DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

FINAL

ORDER

1572 Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented

I. SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED

Pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203, 1205(b), and 1220, the Professional Standards Board ("Board"), acting in consultation and cooperation with the Delaware Department of Education ("Department"), developed amendments to 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented. The regulation concerns the requirements for a Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220. The proposed amendments in this regulation include add-ing subsection 4.1.1.6 which outlines a pathway toward achieving the Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate via the completion of Micro-credentials. Additional proposed amendments include, in Section 2.0, revising the definition of "Regionally Accredited" based on the changes the U.S. Department of Education made to its recognition of accrediting bodies, amending the definition of the term "Employing Authority" to eliminate a redundant phrase, adding a definition of Micro-credential; and amending subsection 3.2 to eliminate a redundant phrase. The proposed amendments include grammatical and style changes to comply with the Delaware Administrative Code Drafting and Style Manual.

Notice of the proposed regulation was published in the Register of Regulations on January 1, 2025. The Board received written submittals from Shivam Nagar, Ann C. Fisher, Chairperson of the Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens ("GACEC"), and Susannah Ryan-Eaton, Chairperson of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities ("SCPD"). Shivam Nagar stated that the regulation could emphasize how this time enriched one's understanding of education. Both GACEC and SPCD stated that they did not support the proposed amendments because they introduce certification via the completion of Micro-credentials, which do not provide the same level of preparation as traditional pro-grams.

II. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STATE'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS AND RESILIENCY TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The Secretary of Education has reviewed the proposed regulation as required by 29 Del.C. §10118(b)(3) and has determined that any assessment of the impact of the proposed regulation is not practical.

III. FINDINGS OF FACTS

On February 6, 2025, the Board considered the written submittals. The Board found that the Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate can only be granted to educators who already hold a content area standard certificate and who have gone through an educator preparation program. It also found that there are neither university-based nor non-credit bearing programs within the State of Delaware for a Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate. Further, it found that the Department had already approved the Micro-credentials included in the regulation as a "Department-approved program" under sub-section 4.1.1.4, and the deletion of sub-section 4.1.1.6 would make no material difference to that approval. The Board determined not to make any changes as a result of the written submittals and voted to propose 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, for adoption by the Department subject to the State Board of Education's approval.

The Department finds that the proposed amendments to the regulation are necessary to implement 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 and are designed to improve the quality of the Delaware educator workforce and to improve student performance. Accordingly, the Department finds that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented.

IV. DECISION TO AMEND THE REGULATION

For the foregoing reasons, the Department concludes that it is appropriate to amend 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented subject to the State Board of Education's approval. On February 20, 2025, the State Board of Education approved amending 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented. Therefore, pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1203, 1205(b), and 1220, 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby amended.

V. TEXT AND CITATION

The text of 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented amended hereby shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and said regulation shall be cited as 14 DE Admin. Code 1572 Teacher of Students Who are Gifted or Talented in the Administrative Code of Regulations for the Department.

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ORDER

The effective date of this Order shall be ten days from the date this Order is published in the Register of Regulations.

IT IS SO ORDERED the 20th day of February, 2025.

Department of Education

Cynthia Marten, Secretary of Education

Approved this 20th day of February, 2025.

State Board of Education

*Please note: Electronic signatures ("/s/") were accepted pursuant to 6 Del.C. §12A-107(d).

1572 Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented

1.1 This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate (Category) pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1220(a).

1.1.1 This Certification The Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate is required for an Educator who is assigned to teach in a program that is specific to students who have been identified as gifted or talented as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 902 in Delaware public schools.

1.1.2 This Certification The Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate is a category Standard Certificate and does not certify an Educator to practice in a particular area or teach a particular subject. A category Standard Certificate only establishes that an Educator has met the prescribed education, knowledge, or skill to instruct a particular category of students. This Certification is limited to the category of Gifted or Talented Students.

1.1.3 An Educator shall hold at least one 1 content area Standard Certificate.

The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:

“15 Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development” means college credits or an equivalent number of hours with one credit equating to 15 hours taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to a degree program from a Regionally Accredited college or university or a professional development provider approved by the Department. College credit means undergraduate or graduate level coursework and continuing education units (CEUs) completed at or through a Regionally Accredited college or university or other Department-approved provider.

“Certification” means the issuance of a Standard Certificate, which may occur regardless of a recipient's assignment or employment status.

“Department” means the Delaware Department of Education.

“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 by the Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term ‘educator’ does not include substitute teachers.

"Employing Authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.

“Gifted or Talented Student” means the same as a “Gifted or Talented Student” as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 902 Gifted or Talented Education Plan.

“Immorality” means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator’s effectiveness by reason of the educator’s unfitness or otherwise.

“License” means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.

“Major or Its Equivalent” means a minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in a particular content area.

"Micro-credential" means evidence-based professional learning activities that are competency-based, personalized, on-demand, and sharable.

"Passing Score" means a minimum score as established by the Standards Board, in consultation with the Department, and with the approval of the State Board of Education.

"Professional Development" means a combination of focused, in-depth learning, practice, feedback, reflection, and expert support experiences designed to change participants' attitudes, insights, and 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.

“Regionally Accredited” means educational accreditation by a regional accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority concerning the quality of education offered by the institutions of higher education it accredits, including Middle States Commission on Higher Education institutional accreditation from an agency that was designated as a regional accreditor before July 1, 2020, and is currently recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable indicator of the institution's educational quality.

“Standard Certificate” means a credential issued to certify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.

“Standards Board” means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to 14 Del.C. §1201.

“Valid and Current License or Certificate” means a current full or permanent certificate or license as an educator issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the educator applicant is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification as an educator in another state or jurisdiction. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state or jurisdiction.

3.1 In accordance with 14 Del.C. §1220(a), the Department shall issue a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate to an applicant who:

3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or a Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003 and meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or

3.1.2 Has met the requirements for licensure an educator's license in Delaware and holds presents proof of a Valid and Current License or Certificate in gifted or talented education or teaching gifted students.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the allegations include but are not limited to conduct such as 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 An applicant shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2.

4.1.1 An applicant shall have satisfied one 1 of the following education requirements:

4.1.1.1 Obtained and currently maintain an Exceptional Needs Specialist certificate in specialty area of gifted and talented education from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

4.1.1.2 Earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university with a Major or Its Equivalent minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework in gifted or talented education, teaching gifted students, or special education with a gifted or talented endorsement or specialization from an educator preparation program approved or recognized by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), (CAEP) or a state where the state approval body employed the appropriate standards; or

4.1.1.3 Satisfactorily completed an alternative routes for licensure or certification program to teach Gifted or Talented Students as provided in 14 Del.C. §§1260 – 1266; or

4.1.1.4 Satisfactorily completed a Department-approved educator preparation program in gifted or talented education; or

4.1.1.5 Earned a bachelor’s degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactorily completed 15 Credits or the Equivalent in Professional Development with a focus in college credits related to gifted or talented education or in students who are gifted or talented in the following areas or an equivalent number of hours in professional development with 1 credit equating to 15 hours taken either as part of a degree program or in addition to a degree program from a Regionally Accredited college or university or a professional development provider approved by the Department:

4.1.1.5.1 Foundations of Giftedness, including Cultural and Socioeconomic Equity (3 credits);

4.1.1.5.2 Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies for Gifted Students (3 credits);

4.1.1.5.3 Psychology of Gifted Students (3 credits);

4.1.1.5.4 Creative and Critical Thinking Skills (3 credits); and

4.1.1.5.5 Practicum or Internship (3 credits).

4.1.1.6 Earned a bachelor's degree from a Regionally Accredited college or university in any content area and satisfactorily completed 3 micro-credentials from the National Association for Gifted Children in gifted education in the following areas:

4.1.1.6.1 Curriculum Compacting;

4.1.1.6.2 Identification; and

4.1.1.6.3 Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students.

4.1.2 The applicant shall have achieved a minimum score of 157 on the Praxis Subject Assessment – Gifted Education (ETS Test Code # 5358) a Passing Score of 157.

5.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with application for an Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the License.

5.2 If the applicant is also applying for the issuance or renewal of an educator's license or paraeducator's permit, the applicant must disclose the applicant's criminal conviction history upon application. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial of the license or permit application as specified in 14 Del.C. §1219 and it could delay the processing or result in the denial of the application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate.

5.2 5.3 The following documentation is required with the application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate:

5.2.1 5.3.1 Evidence of obtaining and maintaining an Exceptional Needs Specialist certificate in specialty area of gifted and talented education from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, if applicable; and

5.2.2 5.3.2 Official transcript from the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.2.2.1 5.3.2.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the applicant’s Employing Authority or Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.2.2.2 5.3.2.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted by the applicant, the applicant’s Employing Authority, or the applicant’s Regionally Accredited college or university.

5.2.2.3 5.3.2.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and

5.2.3 5.3.3 Documents verifying successful completion of Department-approved Professional Development or Micro-credentials, if applicable; and

5.2.4 An experience form, completed in full and signed by the applicant, if applicable; and

5.2.5 5.3.4 Official score on the Praxis Subject Assessment as provided in subsection 4.1.2; and

5.2.6 5.3.5 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

5.3 5.4 For applicants who have met the requirements for licensure as an educator in Delaware and hold a Valid and Current License or Certificate in gifted or talented education or teaching gifted students, the following documentation is required in the application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate:

5.3.1 5.4.1 An official copy of the Valid and Current License or Certificate; and

5.3.2 5.4.2 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

6.1 The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.

6.2 The request shall be approved as provided in subsections 6.2.1 and 6.2.2.

6.2.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.

6.2.2 For charter schools, requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school's board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school's head of school.

6.1 7.1 A Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the Educator’s License remains current and valid.

6.2 7.2 A Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.

7.1 8.1 An Educator’s Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate may be limited, suspended, or revoked for cause as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits.

7.2 8.2 An Educator’s Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate shall be revoked if the Educator's Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Professional Status Certificate is revoked or the Educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the Educator’s application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1222.

7.3 8.3 An Educator whose certificate is noticed for disciplinary action is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with 14 DE Admin. Code 1515 Hearing Procedures and Rules.

The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.

The Department shall recognize a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and Talented Standard Certificate or a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate issued by the Department prior to the effective date of this regulation. An Educator holding such a Standard Certificate shall be considered certified to instruct Gifted or Talented Students.

10.1 All applicants and Educators are required to update their contact information in DEEDS if their contact information changes.

10.2 An Educator who legally changes the Educator's name and wishes to change the name on the Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted or Talented Standard Certificate shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.

10.3 An applicant or Educator whose mailing address, email address, or phone number changes shall provide the Department with the new mailing address, email address, or phone number within 14 calendar days of the change.