State considers making teachers pay more in licensing fees

Utah teachers might have to pay more for licenses or beefed-up credentials.

That's what a new state law would require the State Office of Education to do — or would it?

The law says teacher licensing has to be self-sufficient. Right now, the state subsidizes it by $419,000 — funding that could end next school year.

So state education officials drafted a proposal to pass the costs to teachers via fee hikes, based on how much each item takes, effort-wise.

New teachers would pay $149 for licensing and background check fees, compared to the current $120. Making endorsements official now cost nothing; they would cost up to $65. License renewal would cost $80 instead of $15 for active teachers.

And those seeking to change careers and go into teaching by jumping through hoops other than college would pay $100 instead of $45 for an application, and $455 instead of $100 for the state evaluation.

Board member John Pingree feared big fees could deter people from becoming teachers at a time of shortage. Colleagues questioned whether the state office could cut licensing costs.

Utah Education Association President Pat Rusk noted teachers keep files on their professional development to get relicensed, but the actual procedure consists of signing a paper with their principals and filing it with the state.

"That's why I'm having a hard time explaining to teachers why that (would be) $80," she said.

Perhaps the state could seek one-time money to sustain the subsidy next year, then examine cost-cutting measures, board members said.

The matter will be discussed at the Legislature, perhaps within a couple of weeks, and by the state school board again next month.

In other news, the state school board is putting together a panel to examine issues of teacher quality.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com