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Employment Licensure

Approved: 11-8-17
Revised: 9-12-18, 8/13/20, 5/9/2024, 2/11/2025

Personnel Credentials General—

All personnel shall possess and maintain valid credentials, including required licensure and certification, before contracts are issued, duties are assigned, or payment is made from any source of funds. Failure to do so will render a contract with the Board void.

Certified Employees General—

Unless an express exception exists under law or under the rules of the Utah State Board of Education, to be employed in the South Sanpete School District in a capacity covered by the following license areas of concentration, a person shall hold a valid license issued by the Utah State Board of Education in the respective license areas of concentration:

    1.         Early Childhood;
    2.         Elementary;
    3.         Secondary;
    4.         Educational Leadership;
    5.         Career and Technical Education or “CTE”;
    6.         School Counselor;
    7.         School Psychologist;
    8.         Special Education;
    9.         Preschool Special Education;
    10.         Deaf Education;
    11.         Speech-Language Pathologist;
    12.         Speech-Language Technician;   
    13.          School Social Worker, and
    14.          Audiologist
      Utah Rules R277-301-2(6)(a) (June 7, 2023)
      Utah Rules R277-301-3(3) (June 7, 2023

The employee shall have all endorsements required by the State Board of Education for the employee’s position.

Utah Admin. Rules R277-309-3 (August 22, 2022)
Utah Admin. Rules R277-309-4 (August 22, 2022)
Utah Admin. Rules R277-311-3 (January 8, 2021)
Utah Admin. Rules R277-311-4 (January 8, 2021)

Health Care Providers—
School healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses, shall maintain appropriate licensure from the State of Utah.

LEA-Specific Policy

This policy defines the specific licensing and endorsement requirements for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) based on the conditions detailed in Utah Administrative Rule R277- 301.

The following procedures are established to clarify the qualification requirements and guidelines for issuing LEA-specific licenses and endorsements.

LEA-Specific License Eligibility Criteria: All applicants must:

  • Complete a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field or possess exceptional or specialized occupational experience, training, or expertise directly related to the area of assignment; and,
  • Complete a criminal background check, including a review of any criminal offenses, and obtain clearance in accordance with Rule R277-214; and,
  • Complete the educator ethics review detailed in Rule R277-500 within one calendar year before the application and
  • Complete the following USBE Professional Learning Modules:
  • Educator ethics;
  • Classroom management and instruction;
  • Basic special education law and instruction; and
  • Utah Effective Teaching Standards as outlined in R277-

 

This authorization is temporarily issued upon request from a district administrator for a licensed teacher (LEA, Associate, or Professional) who lacks endorsement in the area of assignment.

Approval:

The application must gain approval from the SSSD Board of Education in a public meeting no more than 60 days before submission to the State Board of Education for an LEA License and must include the following:

  • Rationale for appointing an LEA-Specific License or
  • Verification that there is a limited supply of highly qualified and suitable licensed candidates in the licensing and endorsement area, demonstrated by publicizing the position for a reasonable duration of no less than one (This is not required for applicants working less than half-time [<.5 FTE]).
  • Include an Associate Licensing Plan where applicable

Applicants holding an LEA-Specific license work under temporary (at-will) employment agreements, subject to termination at any time at the South Sanpete School District's discretion.

An LEA-specific license, along with its area or endorsement, is valid for up to three years. It is contingent upon demonstrating adequate progress in aligning with the Associate Licensing Plan, effectively implementing guidance from the Instructional Coach, and adhering to observations and recommendations from the administration. After three years, license renewal requires approval or denial from the State Board of Education.

An LEA-Specific license becomes void immediately if the educator's employment with the District ends, and the educator is not rehired for the next contract year.

The District is not authorized to issue an LEA-specific educator license in the areas of:

  • Special Education; or
  • Preschool Special

LEA-Specific License Mentoring/Learning Coach Program for Pedagogical Support: The incumbent of the LEA-Specific License must participate in the following Mentoring

Program: The District shall provide a mentoring program with a trained mentor educator who:

  • Holds a professional educator license; and
  • Is assigned as an instructional coach or in an equivalent

A District Mentor or Instructional Coach will not evaluate the educator; however, all employees, including Learning Coaches, must promptly report educator misconduct that violates the District’s Code of Conduct.

An Instructional Coach will assist the LEA-Specific Educator in meeting the Utah Effective Educator Standards established in Rule R277-530 by:

  • Helping the educator create a Professional Growth Plan (PGP);
  • Ensuring the educator has a Professional Learning Plan (PLP);
  • Working on educational strategies derived from the Personalized Learning Playbook;
  • Meeting regularly with the educator for coaching observations and feedback;
  • Documenting those meetings in a Log;
  • Reflecting, reviewing, and reassessing during an End-of-Year Review (EOYR).

The Applicant and the District will collaboratively develop an Associate Licensing Plan to:

  • Facilitate the transition from an LEA-Specific License to a Professional License;
  • Identify the relevant educational, skill, and content knowledge requirements for enrollment in a qualified educator preparation program;
  • Identify pathways and opportunities for completing a pedagogical performance assessment;
  • Develop substantial competency and knowledge necessary to support a request for the continued extension of the LEA-Specific License from the Utah State Board of Education if transitioning to an Associate License is not feasible or appropriate.