DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 126

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE BASIC SALARY SCHEDULE FOR TEACHERS, NURSES, PRINCIPALS, SUPERINTENDENTS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES.

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

Section 1. Amend § 1305, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1305. Basic salary schedule for teachers, nurses, principals, superintendents, and other administrative and supervisory employees.

(r) [Repealed]. A school-based speech-language pathologist who has achieved and holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and who holds a current state license to practice from the Delaware Board of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers, shall receive a base salary level of Masters Plus 30 credits. A school-based speech-language pathologist who has completed additional course work separate from the speech-language pathologist’s master’s degree may apply for rightward movement on the indexed schedule under subsection (a) of this section. A school-based speech-language pathologist who, as of [the effective date of this subsection (r)], has a master’s degree, a current state license to practice, and has worked full-time as a speech-language pathologist for 20 or more years but who does not have a Certificate of Clinical Competence, shall receive a base salary level of Masters Plus 30 credits and may apply for rightward movement on the indexed schedule under subsection (a) of this section.

(s) A school-based audiologist who holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, a current state license to practice from the Delaware Board of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers, but who does not hold a doctorate of audiology shall receive the higher of either a base salary level of Masters Plus 30 credits or the audiologist’s current pay grade. A school-based audiologist who holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, a current state license to practice from the Delaware Board of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers, and who holds a doctorate of audiology shall receive a base salary level of Doctor’s Degree. A school-based audiologist who has completed additional course work separate from the audiologist’s master’s degree may apply for rightward movement on the indexed scale under subsection (a) of this section. A school-based audiologist who, as of [the effective date of this subsection (s)], has a master’s degree, a current state license to practice, and has worked full-time as an audiologist for 20 or more years but who does not have a Certificate of Clinical Competence, shall receive a base salary level of Masters Plus 30 credits and may apply for rightward movement on the indexed scale under subsection (a) of this section.

SYNOPSIS

This Act provides school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists who hold a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology, (“CCC-SLP”) or audiology (“CCC-A”), issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and who hold a current state license to practice from the Delaware Board of Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Hearing Aid Dispensers with a base salary level of Master’s Plus 30 credits. Professionals who have a CCC-SLP or CCC-A ASHA certification have met the following rigorous academic and professional standards:

1. Successful completion of requisite academic courses by an accredited program.

2. Successful completion of supervised clinical practicum experiences in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.

3. Successful completion/passing score on the National Praxis Exam in speech-language pathology or audiology.

4. Successful completion of a Clinical Fellowship.

This Act allows speech language pathologists and audiologists who have completed the course work required by state guidelines to apply for an additional 15 credits to move to the Master’s Plus 45 level.

This Act contains a grandfather clause that allows school-based speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Delaware who have a master’s degree, a current license, and have worked as a speech-language pathologist for 20 or more years but do not have Certificate of Clinical Competence to, be granted the equivalent pay grade of Master’s Plus 30 with the same additional coursework criteria for moving to Master’s Plus 45 level.

Author: Senator Lopez