DAR File No. 38243
This rule was published in the February 1, 2014, issue (Vol. 2014, No. 3) of the Utah State Bulletin.
Public Education Job Enhancement Program, Job Enhancement Committee
Rule R690-100
Public Education Job Enhancement Program Participant Eligibility and Requirements
Notice of Proposed Rule
(Repeal)
DAR File No.: 38243
Filed: 01/15/2014 05:28:09 AM
RULE ANALYSIS
Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:
Rule R690-100, Public Education Job Enhancement Program Participant Eligibility and Requirements, is being repealed because the statute authorizing the Public Education Job Enhancement Program (PEJEP) Committee was repealed and rulemaking authority was moved from the PEJEP Committee to the Utah State Board of Education (Board). (DAR NOTE: The proposed new rule under Education is Rule R277-528 that is under DAR No. 38242 in this issue, February 1, 2014, of the Bulletin.)
Summary of the rule or change:
Rule R690-100 is repealed in its entirety.
State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:
- Subsection 53A-1-401(3)
- Subsection 53A-1a-601(5)(b)
- Subsection 53A-1a-601(3)(c)
Anticipated cost or savings to:
the state budget:
Repealing this rule in its entirety likely will not result in a costs or savings to the state budget. The Board has created a new rule providing for PEJEP eligibility and requirements.
local governments:
Repealing this rule in its entirety likely will not result in a costs or savings to local government. The Board has created a new rule providing for PEJEP eligibility and requirements.
small businesses:
Repealing this rule in its entirety likely will not result in a costs or savings to small businesses. The Board has created a new rule providing for PEJEP eligibility and requirements.
persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:
Repealing this rule in its entirety likely will not result in a costs or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The Board has created a new rule providing for PEJEP eligibility and requirements.
Compliance costs for affected persons:
Repealing this rule in its entirety likely will not result in any compliance costs. The Board has created a new rule providing for PEJEP eligibility and requirements.
Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:
I have reviewed this rule and there is likely no fiscal impact on businesses.
Martell Menlove, State Superintendent
The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:
Public Education Job Enhancement ProgramJob Enhancement Committee
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84414
Direct questions regarding this rule to:
- Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov
Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:
03/03/2014
This rule may become effective on:
03/10/2014
Authorized by:
Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation
RULE TEXT
[R690. Public Education Job Enhancement Program, Job
Enhancement Committee.
R690-100. Public Education Job Enhancement Program
Participant Eligibility and Requirements.
R690-100-1. Definitions.
A. "Advancement Award/scholarship recipient"
means a scholarship to an educator qualified under Sections
53A-1a-601 (1) and (2) (a) and (b). The scholarship may be used
for:
(1) training in subject areas designated in Section
53A-1a-601(1); and
(2) tuition costs only as designated in Section
53A-1a-601(2)(b) for a master's degree, teaching endorsement,
or approved graduate program including National Board
Certification.
B. "Contract" means a binding agreement signed
and agreed to by the recipient, the PEJEP Committee and USOE
under 53A-1a-602(3)(c); applications are available through the
USOE and online through the USOE website at
www.schools.utah.gov.
C. "Critical areas of educator need" means
secondary school teachers with expertise in mathematics, physics,
chemistry, physical science, learning technology, or information
technology PreK-12 special education teachers, educators seeking
math endorsements in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade with a Level
1 or Level 2 license with an elementary or secondary area of
concentration, and occupational therapists.
D. "Information technology" for purposes of
this rule means courses in information support and services,
interactive media, network systems and programming, and software
development as listed under information technology education in
career and technical education (CTE) on the USOE
website.
E. "Learning technology" for the purpose of
this rule means a degree/endorsement earned to implement use of
technology in classrooms by secondary school teachers in the
critical areas of educator need identified under
R690-100-1C.
F. "Letter of authorization" under Section
53A-la-601(3) means a designation given to an individual pursuing
an alternative license, who has not completed the requirements
for a Level 1, 2, or 3 license or who has not completed necessary
endorsement requirements for the course(s) he teaches, who is
employed by a school district, who has an educator license under
R277-502.
G. "National Board Certification" means the
successful completion of the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards (NBPTS) process, a three-year process, that
may include national content-area assessment, an extensive
portfolio, and assessment of video-taped classroom teaching
experience.
H. "Opportunity Award/signing bonus/cash award
recipient" means a cash award paid in two installments to
qualified educators under 53A-1a-601(2) (c) and (3)(a) and
(b).
I. "Public Education Job Enhancement Program
Committee (PEJEP Committee)" means the committee designated
under Section 53A-la-602.
J. "Public Education Job Enhancement Program
(PEJEP)" means a program authorized under Section
53A-la-601.
K. "Public Education Job Enhancement Program
Executive Committee (PEJEP Executive Committee)" means a
subcommittee of approximately five members of the PEJEP Committee
including the PEJEP Chair and others as selected by the PEJEP
Committee provided for in Section 53A-1a-602.
L. "Special education teacher" means an
educator who teaches at least three classes (or fifty percent of
the school day) of primarily PreK-12 special education students
or whose contract assignment is designated by the district as
SPECIAL EDUCATION. Special education teacher may also mean speech
and language pathologists and psychologists and special education
educators teaching grade 12+ in a high school.
M. "Technology training" for the purpose of
this rule means professional development training to public
school superintendents, administrators, and principals in the
effective use of technology in public schools.
N. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of
Education.
R690-100-2. Authority and Purpose for Opportunity and
Advancement Awards.
A. The rule is authorized under Section 53A-la-602(5)
which requires the PEJEP Committee to make a rule establishing
policies and procedures for:
(1) designating the recipients and offering scholarships
and cash awards from PEJEP funding;
(2) timelines for the submission and approval of
applications;
(3) the distribution of the awards and scholarships;
and
(4) monitoring educator progress and compliance with the
law and this rule.
B. The purpose of this rule is to provide policies and
procedures for participation in the Public Education Job
Enhancement Program.
R690-100-3. PEJEP Committee and Committee Expansion.
A. The PEJEP Committee identified in Section 53A-1a-602
may create subcommittees, including a PEJEP Executive Committee
to increase the PEJEP Committee's effectiveness.
(1) The PEJEP Executive Committee shall be designated by
the PEJEP Committee.
(2) All subcommittee recommendations shall be affirmed by
the PEJEP Committee.
(3) Subcommittee membership and terms shall be determined
by the PEJEP Committee.
B. The PEJEP Committee may add advisory committee members
to inform the PEJEP Committee's decisions. Advisory committee
members may meet regularly with the PEJEP Committee but may not
vote or approve applicants for awards.
C.(1) The Committee may hold electronic meetings
consistent with Section 52-4-207.
(2) Committee members may participate through electronic
means if at least three Committee members are present at an
established anchor location for the meeting.
(3) A quorum may be established that includes members
participating electronically.
(4) Committee members participating through electronic
means may officially vote on motions.
R690-100-4. Opportunity Awards.
A. Timelines for Opportunity Awards
(1) The PEJEP Committee shall provide to all public
school district superintendents and charter schools, by May 14 of
each year, teacher information forms and funds available for
Opportunity Awards consistent with critical areas of educator
need identified under R690-100-1C.
(2) Information forms for awards shall also be available
from the USOE and on-line through the USOE website.
(3) Completed information forms for Opportunity Awards,
including required documentation, shall be due to the USOE from
applying school districts and charter schools by November 1
annually.
(4) Recipients of Opportunity Awards shall receive the
cash award in two installments, with the first initial payment at
the beginning of the four year teaching commitment and the second
installment at the conclusion of four consecutive years of
teaching.
(a) The recipient shall repay a portion of the initial
payment if the recipient fails to complete two years of the
consecutive four year teaching commitment unless waived for good
cause by the PEJEP Committee, designated in Section 53A-1a-602;
and
(b) The recipient shall not receive the second
installment if the recipient fails to complete the consecutive
four year teaching commitment.
(5) The USOE shall receive documentation annually by
October 1 from recipients of Opportunity Awards documenting a
full-time schedule as educators during the previous school
year.
(6) If the recipient desires to decrease his teaching
employment to less than full-time, teach less than 50 percent of
the teacher's course load in the area of the award, or take a
leave of absence at any time, the recipient shall submit a formal
written request to the PEJEP Committee. The PEJEP Committee may
grant or deny permission for the employment change within 30 days
of the request; if permission is denied by the PEJEP Committee,
provisions under 53A-1a-601(1)(c)(ii) shall apply
immediately.
(7) The USOE shall be immediately notified by the
Opportunity Award recipient if the recipient changes employers,
leaves public education, or moves from the state; provisions of
53A-1a-601(1)(c)(ii) shall apply immediately if the recipient
leaves public education or leaves the state.
(8) Opportunity Award recipients shall notify the USOE at
the conclusion of the recipient's consecutive four year
teaching commitment.
(9) The USOE shall make the final Opportunity Award
payment in a timely manner upon notification by the recipient and
documentation of full-time employment during the required four
year period.
B. Award and Funding Requirements for Opportunity
Awards
(1) To be eligible to receive an award under this rule,
an educator shall:
(a) have signed an employment contract with a public
school district or charter school;
(b) be recommended by secondary school principal, school
district superintendent or designee or charter school
director;
(c) be a fully licensed educator in Utah or enrolled in
an alternative educator licensing program in:
(i) pre-K-12+ special education; or
(ii) a secondary education endorsement program (grades
7-12) in critical areas of educator need identified under
R690-100-1C; and
(d) have taught under a letter of authorization for at
least one year in the areas referred to under Section
53A-1a-601(1) and received a superior evaluation as a classroom
teacher.
(2) Licensed teachers newly hired in a school district or
charter school providing instruction to students in any public
classroom setting shall be eligible for an Opportunity
Award.
C. School district/charter school
responsibilities:
(1) An employing school district/charter school shall
notify the USOE if a recipient of an Opportunity Award ends
school district employment.
(2) An employing school district/award recipient shall
notify the USOE if an Opportunity Award recipient has his
teaching assignment changed to less than 50 percent of his
assignment in the area that qualified the teacher for the
award.
(3) An employing school district shall notify the USOE of
any other award or scholarship or special compensation that an
award recipient is receiving, to the best of the employer's
information, from another source.
R690-100-5. Advancement Awards.
A. Timelines for Advancement Awards
(1) Applications for Advancement Awards shall be
available from the USOE and online through the USOE
website.
(2) Educators may apply at any time throughout the year
and may receive an award subject to funds available.
(3) Beginning in June 2008, upon receipt of the
Advancement Award and each semester that recipient receives the
Advancement Award, recipient shall provide documentation to the
USOE that the recipient is enrolled in approved higher education
course(s).
(4) Recipients have four years to complete course work
for a master's degree, teaching endorsement, or approved
graduate program.
(5) Upon completion of the master's degree, teaching
endorsement, or approved graduate program, a recipient shall
notify the USOE and provide an official higher education
transcript or appropriate documentation.
(6) Recipients of the Advancement Awards shall notify the
USOE immediately if they change public education employers, drop
their class loads below 3 credit hours or move from the
state.
(7) If the recipient interrupts employment for any
reason, the recipient shall submit a formal written letter to the
PEJEP Committee explaining the reason for the interruption and
requesting a continuance of the contract.
B. Award and Funding Requirements for Advancement
Awards
To be eligible to receive an award under this rule, an
educator shall:
(1) be approved by the employing principal and the school
district superintendent or designee or a charter school director
and charter school board chair;
(2) be a fully licensed Utah educator or enrolled in a
Utah alternative educator licensing program.
(3) agree to enroll in eligible schools or programs at
the first possible enrollment opportunity following the
award;
(4) use the award only at a Utah public or private
accredited higher education institution; exceptions may be made
by the PEJEP Committee on a case by case basis for compelling
circumstances;
(5) provide documentation to the PEJEP Committee of
acceptance into an approved graduate program, including National
Board Certification, leading to a master's degree or teaching
endorsement in areas identified under R690-100-1C;
(6) not use the award to pay for course work in
counseling or administration.
C. Additional Recipient Requirements for Advancement
Awards; a recipient shall:
(1) complete the program within four years from the date
of initial enrollment.
(2) complete endorsement classes in a timely manner as
approved in the contract with the PEJEP Committee.
(3) successfully complete (2.0 average or better) all
classes for which recipient is reimbursed.
(4) enroll and seek reimbursement only for courses
leading directly to a master's degree, teaching endorsement,
or approved graduate program, for which the award was
made.
(5) show evidence of progress toward master's degree,
teaching endorsement, or approved graduate program, every
semester for which the award is used.
(6) commit to teach in Utah public schools in an area
identified in 53A-1a-601(1) for a period of four consecutive
school years following the completion of the endorsement or
degree for which the award was made.
(7) notify the USOE if a recipient of an Advancement
Award ends school district employment.
(8) notify the USOE if an Advancement Award recipient has
his teaching assignment changed to less than 50 percent of his
assignment in the area that qualified the teacher for the
award.
(9) notify the USOE of any other award or scholarship or
special compensation that an award recipient is receiving, to the
best of the employer's information, from another
source.
(10) be eligible for an Advancement Award if the
recipient provides instruction to students in any public school
setting, including secure facilities with education components
under the control and supervision of the public school
system.
D. Award Priorities for Advancement Awards
(1) Superintendent/principal recommendations
(2) Existing formal qualifications, evaluations, degrees,
certificates, endorsements, licenses of educators in
district/school.
(3) Applicants' discussions of career plans,
educational objectives, and estimated time periods for completion
of course work.
(4) Alignment of applicant career/educational objectives
with intent and express purposes of Section 53A-1a-601.
R690-100-6. Enforcement and Penalty Provisions for Breach of
PEJEP Contract for Opportunity and Advancement Awards.
A. It is the responsibility of award recipients to notify
in writing both the USOE and employing school district, during
the period of the award, of changes in recipient's name,
mailing address, telephone number, or licensing status.
B. If an Opportunity Award or Advancement Award recipient
fails to satisfy the teaching commitment, earn the master's
degree, or teaching endorsement, or complete the approved
graduate program, the recipient may be responsible to repay, as
determined by the PEJEP Committee, the full or a prorated amount
of the cash award or scholarship fund received.
C. The entire amount of the cash award or scholarship may
become due and payable immediately, including interest following
review by the PEJEP Committee for violations of Section
53A-1a-601 or this rule.
D. The recipient may be responsible for any and all
necessary collection costs.
E. Legal action may be taken against recipient as
recommended by the PEJEP Committee and approved by the USOE and
the Utah Attorney General's Office.
F. A recipient may be referred to the Utah Professional
Practices Advisory Committee for possible action against the
recipient's license for willful violations of law or this
rule.
G. Should recipient's license be suspended or revoked
by the Utah State Board of Education, consistent with due process
provided for in state law, the award or scholarship shall be
canceled at the time of license revocation and subject to the
conditions stated in R690-100-5.
H. Exceptions to any provision of the Opportunity or
Advancement Award contracts shall be approved in writing by the
PEJEP Committee.
R690-100-7. Miscellaneous Provisions or Requirements for the
Opportunity and Advancement Awards.
A. In any given school year, a teacher shall not receive
both an Opportunity Award and an Advancement Award and shall not
receive two Opportunity awards concurrently.
B. Recipients of the Opportunity Award and Advancement
Award may not apply for a second award until the consecutive four
year teaching commitment has been fulfilled.
C. Opportunity and Advancement award educators may take
less than a full-time course load in the areas identified in
53A-1a-601(1), if student demand is not sufficient for a
full-time assignment in those subject areas.
D. If the Opportunity or Advancement Award recipient
should die before the conditions or repayment of the award is
satisfied, the entire commitment or balance shall be
waived.
E. The educator shall be teaching in the critical areas
of educator need identified under R690-100-1C,D,and E, to apply
for a PEJEP scholarship toward any learning technology degree,
endorsement, or advanced degree.
F. Advancement Award Recipients taking 9 credit hours
during summer months (forgoing employment during that time) may
receive a $6,000 summer stipend, at the discretion of the PEJEP
Committee; summer stipends shall be prorated for educators in
regulated programs and those recipients may receive $2,000 per 3
credit hours, up to $6,000.
G. Endorsement program recipients may receive only one
summer stipend of $6,000 per 9 credit hours at the discretion of
the PEJEP Committee.
H. Endorsement caps shall be commensurate with increased
tuition costs for the specific endorsement; and
I. Teachers who have their assignment changed which takes
them out of their classroom teaching in the PEJEP content areas,
must submit a petition to the PEJEP Committee for potential
waiver of penalties associated with the change.
J. The consecutive four year teaching commitment may be
met by educators who are promoted, assigned, or advised to change
their teaching assignment and work within the district or state
in a similar role for which the Opportunity Award or Advancement
Award was made, following PEJEP Committee approval.
K. Applicants are not eligible for Advancement Awards if
the individuals are in their last semester of their degree or
endorsement programs or if they have completed their degree,
endorsement, or advanced degree program.
L. The PEJEP Committee has the discretion to accept and
fund applications received after established deadlines provided
that timely applications shall be considered first and all
funding shall be approved and distributed only to the extent of
funds available.
R690-100-8. Provisions or Requirements for the Technology
Training Component of 53A-1a-601(4)(a).
Technology training courses, programs or conferences that
provide professional development for public school
superintendents, administrators and principals in the effective
use of technology in public schools shall be submitted to the
PEJEP Committee by applicants for consideration and approval
under 53a-1A-601(4).
KEY: scholarships, awards, educators
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: November
23, 2009
Notice of Continuation: December 14, 2011
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:
53A-1a-602(5)]
Additional Information
More information about a Notice of Proposed Rule is available online.
The Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the Bulletin is the official version. The PDF version of this issue is available at https://rules.utah.gov/publicat/bull-pdf/2014/b20140201.pdf. The HTML edition of the Bulletin is a convenience copy. Any discrepancy between the PDF version and HTML version is resolved in favor of the PDF version.
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For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov.