R277.  Education, Administration.
R277-511.  Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) Level 1 License.
R277-511-1.  Authority and Purpose.
	(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-6-201(2)(a), which allows the board by rule, to rank, endorse, or otherwise to:
	(i)  classify licenses; and
	(ii)  establish the criteria for an educator to obtain or retain a license; and
	(c)  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.
	(2)  The purpose of this rule is to provide standards and procedures:
	(a)  for an applicant to obtain an Academic Pathway to Teaching (APT) level 1 license; and
	(b)  for an APT level 1 license holder to obtain a level 2 license.

R277-511-2.  Definitions.
	(1)(a)  "APT level 1 license" means a license obtained through the academic path to teaching process as described in this rule.
	(b)  "APT level 1 license" includes:
	(i)  an APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration; and
	(ii)  an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement.
	(2)  "LEA administrator" means a school building principal or LEA administrator who:
	(i)  supervises an APT level 1 licensee; and
	(ii)  may recommend the APT level 1 licensee for Level 2 licensure to the Superintendent as described in Section R277-511-7.
	(3)  "Teacher leader" means a teacher designated as a teacher leader as described in R277-513.

R277-511-3.  Superintendent Responsibilities.
	(1)  The Superintendent shall create an application for an APT level 1 license and publish the application on the Board's website.
	(2)  The Superintendent shall approve an application for an APT level 1 license if the applicant meets all of the requirements of Section R277-511-4 or Section R277-511-5.

R277-511-4.  Requirements for an APT Level 1 License with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration.
	(1)  To qualify for an APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration, an applicant shall:
	(a)  complete the application described in Subsection R277-511-3(1);
	(b)  have completed a bachelor's degree or higher;
	(c)  submit postsecondary transcripts to the Superintendent;
	(d)  receive a passing score on the Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects Praxis Assessment;
	(e)  complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;
	(f)  successfully pass a background check as described in R277-516; and
	(g)  pay the applicable licensing fee.
	(2)  An APT level 1 license with an Elementary (K-6) Concentration is:
	(a)  equivalent to the Level 1 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations; and
	(b)  subject to the same renewal procedures.

R277-511-5.  Requirements for an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement.
	(1)  To qualify for an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement, an applicant shall:
	(a)  complete the application described in Subsection R277-511-3(1);
	(b)  have completed a bachelor's degree or higher;
	(c)  submit postsecondary transcripts to the Superintendent;
	(d)  receive a passing score on one of the following that is related to the subject, field, or area to which they are seeking an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement:
	(i)  a Praxis II Subject Assessment; or
	(ii)  another Board-approved content knowledge assessment;
	(e)  complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;
	(f)  successfully pass a background check as described in R277-516; and
	(g)  pay the applicable licensing fee.
	(2)  Except as provided in Subsection (3), an APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement is:
	(a)  equivalent to the Level 1 license as described in R277-500 and R277-502 as to length and professional development expectations; and
	(b)  subject to the same renewal procedures.
	(3)  An APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration and an Endorsement holder may only seek an additional endorsement after the APT Level 1 License with a Secondary (6-12) Concentration holder obtains a level 2 license.

R277-511-6.  Requirements for an LEA that Employs an APT Level 1 License Holder.
	If an LEA employs an APT level 1 license holder, the LEA shall:
	(1)  assign a teacher leader to serve as a mentor to the APT level 1 license holder;
	(2)  prepare the APT level 1 license holder to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards described in R277-530-5;
	(3)  prepare a mentoring plan for each APT Level 1 license holder; and
	(4)  provide an APT Level 1 license holder's mentoring plan to the Superintendent upon request.

R277-511-7.  Requirements for an APT Level 1 License Holder to Gain a Level 2 License.
	(1)  To receive a Level 2 license, an APT level 1 license holder shall:
	(a)(i)  complete three years of teaching full-time in one LEA under supervision of the teacher leader mentor and LEA administrator; or
	(ii)  complete four years of at least 0.4 FTE teaching in one LEA under the supervision of a teacher leader mentor and the LEA administrator;
	(b)  satisfy all Entry Years Enhancement for Quality Teaching requirements designated in R277-522;
	(c)  complete the requirements of the APT Level 1 license holder's mentoring plan;
	(d)  complete any additional requirements of the recommending LEA, including coursework and professional learning that the recommending LEA requires;
	(e)  complete the educator ethics review on the Board's website;
	(f)  renew the educator's background check as required in R277-516; and
	(g)  obtain a recommendation from the LEA administrator; and
	(h)  pay applicable licensing fees.
	(2)(a)  An APT level 1 license holder seeking a level 2 license may request a one year extension of the APT level 1 license at the recommendation of the LEA Administrator up to a maximum of two one-year extensions.
	(b)  Unless required by the recommending LEA, the years of teaching in Subsection (1)(a) do not need to be consecutive.

R277-511-8.  Sunset Clause.
	(1)  This rule will sunset on June 30, 2020.
	(2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (1), the Superintendent shall convert the license of an educator with an APT Level 1 License prior to June 30, 2020, with a current teaching position in a Utah LEA, to an Associate Educator license.
	(3)  An educator with a converted license under Subsection (2) may receive a Professional Educator license by completing the requirements of Section R277-511-7.
	(4)(a)  The Superintendent may not accept new applications for APT licenses after September 1, 2019.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(a), the Superintendent may accept an application for an APT license, for an applicant with a position in a Utah LEA through November 1, 2019.

KEY:  Academic Pathway to Teaching, educator licensure
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment:  July 2, 2019
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law:  Art X Sec 3; 53E-6-201; 53E-3-401(4)