HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 332

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TEACHER ACADEMIES.

WHEREAS, Delaware has made significant improvements to strengthen the student to educator pipeline in recent years, including establishing teacher apprenticeships, year-long teacher residencies, and a Grow Your Own program; and

WHEREAS, While Delaware continues to strengthen its educator pipeline and retention efforts, Delaware is still facing an educator shortage; and

WHEREAS, High school teacher academies provide aspiring educators with opportunities to earn college credits, participate in work-based learning programs, and to connect with educator preparation programs; and

WHEREAS, Strengthening and expanding teacher academies throughout the State will create a robust pipeline of Delaware teachers and significantly decrease the educator shortage facing the State.

NOW, THEREFORE:

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

Section 1. Amend Part I, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 47. TEACHER ACADEMIES

§ 4701. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Career and Technical Education program of study” means programs established by the Department of Education that provide students with rigorous academic content, relevant technical knowledge and skills, and leadership development or provide students with the opportunity to participate in work-based learning and to earn a recognized postsecondary credential as well as advanced postsecondary credit or standing.

(2) “Local education agency” means a traditional school district, vocational-technical school district, or charter school, legally constituted and established under Delaware law for either administrative control or the direction of public elementary or secondary schools.

(3) “Teacher academy” means a Career and Technical Education program of study offered in public schools, including charter and vocational-technical schools, that prepares students for careers in elementary and secondary education.

§ 4702. Teacher academies.

(a) The Department of Education shall update and revise statewide standards and guidelines that apply to all teacher academies throughout the State. By the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, local education agencies that offer teacher academies must submit teacher academy curriculum to the Department for approval. The Department may develop an application that local education agencies must use when seeking approval for new teacher academies.

(b) The Department shall provide technical assistance to local education agencies to develop articulation agreements with postsecondary educator preparation programs, including the Delaware Educator Apprenticeship Program and the Grow Your Own Educator Programs under this title.

(c) Any local education agency offering teacher academies shall offer value added credits to students after they complete the credits required by the program of study. “Value added credits” includes dual enrollment classes, work-based learning experiences, and preparation for certification assessments.

(d) Any local education agency offering teacher academies shall offer a work-based learning immersion option for students to gain additional hands-on experience in classrooms and other educational environments.

(e) The Department shall offer technical support to local education agencies that seek to create, modify, or expand a teacher academy program. Technical support shall include a model curriculum to assist local education agencies in developing state-approved teacher academies.

(f) The Department shall provide written information about the teacher academy programs on a website that is readily available and shared with students in 8 ^th grade throughout the State. The Department shall also provide annual information sessions, in person or virtually, to promote student enrollment in teacher academies.

(g) The Department of Education may adopt regulations to implement this chapter.

(h) The Department of Education shall publish an annual report with the following information relating to teacher academy participants.

(1) The number of participants statewide in the teacher academy program.

(2) The institutions or programs that participants transition into after they have completed the program, including the number of students in each institution or program.

(3) A summary of each teacher academy in the State and the number of students in each program. The summary shall include:

a. The programs offered to students who have completed their third year of the program and wish to pursue further teacher preparation for a fourth year.

b. The number of students from each teacher academy who transition to a program or institute of higher learning to pursue a teaching certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in the field of education.

c. The number of teacher mentors and the number of students each mentor is assigned.

d. The number of participants issued state scholarships for aspiring educators.

Section 2. This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented the earlier of the following:

(1) Six months from the date of the Act’s enactment.

(2) Notice by the Secretary of Education published in the Register of Regulations that final regulations to implement this Act have been adopted.

SYNOPSIS

This Act codifies the teacher academy pathways program that prepares students for careers in elementary and secondary education. Among other things, it requires the DOE to update and revise statewide standards and guidelines for teacher academies and provide technical assistance to local education agencies to meet those standards and guidelines. This Act further requires that teacher academies offer (1) value-added credits to students who have completed the credits required by the initial program of study; and (2) work-based immersion options. Finally, the DOE must publish an annual report summarizing each teacher academy program in the State, including the number of participants in the program and the number of participants who successfully transition to a program or institute of higher learning in the field of education.