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Approval Date: February 11, 2020

DAB- Educator Licensing Requirements

Purpose

The Board of Education is committed to compliance with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) rules outlining requirements and procedures for obtaining educator licenses required for employment as a licensed educator.

The Board of Education also supports the license structure of an LEA-specific educator license to allow local districts to determine specific license areas of concentration and endorsement in accordance with R277-301 (7).

The Board of Education is committed to the importance of content knowledge and pedagogical requirements for licensed educators, including required criminal background checks and ethics review.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent and District Administration to establish administrative regulations consistent with this policy, subject to review and approval by the Board.

USBE Board Rule R277-301 (7)

Definitions

Associate Educator License (USBE): An individual completing the requirements to receive a Professional License, e.g. intern, enrolled in a university program, CTE, Non-traditional Path. An educator license, license area, or endorsement that is valid for two years. The requirements of an associate educator license are outlined in R277-301-4.

The general requirements include:

• Completion of a criminal background check;
• Completion of an ethics review within one calendar year of application; and
• One of the following:
  • a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution;
  • current enrollment in a university board-approved educator program that will result in a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution; or
  • skill certification in a specific CTE area.

An educator with an associate educator license may upgrade to a professional educator license at any time prior to expiration of the associate educator license if the educator meets all the requirements of R277-301-5.

Professional Educator License (USBE): An individual who has demonstrated all of the State established competencies to be an educator. An educator license, license area, or endorsement that is valid for five (5) years. The requirements for a professional educator license are outlined in R277-301-5.

The general requirements for a professional educator license include:

• all general requirements for an associate educator license under R277-301-4
• completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution; or skill certification in a specific CTE area
• one of the following;
  • a recommendation from a USBE Board-approved educator preparation program
  • a standard educator license in the area issued by a licensing jurisdiction outside of Utah that is currently valid or is renewable consistent with Section 53E-6-307

Local Education Agency (LEA)-specific Educator License: An individual, approved by the Board of Education who has met locally defined competencies to be an educator, and approved by LEA application to USBE.

License Areas of Concentration: means a designation on a license of the specific educational setting or role for which the individual is qualified, to include the following:

• Early Childhood
• Elementary
• Secondary
• Educational Leadership
• Career and Technical Education or "CTE"
• School Counselor
• School Psychologist
• Special Education
• Preschool Special Education
• Deaf Education
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Speech-Language Technician
• School Social Worker
• Communication Disorders

Endorsement: means a designation on a License Area of Concentration earned through demonstrating required competencies established by the State

USBE Board Rule R277-301 (4)
USBE Board Rule R277-301 (5)
Utah Code 53E-6-307

Policy

Education Agency (LEA)-specific Educator License

The general requirements for an LEA-specific Educator License include:

• completion of a criminal background check and clearance in accordance with R277-214
• completion of an educator ethics review as described in R277-500 within one calendar year of the application
• completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
• demonstrated content pedagogical knowledge by:
  • successfully passing an assessment; or
  • by demonstrated experience.

USBE Board Rule R277-214
USBE Board Rule R277-500

An application for an LEA-specific Educator License must receive approval by the Board of Education in a public meeting no more than 60 days prior to the LEA application to USBE.

The request for approval must include the rationale for the appointment of an LEA-Specific license.

License and Endorsement Areas

In accordance with R277-301, an LEA-specific Educator License may not be offered in the areas of Special Education or Preschool Special Education.

An LEA-specific Educator License, is limited to the following license areas:

• Early Childhood
• Elementary
• Secondary
• Career and Technical Ecuation or "CTE"
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Speech-Language Technician
• School Social Worker
• Communication Disorders

An LEA-specific Educator License is valid for one, two, or three years in accordance with the LEA application to the USBE.

In accordance with R277-301(7) an LEA-specific Educator License is valid only within the Logan City School District and expires immediately upon employment separation.

USBE Board Rule R277-301
USBE Board Rule R277-301 (7)

LEA- specific Educator Training, Mentoring, and Support

Within the first year of employment, the educator must complete the following training:

• educator ethics
• classroom management and instruction
• basic special education law and instruction
• Utah Effective Teaching Standards described in R277-530

The educator must participate in the District’s Mentoring Program.

The District shall provide at least a three-year mentoring program by a trained mentor educator who:

• holds a professional educator license and where possible
• performs substantially the same duties as the educator with release time to work as a mentor; or
• is assigned as an instructional coach or equivalent position

The assigned mentor shall assist the educator to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards established in Rule R277-530, but may not serve as an evaluator of the educator.

The mentoring program shall include:

• A formal Professional Learning Plan, which consists of:
  • mentor observation and feedback
  • Logan City School District Teacher Evaluation reports
  • Pedagogical Performance Assessment (PPAT) support
• Support in meeting the requirements of a professional license area
• On-going training on educator ethics and special education.

USBE Board Rule R277-530