DAR File No. 40509

Education, Administration

Rule R277-511

Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) Level 1 License

Notice of Proposed Rule

(New Rule)

DAR File No.: 40509
Filed: 06/15/2016 08:23:52 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This new rule provides a new Academic Pathway to Teaching for an applicant to obtain a Level 1 and Level 2 educator license.

Summary of the rule or change:

Rule R277-511 provides definitions, superintendent responsibilities and requirements for an applicant to obtain an educator license, and for a local education agency (LEA) to employ an APT license holder.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Art X, Sec 3
• Section 53A-1-401
• Section 53A-6-104

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This new rule provides an additional process for an individual to obtain an educator license, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

This new rule provides an additional process for an individual to obtain an educator license, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

This new rule provides an additional process for an individual to obtain an educator license, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to small businesses.

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

This new rule provides an additional process for an individual to obtain an educator license, 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:

This new rule provides an additional process for an individual to obtain an educator license, 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:

To the best of my knowledge, there should be no fiscal impact on businesses resulting from enactment of this new rule.

Sydnee Dickson, Interim State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:

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

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Angela Stallings at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7656, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at angie.stallings@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:

08/01/2016

This rule may become effective on:

08/08/2016

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Associate Superintendent, Policy and Communication

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-511. Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) Level 1 License.

R277-511-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) This rule is authorized by:

(a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board;

(b) Section 53A-6-104, which allows the board by rule, to rank, endorse, or otherwise to:

(i) classify licenses; and

(ii) establish the criteria for an educator to obtain or retain a license; and

(c) Section 53A-1-401, which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law.

(2) The purpose of this rule is to provide standards and procedures:

(a) for an applicant to obtain an Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) level 1 license; and

(b) for an APT level 1 license holder to obtain a level 2 license.

 

R277-511-2. Definitions.

(1)(a) "APT level 1 license" means a license obtained through the academic path to teaching process as described in this rule.

(b) "APT level 1 license" includes:

(i) an APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration; and

(ii) an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement.

(2) "LEA administrator" means a school building principal or LEA administrator who:

(i) supervises an APT level 1 licensee; and

(ii) may recommend the APT level 1 licensee for Level 2 licensure to the Superintendent as described in Section R277-511-6.

(3) "Master teacher" means a level 2 or level 3 licensed teacher designated as a master teacher by an LEA through the demonstration of consistent leadership, focused collaboration, distinguished teaching, and continued professional growth.

 

R277-511-3. Superintendent Responsibilities.

(1) The Superintendent shall create an application for an APT level 1 license and publish the application on the Board's website.

(2) The Superintendent shall approve an application for an APT level 1 license if the applicant meets all of the requirements of Section R277-511-4 or Section R277-511-5.

 

R277-511-4. Requirements for an APT Level 1 License with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration.

(1) To qualify for an APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration, an applicant shall:

(a) complete the application described in Subsection R277-511-3(1);

(b) have completed a bachelor's degree or higher;

(c) submit postsecondary transcripts to the Superintendent;

(d) receive a passing score on the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Praxis Assessment;

(e) complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;

(f) successfully pass a background check as described in R277-516; and

(g) pay the applicable licensing fee.

(2) An APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration is:

(a) equivalent to the Level 1 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations; and

(b) subject to the same renewal procedures.

 

R277-511-5. Requirements for an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement.

(1) To qualify for an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement, an applicant shall:

(a) complete the application described in Subsection R277-511-3(1);

(b) have completed a bachelor's degree or higher;

(c) submit postsecondary transcripts to the Superintendent;

(d) receive a passing score on one of the following that is related to the subject, field, or area to which they are seeking an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement:

(i) a Praxis II Subject Assessment; or

(ii) another Board-approved content knowledge assessment;

(e) complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;

(f) successfully pass a background check as described in R277-516; and

(g) pay the applicable licensing fee.

(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement is:

(a) equivalent to the Level 1 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations; and

(b) subject to the same renewal procedures.

(3) An APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement holder may only seek an additional endorsement after the APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration holder obtains a level 2 license.

 

R277-511-6. Requirements for an LEA that Employs an APT Level 1 License Holder.

If an LEA employs an APT level 1 license holder, the LEA shall:

(1) assign a master teacher to serve as a mentor to the APT level 1 license holder; and

(2) prepare the APT level 1 license holder to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in R277-530-5.

 

R277-511-7. Requirements for an APT Level 1 License Holder to Gain a Level 2 License.

(1) To receive a Level 2 license, an APT level 1 license holder shall:

(a)(i) complete three years of teaching full-time under supervision of the master teacher mentor and LEA administrator; or

(ii) complete four years of at least 0.4 FTE teaching under the supervision of a master teacher mentor and the LEA administrator;

(b) satisfy all Entry Years Enhancement for Quality Teaching requirements designated in R277-522;

(c) complete any additional requirements of the recommending LEA, including coursework and professional learning that the recommending LEA requires;

(d) complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;

(e) renew the educator's background check as required in R277-516; and

(f) obtain a recommendation from:

(i) the master teacher mentor; and

(ii) the LEA administrator; and

(g) pay applicable licensing fees.

(2)(a) An APT level 1 license holder seeking a level 2 license may request a one year extension of the APT level 1 license at the recommendation of the master teacher mentor and the LEA Administrator up to a maximum of two one-year extensions.

(b) Unless required by the recommending LEA, the years of teaching in Subsection (1)(a) do not need to be consecutive.

 

KEY: Academic Pathway to Teaching, educator licensure

Date of Enactment of Last Substantive Amendment: 2016

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