(a) Purpose. — It is the purpose of this program to reduce the number of Delaware public school teachers who do not hold Standard Certification in their area of instruction by enabling and encouraging those teachers to pursue education that will enable them to become fully certified.

(b) Eligibility. — (1) Eligible applicants are Delaware school districts and charter schools.

(2) Eligible teachers meet all of the following criteria:

a. Are full-time employees of a Delaware school district or a charter school.

b. Teach on a temporary, emergency, or limited standard certificate, or a certification of eligibility.

c. Teach in critical need areas as defined by the Department of Education.

(3) Awards will be made on behalf of specific teachers, or if demand exceeds available funding, then allocated among the districts and charter schools on a prorated share of the applicant pool.

(4) Districts and charter schools are authorized to reimburse teachers for all or part of tuition and fees paid for coursework that will enable them to achieve standard certification upon receipt of evidence that the teacher has successfully completed coursework with a grade equivalent of a 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

(c) Benefit. — Districts and charter schools will receive funding to reimburse eligible teachers (those not certified in the critical need area in which they teach) only for tuition and fees for up to 3 credits per term during the regular academic year. Recipients may attend any accredited college, but reimbursement is not to exceed the cost of 3 credits and fees at the highest-cost Delaware public college.

(d) Awards. — (1) If funding permits, districts and charter schools will receive funding sufficient to allow each eligible teacher for whom a request is made to receive full tuition and fee reimbursement, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, for up to 3 credits in each fall and spring semester. Districts and charter schools must verify course completion with a grade equivalent of a 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale before reimbursing tuition.

(2) If funding requests exceed the program’s appropriation, districts and charter schools will be awarded funds in a prorated share of the applicant pool.

73 Del. Laws, c. 188, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 160, §§ 1-7; 77 Del. Laws, c. 431, § 10; 81 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 16.