R277-504-6. Special Education (K-12+) and Preschool Special Education (Birth-Age 5) License Areas

  (1) The Board may approve an institution's special education teacher preparation program if the program is aligned with the 2011 Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Standards for Professional Practice and is focused in one or more of the following special education areas:

  (a) Mild/Moderate Disabilities

  (b) Severe Disabilities

  (c) Deaf and Hard of Hearing;

  (d) Blind and Visually Impaired;

  (e) Deafblind; or

  (f) Preschool Special Education (Birth-Age 5).

  (2) The Board may issue additional endorsements to teachers who hold Special Education (K-12+) license areas if all endorsement requirements are met.

  (3) A teacher who holds only a Special Education (K-12+) license area may only be assigned as a teacher of record of students with disabilities.

  (4) The Board may approve a special education preparation program of an institution if the program includes coursework specifically designed to train candidates to:

  (a) understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding special education;

  (b) comply with IDEA and Utah State Board of Education Special Education Rules;

  (c) work 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;

  (d) train and monitor education teachers, related service providers, and paraeducators in providing services and supports to students with disabilities;

  (e) provide the necessary specialized instruction, as per IEPs, to students with disabilities, including:

  (i) core content from the Utah Early Childhood Core Standards, the Essential Elements, and content specific pedagogy;

  (ii) skills in assessing and addressing the educational needs and progress of students with disabilities;

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

  (iv) skills in the implementation of an educational program with accommodations and modifications established by an IEP for students with disabilities.

  (5) The Board may issue Blind and Visually Impaired/Deaf and Hard of Hearing endorsements required under this rule to meet the highest requirements in the State applicable to a specific profession or discipline required by the IDEA.

  (6) Preschool Special Education (Birth-Age 5) license holders who teach children who are hearing impaired (Birth-Age 5) or vision impaired (Birth-Age 5), or both, in self-contained, categorical classrooms shall hold an endorsement for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Birth-Age 5) or Blind and Visually Impaired (Birth-Age 5), or both.