Delaware DEEDS Application Deficiency

What a Deficiency Status Means

When you see a red "Respond to Deficiency" button on your DEEDS dashboard, it means the DDOE has reviewed your application and identified one or more items that are missing, incomplete, or formatted incorrectly. Your application is not denied — it is paused until you resolve the flagged issues.

Once you submit the corrected or missing documentation, the application process continues after DDOE reviews the response.

The Most Common Deficiency Causes

Applicant-submitted transcripts. The single most frequent deficiency trigger. If you uploaded your own transcript or emailed it from a personal address, the DDOE flags it immediately. Transcripts must come directly from the registrar's office via electronic transfer to [email protected] or in a sealed paper envelope mailed by the institution.

Missing Praxis scores. Your scores need to be routed electronically from ETS using Delaware's recipient code R7065. If you forgot to designate Delaware as a score recipient when you registered for the exam, you will need to request an additional score report through your ETS account and allow ETS to process it before DDOE can receive the score.

Incomplete Form E. For out-of-state reciprocity applicants, Form E must be submitted directly by the former school district. If the evaluation attestation section is blank or the form was sent by the applicant, it triggers a deficiency.

Background clearances not yet received. The SBI/FBI fingerprint check and Child Protection Registry clearance are processed by separate agencies. If either result has not reached the DDOE by the time your application is reviewed, a deficiency is flagged. During the summer hiring peak, fingerprint processing can take two to four weeks.

Expired documents. Some documents have shelf lives. A TB test is valid for 12 months from the date of administration. Background clearances also have validity windows. If any supporting document has expired by the time the DDOE reviews your file, you will need to redo it.

How to Resolve a Deficiency

Click the "Respond to Deficiency" button on your DEEDS dashboard. The system will display the specific item or items that need attention. For each deficiency:

1. Read the description carefully. The DDOE specifies exactly what is wrong — missing transcript, wrong submission method, incomplete form section, or missing test scores.
2. Fix the root cause, not just the symptom. If a transcript was rejected because you submitted it yourself, do not resubmit it yourself a second time. Contact your registrar and request direct electronic delivery.
3. Respond through the DEEDS system. Some deficiencies require you to upload a response or note within the dashboard. Others are resolved when the correct document arrives at the DDOE from the external source.
4. Allow processing time. After resolving the deficiency, allow DDOE's usual two-to-four-week review window. During peak months (June through September), processing can extend to six weeks.

Preventing Deficiencies Before They Happen

The most effective strategy is to send all external documents to the DDOE before you submit your DEEDS application. Order transcripts, schedule fingerprinting, register for the Child Protection Registry check, and request Praxis score reports at least three to four weeks before you plan to apply. By the time your application hits the review queue, every supporting document should already be on file.

For a complete document submission checklist with timelines and contact information for each agency, the Delaware Teacher Certification Guide covers the full process so nothing gets missed.

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