R277-303-4. Educator Preparation Programs

  (1) An educator preparation program that applies for approval by the Superintendent shall demonstrate how it will ensure that participants:

  (a) are prepared to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards established in R277-530;

  (b) successfully complete or are prepared to complete the pedagogical performance assessment required in R277-301;

  (c) have met the competencies required in R277-301; and

  (d) have sufficiently demonstrated the ability to work in the applicable license area and subject area.

  (2) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (1), an educator preparation program that is not also a Utah LEA shall:

  (a) have a physical location in the state of Utah where participants attend classes; or

  (b) if the program provides only online instruction:

  (i) have the program's primary headquarters located in Utah; and

  (ii) be licensed to do business through the Utah Department of Commerce; and

  (c) establish entry requirements that are designed to ensure that only high quality individuals enter the preparation program, which include measures of:

  (i) previous academic success;

  (ii) disposition for employment in an educational setting; and

  (iii) basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics; and

  (d) include a student teaching or intern experience that meets the requirements detailed in:

  (i) Rule R277-304;

  (ii) Rule R277-305; and

  (iii) Rule R277-306; and

  (e) include a pedagogical performance assessment meeting standards established by the Superintendent and approved by the Board for all new students enrolled in the program after January 1, 2020 in all license areas for which such an assessment is available.

  (3)(a) If the Superintendent denies an application from an educator preparation program, the proposed educator preparation program may appeal the Superintendent's decision to the Board by submitting a written appeal to the Board Secretary.

  (b) The Board shall assign an appeal under Subsection (3)(a) to a standing committee to make a recommendation to the full Board for final action.

  (4) An approved educator preparation program may recommend an individual that completed the program for a professional license or license area for up to five years after the individual completed the program, as long as all current license requirements have been met.

  (5) If five years have passed since an individual completed an approved educator preparation program, the program may recommend the individual for a professional license or license area if the program:

  (a) reviews the individual's program; and

  (b) requires the individual to complete any additional necessary requirements to meet current programs standards prior to making a licensing recommendation.

  (6) Notwithstanding Subsections (4) and (5), an approved educator preparation program may recommend an individual who began the program before January 1, 2020 for a professional license or license area without meeting the pedagogical performance assessment requirement in R277-301, but must present documentation showing that the individual met the appropriate license requirements in effect prior to that date.