Utah Board Rule
R277. Education, Administration.
R277-308. New Educator Induction and Mentoring.
R277-308-1. 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-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; and
(c) Section 53E-6-201, which gives the Board power to issue licenses.
(2) The purpose of this rule is to establish requirements for induction of new educators.
R277-308-2. Definitions.
(1) "LEA" includes, for purposes of this rule, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(2) "Mentor" means an educator with a professional educator license who is trained to advise, coach, consult, and guide the development of a new educator.
R277-308-3. LEA Induction Programs.
(1) An LEA shall provide an induction program for the LEA's licensed employees if:
(a) an educator holds an associate educator license; or
(b) an educator holds a professional educator license with less than three years experience.
(2) An LEA shall provide an induction program for at least three years for employees with an LEA-specific educator license.
(3) An induction program under this rule shall include, at a minimum:
(a) a plan for on-going support and development of an educator, which may include reflective goal setting, implementation of action steps, and evaluation of outcomes that lead to refinement in instructional practice;
(b) LEA support in meeting the requirements of a professional license for an individual who holds an associate license;
(c) mentor observation and feedback for each educator beginning early in the program;
(d) principal observation and feedback for each educator as required by Rule R277-533; and
(e) assistance in meeting the pedagogical requirements described in Subsection R277-301-5(5).
(4) An induction plan under Subsection (1) shall provide a new educator with a trained mentor educator with a professional educator license.
(5) A trained mentor educator under Subsection (3) shall assist the educator to meet the Utah Effective Educator Standards established in Rule R277-330.
(6) A trained mentor educator may not have responsibility to evaluate a new educator for whom the educator acts as mentor.
(7) An LEA and a Utah approved education preparation program may partner in implementing the induction program required by Subsection (1).
(8) The Superintendent shall:
(a) develop a model induction program, including model competencies for mentors;
(b) provide training for mentors based on the competencies developed in accordance with Subsection (8)(a);
(c) provide training for principals to oversee and support mentor training; and
(d) facilitate the sharing of best practices among LEAs.
KEY: new educators, mentors, programs
Date of Last Change: April 9, 2024
Notice of Continuation: February 5, 2024
Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53E-3-401(4); 53E-
6-201
Jordan School District, in a desire to facilitate the professional growth, enculturation, and retention of its new educators and to comply with Utah law, has a Mentor Teacher Program that requires school principals to assign their provisional educators a trained mentor. A provisional educator is a teacher who either holds a Professional Utah license with less than three years of experience or has an Associate license. The mentor will sign a contract acknowledging their mentoring responsibilities.