R277-304. Teacher Preparation Programs, R277. Education, Administration, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R277. Education, Administration

R277-304. Teacher Preparation Programs

R277-304-1. Authority and Purpose

Latest version.

(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; and

(c) Subsection 53E-6-201(3)(a), which allows the Board to make rules to establish the criteria for obtaining an educator license.

(2)(a) The purpose of this rule is to specify the standards which the Board expects of teacher preparation institution prior to program approval in specified areas.

(b) The standards in this rule apply to the specific educational area and grade level for which the preparation program is designed.

R277-304-2. Definitions

Latest version.

(1)(a) "Career and technical education" or "CTE" means organized educational programs or competencies which directly or indirectly prepare students for employment, or for additional preparation leading to employment, in occupations where entry requirements do not generally require a baccalaureate or advanced degree.

(b) CTE programs provide all students a continuous education system, driven by a student's college and career readiness plan, through competency-based instruction, culminating in essential life skills, certified occupational skills, and meaningful employment.

(2) "Clinical experience" means a structured opportunity in which a program candidate is mentored by a licensed educator and evaluated by a teacher leader, school administrator, or university preparation program faculty member, in order to develop and demonstrate competency in the skills and knowledge necessary to be an effective teacher, in a physical classroom, which may include experiences in a virtual classroom.

(3) "Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation" or "CAEP" means a national organization that advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

(4)(a) "Council for Exceptional Children" or "CEC" means an international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of both individuals with disabilities and individuals with gifts and talents.

(b) CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

(5) "Essential Elements" means the alternate academic achievement standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities, established by the Board in the Special Education Rules Manual, dated October 2016, incorporated by reference in Section R277-750-2.

(6)(a) "Multi-tiered system of supports" or "MTSS" means a framework for integrating assessment and intervention to maximize student achievement, reduce behavior problems, and increase long-term success.

(b) The combination of systematic implementation of increasingly intensive intervention, sometime referred to as tiers, and carefully monitoring students' progress, distinguishes MTSS from typical prevention measures.

(7) "Utah Core Standards" means the course standards established by the Board in Rule R277-700 for grades K-12.

R277-304-3. General Teacher Preparation

Latest version.

Prior to approval by the Board, a teacher preparation program shall:

(1) prepare candidates to meet the Utah Effective Teaching Standards in Rule R277-530;

(2) prepare candidates to teach:

(a) the Utah Core Standards; and

(b) the Essential Elements, as appropriate to a candidate's prospective area of licensure as established by the Board;

(3) include school-based clinical experiences for a candidate to observe, practice skills, and reflect on teaching that:

(a) are significant in number, depth, breadth, and duration;

(b) are progressively more complex;

(d) include working with all types of students; and

(e) include creating and consistently implementing beginning of semester or school year classroom procedures and practices;

(4) require the demonstration of competency in:

(a) content and content-specific pedagogy appropriate for the area of licensure;

(b) knowledge of the Utah Educator Professional Standards contained in Rule R277-515;

(c) creating effective learning environments by establishing and implementing routines and procedures with consistent expectations;

(d) skills in providing tier one and tier two instruction and intervention on the Utah Core Standards and positive behavior supports to each student within a multi-tiered system of supports;

(e) integrating technology to support and meaningfully supplement the learning of students, including the effective use of software for personalized learning;

(f) designing, administering, and reviewing educational assessments in a meaningful and ethical manner;

(g) analyzing formative and summative assessments results to inform and modify instruction;

(h) assessing students for competency for the purpose of personalized learning;

(i) skills in implementing personalized learning practices that consider the whole child including:

(i) trauma-informed instructional practices; and

(ii) restorative instructional practices;

(j) knowledge and skills designed to assist in the identification of students with disabilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the general classroom, including:

(i) knowledge of the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act;

(ii) knowledge of the role of non-special-education teachers in the education of students with disabilities;

(iii) knowledge and skills in implementing least restrictive behavior interventions;

(iv) skills in implementing and assessing the results of interventions; and

(v) skills in the implementation of an educational program with accommodations, modifications, services, and supports established by an IEP or a 504 plan for students with disabilities in the general education classroom;

(k) knowledge and skills designed to meet the needs of diverse student populations in the general education classroom, including:

(i) allowing students multiple ways to demonstrate learning that are sensitive to student diversity;

(ii) creating an environment using a teaching model that is sensitive to multiple experiences and diversity;

(iii) designing, adapting, and delivering instruction to address each student's diverse learning strengths and needs; and

(iv) incorporating tools of language development into planning, instruction, and intervention for students learning English and supporting development of English proficiency; and

(l) knowledge and skills in collaborating with parents and guardians.

(5) for a program applicant accepted on or after January 1, 2020, require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in one or more clinical experiences in each of the following competencies:

(a) implementing the planning and design, delivery, facilitation, assessment, evaluation, and reflection of a unit of instruction, including:

(i) systematic and explicit instructional design and implementation;

(ii) varied evidence-based instructional strategies;

(iii) developmentally appropriate and authentic learning experiences;

(iv) scaffolded instruction;

(v) differentiated instruction;

(vi) instruction targeting higher order thinking and metacognitive skills;

(vii) project-based or competency-based learning opportunities;

(viii) designing and selecting pre-assessments, formative, and summative assessments that align to student learning objectives; and

(ix) revising instructional plans for future implementation or reteaching concepts as appropriate;

(b) integrating cross-disciplinary skills, such as literacy or numeracy, into instruction;

(d) utilizing technology to enhance and personalize instruction;

(e) implementing the accommodations, modifications, services, and supports as outlined in a student's IEP or 504 plan;

(f) evaluating student artifacts and assessments for the purposes of:

(i) measuring student understanding;

(ii) modifying instruction;

(iii) targeting tier two instruction and intervention in a multi-tiered system of support;

(iv) providing feedback to students; and

(v) documenting student progress, i.e., assigning an academic grade;

(g) establishing and maintaining classroom procedures and routines that include positive behavior interventions and supports;

(h) establishing and maintaining a positive learning climate;

(i) reflecting on the teaching process and justifying instructional decisions;

(j) collaborating with grade level, subject, or cross-curricular teams to:

(i) analyze student data; and

(ii) inform, plan, and modify instruction;

(k) participating in at least one IEP meeting or parental consultation regarding a student that the program applicant has instructed;

(l) effectively communicating with parents, colleagues, and administration; and

(m) consulting with a school counselor regarding the emotional well-being of students and referring the students to a school counselor when necessary;

(6) include consideration of a candidate's dispositions and suitability for teaching; and

(7) include plans for candidate remediation and exit counseling if applicable.

R277-304-4. Early Childhood and Elementary Preparation Programs

Latest version.

(1) Prior to approval by the Board, a preparation program for early childhood education or elementary education shall:

(a) align, as appropriate, with:

(i) the 2010 National Association for the Education of Young Children Standards for Initial and Advanced Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programs; or

(ii) the CAEP 2018 K-6 Elementary Teacher Preparation Standards; and

(b) require the demonstration of competency in:

(i) the areas outlined in Section R277-304-3;

(ii) the appropriate content knowledge needed to teach:

(A) literacy, including listening, speaking, writing, and reading;

(B) mathematics;

(D) health and physical education;

(E) social studies; and

(F) fine arts;

(iii) the science of reading instruction including:

(A) phonemic awareness;

(B) phonics;

(D) vocabulary; and

(E) comprehension;

(iv) the science of mathematics instruction, including:

(A) quantitative reasoning;

(B) problem solving;

(D) numeracy; and

(E) a balance of procedural and conceptual understanding; and

(v) early childhood development and learning.

(2) For a program applicant accepted after January 1, 2020, a preparation program for early childhood or elementary education shall require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in a school-based setting in each of the following:

(a) all requirements outlined in Subsection R277-304-3(6);

(b) demonstrating content specific pedagogy in each of the areas outlined in Subsection R277-304-4(1)(b)(ii);

(d) diagnosing students struggling with mathematics and planning and implenting remediation for those students.

(3) An educator preparation program shall apply the standards in this Section R277-304-4 to the specific age group or grade level for which the program of preparation is designed.

(a) An early childhood education program shall focus primarily on early childhood development and learning in kindergarten through grade 3.

(b) An elementary program shall include both early childhood development and learning and elementary content and pedagogy in kindergarten through grade 6.

R277-304-5. Secondary Preparation Programs

Latest version.

(1) Prior to approval by the Board, a secondary preparation program shall require competency in:

(a) all content competencies established by the Superintendent for a professional educator license in at least one endorsement;

(b) all areas outlined in Section R277-304-3;

(c) including literacy and quantitative learning objectives in content specific classes in alignment with the Utah Core Standards; and

(d) planning instruction and assessment in content-specific teams and in cross-curricular teams.

(2) For a program applicant accepted after January 1, 2020, a secondary preparation program shall require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in a school-based setting in each of the following:

(a) all requirements outlined in Subsection R277-304-3(6);

(b) ensuring student safety and learning in educational labs or shops and extra-curricular settings; and

(c) collaborating with a school counselor, as necessary, to ensure student progress on the student's four-year plan for college and career readiness as described in Rule R277-462.

R277-304-6. Special Education and Preschool Special Education Programs

Latest version.

(1) Prior to approval by the Board, a special education or preschool special education preparation program shall:

(a) be operated by or partnered with a Utah institution of higher education or the Utah State Board of Education;

(b) aligned with the 2012 Council for Exceptional Children Initial Preparation Standards as informed by the Council for Exceptional Children Specialty Sets for Initial Preparation Programs in one or more of the following special education areas:

(i) Mild/Moderate Disabilities;

(ii) Severe Disabilities;

(iii) Deaf and Hard of Hearing;

(iv) Blind and Visually Impaired;

(v) Deafblind; or

(vi) Preschool Special Education (Birth-Age 5);

(d) require the passage of a Braille assessment approved by the Superintendent for a program in the Blind and Visually Impaired area;

(e) require the demonstration of competency in:

(i) all areas detailed in Section R277-304-3;

(ii) legal and ethical issues surrounding special education, including:

(A) the IDEA;

(B) the Special Education Rules Manual incorporated by reference in Section R277-750-2; and

(iii) the IDEA and Board Special Education rules;

(iv) working with other school personnel to implement and evaluate academic and positive behavior supports and interventions for students with disabilities within a multi-tiered system of supports;

(v) training in and supervising the services and supports provided to students with disabilities by general education teachers, related service providers, and paraprofessionals; and

(vi) providing specially designed instruction, including content specific pedagogy, as per IEPs, to students with disabilities, including:

(A) the Utah Core Standards; and

(B) the Essential Elements as appropriate to a candidate's prospective area of licensure as established by the Board;

(D) skills in implementing and assessing the results of research and evidence-based interventions for students with disabilities; and

(E) skills in implementing an educational program with accommodations, modifications, services, and supports established by an IEP for students with disabilities.

(2) For a program applicant accepted after January 1, 2020, a special education or preschool special education preparation program shall require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in a school-based setting in each of the following:

(a) all requirements outlined in Subsection R277-304-3(6);

(b) creating learning goals and objectives for a student with disabilities that are specific, measurable, time-bound, and aligned to identified student needs and the Utah Core Standards;

(c) designing or adapting learning environments for diverse student populations that encourage active participation in individual and group activities;

(d) monitoring school compliance with the provisions of multiple student's IEP and Section 504 plans;

(e) conducting a student IEP meeting under the supervision of a licensed special education teacher;

(f) using knowledge of measurement principles and practices to interpret assessment information in making instructional, eligibility, program, and placement decisions for students with disabilities, including those from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds;

(g) developing and implementing a secondary transition plan as it relates to post-secondary education and training, competitive employment and independent living; and

(h) communicating with parents of students with disabilities to ensure they are informed regarding the progress of their student and their right to due process.

R277-304-7. Deaf Education Preparation Programs

Latest version.

(1) Prior to approval by the Board, a deaf education preparation program shall:

(a) be operated by or partnered with a Utah institution of higher education or the Utah State Board of Education;

(b) be aligned with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc., Optimizing Outcomes for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Educational Service Guidelines, Third Edition;

(i) teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing from birth to age five using both listening and spoken language strategies and American Sign Language;

(ii) teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing with listening and spoken language strategies; or

(iii) teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing with strategies that promote the development of American Sign Language and English literacy across the curriculum;

(d) require the passage of a deaf education content knowledge assessment approved by the Superintendent;

(e) require demonstration of competency in:

(i) the areas detailed in Section R277-304-3.

(ii) legal and ethical issues surrounding special education, including:

(A) the IDEA;

(B) the Special Education Rules Manual incorporated by reference in Section R277-750-2; and

(iii) addressing specific linguistic and cultural needs of deaf and hard of hearing students throughout the curriculum;

(iv) skills for incorporating language into all aspects of the curriculum;

(v) pedagogical skills unique to teaching reading, writing, mathematics, and other content areas to deaf and hard of hearing students;

(vi) basic fluency in the use of American Sign Language;

(vii) knowledge of the audiological and physiological components of audition;

(viii) skills for teaching speech to deaf and hard of hearing students;

(ix) the socio-cultural and psychological implications of hearing loss; and

(x) assessing and addressing the educational needs and educational progress of deaf and hard of hearing students.

(2) For a program applicant accepted after January 1, 2020, a deaf or hard of hearing education preparation program shall require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in a school-based setting in each of the following:

(a) all requirements outlined in Subsection R277-304-3(6);

(b) for a program focused on Subsection R277-304-7(1)(c)(i):

(i) assessing early childhood language development and assessment in American Sign Language and spoken English;

(ii) working with families with students who are deaf or hard of hearing while respecting a variety of communication modalities;

(iii) integrating language, speech, and listening everyday activities;

(iv) sharing knowledge with families with students who are deaf or hard of hearing about the complexities of deaf culture, including norms and behaviors of the deaf community;

(v) developing auditory perception in children and educating parents about developmental milestones for listening skills; and

(vi) proficiency in American Sign Language as demonstrate by passing an assessment approved by the Superintendent;

(i) developing auditory perception in children and strategies for developing listening and spoken language in deaf and hard of hearing students;

(ii) demonstrating understanding and expertise regarding early childhood spoken language development;

(iii) involving family members with students who are deaf or hard of hearing in learning and therapeutic activities;

(iv) integrating speech, listening, and spoken language in preschool and early elementary content areas; and

(v) integrating current listening technology, including troubleshooting such technology; and

(d) for a program focused on Subsection R277-304-7(1)(c)(iii):

(i) integrating American Sign Language into instruction of core academic content for all school-age students;

(ii) enhancing bilingual literacy of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in both American Sign Language and English;

(iii) integrating respect and understanding of deaf culture into instruction;

(iv) demonstrating understanding and expertise regarding American Sign Language language development; and

(v) proficiency in American Sign Language as demonstrated by passing an assessment approved by the Superintendent.

R277-304-8. Career and Technical Education Preparation Programs

Latest version.

(1) Prior to approval by the Board, a CTE teacher preparation program designed for individuals that do not hold a bachelor's degree or higher shall:

(a) focus on one or more of the following areas:

(i) family and consumer sciences;

(ii) health sciences;

(iii) information technology;

(iv) skilled and technical sciences; or

(v) work-based learning;

(b) require that candidates have six years of documented, related occupational experiences within the 10 years prior to the program application in an approved CTE license area;

(d) For a program applicant accepted after January 1, 2020, a CTE preparation program shall require multiple opportunities for a program applicant to successfully demonstrate application of knowledge and skills gained through the program in a school-based setting in all requirements outlined in Section R277-304-5; and

(e) require candidates to hold the applicable license or certificate issued by the Utah State Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in any area where such licensure or certification exists.

(2) A program may count an associate's degree in a related area for up to two years of occupational experience to satisfy the requirement in Subsection R277-304-8(1)(b).

(3)(a) An approved program may request a waiver from the Superintendent of the occupational experience required for a candidate if the candidate has passed an approved competency examination in the respective field at or above the passing score established by the Superintendent.

(b) The Superintendent may grant a waiver under Subsection (2)(a) for up to five years from the date the candidate passed the examination.