DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Professional Standards Board
Content
This regulation provides the qualifications and training required for an individual to be issued and to renew a Long-Term Substitute Permit pursuant to 14 Del.C. §§1204(a) and 1216A(a)(1) .
Definitions
The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:
" Department " means the Delaware Department of Education.
" Employing authority " means any entity which employs long-term substitute teachers, and includes school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.
" Permit " means a document issued by the Delaware Department of Education that verifies an individual’s qualifications and training to serve as a long-term substitute.
" Secretary " means the Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education.
" Standards Board " means the Professional Standards Board pursuant to 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 .
" Long-term substitute " means as it is defined in 14 Del.C. §1202 (10) and as it is used in 14 Del.C. §1205(b) . Long-term substitutes are not "educators" within the meaning of 14 Del.C. §1202 (6).
Individuals Required to Have a Long-Term Substitute Permit
Individuals are required to have a Long-Term Substitute Permit when employed, either full time or part time, in long-term substitute teacher, long-term substitute specialist, or long-term substitute paraeducator positions in Delaware public schools unless:
The individual holds a valid and current educator license and certificates under 14 Del.C. Ch. 12 : or
The individual is otherwise licensed or permitted under Title 24 of the Delaware Code as provided in 14 Del.C. §1202 ; or
The individual works for less than 12 consecutive weeks in 1 public school. Consecutive weeks means working or anticipating working each student contact day during a consecutive period and will only be counted when a long-term substitute is either employed full time by a school district or charter school or if a long-term substitute is hired to fill a position that is projected to last at least 12 week.
Requirements for Issuance of a Long-Term Substitute Permit
The Department will not process an initial or renewal application for a Long-Term Substitute Permit:
Until the applicant has submitted all the required documentation. If the applicant fails to submit all the required documentation within 90 days of the initial submission the Department may close the application taking no further action.
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 may issue a Long-Term Substitute Permit to an applicant who has satisfied at least 1 of the following requirements provided the applicant has not engaged in conduct in violation of 14 Del.C. §1218(a) or (b) ;
The applicant earned a high school diploma, the equivalent of a high school diploma approved by a state, or a secondary credential approved by a state; or
The applicant earned an associate’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
Application Requirements
Applicants for an initial Long-Term Substitute Permit are required to provide the following for the Department to consider the Long-Term Substitute Permit complete:
A completed initial application; and
Disclosure of the applicant’s criminal conviction history; and
Official transcripts from the highest level of education the applicant has completed that satisfies 1 of the requirements provided in subsections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2 of this regulation.
The Department will accept: electronic transcripts submitted by the employing authority or by the applicant’s secondary institution or sealed paper transcripts.
The Department will not accept copies of transcripts.
Additional documentation as required by the Department.
Applicants for a renewal of a Long-Term Substitute Permit are required to provide the following for the Department to consider the Long-Term Substitute Permit complete:
A completed renewal application; and
Disclosure of the applicant’s criminal conviction history; and
Additional documentation as required by the Department
Validity of a Long-Term Substitute Permit
For an applicant who applied for and met the requirements of the Long-Term Substitute Permit the Long-Term Substitute Permit is issued for a period of 5 years and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods.
Disciplinary Action
A long-term substitute’s Long-Term Substitute Permit may be revoked, suspended, or limited for cause as provided in 14 DE Admin. Code 1514 Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits.
A long-term substitute’s Long-Term Substitute Permit shall be revoked if the long-term substitute made a materially false or misleading statement in the long-term substitute’s application in accordance with 14 Del.C. §1218 .
A long-term substitute whose Long-Term Substitute Permit 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.
Contact Information and Change of Name or Address
All applicants and long-term substitutes are required to update their contact information in Delaware Educator Data System (DEEDS) if their contact information changes.
A long-term substitute who legally changes the long-term substitute’s name and wishes to change the name on the Long-Term Substitute Permit shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.
An applicant or long-term substitute 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.
Effective Date
The effective date of this regulation shall be August 1, 2026.
29 DE Reg. 777 (03/01/26)