Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 14

FORMERLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 68

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO EDUCATOR LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :

Section 1. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1210(a) of the Delaware Code by adding after the word “program” and before the word “or” the following:

“, or one year of teaching experience in lieu of student teaching consisting of a minimum of 91 days of long term teaching experience at one assignment”.

Section 2. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1210(b) of the Delaware Code by deleting said subsection in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

“(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, an initial license may be issued to an applicant who meets all other requirements for initial license except for passage of the PRAXIS I exam, provided that the applicant must pass PRAXIS I within the period of time from the date of hire to the end of the next, consecutive fiscal year. If proof of passage of PRAXIS I has not been provided during the time period specified, the initial license will be suspended unless the superintendent of the school district submits to the Secretary of Education a written request for a one-year extension. The request must also document the effectiveness of the applicant. Any applicant who is within 2 points of the passing score on the reading, writing, or mathematics section of PRAXIS I may use a composite score to meet the requirements of passage. An applicant teaching the secondary content area of Math or English/Language Arts must meet the passing score in that content area.”.

Section 3. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1210(d) of the Delaware Code by adding “with less than three years of teaching experience who is”, after the word “applicant” and before the word “licensed”.

Section 4. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1211(c) of the Delaware Code by adding, “The applicant must have completed 3 or more years of successful teaching experience.” after the word “expired.”.

Section 5. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1215 of the Delaware Code by deleting the words, “or a professional status certificate issued by the Department prior to May 3, 2000.” and replacing them with, “or upon the expiration of a professional status certificate or standard certificate issued by the Department.”

Section 6. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1216 of the Delaware Code by adding subsections (c) and (d) as follows:

“(c) If an applicant is not employed by a public school district or Charter School, the initial license shall be inactive until such time as the applicant is employed by a public school district or Charter School. Once employed, the initial license shall be in effect for 3 years and all rules and regulations promulgated and adopted under this Chapter shall apply.

(d) If an initial, continuing, or advanced license expires before the end of a school year, the person whose license expires may continue in his/her current position until the end of that school year.”.

Section 7. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1220 of the Delaware Code by deleting said subsection in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

Ҥ 1220. Standard Certificate.

(a) The Department shall issue a standard certificate to an educator who fully meets the requirements for licensure, has a degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and has acquired the prescribed knowledge, skill, and/or education to practice in a particular area, to teach a particular subject or to instruct a particular category of students.

(b) The Department shall issue a standard certificate to an educator who meets the requirements for licensure and has achieved a passing score on an examination of content knowledge, such as PRAXIS II, or has graduated from a Delaware approved program, or holds a valid and current certificate from another state.

(c) The Department shall recognize a professional status certificate or standard certificate that is otherwise valid if issued prior to August 31, 2003. The Department shall also recognize a limited standard certificate or a temporary certificate issued prior to August 31, 2003, provided that the educator successfully completes the requirements set forth in the limited standard certificate or the temporary certificate.”.

Section 8. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14, § 1221 of the Delaware Code by deleting the words, “only if a certified educator is not available through reassignment or hiring and only” as they appear therein.

Section 9. Amend Chapter 12, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by adding § 1224 to read as follows:

Ҥ 1224. Review by the Secretary of Education.

The Secretary of Education shall have the authority to review licensure and certification credentials on an individual basis and to act upon same at the request of the local school district provided that the local school district is able to document the effectiveness of the applicant.”.

Approved April 3, 2003