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LAWS OF DELAWARE
VOLUME 84
CHAPTER 151
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 163
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 § 1201, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1210. Tier One — Initial licensure [For application of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 43, § 5].
(a) An initial license is valid for 4 years unless revoked. The Department shall issue an initial license under this section if an applicant demonstrates that the applicant received a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited 4-year college or university, has achieved a passing score on a content-readiness exam, and has either completed a student teaching program or meets any 1 of the following alternatives to student teaching:
(1) One year of teaching experience consisting of a minimum of 91 days of long-term teaching experience in 1 assignment or in no more than 2 assignments, excluding early childhood and elementary education, or 3 years of substitute teaching experience consisting of 91 days per year in multiple assignments under § 1716G of this title. Experience in an alternative routes for teacher licensure and certification program or the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification Program may not be used to meet this alternative.
(3) The applicant is enrolled and participating in the Special Institute for Teacher Licensure and Certification under subchapter V of Chapter 12 of this title. [Repealed.]
(b) [Repealed.]
(c) (b) (1) If an initial licensee intends to apply for a continuing license, the licensee shall, before the expiration of that initial license, complete professional development and mentoring activities required by rules and regulations promulgated and adopted under this chapter. Such professional development and mentoring activities must include a focus on the acquisition of pedagogical knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to meet the needs of the educator’s students.
(d) (c) Under the rules and regulations promulgated and adopted under this chapter, the Department may issue an initial license to an applicant with less than 4 years of experience as an educator who is licensed as an educator in another jurisdiction or to an applicant who previously held a valid Delaware license that has since expired. An applicant issued an initial license under this subsection must complete all requirements under subsection (c) (b) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, “educator” means a person licensed in another jurisdiction to engage in the practice of instruction, administration, or other related professional support services in public schools or a person who was an educator as defined in § 1202 of this title and previously held a valid Delaware license that has since expired.
(e) (d) An initial license must not be renewed. It may, however, be extended under § 1216 of this title.
(f) (e) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (c), and (d) (a) and (c) of this section, an initial license may be issued for a period of up to 6 years for applicants in a vocational trade and industry (“skilled and technical sciences” or “STS”) area to complete specified college-level coursework required for certification.
(f) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, an initial license may be issued for an applicant who is certified by the United States Department of Defense as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Core Instructor. An initial license issued under this subsection is valid for up to 4 years unless it is revoked. An applicant who is issued an initial license under this subsection must complete all requirements under subsection (b) of this section.
(g) [Repealed.]
(h) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c) of this section, the Department shall issue an initial license to an applicant who meets the criteria for meritorious new teacher candidate designation adopted under § 1203 of this title. The applicant issued an initial license under this subsection and who intends to apply for a continuing license must complete all requirements of subsection (c) of this section. [Repealed.]
(i), (j) [Repealed.]
(k) (g) The Standards Board shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section.
Section 2. Amend § 1211, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 1211. Tier Two — Continuing licensure.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Department may issue a continuing license to an applicant who is certified by the United States Department of Defense as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Core Instructor, completes at least 4 years working as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Core Instructor in a school, and applies for a continuing license before July 1, 2024.
Approved August 9, 2023