H.B. 84

1

TEACHER LICENSING
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies requirements and provisions related to a competency-based teaching
10 license.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . provides that a local school district or charter school may request a
14 competency-based teaching license for an individual who has equivalent credentials
15 to an academic degree, as determined by the local school district or charter school;
16 . modifies provisions related to converting a competency-based license to a level 1
17 teaching license; and
18 . makes technical changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 53A-6-104.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 19
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Section 53A-6-104.5 is amended to read:
29 53A-6-104.5. Licensing by competency.
30 (1) A competency-based license to teach [may] shall be issued based on the
31 demonstrated competence of a teacher as provided in this section.
32 (2) A local school board or charter school may request, and the State Board of
33 Education shall grant, upon receipt of documentation from the local school board or charter
34 school verifying the person's qualifications as specified in this section, a competency-based
35 license to a person who meets the qualifications specified in this section and Section
36 53A-6-401 .
37 (3) A local school board or charter school may request a competency-based license if
38 the candidate meets the following qualifications:
39 (a) a license candidate who teaches one or more core academic subjects in an
40 elementary school shall:
41 (i) (A) hold at least a bachelor's degree; [and] or
42 (B) equivalent credentials as determined by the employing school board or charter
43 school; and
44 (ii) have demonstrated, by passing a rigorous state test, subject knowledge and teaching
45 skills in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of the basic elementary school
46 curriculum;
47 (b) a license candidate who teaches one or more core academic subjects in a middle or
48 secondary school shall:
49 (i) (A) hold at least a bachelor's degree; [and] or
50 (B) equivalent credentials as determined by the employing school board or charter
51 school; and
52 (ii) have demonstrated a high level of competency in each of the academic subjects in
53 which the teacher teaches by:
54 (A) passing a rigorous state academic subject test in each of the academic subjects in
55 which the teacher teaches; or
56 (B) successful completion, in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher
57 teaches, of an academic major, a graduate degree, course work equivalent to an undergraduate
58 academic major, or advanced certification or credentialing; or

59 (c) a license candidate who teaches subjects other than a core academic subject in an
60 elementary, middle, or high school shall:
61 (i) (A) hold a bachelor's degree, associate's degree, or skill certification; [and] or
62 (B) equivalent credentials as determined by the employing school board or charter
63 school; and
64 (ii) have skills, talents, or abilities, as evaluated by the employing entity, that make the
65 person suited for the teaching position.
66 (4) In determining if an individual has equivalent credentials under Subsection (3), an
67 employing school board or charter school may consider transcripts issued by a branch of the
68 United States Armed Forces.
69 [(4)] (5) A [school district] local school board or charter school:
70 (a) shall monitor and assess the performance of each teacher holding a
71 competency-based license; and
72 (b) may [recommend that] request, based upon the competency-based license holder's
73 training and assessment [be reviewed by the Utah State Office of Education for], and the State
74 Board of Education shall grant a level 1 license to the competency-based license holder.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-23-12 12:22 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel