1610.1 In addition to the general education requirements, for certification in middle school education, the following shall be required:

1. (a) A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in a major content area representing a broad, adequate background in the subject to be taught; and
2. (b) A minimum of twenty-one (21) semester hours in the professional foundations and instructional knowledge of middle school education that provides theoretical and research knowledge and practical skills in the following:
3. (1) Human growth and development as it relates to the physical, emotional, intellectual, and moral development of the young adolescent;
4. (2) Modeling and incorporating positive skills such as cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control in everyday classroom management and expectations;
5. (3) Creating a positive and caring environment, using a variety of instructional techniques that are developmentally appropriate and that organizes the curriculum to adapt to the learning style of each student;
6. (4) Designing interdisciplinary, developmentally appropriate programs of study within a team framework;
7. (5) Using an issues-oriented curriculum to engage young adolescents in the development of physical and psychological self-knowledge and social interaction;
8. (6) Developing and utilizing assessment strategies aligned with teaching outcomes; and
9. (7) Emphasizing the active involvement of the student in the learning process through hands-on activities;
10. (c) Supervised classroom instruction:
11. (1) Supervised planning, observation and teaching experience preferably at the intermediate (4-6) grade levels or middle school grades (4-8); or
12. (2) A minimum of one (1) year of satisfactory teaching experience in grades K-12.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 28 DCR 3201 (July 17, 1981); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 33 DCR 6542 (October 24, 1986); and by Final Rulemaking published at 40 DCR 6893, 6901-02 (October 1, 1993).