GCA - Local Education Agency (LEA)-Specific Educator Licenses
1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
1.1Under Utah Code Ann. § 53E-6-201, an individual employed in a position that requires licensure by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) must hold the license appropriate to that position. The USBE has designated the following licenses: (1) associate educator license; (2) professional educator license, and (3) LEA-specific educator license. LEA means Local Education Agency. Nebo School District is an LEA.
1.1.1Individuals who follow the traditional route of attending an educator preparation program, receiving a degree in education, and attaining what was formerly a level 1, 2, or 3 license by the USBE are now issued a professional educator license.
1.1.2Individuals who have a bachelor’s degree or higher, or who are enrolled in an educator preparation program that will result in a bachelor’s degree or higher, or who have a skill certification in a specific CTE area as established by the USBE, may now be issued an associate educator license upon satisfaction of USBE requirements. Before 2020 individuals could pursue an alternative route to licensure (ARL) or an academic pathway to teaching (APT) and teach on a letter of authorization (LOA). As of 2020 these processes are discontinued. In their place, an individual may pursue an associate educator license. An associate educator license is valid for two years (with a possible one-year extension) and may be upgraded to a professional educator license in accordance with Utah law.
1.1.3An individual who does not meet the criteria for a professional or associate educator license but meets the criteria set forth in this policy may be issued an LEA-specific educator license, license area, or endorsement. An LEA-specific license, license area, or endorsement is valid only within Nebo School District. As used in this policy, the term “LEA-specific license” means an LEA-specific educator license, license area, or endorsement.
1.2Requirements for a professional educator license and an associate educator license are found in Utah Admin. Code R277-301. Consistent with that law, this policy identifies requirements for a Nebo School District LEA-specific license.
2. APPLICATION
2.1An individual for whom an LEA-specific license is sought is referred to in this policy as a candidate. A candidate may be a current employee seeking an LEA-specific license in a new area of concentration or an individual not yet employed by the District.
2.2An LEA-specific license is issued by the USBE. A request for an LEA-specific license must be made to the USBE by the District on behalf of the candidate. A request to the District for an LEA-specific license must be made to the Department of Human Resources by the candidate’s principal. The principal must use the LEA-Specific License Application form.
2.3When the Department of Human Resources receives a request for an LEA-specific license, the Director of Human Resources will convene a committee to determine whether the requirements listed in Section 4 have been met. The committee may include the applicable Director of Elementary or Secondary Education, a content specialist in the content area for which the license is sought, a Human Resources administrator, and a representative from the Curriculum Department.
2.4If the committee determines that the candidate satisfies the requirements of Section 4, the Director of Human Resources or designee submits the request to the Nebo School District Board of Education (Board) for approval.
2.5The application must receive approval from the Board in a public meeting no more than 60 days before it is submitted to the USBE. The request for Board approval must include the rationale for the appointment of an LEA-specific license and must demonstrate an inadequate supply of highly qualified licensed/endorsed applicants in the license/endorsement area. Evidence may be gathered by posting the position for a reasonable period.
3. EXPIRATION
3.1An LEA-specific license or endorsement is valid for three years; thereafter the renewal of the license is subject to the approval or denial by the USBE.
3.2An LEA-specific license expires immediately if the educator's employment with the District ends.
4. REQUIREMENTS
4.1An LEA-specific license must include general, content knowledge, and pedagogical requirements.
4.2An educator license must include at least one area of concentration.
4.3A candidate for an LEA-specific license must demonstrate pedagogical knowledge as determined by the committee.
4.4A candidate must complete a criminal background check including review of any criminal offenses and clearance in accordance with Utah Admin. Code R277-214.
4.5A candidate is not required to have a bachelor's degree; however, if the candidate does not have a bachelor’s degree the candidate must have at least six years of directly related professional experience within the 10 years prior to the application.
4.5.1Periods of employment lasting less than one month and periods of employment before the candidate was 18 years old are not accepted for purposes of calculating the professional experience requirement.
4.5.2An associate's degree in a related area may be counted for up to two years of professional experience.
4.5.3The professional experience requirement may be waived by the committee if the candidate has passed a recognized competency examination within the past five years or holds a license directly related to the teaching assignment issued by the Utah State Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.
5. EDUCATOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT
5.1An employee with an LEA specific license must participate in the Nebo School District Mentoring Program.
5.2Within the first year of employment, the employee must complete the following training:
5.2.1Educator ethics;
5.2.2Classroom management and instruction;
5.2.3Basic special education law and instruction; and
5.2.4Utah Effective Teaching Standards described in Utah Admin. Code R277-530.
6. LICENSE AND ENDORSEMENT AREAS
6.1An LEA-specific license is limited to the following licensing areas:
6.1.1Early Childhood;
6.1.2Elementary;
6.1.3Secondary;
6.1.4Career and Technical Education (CTE);
6.1.5Speech-Language Pathologist;
6.1.6Speech-Language Technician;
6.1.7School Social Worker; and
6.1.8Communication Disorders.
6.2The District is not authorized to provide an LEA-specific educator license in the areas of special education or preschool special education.
7. DISTRICT MENTORING PROGRAM
7.1For at least the first three (3) years of employment, the District shall provide a mentoring program to each employee with an LEA-specific license. The mentoring program shall include a trained mentor educator who holds a professional educator license and, where possible,
7.1.1performs substantially the same duties as the educator, with release time to work as a mentor; or
7.1.2is assigned as an instructional coach or equivalent position.
7.2The mentor does not evaluate the educator; however, all employees, including mentors, must promptly report educator misconduct in violation of District policy.
7.3The mentor will help the employee meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards found in Utah Admin Code. R277-530 by:
7.3.1assisting the educator with a self-assessment;
7.3.2ensuring that the educator has a formal professional learning plan; and
7.3.3meeting regularly with the educator for coaching observations and feedback.
7.4The mentoring program shall include:
7.4.1a formal professional learning plan;
7.4.2support in meeting the requirements of a professional license area; and
7.4.3ongoing training on educator ethics and special education.
8. NOTICE
8.1Each school where an educator holding an LEA-specific license works shall post the following on its website:
8.1.1disclosure of the fact that the school employs individuals holding LEA-specific educator licenses, license areas, or endorsements;
8.1.2the 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
8.1.3a link to the Utah Educator Look-up tool provided by the USBE in accordance with Utah Admin. Code R277-515-7(6).