R277-500-5. Categories of Acceptable Activities for License Renewal

  A(1) An educator may earn licensure renewal points based on the educator's employment in a position requiring a Utah educator license during the educator's license cycle.

  (2) An educator may only count years of employment with satisfactory performance evaluations for license renewal points.

  (3) A Level 1 license holder may earn 25 license renewal points per year of employment to a maximum of 50 points per license cycle.

  (4) A Level 2 or 3 license holder may earn 35 license renewal points per year of employment to a maximum of 105 points per license cycle.

  B(1) An educator shall complete a college or university course with a C or better, or a pass, to have the course apply to the educator's license.

  (2) Each semester hour of university or college credit, as recorded on an official transcript, equals 18 license renewal points.

  C(1) USOE professional learning credit:

  (a) shall be approved as described in R277-519-3; and

  (b) shall be successfully completed through attendance and through completion of required project(s).

  (2) Each semester credit hour equals 15 license renewal points.

  (3) An LEA may request approval of USOE professional learning credit by submitting a request to the Superintendent through the USOE-sponsored online professional learning tracking system.

  (4) An LEA shall request approval from the Superintendent at least four weeks prior to the beginning date of the scheduled professional learning activity.

  (5) The professional learning credit may be denied if the LEA does not seek approval from the Superintendent in advance.

  D. An LEA-sponsored or approved professional learning activity:

  (1) shall be approved by the LEA at least four weeks prior to the scheduled activity; and

  (2) may include LEA or school based professional learning such as:

  (a) participating in professional learning communities;

  (b) development of LEA or school curriculum;

  (c) planning and implementation of a school improvement plan;

  (d) mentoring a Level 1 teacher;

  (e) engaging in instructional coaching;

  (f) conducting action research;

  (g) studying student work with colleagues to inform instruction.

  E. Each clock hour of scheduled professional learning activity time equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 25 points per activity per year.

  F(1) Acceptable alternative professional learning activities for an educator include activities that enhance or improve education, yet may not fall into a specific category if the activities are approved by:

  (a) the educator's supervisor;

  (b) by a licensed administrator if the educator is an inactive educator; or

  (c) the Superintendent, with prior written approval by the Superintendent.

  (2) Each clock hour of participation equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 25 points per activity.

  G. Conferences, workshops, institutes, symposia, or staff-development programs:

  (1) Acceptable workshops and programs shall be approved by the educator's supervisor, by a licensed administrator if the educator is an inactive educator, or with prior written approval by the Superintendent.

  (2) Each clock hour of participation equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 25 points per activity.

  G. Content and pedagogy testing:

  (1) Acceptable tests include those approved by the Board.

  (2) Each Board-approved test score report submitted, with a passing score, equals 25 license renewal points.

  (3) Each test must be related to the educator's current or potential license area(s) or endorsement(s).

  (4) No more than two test score reports may be submitted in a license cycle.

  H. Utah university sponsored cooperating teachers:

  (1) An educator working as a cooperating teacher with one or more student teachers may earn license renewal points.

  (2) Each clock hour spent supervising, collaborating with, and mentoring assigned student teachers equals one license renewal point not to exceed 25 points per license renewal cycle.

  I. Service in a leadership role in a national, state-wide, or LEA-recognized professional education organization:

  (1) Acceptable service shall be approved by the educator's supervisor or by a licensed administrator if the educator is an inactive educator.

  (2) Each clock hour of participation equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 10 points per year.

  J. Educational research and innovation that results in a final, demonstrable product:

  (1) Acceptable activities shall be approved by the educator's supervisor or by a licensed administrator if the educator is an inactive educator.

  (2) The research activity shall be consistent with school and LEA policy.

  (3) Each clock hour of participation equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 35 points per activity.

  K. Substituting in a Utah public LEA or accredited private school:

  (1) shall be considered an acceptable professional learning activity only for inactive educators paid and authorized as substitutes.

  (2) Two hours of documented substitute time equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 25 points per year or 50 points per license cycle.

  (3) Verification of hours shall be documented on LEA or school letterhead, list dates of employment, and signed by the supervising administrator.

  L. Paraprofessional or volunteer service in a Utah public LEA or accredited private school:

  (1) shall be considered an acceptable professional learning activity only for inactive educators.

  (2) Three hours of documented paraprofessional or volunteer service equals one license renewal point, not to exceed 25 points per year or 50 points per license cycle.

  (3) Verification of hours shall be documented on LEA or school letterhead, list dates of service, and signed by the supervising administrator.

  M. Credit for LEA lane change or other purposes is determined by the LEA and is awarded at the LEA's discretion. USOE professional learning credit should not be assumed to be credit for LEA purposes, such as salary or lane change credit.