A special institute to be run by 1 or more of Delaware’s teacher training institutions shall be established to provide a program for college graduates without a license and/or certificate to become licensed and certified to teach in Delaware public schools. The program shall be designed for such graduates, who hold a bachelor’s degree but who have no teacher training or previous teaching experience. The Professional Standards Board and the State Board of Education shall promulgate and adopt rules and regulations pursuant to this chapter that are relative to the special institute for teacher licensure and certification and the teacher training institution or institutions will set up and manage the program. There will be no tuition charged to persons participating in the special institute leading to initial licensure and certification.

65 Del. Laws, c. 473, §  1;  71 Del. Laws, c. 180, §  62;  72 Del. Laws, c. 294, §§  7, 11;  80 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 43, § 2; 

Any individual seeking licensure and/or certification under this subchapter shall meet the following minimum requirements:

(1) Must have received a bachelor’s degree, other than in Education, from a regionally accredited 4-year program. The major field of study must be in a content area that has been designated as a critical needs area by the Department of Education.

(2) Must have a grade point index in the major field of the bachelor’s degree which is 2/10 of a point higher than the grade point index required for students entering regular teacher education programs at the teacher education institution or institutions.

(3) [Repealed.]

(4) Must agree to teach at least 1 year in a Delaware public school for each year the individual receives funding. Such service is to be completed within 5 years of the individual’s successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification Program. For failure to meet this requirement, the individual shall agree to pay back a sum equivalent to the tuition which would have been paid for the coursework leading to licensure. An individual can meet this requirement either by actually teaching in a Delaware public school for 1 year or by providing a notarized statement that the individual has sought employment in at least 5 Delaware public school districts but has not been able to secure a teaching position in any of those districts. The notarized statement must be accompanied by evidence of unsuccessful applications for teaching positions in at least 5 Delaware public school districts.

65 Del. Laws, c. 473, §  1;  67 Del. Laws, c. 281, §  248;  71 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 294, §  8;  75 Del. Laws, c. 77, §§  13, 14;  81 Del. Laws, c. 43, § 2; 

The general format for the special institute must include the following:

(1) For the individual seeking licensure and certification in a secondary content area that corresponds to the major field of study in the bachelor’s program, it is intended that 1 summer of courses in the special institute; ½ year (1 semester) of student teaching, or 1 year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and additional coursework as necessary constitute the program of study leading to the initial license and standard certificate. An initial license conditioned on continued enrollment in the Special Institute and an emergency certificate or a certificate of eligibility must be issued to the person employed to complete the 1 year of full-time teaching experience in lieu of student teaching. Upon successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification Program, the individual must receive an initial license valid for a 3-year term, and a standard certificate.

(2) For individuals seeking licensure and certification in elementary or special education, it is intended that 2 summers of courses in the special institute (immediately before and after a student teaching experience or 1 year full-time teaching experience); ½ year of student teaching or 1 year of supervised, full-time teaching experience in a Delaware public school; and additional coursework as necessary constitute the program of study leading to the initial license and standard certificate. An initial license conditioned on continued enrollment in the Special Institute and an emergency certificate or a certificate of eligibility must be issued to the person employed to complete the 1 year of full-time teaching experience in lieu of student teaching. Upon successful completion of the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification Program, the individual must receive an initial license valid for a 4-year term and a standard certificate.

65 Del. Laws, c. 473, §  1;  75 Del. Laws, c. 77, §§  15-20;  80 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 43, § 2;  81 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 6;  83 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 4;