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Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019) |
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R277. Education, Administration |
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R277-303. Educator Preparation Programs |
| R277-303-1. Authority and Purpose |
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(1) This rule is authorized by: (a) Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3, which vests general control and supervision over public education in the Board; (b) Subsection 53E-3-401(4), which allows the Board to make rules to execute the Board's duties and responsibilities under the Utah Constitution and state law; (c) Subsection 53E-6-201(3)(a), which allows the Board to establish the criteria for obtaining licenses; and (d) Section 53E-6-302, which requires the Board to establish standards for approval of educator preparation programs. (2) The purpose of this rule is to establish criteria for educator preparation programs in the State of Utah. |
| R277-303-2. Definitions |
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(1)(a) "Educator preparation program" means a comprehensive program administered by an entity that is intended to prepare individuals to meet the requirements for a Utah professional license or license area of concentration. (b) "Educator preparation program" may include a program developed by or associated with an institution of higher education, individual LEA, or the Board. (2) "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. (3) "License area" has the same meaning as set forth in Subsection R277-301-2(5)(a). (4) "Professional license" means the educator license described in Section R277-301-6. |
| R277-303-3. Educator Preparation Program Review and Approval |
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(1) The Superintendent shall establish uniform procedures for initial approval and review of educator preparation programs to ensure compliance with this R277-303. (2) The Superintendent shall approve an educator preparation program that meets the requirements of this rule and the standards for program approval established in: (a) Rule R277-304; (b) Rule R277-305; (c) Rule R277-306; and (d) all other applicable Board rules. (3) The Superintendent shall conduct an on-going review of approved educator preparation programs and shall renew or deny approval for a program at least every seven years. (4) The Superintendent may grant preliminary approval to a new educator preparation program within a Utah public college or university pending approval by the Utah State Board of Regents. (5) The Superintendent shall make a report to the Board when an educator preparation program's initial application for approval is granted or denied. (6) The Superintendent may place an approved educator preparation program on probation for: (a) failure to meet program requirements detailed in applicable Board rules; or (b) failure to submit complete and accurate information in a report required under this rule. (7) The Board may revoke the approval of a probationary program that fails to meet probationary requirements with at least one year's notice to the educator preparation program. (8) The Superintendent may require a program or subset of programs to submit reports to inform the annual report to the Board required in Section R277-301-10. (9) The Superintendent shall accept an approved educator preparation program's recommendations for a professional license or license area if the prospective licensee has met all other requirements of Board rule. |
| R277-303-4. Educator Preparation Programs |
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(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. |
| R277-303-5. Superintendent Responsibilities |
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(1) The Superintendent shall provide support to educator preparation programs and potential licensees to the extent that funding allows by: (a) maintaining a website to: (i) facilitate collaboration between educator preparation programs; (ii) facilitate communication between potential educators and approved programs; and (iii) provide access to up-to-date research on educator preparation and education practices; (b) reviewing third-party preparation materials for alignment with the Utah Effective Educator Standards in R277-530; and (c) working with potential licensed educators to help them become licensed educators. (2) The Superintendent shall design and maintain a model educator preparation program that: (a) meets all requirements of this rule; (b) may be adopted by an LEA or an accredited private school; and (c) is overseen by staff distinct from the staff responsible for ensuring educator preparation program compliance with this Rule R277-303. |
| R277-303-6. Effective Date |
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This rule will be effective beginning January 1, 2020. |