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Does Delaware require autism training for school staff? What Delaware law asks, and where outside training fits

The short answer

In the Delaware statutes and regulations we reviewed, we found no requirement that all school staff complete autism training. Instead, Delaware law requires the state Department of Education to provide training and technical assistance on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across all public schools. Delaware's restraint rule (14 DE Admin. Code 610, section 4) applies to public school, contracted private-program and alternative-program personnel, but not to school resource officers; it requires annual crisis prevention and intervention training addressing prevention, de-escalation and positive behavioral intervention strategies and supports, and, except as provided in 14 Del. C. § 702, these personnel must complete physical restraint training before physically restraining students. Delaware requires a Behavior Intervention Paraeducator Permit for that role in public schools, subject to the transition periods in sections 15.1 and 15.2 of the permit rule. One qualifying route requires holding or qualifying for a Service Paraeducator Permit and completing 40 clock hours of Department-approved training or equivalent coursework from an accredited college or university in listed areas, including positive behavior support strategies and applied behavior analysis principles.

What we found

On October 29, 2026, we searched Title 14 (Education) of the Delaware Code on the official Delaware Code site (chapters 12, 13 and 17, chapter 31 subchapters I to III, and chapter 41 subchapters I and II) for autism and training, and reviewed the Department of Education's regulations 610 (restraint and seclusion), 1517 (paraeducator permit) and 1511 (continuing teacher license). In those sources, we found no requirement that all school staff complete autism training.

Related training rules for Delaware school staff

The statewide autism program (14 Del. C. § 1332).

"The Department shall provide training and technical assistance across all public schools within this State on behalf of students with an educational classification of autism spectrum disorder."

The section lists how the Department does this, including "providing leadership, training, and technical assistance to educators and related service providers who work with students with an educational classification of ASD." It also requires the Department to employ five training specialists whose duties include "providing training for regular education staff on ASD and evidence-based strategies for inclusion practices." This is a duty on the Department. The section does not require staff to complete a set number of hours.

Restraint training (14 DE Admin. Code 610, section 4.1). Section 4 applies to public school, private program and alternative program personnel; it does not apply to school resource officers, who are governed separately by section 9.0 and 14 Del. C. § 4112F. Except as provided in 14 Del. C. § 702, a student may be physically restrained only by such personnel "who have completed training in physical restraint procedures." Here, "private program" means a non-public school or program contracted by a school district or charter school. Section 4.1.1 states that personnel must receive annual training in crisis prevention and intervention techniques consistent with nationally recognized training programs, and each school or program must provide the required training through its own programs. The regulation also says:

"The training shall address prevention techniques, de-escalation techniques, and positive behavioral intervention strategies and supports"

Our course does not teach restraint, de-escalation or crisis intervention.

Behavior intervention paraeducators (14 DE Admin. Code 1517, section 6.0). "In order to practice as a behavior intervention paraeducator in a Delaware Public School an individual must hold a Behavior Intervention Paraeducator Permit." The Department may issue the permit to an applicant who meets one of four requirements: a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certificate issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, an Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) certificate issued by the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board, proof of at least two years of professional health or human service work (the rule says experience as a paraeducator or a behavior interventionist in a school may not be used), or the following:

"The applicant holds or qualified for a Service Paraeducator Permit and has completed 40 clock hours of Department-approved training or the equivalent in coursework from an accredited college or university in any or a combination of the following areas"

The listed areas are trauma informed practices, positive behavior support strategies, applied behavior analysis principles, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and behavior de-escalation, crisis management and restorative approaches in behavior support.

On timing, section 15.1 gives instructional or service paraeducators working in behavior intervention or similar roles on or before August 1, 2026 until August 1, 2027 to complete the permit requirements, or show evidence of having completed them within the last five years, in order to continue working in behavior intervention. Behavior intervention paraeducators hired after August 1, 2026 have one calendar year from the date they start that work to complete the training.

Renewal hours. A Paraeducator Permit may be renewed for another five-year term if the paraeducator completed 15 clock hours of professional development during the permit's term. A teacher's Continuing License may be renewed for another five-year term if the educator completed 90 clock hours of professional development or professional learning during its term. Neither rule requires autism content.

Source: 14 Del. C. § 1332; 14 DE Admin. Code 610, as amended by the final order in the August 2026 Register; 14 DE Admin. Code 1517; 14 DE Admin. Code 1511.

Where outside training fits

Under the training route in section 6.2.3, an applicant must hold or qualify for a Service Paraeducator Permit and complete 40 clock hours of "Department-approved training" or equivalent coursework from an accredited college or university in the listed areas. We do not claim that our course is Department-approved, counts toward a Behavior Intervention Paraeducator Permit, counts toward permit or license renewal hours, or meets any Delaware requirement. Ask your district, charter school or the Delaware Department of Education how it evaluates outside courses before buying one for a requirement.

What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers

The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. We do not claim Delaware state approval or continuing education credit for this course.

A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."

Two ways to start

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.

See every state's school autism-training rules