R277-502-5. Professional Educator License Areas of Concentration, and Endorsements and Under-Qualified Employees

  (1) Unless excepted under rules of the Board, to be employed in a public school in a capacity covered by a license area of concentration set forth in Subsection R277-502-2(6)(a), a person shall hold a valid license issued by the Board in the respective license area of concentration.

  (2) An educator who is licensed and holds the appropriate license area of concentration but who is working out of the educator's endorsement area, shall:

  (a) submit an SAEP to complete the requirements of an endorsement to the Superintendent; or

  (b) request, along with the educator's employing LEA, a letter of authorization from the Board if the educator has not completed requirements for an area of concentration or endorsement.

  (3)(a) A letter of authorization issued under Subsection (2)(b) is valid for one year.

  (b) An educator may receive no more than three Letters of Authorization throughout the educator's employment in Utah schools.

  (c) The Superintendent may recommend an exception to the limitation in Subsection (3)(b) on a case by case basis following specific approval of the request by the educator's employing LEA governing board.

  (d) A letters of authorization approved prior to the 2000-2001 school year shall not be counted towards the limit in Subsection (3)(b).

  (e) If an educator's letter of authorization expires before the individual is approved for licensing, the educator falls into under-qualified status.

  (4) A licensed educator may receive an endorsement to indicate qualification in a subject or content area.

  (a) An LEA shall recognize a STEM endorsement as a minimum of 16 semester hours of university credit toward lane change on the LEA's salary schedule.

  (b) The Superintendent shall determine the courses and experiences necessary for a STEM endorsement.

  (c) The Superintendent shall determine which content area endorsements qualify as STEM endorsements.

  (5) An endorsement is not valid for employment purposes without a current license and license area of concentration.