R277-301-4. Associate Educator License Requirements

  (1) The Superintendent shall issue an associate educator license to an individual that applies for the license and that meets all requirements in this Section R277-301-4.

  (2) An associate educator license, license area, or endorsement is valid for two years.

  (3) The Superintendent may only renew an associate educator license if:

  (a) the individual has less than two years of experience in a Utah public or accredited private school; or

  (b) the individual is employed by a Utah public or accredited private school and the employer has requested a one year extension of the license.

  (4) The general requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

  (a) completion of a criminal background check including review of any criminal offenses and clearance in accordance with Rule R277-214;

  (b) completion of the educator ethics review described in R277-500 within one calendar year prior to the application; and

  (c) one of the following:

  (i) a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution;

  (ii) current enrollment in a university-based Board-approved educator preparation program that will result in a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution; or

  (iii) skill certification in a specific CTE area as established by the Superintendent.

  (5) The content knowledge requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

  (a) for an elementary license area, passage of an elementary content knowledge test, approved by the Superintendent, that distinctly measures content in:

  (i) mathematics;

  (ii) reading/language arts;

  (iii) social studies; and

  (iv) science;

  (b) for a secondary or CTE license area with a content endorsement, one of the following:

  (i) passage of a content knowledge test approved by the Superintendent, where available;

  (ii) a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the content area from a regionally accredited university; or

  (iii) enrollment in a program that will result in a degree described in Subsection (5)(b)(ii); and

  (c) for all other license areas, enrollment in a university-based Board-approved educator preparation program.

  (6) Additional requirements for an associate educator license shall include:

  (a) successful completion of professional learning modules created or approved by the Superintendent in:

  (i) educator ethics;

  (ii) classroom management and instruction;

  (iii) basic special education law and instruction;

  (iv) the Utah Effective Teaching Standards described in R277-530; or

  (b) enrollment in a university-based Board-approved educator preparation program.

  (7) An individual holding a professional educator license may receive an associate license area or endorsement in additional areas if all the requirements of this section are met.

  (8) A license applicant who has received or completed license preparation activities inconsistent with this rule may present compelling information and documentation for review and approval by the Superintendent to satisfy the associate educator license requirements.

  (9) The Superintendent shall designate a panel of at least three Board staff members to review an appeal made under subsection (8).

  (10) An LEA that employs an individual that holds an associate educator license shall develop a personalized professional learning plan designed to support the educator in meeting the requirements for a professional educator license no later than 60 days after beginning work in the classroom, which shall:

  (a) be provided to the Superintendent upon request;

  (b) include a formal discussion and observation process no later than 30 days after beginning work in the classroom; and

  (c) consider:

  (i) previous education related experience; and

  (ii) previous educational preparation activities.

  (11) 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 requirements of Section R277-301-5.