DAR File No. 38775

Education, Administration

Section R277-502-5

Professional Education License Areas of Concentration, and Endorsements and Under-Qualified Employees

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 38775
Filed: 08/15/2014 06:16:17 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Section R277-502-5 is amended in response to H.B. 150 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Amendments, from the 2014 General Legislative Session.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments to Section R277-502-5 provide new language that requires a local education agency (LEA) to recognize a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary scale.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 53A-6-104
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The Utah State Board of Education may incur costs estimated at $217,000 associated with a collaborative effort between the STEM Action Center and the Utah State Office of Education to develop a STEM endorsement for elementary and secondary education.

local governments:

The amendments to this rule provide for an LEA to recognize a STEM endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary schedule which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

The amendments to this rule provide for an LEA to recognize a STEM endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary schedule 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 for an LEA to recognize a STEM endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary schedule 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 for an LEA to recognize a STEM endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary schedule 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:

10/01/2014

This rule may become effective on:

10/08/2014

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-502. Educator Licensing and Data Retention.

R277-502-5. Professional Educator License Areas of Concentration, and Endorsements and Under-Qualified Employees.

A. Unless excepted under rules of the Board, to be employed in the public schools in a capacity covered by the following license areas of concentration, a person shall hold a valid license issued by the Board in the respective license areas of concentration:

(1) Early Childhood (K-3);

(2) Elementary (1-8);

(3) Elementary (K-6);

(4) Middle (still valid, and issued before 1988, 5-9);

(5) Secondary (6-12);

(6) Administrative/Supervisory (K-12);

(7) Career and Technical Education;

(8) School Counselor;

(9) School Psychologist;

(10) School Social Worker;

(11) Special Education (K-12);

(12) Preschool Special Education (Birth-Age 5);

(13) Communication Disorders;

(14) Speech-Language Pathologist;

(15) Speech-Language Technician.

B. Under-qualified educators:

(1) Educators who are licensed and hold the appropriate license area of concentration but who are working out of their endorsement area(s) shall request and prepare an SAEP to complete the requirements of an endorsement with a USOE education specialist; or

(2) LEAs may request Letters of Authorization from the Board for educators employed by LEAs if educators have not completed requirements for areas of concentration or endorsements.

(a) An approved Letter of Authorization is valid for one year.

(b) Educators may be approved for no more than three Letters of Authorization throughout their employment in Utah schools. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee may grant [E]exceptions to the three Letters of Authorization limitation[ may be granted by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee] on a case by case basis following specific approval of the request by the LEA governing board. Letters of Authorization approved prior to the 2000-2001 school year shall not be counted in this limit.

(c) [Following the expiration of the Letter of Authorization, the educator who is still not completely approved for licensing shall be considered]If an education employee's Letter of Authorization expires before the individual is approved for licensing, the employee falls into under-qualified status.

C. License areas of concentration may be endorsed to indicate qualification in a subject or content area.

(1) LEAs shall recognize a STEM endorsement as a component of the LEA's salary scale. The USOE shall determine the mathematics-, engineering-, science-, and technology-related courses and experiences necessary for the endorsement.

(2) An endorsement is not valid for employment purposes without a current license and license area of concentration.

 

KEY: professional competency, educator licensing

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [November 7, 2013]2014

Notice of Continuation: August 14, 2012

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-6-104; 53A-1-401(3)