No. 29477 (Amendment): R277-505. Administrative/Supervisory Certificates and Programs

DAR File No.: 29477
Filed: 02/01/2007, 04:14
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to add a testing requirement and to emphasize a professional development requirement for administrators in Utah schools. The amendment also provides for mentoring and induction activities for new administrators, and brings the requirements into alignment with national administrative standards.

Summary of the rule or change:

The amendments provide for new and changed definitions, provide for updated language regarding administrative license areas of concentration positions and requirements and district-specific/charter school-specific administrator standards, provide a new section on reciprocity for administrative credentials, and remove outdated language.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Subsections 53A-6-101(1) and (2), and 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated cost or savings to state budget. Universities could include the cost of an administrative exam for their students.

local governments:

There may be minimal costs to school districts/charter schools as they implement professional development for administrators. Most school districts currently require professional development and will absorb the costs. School districts or charter schools may elect to cover the costs of an administrative exam for new administrators.

other persons:

The anticipated cost to new administrators beginning spring 2008 is $75 as a registration fee for the administrative exam and approximately $25 to take the exam. It is a one-time expense for new administrators.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Compliance costs for new administrators beginning spring 2008 is $75 as a registration fee for the administrative exam and approximately $25 to take the exam. It is a one-time expense for new administrators.

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

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses. Patti Harrington, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

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 [e-mail]

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:

03/19/2007

This rule may become effective on:

03/27/2007

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

RULE TEXT

R277. Education, Administration.

R277-505. Administrative[/Supervisory Certificates] License Areas of Concentration and Programs.

R277-505-1. Definitions.

[D]A. "Acceptable professional experience" means successful, full-time experience in public or accredited private or parochial schools in an area for which certification is required for employment in the public schools.

B. "[Basic ]Administrative[/Supervisory Certificate] license area of concentration" means the initial [certificate]credential issued by the Board which permits the holder to be employed in a [public school ]position which requires administration or supervision of[ kindergarten,] elementary, middle, or secondary levels within the public education system.

[A]C. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

D. "District-specific educator license with an administrative license area of concentration" means an area of concentration awarded by a school district or charter school to an administrator following verification of criteria consistent with this rule.

[F]E. "Internship" means an on-site supervised experience in an accredited public or private school or other approved location.

F. "Level 2 license" means a Utah professional educator license issued after satisfaction of all requirements for a Level 1 license and:

(1) requirements established by law or rule;

(2) three years of successful education experience within a five-year period in a Utah public or accredited private school; and

(3) satisfaction of requirements under R277-522 for teachers whose employment as a Level 1 licensed educator began after January 1, 2003 in a Utah public or accredited private school.

G. "Level 3 license" means a Utah professional educator license issued to an educator who holds a current Utah Level 2 license and has also received, in the educator's field of practice, National Board certification or a doctorate from an accredited institution.

H. "Outstanding professional qualifications" means a person who has completed a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education and who has demonstrated successful managerial experience in business, government, or similar setting.

[C. "Standard Administrative/Supervisory Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Board after a holder has demonstrated competence under the Basic Administrative/Supervisory Certificate.

E]I. "USOE" means the Utah State Office of Education.

 

R277-505-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized under Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, Sections 53A-6-101(1) and (2) which permit the Board to issue certificates for educators, and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purpose of this rule is to:

(1) specify the requirements for Administrative[/Supervisory Certificates] license areas of concentration, including meaningful internships; and

[(2) specify the standards which shall be met by a teacher preparation institution in order to receive Board approval of its program for administrators and supervisors.](2) provide standards and procedures for district-specific and charter school-specific Administrative license areas of concentration.

 

R277-505-3. [Positions Requiring an ]Administrative[/Supervisory Certificate] License Area of Concentration Positions.

[A. An individual shall hold either a Basic or a Standard Administrative/Supervisory Certificate if the individual supervises educators who hold Basic or Standard Certificates. The following positions require a person to hold an Administrative/Supervisory Certificate:

(1) superintendent;

(2) principal, all levels; and

(3) assistant/associate/vice principal whose administrative duties utilize fifty percent or more of their school time.

B. Unless only non-certificated employees are supervised, the following district positions also require a person to hold an Administrative/Supervisory Certificate:

(1) assistant superintendent;

(2) administrative assistant;

(3) director;

(4) specialist;

(5) subject matter supervisor; and

(6) curriculum coordinator.

C. A principal of an elementary or middle school with fewer than six FTE teachers, including the principal, may perform duties appropriate to the position while holding a Basic or Standard Teaching Certificate.

D. Holders of administrative endorsements issued before the date of approval of this policy are not required to hold the new Administrative/Supervisory Certificate unless their assignment is changed to areas not covered by their current endorsement.]A. Local boards and charter schools shall determine, consistent with Sections 53A-3-301(4), 53A-6-104.5, 53A-6-110, and this rule, required licenses or letters of authorization for administrators working in various positions and settings.

B. Local boards and charter schools shall, by board policy determined in an open meeting, notify the public of required licenses or credentials for administrators in their schools.

C. Local boards and charter schools that have designated appropriate administrative requirements consistent with the law and this rule shall receive professional staff costs only for administrators licensed consistent with the policies and this rule.

[E]D. Administrative [or supervisory ]interns currently registered for academic credit in an institution of higher education for the internship are not required to hold an Administrative[/Supervisory Certificate] license area of concentration but shall [be issued an Intern Certificate by the respective institution in accordance with Board standards]hold a Level 2 or Level 3 license.

E. The Board strongly recommends that all educators who supervise educators complete Administrative license areas of concentration programs and participate in ongoing professional development.

 

R277-505-4. [Certification]Administrative License Area of Concentration Requirements.

A. An applicant for the [Basic ]Administrative[/Supervisory Certificate] license area of concentration shall have [done]successfully completed or received all of the following:

(1) [hold a teaching, special education, school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker certificate]a Level 2 teaching license or equivalent from another state with area of concentration;

(2) [complete at least a fifth year of training in a Board approved administrative-supervisory certification program, including a master's degree in administration or supervision or a related area]a master's degree or more advanced degree;

(3) an education administrative program; and

(4) a Board-approved administrative test;

(5) Exceptions may be made to R277-505-4A(1)(2) or (3) by the USOE for exceptional professional experience, exceptional education accomplishments, or other noteworthy experiences or circumstances.

([3]6) [complete ]not fewer than [two]three years of acceptable full-time professional experience in an education-related area in a public or accredited private or parochial school. Appropriate experiences that may be substituted for up to one-half of this requirement include:

(a) alternative school [and]or similar type professional experience;

(b) community college, trade-technical college, [and]or other post-secondary professional experience;

(c) district-level administrative experience;

([c]d) headstart [and]or preschool professional experience;

([d]e) college of education or state education agency professional experience; [and]or

([e]f) professional experience in academic departments of colleges or universities if there has been sufficient involvement with public school programs and curriculum.

([4]7) [be recommended by an institution whose program of preparation has been approved by the Board]a recommendation from a Utah institution whose program of preparation has been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), or one of the major regional accrediting associations as defined under R277-503-1L.

B. In addition to [Subsection A]R277-505-4A, above, an applicant for the [Basic Administrative/Supervisory Certificate]Administrative license area of concentration shall successfully complete an administrative internship. The internship shall[ satisfy the following criteria]:

(1) [The internship shall ]consist of a minimum of 450 hours of supervised clinical experiences[.

(2) A], excluding additional hours required by a university for seminars or discussion sessions [shall not be included ]within the required [450 ]hours.

([3]2) include [A]a minimum of 2[25]00 of the required [450 ]hours [shall take place] in a school setting which offers the opportunity of working with a properly [certificated]licensed principal, students, faculty, classified employees, parents and patrons.

([4]3) include [T]the remainder of the required internship hours [may include experience] in school district offices, the USOE or other USOE-approved and appropriate agencies or school settings.

([5]4) include [T]the majority of the school-level supervised experience [shall take place ]during the regular school day in concentrated blocks of a minimum of three hours each when students are present.

([6]5) presume [I]interns' involvement in extracurricular activities[ is expected].

([7]6) [Internships shall ]include experiences at both elementary and secondary school levels.

([8]7) [Interns shall ]have clinical experience in a different school than where the intern [is]may be employed as a teacher.

(8) provide opportunities for the intern to demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the higher education experience in school settings, including the opportunity to:

(a) understand the school community;

(b) understand the school culture and its importance to the student;

(c) experience managing a safe, efficient learning environment;

(d) collaborate with families of diverse students;

(e) support ethics and fairness in the school setting; and

(f) participate in the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural school context.

[C. The holder of a Basic Administrative/Supervisory Certificate who does not have the opportunity to function in an administrative or supervisory position may, upon request, have the Basic Certificate renewed once for an additional three-year period. Subsequent renewals will require evidence of continued professional growth, e.g., college course work or professional experience related to administration or supervision. If a recommendation for Standard Certification is not received after three years of administrative or supervisory experience, the Basic Certificate may not be renewed.

D]C. In the first year of employment as an administrator, [A]an applicant for the [Standard ]Administrative[/Supervisory Certificate] license area of concentration shall [have done all of the following:]complete a one school year mentoring experience established and supervised by the employing school district or charter school that includes criteria identified in R277-522-3A and B, as applied to administrators.

[ (1) complete three years of successful, acceptable, professional experience in school administration or supervision under a Basic Administrative/Supervisory Certificate or its equivalent;

(2) be recommended by the employing school district with input from a teacher education institution.

] D. Relicensure and professional development requirements for active and non-practicing administrators shall include:

(1) for active administrators, at least 75 of the required 200 points shall focus on leadership issues to ensure that:

(a) administrators have current and effective knowledge and skills;

(b) administrators understand and can demonstrate employee corrective action directives;

(c) administrators are working to improve student achievement, teacher effectiveness and teacher retention skills; and

(d) administrators are using student data to assess student learning.

(2) for non-practicing administrators, at least 100 points of the required 200 points shall be related to school administration.[

E. Districts may employ administrators on a limited basis subject to the provisions of R277-511, Eminence and Special Qualification Authorization or R277-512, Letters of Authorization.]

 

R277-505-5. [Standards for the Approval of Programs for the Preparation of Administrators/Supervisors]District-Specific and Charter School-Specific Administrator Standards.

[The administrator/supervisor preparation program of an institution may be approved if it meets the standards prescribed in the Standards for State Approval of Teacher Education for Supervisory and Administrative Specialization.]A. A local school board may request a district-specific educator license and Administrative license area of concentration permitting a person with outstanding professional qualifications to serve in a position for which that license or area of concentration is required, including all areas listed in R277-503B(1)-(6) and R277-505-4.

B. In order to receive an educator license in a district-specific Administrative license area of concentration, a district shall make a request using a USOE-approved form.

C. The candidate shall:

(1) hold a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

(2) have a record of documented, demonstrated success in a managerial role.

(3) take a USOE-approved school leadership test which shall be used to inform and guide continuing professional development; and

(4) complete a one-year supervised administrative experience under the supervision of a licensed and trained administrative mentor assigned by the employing school district or charter school. The candidate shall be issued a letter of authorization by the USOE during the year of supervision.

D. At the end of the supervised year, the employing district or charter school shall request that a district or charter school-specific Administrative license area of concentration be awarded by the USOE.

E. The district-specific Administrative license area of concentration shall be valid only in the employing district/charter school for the duration of the individual's employment.

F. The completed Administrative license area of concentration shall qualify the school district or charter school to receive professional staff costs.

G. The USOE may receive and investigate, or both, complaints about district-specific or charter school-specific administrators. Investigations shall be conducted by the Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission and action may be taken consistent with Section 53A-6-405, Denial of license, and Section 53A-6-501, Disciplinary action against educator.

H. Individuals who receive district-specific or charter school-specific administrative license areas of concentration shall be subject to professional development requirements established by local boards or charter schools.

 

R277-505-6. Reciprocity for Administrative Credentials.

A. An applicant for a Utah administrative area of concentration shall submit documentation of successful completion of an administrative program that meets Utah administrative requirements of R277-505-4.

B. The requirements of R277-505-4 may be satisfied, at the discretion of the USOE, by administrative experience in another state.

C. The USOE may require out-of-state applicants to pass a state-approved administrative test, if such a test is required of in-state applicants.

 

KEY: professional competency, teacher certification, accreditation

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [1993]2007

Notice of Continuation: September 12, 2002

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-6-101(1); 53A-6-101(2); 53A-1-401(3)