DAR File No. 40886

Education, Administration

Rule R277-511

Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) Level 1 License

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 40886
Filed: 10/14/2016 02:42:05 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Rule R277-511 is amended in response a Utah State Board of Education directive to provide additional requirements that had not been included in the rule when it was made effective on 08/12/2016.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments require an APT level 1 license holder to complete all the required mentoring years with the same local education agency (LEA) before the LEA may recommend the license holder qualify for a level 2 license, change the definition of "master teacher", and require an LEA that hires an APT level 1 educator to prepare a comprehensive mentoring plan for each APT level 1 educator.

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:

The amendments to Rule R277-511 provide language that clarifies LEA requirements when employing a level 1 license holder, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

The amendments to Rule R277-511 provide language that clarifies LEA requirements when employing a level 1 license holder, which likely will not result in a cost or savings to local government.

small businesses:

The amendments to Rule R277-511 provide language that clarifies LEA requirements when employing a level 1 license holder, 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 Rule R277-511 provide language that clarifies LEA requirements when employing a level 1 license holder, 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 Rule R277-511 provide language that clarifies LEA requirements when employing a level 1 license holder, 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 the amendments to this rule.

Sydnee Dickson, 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:

12/01/2016

This rule may become effective on:

12/08/2016

Authorized by:

Angela Stallings, Deputy 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]7.

[(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.]

(3) "Teacher leader" means a teacher designated as a teacher leader as described in R277-513.

 

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 leader 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[.];

(3) prepare a mentoring plan for each APT Level 1 license holder; and

(4) provide an APT Level 1 license holder's mentoring plan to the Superintendent upon request.

 

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 in one LEA under supervision of the[ master] teacher leader mentor and LEA administrator; or

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

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

(c) complete the requirements of the APT Level 1 license holder's mentoring plan;

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

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

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

([f]g) obtain a recommendation from[:

(i) the master teacher mentor; and

(ii)] the LEA administrator; and

([g]h) 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 or Last Substantive Amendment: [ August 12, ]2016

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