DAR File No. 38435

Education, Administration

Section R277-503-4

Licensing Routes

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 38435
Filed: 04/15/2014 03:29:01 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Section R277-503-4 is amended to provide eligibility criteria for acceptance of individuals into the Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL) Program.

Summary of the rule or change:

Amendments to Section R277-503-4 provide language defining the role of the teacher and criteria that an individual must meet to be accepted into the ARL Program.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-402(1)(a)
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The amendments to this rule provide eligibility criteria for acceptance of individuals into the ARL Program which likely will not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

The amendments to this rule provide eligibility criteria for acceptance of individuals into the ARL Program which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

The amendments to this rule provide eligibility criteria for acceptance of individuals into the ARL Program which likely will not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

The amendments to this rule provide eligibility criteria for acceptance of individuals into the ARL Program which likely will not result in a cost or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The amendments to this rule provide eligibility criteria for applicants to be accepted into the ARL Program which likely will not result in any compliance costs for affected persons.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I believe that 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:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

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:

06/02/2014

This rule may become effective on:

06/09/2014

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-503. Licensing Routes.

R277-503-4. Licensing Routes.

Applicants who seek Utah educator licenses shall successfully complete accredited programs or legislatively mandated programs consistent with this rule.

A. Institution of higher education teacher preparation programs shall be:

(1) Nationally accredited by:

(a) CAEP; or

(b) NCATE; or

(c) TEAC; and

(2) As of January 1, 2012, approved by USOE to recommend for licensure in the license area or endorsements or both in designated areas.

B. An applicant that meets the eligibility requirements in R277-503-3B and is assigned to teach exclusively in an online setting shall be eligible to begin the ARL program but upon completion of the ARL program shall earn a license area of concentration that is restricted to providing instruction in an online setting.

C. USOE Alternative Routes to Licensure (ARL)

(1) To be eligible to begin the ARL program, an applicant for a school position requiring an elementary license area of concentration shall have a bachelors degree and at least 27 semester hours of applicable content courses distributed among elementary curriculum areas. Elementary curriculum areas are provided under R277-700-4.

(2) To be eligible to begin the ARL program, applicants for school positions requiring a secondary license area of concentration shall hold at least a bachelors degree and:

(a) a degree major or major equivalent directly related to the assignment; or

(b) have completed all Board-designated content coursework required for the relevant endorsement.

(3) To be eligible to begin the ARL program, applicants for CTE school positions that do not meet the requirements in R277-503-4C(2) shall meet the requirements for a CTE license area of concentration as provided in R277-518.

(4) To be eligible for acceptance in the ARL program, an applicant shall be employed in a position at a Utah public or accredited private school where the applicant:

(a) receives a teaching assignment where the applicant has primary instruction responsibility for the assigned students;

(b) is designated the teacher of record for assigned courses for all school accountability and educator evaluation purposes;

(c) is responsible for the instructional planning of the courses including developing, adapting, and implementing the curriculum to meet student needs;

(d) analyzes and assesses student progress and adjusts instruction, materials, and delivery strategies to meet the students' needs;

(e) has final responsibility for determining student grades and credit for the courses taught by the applicant; and

(f) is assigned in:

(i) a 7-12 secondary setting and employed at least 0.5 FTE in the applicant's eligible content areas; or

(ii) a K-6 elementary setting and employed at least 0.5 FTE and is responsible to teach language arts and reading, mathematics, science, and social studies or is employed in a state-sponsored dual immersion program; and

(g) shall be formally evaluated twice each school year consistent with R277-531, Public Educator Evaluation Requirements (PEER).

([4]5) Licensing by Agreement

(a) An individual employed by an LEA shall satisfy the minimum requirements of R277-503-3 as a teacher with appropriate skills, training or ability for an identified licensed teaching position in the district.

(b) An applicant shall obtain an ARL application for licensing from the USOE or USOE web site.

(c) After evaluation of candidate transcript(s) and rigorous Board-designated content test score, the USOE ARL advisors and the candidate shall determine the specific content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge required of the license applicant to satisfy the requirements for licensing.

(d) The USOE ARL advisors may identify institution of higher education courses, district sponsored coursework, Board-approved professional development, or Board-approved competency tests to prepare or indicate content, content-specific, and developmentally-appropriate pedagogical knowledge required for licensing.

(e) An applicant who has been employed as an educator under a competency-based license or as a full-time instructional paraeducator may offer that experience in lieu of one or more pedagogy courses as follows:

(i) The applicant has had at least three years of experience as an educator or paraeducator;

(ii) The applicant's experience has been successful based on documentation from the LEA; and

(iii) The USOE and employing LEA has approved the applicant's experience in lieu of pedagogy course(s).

(f) The employing LEA shall assign a trained mentor to work with the applicant for licensing by agreement.

(g) The LEA shall supervise and assess the license applicant's classroom performance [during]for a minimum of one school year if the applicant teaches full-time or a minimum of two school years if the applicant teaches part-time[employment experience]. The LEA may request assistance from an institution of higher education or the USOE in[ the] monitoring and assess[ment]ing the applicant.

(h) The LEA shall assess the license applicant's disposition as a teacher following a minimum one school year full-time teaching experience. The LEA may request assistance in this assessment; and

(i) The USOE ARL advisors shall annually review and evaluate the license applicant following training, assessments or course work, and the full-time teaching experience and evaluation by the LEA.

(j) Consistent with evidence and documentation received, the USOE ARL advisor may recommend the license applicant to the Board for a Level 1 educator license.

([5]6) USOE Licensing by Competency

(a) An LEA employs an individual as a teacher with appropriate skills, training or ability for an identified licensed teaching position in the LEA who satisfies the minimum requirements of R277-503-3.

(b) An employing LEA, in consultation with the applicant and the USOE, shall identify Board-approved content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge examinations. The applicant shall pass designated examinations demonstrating the applicant's adequate preparation and readiness for licensing.

(c) The employing LEA shall assign a trained mentor to work with the applicant for licensing by competency.

(d) The LEA shall monitor and assess the license applicant's classroom performance during a minimum one-year full-time or two-year part-time teaching experience.

(e) The LEA shall assess the license applicant's disposition for teaching following a minimum one-year full-time teaching experience.

(f) The LEA may request assistance in the monitoring or assessment of a license applicant's classroom performance or disposition for teaching.

(g) Following the one-year training period, the LEA and USOE shall verify all aspects of preparation (content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, classroom performance skills, and disposition for teaching) to the USOE.

(h) If all evidence/documentation is complete and satisfactory, the USOE shall recommend the applicant for a Level 1 educator license.

([6]7) USOE ARL candidates under R277-503-4C(4) shall be issued an ARL license or license area as appropriate that is presumed to expire at the end of the school year.

([7]8) The ARL license may be extended annually for two subsequent school years with documentation of progress in the ARL program.

([8]9) Documentation shall include, specifically, a copy of the supervisor's successful end-of-year evaluation, copies of transcripts and test results or both showing completion of required coursework, verification of working with a trained mentor, and satisfaction of the full-time full year experience.

D. LEA specific competency-based licenses:

(1) An LEA may apply to the Board for a Level 1 competency-based license to fill a position in the LEA. The application shall demonstrate that other licensing routes for the applicant are untenable or unreasonable.

(2) The employing LEA shall request a Level 1 competency-based license no later than 60 days after the date of the individual's first day of employment.

(3) The application for the Level 1 competency-based license from the LEA for an individual to teach one or more core academic subjects shall provide documentation of:

(a) the individual's bachelors degree; and

(b) for a K-6 grade teacher, the satisfactory results of the rigorous state test including subject knowledge and teaching skills in the required core academic subjects under Section 53A-6-104.5(3)(ii) as approved by the Board; or

(c) for the teacher in grades 7-12, demonstration of a high level of competency in each of the core academic subjects in which the teacher teaches by passing the rigorous state core academic subject test required under R277-503-3E, in each of the core academic subjects in which the teacher teaches at the USOE established passing score.

(4) The application for the Level 1 competency-based license from the LEA for non-core teachers in grades K-12 shall provide documentation of:

(a) a bachelors degree, associates degree or skill certification; and

(b) skills, talents or abilities specific to the teaching assignment, as determined by the LEA.

(5) Following receipt of documentation and consistent with Section 53A-6-104.5(2), the USOE shall approve a Level 1 competency-based license.

(6) If an individual with a Level 1 competency-based license leaves the LEA before the end of the employment period, the LEA shall notify the USOE Licensing Section regarding the end-of-employment date.

(7) The individual's Level 1 competency-based license shall be valid only in the LEA that originally requested the competency-based license.

(8) The written copy of the Level 1 competency-based license shall prominently state the name of the LEA followed by LEVEL 1 - LEA SPECIFIC - COMPETENCY-BASED LICENSE.

(9) An LEA may change the assignment of a competency-based license holder; notice to USOE shall be required and additional competency-based documentation may be required for the teacher to remain qualified.

(10) A Level 1 competency-based license is equivalent to the Level 1 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations and subject to the same renewal procedures except that an individual may renew a Level 1 competency-based license despite the limitations of R277-504-3D.

(11) A Level 2 competency-based license may be issued to a Level 1 competency-based license holder if that individual successfully completes the Entry years Enhancement program as detailed in R277-522.

(12) A Level 2 competency-based license is equivalent to the Level 2 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations.

(13) A Level 3 competency-based license may be issued to a Level 2 competency-based license holder if that individual holds a doctorate in education or in a field related to a content unit of the public education system from an accredited institution.

(14) A Level 3 competency-based license is equivalent to the Level 3 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations.

(15) If an individual holds a Utah license, the application shall be subject to additional USOE review based upon the following criteria:

(a) license level;

(b) current license status;

(c) area of concentration and endorsements on Utah license; and

(d) circumstances justifying the LEA specific license.

(16) If the application is not approved based on a USOE review of the criteria provided in R277-503-4C(11), appropriate licensure procedures shall be recommended to the requesting LEA. The applicant may be required to renew an expired license, apply for an endorsement, pass appropriate Board approved tests consistent with R277-503-3C, obtain an additional area of concentration, apply to Alternative Route to Licensure, or satisfy other reasonable standards.

 

KEY: teachers, alternative licensing

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [March 10, ]2014

Notice of Continuation: March 15, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-402(1)(a); 53A-1-401(3)