2016 Delaware Code
Title 14 - Education
CHAPTER 12. EDUCATOR LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, EVALUATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND PREPARATION PROGRAMS
Subchapter VI Alternative Routes For Teacher Licensure and Certification
§ 1261. Requirements for the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program [Effective until Apr. 20, 2018].

(a) Each school district or charter school seeking to hire a candidate for the alternative routes program must:

(1) Participate in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program as established pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) of this section; and

(2) Assign a mentor to each teacher participating in the alternative routes program.

(b) There is hereby established an alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program which is intended to provide essential knowledge and skills to teachers participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program through the following phases of training:

(1) A seminar/practicum of no less than 120 hours' duration which takes place prior to the time at which the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program takes full responsibility for a classroom. This seminar/practicum shall provide such formal instruction or equivalent professional development as shall be required by an alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program established by regulation of the Standards Board and the State Board of Education under § 1203 of this title or established by law, in the essential areas for professional study listed in subsection (c) of this section. It shall introduce basic teaching skills through supervised teaching experiences with students. The seminar and practicum components of the experience shall be integrated and shall include an orientation to the policies, organization and curriculum of the employing district or charter school. A teacher entering a Delaware school through the Teach For America or a teacher residency program shall be considered in compliance with this requirement if such teacher has completed the 200-hour preservice training provided by Teach For America or the preservice training requirements provided by the teacher residency program.

(2) A period of intensive on-the-job supervision beginning the first day on which the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program assumes full responsibility for a classroom and continuing for a period of at least 10 weeks. During this time, the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program shall participate in the state-approved mentoring program, and shall be observed and formally evaluated at the end of 10 weeks by certified evaluators. At the end of the 10-week period, the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program shall receive a formal written progress report from the certified evaluators.

(3) An additional period of continued supervision and evaluation of no less than 20 weeks' duration. During this period, the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program shall participate in the state-approved mentoring program, and shall be observed formally and evaluated by the school administration at least twice. No more than 2 months shall pass without a formal observation. Opportunities shall be provided for the teacher participating in the alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program to observe the teaching of experienced colleagues.

(c) Approximately 200 hours of such formal instruction or equivalent professional development, as shall be required by an alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program established by regulation of the Standards Board and the State Board of Education under § 1203 of this title or established by law, in the following topics shall be provided in all 3 phases of the program combined so as to ensure that National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) teacher training standards are maintained. Credit shall be granted to a participant in any approved alternative routes to teacher licensure and certification program for hours of formal instruction or equivalent professional development successfully completed prior to entry into such program, or during the seminar/practicum prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, which courses meet the requirements of this subsection.

(1) Curriculum. — Studies designed to foster an understanding of the curriculum taught and the assessment of teaching, including topics such as the following: The organization and presentation of subject matter, the development and use of tests and other forms of assessment, the evaluation and selection of instructional materials and the appropriate use of textbooks and teacher's guides, the use and interpretation of standardized tests and teacher-developed instruments, the reading process and other language arts skill development appropriate to the field of specialization and grade level, and a knowledge of techniques and materials for fostering the development of reading and language arts skills.

(2) Student development and learning at all levels. — Studies designed to foster an understanding of students, their characteristics as individuals, and the ways in which they learn, including topics such as: Student interests, motivation, preventing classroom disruption, creating a healthy learning climate, individual and group learning, language development, individual differences, and the role of technology learning.

(3) The classroom and the school. — Studies designed to foster an understanding of the school as a social unit and classroom management, including such topics as: The organizational/social structure of public education, the making of teaching decisions, allocation of instructional time, setting of priorities, pacing of instruction, setting of goals, questioning techniques, student practice and independent work.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated and adopted pursuant to § 1203 of this title, may implement other alternative routes to teacher licensure and certification programs, provided the programs meet the minimum criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this title to the contrary, candidates enrolled in the Teach For America or a teacher residency program shall not be limited to teaching in areas identified as critical curricular areas.

70 Del. Laws, c. 459, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 180, § 62B; 72 Del. Laws, c. 294, §§ 14, 15; 75 Del. Laws, c. 77, §§ 26-30; 77 Del. Laws, c. 15, §§ 3, 4.;