Pub. 7 2017-2018 Issue 1

20 Teacher Licensing BY TERRYL WARNER, BOARD MEMBER - UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, DIRECTOR OF VICTIM SERVICES - CACHE COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE I n March 2007, the K-16 Al l iance, under the State B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , appointed a Special Task Force to provide recommendations on addressing the growing shortage of K-12 teachers in the State. One recommendation was to create greater flexibility in the licensing renewal procedures, accompanied by a strong public relations cam- paign. The target of the campaign would be focused on current teach- ers, teachers with expired licenses, retired teachers, and teachers from other states. Unfortunately, the proposal did not move forward and no campaign was created. Last September, the Utah State Board of Education formed a Licensing Task Force, comprised of six Board members and staff. The purposes were to eliminate bureaucracy, to establish a system that would be fair to educators and students, and to increase flexibility to attract people to the profession and to Utah. In essence, the Task Force wanted to streamline the process and remove obstacles. Interestingly, there are currently more than a dozen ways to become a teacher in Utah.