jurisdiction who has completed three (3) four (4) or more years of successful teaching may be considered an experienced educator Experienced Educator.
"Initial License" means a license issued as part of the three tiered licensure system set forth in 14 Del.C. §1210 Ch. 12.
"Mentoring" means activities, training and service in mentoring support or assistance provided through a formally organized Department approved mentoring comprehensive induction program or such supplemental mentoring programs as required by regulation or the educator's employing authority Employing Authority. Mentoring includes, but is not limited to, the mentoring programs activities that occur in the approved comprehensive induction programs required for educators during a three (3) their four (4) year Initial Licensure period, a Continuing Licensure period, or any other mentoring program as required by law.
"NBPTS or Similar National Certification" means a certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or similar body as approved by the Standards Board provided in 14 Del.C. §1305(l), verifying completion of all requirements in an individual's job related area of the profession or, in the case of an individual seeking, but not earning, the national certificate, verification of the clock hours Clock Hours devoted to completing the requirements for the national certificate.
"Planned Professional Development Program" means a structured program within a building, district or charter school that has been specifically identified through a Success Plan success plan. Such programs shall be designed to enhance knowledge and skills Knowledge and Skills that promote continuous professional growth and improve student performance.
"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 as per 14 DE Admin. Code 1598 Delaware Professional Development Standards.
"Professional Development Activities" means activities designed to enhance knowledge and skills Knowledge and Skills to promote continuous professional growth and to improve educator performance.
"Professional Learning Community (PLC)" consists of a minimum of four (4) educators with the following attributes: supportive and shared leadership, collective creativity, shared values and vision, supportive conditions, shared personal practice, and whose focus over an extended period of time is on improving student learning with an accountability measure built into their process. An extended period of time would be considered a minimum of ten (10) consecutive weeks and a minimum accumulation of fifteen (15) clock hours Clock Hours.
3.1	In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1211, the Department shall issue, upon application, a Continuing License to a qualified educator who has successfully completed the requirements under the of initial licensure as set forth in 14 Del.C. §1210 and §1211 and has not received more than one (1) unsatisfactory annual evaluation, as defined by DPAS II or a state-approved alternative educator evaluation system, during the period of initial licensure.
3.2	An applicant for a Continuing License shall submit a complete application on the Department approved application form to the Department. Verification by the school district, or charter school, or other employing authority of satisfactory DPAS II annual summative evaluations or the equivalent thereof on a state-approved alternative educator evaluation system for the period of initial licensure shall be submitted with an initial application for a Continuing License.
3.4.2	Notification of an incomplete application shall also be sent to the applicant's employing authority Employing Authority.
3.5.1	The Department shall may issue a Continuing License to a qualified applicant currently licensed as an educator in another jurisdiction who provides evidence of having completed three (3) four (4) or more years of successful teaching experience Teaching Experience with the following conditions:
3.5.1.1	The educator may demonstrate three (3) four (4) years of successful teaching experience Teaching Experience by submitting documentation to the Department or employing authority Employing Authority of a minimum of three (3) four (4) years of teaching experience Teaching Experience and of having received at least two (2) satisfactory evaluations from the other jurisdiction that the Department or employing authority Employing Authority finds are the equivalent of the two (2) satisfactory summative evaluations required of a Delaware educator.
3.5.1.2	If the educator has been out of the profession Out of the Profession for more than three (3) four (4) years, the educator must meet the following as a condition of maintaining the original Continuing License:
3.5.1.2.1	The educator shall, within the first year of employment, successfully complete an approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program which focuses on current best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment and aligned to state and national standards.
3.5.1.2.1.1	Failure to successfully complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program shall result in the suspension of the License. If the Continuing License expires during the term of the suspension, the educator must apply for an Initial License and meet the requirements in effect at the time of the application.
3.5.1.2.1.2	Upon request by the applicant and employing authority Employing Authority, the Department may extend the time to complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program for a period of up to one (1) year upon a showing of exigent circumstances Exigent Circumstances.
3.5.2	Experienced educators from other jurisdictions with an expired license from another jurisdiction The Department may not issue a Continuing License to an applicant whose license as an educator from another jurisdiction has expired.
3.5.2.1	Experienced educators coming Educators from another jurisdiction with an expired license shall apply for an Initial License and meet the requirements for an Initial License in effect at the time of the application.
3.7	The Department shall not act on an application for licensure if the applicant is under official investigation by any state or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications, where the alleged conduct involves allegations of immorality Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation’s resolution.
4.1.1	In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1215, the Department may shall issue an original Continuing License to a qualified educator who holds a Delaware certificate issued by an education certifying board prior to July 13, 1971 or who previously held a valid Delaware Standard or Professional Status certificate that has expired.
4.1.1.1	As a condition of maintaining the original Continuing License, the educator shall successfully complete a one (1) year of an approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program required of educators on an Initial License within their first year of employment.
4.1.1.1.1	Upon request by the applicant and employing authority Employing Authority, the Department may extend the time to complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program for a period of up to one (1) year upon a showing of exigent circumstances Exigent Circumstances.
4.1.1.1.2	Failure to successfully complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program program shall result in the suspension of the License. If the Continuing License expires during the term of the suspension, the educator must apply for an Initial License and meet the requirements in effect at the time of the application.
4.1.1.2	The educator shall be entitled to notice and the right to a hearing as provided in Section 1211.0.
4.2.3.2	Notification of an incomplete application shall also be sent to the applicant's employing authority Employing Authority.
5.1	In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1212, the Department shall renew a Continuing License, valid for an additional five (5) years, to a qualified educator who has fulfilled the ninety (90) clock hour Clock Hour requirement for professional development Professional Development and other requirements of this regulation. At least one half of the required hours [forty-five (45) hours every five (5) years] for educators shall be in activities that relate to the educator's work with students or staff. Satisfactory evidence of such completion, as set forth in Section 15 or Section 16 13.0, shall be submitted to the Department with the application for renewal. The ninety (90) clock hours Clock Hours of professional development Professional Development shall have taken place during the term of the Continuing License.
5.2.1.1	Prior to renewal of the License, the educator shall provide to the Department evidence of successfully completing ninety (90) clock hours Clock Hours of professional development Professional Development during the five (5) years preceding application, pursuant to Section 7.0.
5.2.1.2	If the educator has been out of the profession Out of the Profession for less than three (3) years since the expiration of the Continuing License, the educator shall, within the first year of employment, successfully complete an approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program which focuses on current best practices in curriculum, instruction and assessment and aligned to state and national standards
5.2.1.2.1	Failure to successfully complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program shall result in the suspension of the License.
5.2.1.3	If the educator has been out of the profession Out of the Profession for more than three (3) years since the expiration of the Continuing License, the educator shall, within the first year of employment, successfully complete a year of an approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program required of educators on an Initial License.
5.2.1.3.1	Failure to successfully complete the approved mentoring program Approved Mentoring Program shall result in the suspension of the License.
5.3	Professional Development Options for Relicensure are listed in Section 15 and Section 16 13.0.
5.4.1	For renewal of the Continuing License, educators may complete and document clock hours Clock Hours for the variety of activities described under relicensure options. When college or university courses are used to fulfill the requirements, the following equivalencies shall be used: one (1) semester hour equals fifteen (15) clock hours Clock Hours, one (1) quarter hour equals ten (10) clock hours Clock Hours, one (1) Continuing Education Unit (CEU) equals ten (10) clock hours Clock Hours. To be documented for clock hours Clock Hours, activities shall meet the criteria set forth in the regulations and shall be appropriately verified and applied for. Professional development Development activities that are part of a DPAS II assistance or improvement plan or the equivalent thereof on a state-approved alternative educator evaluation system may be used to satisfy this requirement. Individuals, schools or school districts, or other agencies organizing or conducting professional development Professional Development activities which may be used for fulfilling the requirements for renewal of a license are responsible for providing documentation of participation to all participants. Each educator is responsible for obtaining any necessary approvals, as set forth in Section 14 and in Section 15 13.0, from his or her employer before participating in a professional development Professional Development activity. An employer may not impose additional activity requirements on the award of clock hours Clock Hours towards renewal of a Continuing License.
5.4.2	Criteria for determining if activities are acceptable for clock hour Clock Hour credit for an educator include the following:
5.4.2.1	The activity enhances the knowledge and skills Knowledge and Skills in the educator's job or contributes to his/her school or profession.
5.6	For applicants who change positions (grade levels, content areas, areas of supervisory responsibility, etc.) during the five (5) year term of a Continuing License, clock hours Clock Hours documented shall have been appropriate to the educator's position at the time the clock hours Clock Hours were completed.
5.7	The Department shall have the responsibility to verify clock hours Clock Hours for applicants that are not currently employed by a Delaware employing authority Employing Authority or those employed in another jurisdiction and wish to renew their Continuing License. The Department may require that the applicant submit verifying documentation.
To obtain renewal of a Continuing License, educators are required to participate in professional development Professional Development activities totaling a minimum of ninety (90) clock hour Clock Hours every five (5) years and any other professional development Professional Development or mentoring Mentoring requirements required. The ninety (90) clock hours Clock Hours shall be completed during the five (5) year term of the license. All activities shall relate to the 14 Del.C. DE Admin. Code §1597, Delaware Professional Teaching Standards, or 14 Del.C. DE Admin. Code §1590, Delaware Administrator Standards, or appropriate specialty organization standards.
Candidates for renewal of a Continuing License may select from a variety of professional development Professional Development options, as set forth in the relicensure options approved by the Professional Standards Board, set forth in Section 14 and in Section 15 and contained in the Guidelines for Renewal of a Continuing License 13.0. The activities selected must be beyond the normal or specified requirements of the position. Professional development activities which fulfill the criteria for relicensure for which educators receive compensation may be submitted in fulfillment of the ninety (90) clock hour Clock Hour requirement for relicensure. Graduate credits used to satisfy the ninety (90) clock hour requirement for license renewal may, if part of a matriculated program, also be used for a salary increment on the state salary schedule, if they meet the requirements set forth in 14 DE Admin. Code 1502. The activities or options used to satisfy the ninety (90) clock hour requirement for license renewal may be part of an approved professional development cluster eligible for a salary supplement.
8.1	The Department may extend a Continuing License for a period not to exceed one (1) year, upon the educator license holder’s showing exigent circumstances of Exigent Circumstances warranting the necessity of such extension.
8.1.1	The expiration of an educator's License before the end of the school year shall be considered an exigent circumstance; however the educator's License may only be extended to the end of that current school year. A license holder whose Continuing License expires during the school year may have the Continuing License extended until the last day of the fiscal year upon a request from the district superintendent or charter school administrator. This extension shall be considered an Exigent Circumstance and shall not exceed one (1) year in length.
8.1.2	An educator shall establish exigent circumstances Exigent Circumstances to the satisfaction of the Department by showing circumstances in a written request to the Department with any necessary documentation.
9.1	An At the discretion of the hiring district or charter school, an educator may take an authorized leave of absence a Leave of Absence of up to three years with no effect upon the validity or expiration of the Continuing License. The date of expiration of the Continuing License will be extended commensurate with the length of the Leave of Absence.
9.1.39.2	The Department may require that the educator provide documentation sufficient to establish the authorized leave of absence Leave of Absence.
9.1.49.3	An educator's Continuing License shall not be automatically extended under this section and the burden is on the educator to make proper application submit an extension request with sufficient documentation to the Department and to establish the authorized leave of absence Leave of Absence.
10.2	The Department shall not act on an application for licensure if the applicant is under official investigation by any state or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications, where the alleged conduct involves allegations of immorality Immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.
11.1	Effective February 11, 2010, as educators receive either their original Continuing License or as they renew their Continuing License, only the Options listed in Section 15 shall be valid.
12.011.0 Suspension of a Continuing License For Failure To Meet Conditions of Issuance
12.111.1	Failure of an educator to meet the requirements of the Continuing License after issuance shall result in the suspension of the educator's Continuing License.
12.211.2	Notice of Action
12.2.111.2.1	The Secretary of Education or his or her designee, shall not take action against a person to suspend their Continuing License without providing the person with written notice of the suspension and the reasons therefore and with an opportunity for a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board.
12.2.211.2.2	Notice shall be sent to the person's last known address. Notice shall be sent by certified mail, with return receipt requested. and A copy of the notice may also be sent electronically.
12.2.311.2.3	The license holder shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the date the notice of the suspension was mailed to make a written request for a hearing.
12.2.411.2.4	If no written request for a hearing is received by the Standards Board within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the notification was mailed, the license holder's license shall be deemed to be suspended and the holder shall be so notified.
12.2.511.2.5	Notice of the suspension shall be made by the Secretary, or his or her designee, to the educator's employer.
12.2.611.2.6	All communications between a license holder and the Department or Standards Board provided for in this Section shall be by certified mail, with a return receipt requested. Additional notice may also be sent electronically.
12.311.3	Standards Board Hearings and Procedures
12.3.111.3.1	In any hearing before the Standards Board to challenge action taken under this regulation, the Standards Board shall have the power to administer oaths, order the taking of depositions, issue subpoenas and compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, papers, records, documents and testimony.
12.3.211.3.2	Unless otherwise provided for in this Section, the burden of proof in a license suspension action shall be on the agency taking official action to establish by preponderance of the evidence that the license holder has failed to comply with the applicable laws and regulations relating to the retention of the license.
12.3.311.3.3	Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the Standard Board's 14 DE Admin. Code 1515 Hearing Procedures and Rules.
13.012.0 Secretary of Education Review
14.013.0 Continuing License Options for Relicensure
14.2	Educators holding a Continuing License whose expiration date does not exceed February 10, 2015 may also use the Continuing License options listed in Section 15.
14.4	Educators either receiving their original Continuing License after February 11, 2010 or upon renewing their Continuing License on or after February 11, 2010 shall use the options listed in Section 15.
The course shall be completed within a matriculated Masters, Doctoral program, a graduate level course of study or may be an undergraduate course as seen by the educator as necessary to acquire new knowledge and skills related to their position. Courses shall be taken at a regionally accredited College or University. College or University Credit shall be taken for credit and the educator shall attain a grade of "B" or better in the course, or a "P" in Pass / Fail course.
21 DE Reg. 774 (04/01/18) (Prop.)