Educator Preparation: "A Whole New Game"

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has developed a state-level, IDEA compliant alternate path to special education licensure. USBE’s model identifies institutional barriers and expands opportunities for candidates to pursue a license in special education. The framework, scaling efforts, lessons learned, and real-time program adjustments will be shared. Participants will be able to: 1. Identify barriers to educator preparation and supports to improve retention of special education personnel. 2. Reflect on Utah’s experience with the development and implementation of an alternate educator preparation program. 3. Analyze the impact of Utah's innovative path to educator licensing on teacher preparation, retention and LEA satisfaction. 4. Identify at least two benefits of an alternate path to special education licensure. 5. Identify at least two educator licensing strategies that contribute to Utah's decreasing teacher shortage.