R277-301-8. Requirements for LEAs

  (1) An LEA shall provide a mentoring program that provides a trained mentor educator and annual mentoring plan:

  (a) for educators holding an associate educator license;

  (b) for at least two years for LEA-specific educator license holders; and

  (c) for educators holding a professional educator license with less than three years of experience.

  (2) A trained mentor educator under Subsection (1) shall hold a professional educator license and shall, where possible:

  (a) perform substantially the same duties as the educator with release time to work as a mentor; or

  (b) be assigned as an instructional coach or equivalent position.

  (3) A trained mentor educator under Subsection (1) shall assist the educator to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards established in Rule R277-530, but may not serve as an evaluator of the educator.

  (4) A mentoring program under Subsection (1) shall include:

  (a) a formal professional learning plan and LEA support in meeting the requirements of a professional license area; and

  (b) if the educator holds an LEA-specific educator license, on-going training on educator ethics and special education.

  (5) An LEA school that requests LEA-specific licenses, license areas, or endorsements shall prominently post the following information on each school's website:

  (a) disclosure of the fact that the school employs individuals holding LEA-specific educator licenses, license areas, or endorsements;

  (b) the percentage of the types of licenses, license areas, and endorsements held by educators employed in the school based on the employees' FTE in CACTUS; and

  (c) a link to the Utah Educator Look-up tool provided by the Superintendent in accordance with Subsection R277-515-7(6).