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Mentor Policy

Utah State 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 R277-530.

(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 university-based 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 between LEAs.


KEY: new educators, mentors, programs
Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: April 8, 2021
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 teachers and to comply with Utah law, has a Mentor Teacher Program that requires school principals to assign their provisional teachers a trained mentor. A provisional teacher 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. The Mentor Teacher Specialists are available for mentor training and consultation.