Florida Senate - 2013 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. CS for SB 1664
Barcode 541922
576-03633-13
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
(Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education instructional personnel
3 and school administrators; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.;
4 revising legislative intent; revising the requirements
5 of State Board of Education rule for uniform core
6 curricula for state-approved teacher preparation
7 programs; revising the process for initial approval of
8 state-approved teacher preparation programs; revising
9 the requirements for continued approval of state
10 approved teacher preparation programs; requiring the
11 State Board of Education to adopt rules for continued
12 approval of teacher preparation programs; requiring
13 the Commissioner of Education to determine the
14 continued approval of each program; providing
15 requirements for a report that certain public and
16 private institutions prepare regarding their teacher
17 preparation programs; requiring the Department of
18 Education to report to the Governor, the Legislature,
19 the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors,
20 the Commissioner of Education, each Florida
21 postsecondary teacher preparation program, each
22 district school superintendent, and the public the
23 results of each approved program’s annual progress and
24 the current approval status of each program; revising
25 the requirements for preservice field experience;
26 amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; revising the definition of
27 the term “educator preparation institute”; authorizing
28 a qualified private provider to seek approval to offer
29 a competency-based certification program; revising the
30 criteria for approval of preparation programs;
31 requiring the department to approve a certification
32 program under certain circumstances; revising the
33 requirements for program participants; revising the
34 criteria for continued approval of programs; revising
35 the requirements for personnel that participate in
36 field experiences; amending s. 1012.32, F.S.;
37 conforming cross-references and conforming provisions
38 to changes made by the act; amending s. 1012.55, F.S.;
39 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules
40 that allow an individual who meets specified criteria
41 to be eligible for a temporary certificate in
42 education leadership; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
43 authorizing the State Board of Education to adopt
44 rules that allow for the acceptance of college course
45 credits recommended by the American Council for
46 Education; authorizing a school district to provide a
47 professional development certification program;
48 specifying the components of the program; revising
49 requirements for demonstrating mastery of professional
50 education competence; requiring the Commissioner of
51 Education to determine the continued approval of the
52 programs; requiring the Department of Education to
53 provide a review procedure for an applicant who fails
54 a certification examination; requiring the applicant
55 to bear the actual cost in order for the department to
56 provide an examination review; amending s. 1012.585,
57 F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
58 1012.71, F.S.; renaming the Florida Teachers Lead
59 Program as the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
60 Assistance Program; providing that the calculation of
61 funds for each teacher includes local contributions;
62 requiring that a teacher’s proportionate share of
63 funds be provided by any means determined appropriate,
64 including a debit card; providing requirements for the
65 debit card; authorizing the Department of Education
66 and the district school boards to enter into public
67 private partnerships; deleting provisions relating to
68 a pilot program established for the 2009-2010 fiscal
69 year; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; authorizing rather
70 than requiring each school principal to establish and
71 maintain an individual professional development plan
72 for each instructional employee assigned to the school
73 as a seamless component to the school improvement
74 plans; providing an effective date.
75
76 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
77
78 Section 1. Section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to
79 read:
80 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
81 teacher preparation programs.—
82 (1) INTENT.—
83 (a) The Legislature recognizes that effective skilled
84 teachers make an important contribution to a system that allows
85 students to obtain a high-quality education.
86 (b) The intent of the Legislature is to require the State
87 Board of Education to maintain attain a system for development
88 and approval of teacher preparation programs which that allows
89 postsecondary teacher preparation institutions to employ varied
90 and innovative teacher preparation techniques while being held
91 accountable for producing program completers graduates with the
92 competencies and skills necessary to achieve the state education
93 goals; help all students in the state’s diverse student
94 population, including students who have substandard reading and
95 computational skills and students with limited English
96 proficiency, meet high standards for academic achievement;
97 maintain safe, secure classroom learning environments; and
98 sustain the state system of school improvement and education
99 accountability established pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
100 1008.345.
101 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
102 (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
103 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which that establish uniform core
104 curricula for each state-approved teacher preparation program.
105 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
106 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
107 not limited to, the following:
108 1. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
109 2. The state-adopted content standards. a State Board of
110 Education identified foundation in
111 3. Scientifically researched reading instruction.,
112 knowledge-based reading
113 4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
114 computational skills acquisition; classroom management;
115 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
116 language learners.
117 6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
118 with disabilities.
119 7. School safety; professional ethics; educational law;
120 human development and learning; and understanding of the
121 Sunshine State Standards content measured by state achievement
122 tests, reading and interpretation of data, and use of data to
123 improve student achievement.
124 (c) Each candidate must receive instruction and be assessed
125 on the uniform core curricula in the candidate’s area or areas
126 of program concentration during course work and field
127 experiences These rules shall not require an additional period
128 of time-to-degree but may be phased in to enable teacher
129 preparation programs to supplant courses, including pedagogy
130 courses, not required by law or State Board of Education rule
131 with the courses identified pursuant to paragraph (b).
132 (d) Before program completion, each candidate must
133 demonstrate his or her ability to positively impact student
134 learning growth in the candidate’s area or areas of program
135 concentration during a prekindergarten through grade 12 field
136 experience and must pass each portion of the Florida Teacher
137 Certification Examination required for a professional
138 certificate in the area or areas of program concentration.
139 (3) DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.—A system
140 developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with
141 postsecondary educational institutions shall assist departments
142 and colleges of education in the restructuring of their programs
143 in accordance with this section to meet the need for producing
144 quality teachers now and in the future.
145 (a) The system must be designed to assist teacher educators
146 in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and evaluating
147 programs that meet state-adopted standards. These standards
148 shall emphasize quality indicators drawn from research,
149 professional literature, recognized guidelines, Florida
150 essential teaching competencies and educator-accomplished
151 practices, effective classroom practices, and the outcomes of
152 the state system of school improvement and education
153 accountability, as well as performance measures.
154 (b) Departments and colleges of education shall emphasize
155 the state system of school improvement and education
156 accountability concepts and standards, including Sunshine State
157 Standards.
158 (c) State-approved teacher preparation programs must
159 incorporate:
160 1. Appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages
161 instruction so that program graduates will have completed the
162 requirements for teaching limited English proficient students in
163 Florida public schools.
164 2. Scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
165 literacy and computational skills instruction so that program
166 graduates will be able to provide the necessary academic
167 foundations for their students at whatever grade levels they
168 choose to teach.
169 (3)(4) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
170 (a) A program approval process based on standards adopted
171 pursuant to this subsection and subsection subsections (2) and
172 (3) must be established for postsecondary teacher preparation
173 programs, phased in according to timelines determined by the
174 Department of Education, and fully implemented for all teacher
175 preparation programs in the state. Each program shall be
176 approved by the department, consistent with the intent set forth
177 in subsection (1) and based primarily upon evidence of the
178 institution’s and the program’s capacity to meet the
179 requirements for continued approval as provided in subsection
180 (4) and by the rules of the State Board of Education
181 significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance
182 measures.
183 (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
184 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
185 require students to meet, at a minimum, the following as
186 prerequisites for admission into the program:
187 1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
188 scale for the general education component of undergraduate
189 studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
190 degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
191 from any college or university accredited by a regional
192 accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
193 rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
194 State Board of Education rule.
195 2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
196 entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
197 and perform in mathematics compute, by passing the General
198 Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination
199 or, for a graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree
200 from an institution that is accredited or approved, the College
201 Level Academic Skills Test, a corresponding component of the
202 National Teachers Examination series, or a similar test pursuant
203 to the rules of the State Board of Education.
204
205 Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
206 requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
207 Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
208 admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
209 competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
210 and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
211 status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
212 (c) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
213 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
214 provide a certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
215 procedures required for graduates to obtain educator
216 professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
217 (4)(5) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Notwithstanding
218 subsection (4), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher
219 preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program
220 approval shall result in loss of program approval. The
221 Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments
222 and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for
223 continued program approval that document the continuous
224 improvement of program processes and graduates’ performance.
225 (a) Continued approval of a specific teacher preparation
226 program shall be based upon evidence that the program continues
227 to implement the requirements for initial approval and upon
228 significant, objective, and quantifiable measures of the program
229 and the performance of the program completers.
230 (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
231 of the following:
232 1. Documentation from the program that each program
233 candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
234 (3).
235 2. Documentation from the program that the program and each
236 program completer have met the requirements provided in
237 subsection (2).
238 3. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
239 a. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
240 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
241 available.
242 b. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
243 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
244 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
245 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
246 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
247 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
248 d. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
249 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
250 student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
251 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
252 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
253 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
254 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
255 e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
256 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
257 f. Production of program completers in statewide critical
258 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07 programs at
259 each public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institution
260 within the state is contingent upon the passing of the written
261 examination required by s. 1012.56 by at least 90 percent of the
262 graduates of the program who take the examination. The
263 Department of Education shall annually provide an analysis of
264 the performance of the graduates of such institution with
265 respect to the competencies assessed by the examination required
266 by s. 1012.56.
267 (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
268 continued approval of teacher preparation programs which include
269 the program review process, the continued approval timelines,
270 and the performance level targets for each of the continued
271 approval criteria in paragraph (a). Additional criteria for
272 continued program approval for public institutions may be
273 approved by the State Board of Education. Such criteria may
274 include a must emphasize instruction in classroom management and
275 must provide for the evaluation of the teacher candidates’
276 performance in this area. The criteria shall also require
277 instruction in working with underachieving students. Program
278 evaluation procedures must include, but are not limited to,
279 program completer’s graduates’ satisfaction with instruction and
280 an employer’s satisfaction with, and the program’s
281 responsiveness to, local school districts. The Commissioner of
282 Education shall determine the continued approval of each program
283 based on the data collected pursuant to this section and the
284 rules of the State Board of Education Additional criteria for
285 continued program approval for nonpublic institutions shall be
286 developed in the same manner as for public institutions;
287 however, such criteria must be based upon significant,
288 objective, and quantifiable graduate performance measures.
289 Responsibility for collecting data on outcome measures through
290 survey instruments and other appropriate means shall be shared
291 by the postsecondary educational institutions and the Department
292 of Education. By January 1 of each year, the Department of
293 Education shall report this information for each postsecondary
294 educational institution that has state-approved programs of
295 teacher education to the Governor, the State Board of Education,
296 the Board of Governors, the Commissioner of Education, the
297 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
298 Representatives, all Florida postsecondary teacher preparation
299 programs, and interested members of the public. This report must
300 analyze the data and make recommendations for improving teacher
301 preparation programs in the state.
302 (c) Each program must prepare and submit to the Department
303 of Education Continued approval for a teacher preparation
304 program is contingent upon the results of periodic reviews, on a
305 schedule established by the State Board of Education, of the
306 program conducted by the postsecondary educational institution,
307 using procedures and criteria outlined in an institutional
308 program evaluation plan approved by the Department of Education.
309 Each institutional program evaluation This plan must incorporate
310 the criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b) and may
311 include additional data chosen by the program. The plan must
312 provide information on how the institution addresses continuous
313 program improvement and must include provisions for involving
314 primary stakeholders, such as program completers graduates,
315 public district school personnel, classroom teachers,
316 principals, community agencies, and business representatives in
317 the evaluation process. Upon request by an institution, the
318 department shall provide assistance in developing, enhancing, or
319 reviewing the institutional program evaluation plan and training
320 evaluation team members.
321 (d) Continued approval for a teacher preparation program is
322 contingent upon standards being in place that are designed to
323 adequately prepare elementary, middle, and high school teachers
324 to instruct their students in reading and higher-level
325 mathematics concepts and in the use of technology at the
326 appropriate grade level.
327 (e) Continued approval of teacher preparation programs is
328 contingent upon compliance with the student admission
329 requirements of subsection (4) and upon the receipt of at least
330 a satisfactory rating from public schools and private schools
331 that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher preparation
332 program must shall guarantee the high quality of its program
333 completers graduates during the first 2 years immediately
334 following completion of graduation from the program or following
335 initial certification, whichever occurs first. Any program
336 completer who is employed in a Florida public school during this
337 2-year period and who earns an evaluation result of developing
338 or unsatisfactory on the school district’s evaluation system
339 implemented under s. 1012.34 educator in a Florida school who
340 fails to demonstrate the essential skills specified in
341 subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional training by the
342 teacher preparation program at no expense to the educator or the
343 employer if requested by the employing school district or
344 charter school. Such training must consist of an individualized
345 plan agreed upon by the school district and the postsecondary
346 educational institution which that includes specific learning
347 outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution assumes no
348 responsibility for the educator’s employment contract with the
349 employer. Employer satisfaction shall be determined by an
350 annually administered survey instrument approved by the
351 Department of Education that, at a minimum, must include
352 employer satisfaction of the graduates’ ability to do the
353 following:
354 1. Write and speak in a logical and understandable style
355 with appropriate grammar.
356 2. Recognize signs of students’ difficulty with the reading
357 and computational process and apply appropriate measures to
358 improve students’ reading and computational performance.
359 3. Use and integrate appropriate technology in teaching and
360 learning processes.
361 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sunshine
362 State Standards.
363 5. Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom conducive
364 to student learning.
365 (e)(f)1. Each Florida public and private institution that
366 offers a state-approved teacher preparation program must
367 annually report information regarding its approved these
368 programs to the state and the general public. The report to the
369 state must include a list of candidates who are admitted to, who
370 are enrolled in, or who complete a teacher preparation program;
371 additional evidence necessary to document requirements for
372 continued approval; and data necessary to complete applicable
373 federal reporting requirements. The state reporting requirements
374 must minimize a program’s reporting burden whenever possible
375 without compromising data quality. The report to the general
376 public must include, at a minimum, the annual progress data
377 reported by the state under this paragraph, and may include
378 other information chosen by the institution or program. This
379 information shall be reported in a uniform and comprehensible
380 manner that is consistent with definitions and methods approved
381 by the Commissioner of the National Center for Educational
382 Statistics and that is approved by the State Board of Education.
383 This information must include, at a minimum:
384 a. The percent of graduates obtaining full-time teaching
385 employment within the first year of graduation.
386 b. The average length of stay of graduates in their full
387 time teaching positions.
388 c. Satisfaction ratings required in paragraph (e).
389 2. Each public and private institution offering training
390 for school readiness related professions, including training in
391 the fields of child care and early childhood education, whether
392 offering career credit, associate in applied science degree
393 programs, associate in science degree programs, or associate in
394 arts degree programs, shall annually report information
395 regarding these programs to the state and the general public in
396 a uniform and comprehensible manner that conforms with
397 definitions and methods approved by the State Board of
398 Education. This information must include, at a minimum:
399 a. Average length of stay of graduates in their positions.
400 b. Satisfaction ratings of graduates’ employers.
401
402 This information shall be reported through publications,
403 including college and university catalogs and promotional
404 materials sent to potential applicants, secondary school
405 guidance counselors, and prospective employers of the
406 institution’s program graduates.
407 (f) By January 1 of each year, the Department of Education
408 shall report the results of each approved program’s annual
409 progress on the performance measures in paragraph (a) as well as
410 the current approval status of each program to:
411 1. The Governor.
412 2. The President of the Senate.
413 3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
414 4. The State Board of Education.
415 5. The Board of Governors.
416 6. The Commissioner of Education.
417 7. Each Florida postsecondary teacher preparation program.
418 8. Each district school superintendent.
419 9. The public.
420
421 This report may include the results of other continued approval
422 requirements provided by State Board of Education rule and
423 recommendations for improving teacher preparation programs in
424 the state.
425 (5)(6) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.—All postsecondary
426 instructors, school district personnel and instructional
427 personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
428 through preservice field experience courses and internships
429 shall meet special requirements. District school boards may are
430 authorized to pay student teachers during their internships.
431 (a) All instructors in postsecondary teacher preparation
432 programs who instruct or supervise preservice field experience
433 courses or internships in which candidates demonstrate an impact
434 on student learning growth must shall have each at least one of
435 the following: specialized training in clinical supervision; a
436 valid professional teaching certificate pursuant to ss. 1012.56
437 and 1012.585; and or at least 3 years of successful teaching
438 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12.
439 (b) All school district personnel and instructional
440 personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
441 during field experience courses or internships in which
442 candidates demonstrate an impact on student learning growth must
443 have evidence of “clinical educator” training, a valid
444 professional certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, and at
445 least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
446 grade 12 and must have earned an effective or highly effective
447 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
448 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
449 system approved under s. 1012.34 successfully demonstrate
450 effective classroom management strategies that consistently
451 result in improved student performance. The State Board of
452 Education shall approve the training requirements.
453 (c) Preservice field experience programs must include
454 candidate practice provide specific guidance and demonstration
455 of the uniform core curricula specific to the candidates’ area
456 or areas of program concentration with a diverse population of
457 students in a variety of settings effective classroom management
458 strategies, strategies for incorporating technology into
459 classroom instruction, strategies for incorporating
460 scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and
461 computational skills acquisition into classroom instruction, and
462 ways to link instructional plans to the Sunshine State
463 Standards, as appropriate. The length of structured field
464 experiences may be extended to ensure that candidates achieve
465 the competencies needed to meet certification requirements.
466 (d) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in
467 cooperation with district school boards and approved private
468 school associations shall select the school sites for preservice
469 field experience activities based upon the qualifications of the
470 supervising personnel as described in this subsection and the
471 needs of the candidates. These sites must represent the full
472 spectrum of school communities, including, but not limited to,
473 schools located in urban settings. In order to be selected,
474 school sites must demonstrate commitment to the education of
475 public school students and to the preparation of future
476 teachers.
477 (7) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.—The State Board of Education
478 shall approve standards of excellence for teacher preparation.
479 These standards must exceed the requirements for program
480 approval pursuant to subsection (4) and must incorporate state
481 and national recommendations for exemplary teacher preparation
482 programs.
483 (8) NATIONAL BOARD STANDARDS.—The State Board of Education
484 shall review standards and recommendations developed by the
485 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and may
486 incorporate those parts deemed appropriate into criteria for
487 continued state program approval, standards of excellence, and
488 requirements for inservice education.
489 (9) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS.—To the extent
490 practical, postsecondary educational institutions offering
491 teacher preparation programs shall establish articulation
492 agreements on a core of liberal arts courses and introductory
493 professional courses with field experience components which
494 shall be offered at Florida College System institutions.
495 (10) SHORT-TERM EXPERIENCES AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS.
496 Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs
497 and Florida College System institutions, in collaboration with
498 school districts, may develop and implement a program to provide
499 short-term experiences as teacher assistants prior to beginning
500 a teacher preparation program or alternative certification
501 program. The program shall serve individuals with baccalaureate
502 degrees who are interested in the teaching profession. This
503 experience may be accepted for use in teacher preparation
504 programs and competency-based alternative certification
505 programs, where applicable.
506 (6)(11) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
507 necessary rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to
508 implement this section.
509 Section 2. Section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to
510 read:
511 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
512 (1) As used in this section, the term “educator preparation
513 institute” means an institute created by a postsecondary
514 institution or a qualified private provider and approved by the
515 Department of Education.
516 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
517 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
518 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
519 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
520 of the following:
521 1.(a) Professional development instruction to assist
522 teachers in improving classroom instruction and in meeting
523 certification or recertification requirements.
524 2.(b) Instruction to assist potential and existing
525 substitute teachers in performing their duties.
526 3.(c) Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
527 education and training requirements.
528 4.(d) Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to
529 become certified teachers as provided in this section in order
530 to increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
531 who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
532 not education majors.
533 (b) A private provider that has a proven history of
534 delivering high-quality teacher preparation, which is based on
535 evidence provided from other state recipients of its services
536 and data showing the successful performance of its completers
537 based on student achievement, may seek approval to offer a
538 competency-based certification program under subsection (3).
539 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
540 this section may offer competency-based alternative
541 certification programs specifically designed for noneducation
542 major baccalaureate degree holders to enable program
543 participants to meet the educator certification requirements of
544 s. 1012.56. Such programs shall be competency-based educator
545 certification preparation programs that prepare educators
546 through an alternative route. An educator preparation institute
547 choosing to offer a competency-based an alternative
548 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
549 must implement a program previously approved by the Department
550 of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
551 institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
552 Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
553 educator preparation institutes.
554 (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
555 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation an
556 alternative certification program pursuant to the requirements
557 of this subsection or issue a statement of the deficiencies in
558 the request for approval. The department shall approve a an
559 alternative certification program if the institute provides
560 sufficient evidence of the institute’s capacity to implement a
561 competency-based program that includes each of the following:
562 1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
563 Educator Accomplished Practices.
564 b. The state-adopted student content standards.
565 c. Scientifically researched reading instruction.
566 d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
567 e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
568 language learners.
569 f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
570 disabilities.
571 g. School safety.
572 2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
573 certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
574 teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
575 certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
576 competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1 Instruction
577 must be provided in professional knowledge and subject matter
578 content that includes educator-accomplished practices and
579 competencies specified in State Board of Education rule and
580 meets subject matter content requirements, professional
581 competency testing requirements, and competencies associated
582 with teaching scientifically based reading instruction and
583 strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving
584 reading among low-performing readers.
585 3.2. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
586 subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
587 population of students in a variety of settings under the
588 program must provide field experience with supervision of from
589 qualified educators.
590 4.3. The program must provide A certification ombudsman to
591 facilitate the process and procedures required for participants
592 who complete the program to meet any requirements related to the
593 background screening pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator
594 professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
595 (b) Each program participant must:
596 1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
597 1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
598 the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
599 the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
600 2. Participate in coursework and field experiences that are
601 experience that is appropriate to his or her educational plan
602 prepared under paragraph (a).
603 3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
604 or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
605 seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
606 student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
607 setting and achieving demonstrate mastery of professional
608 preparation and education competence by achievement of a passing
609 score on the professional education competency examination, the
610 basic skills examination, and the subject area examination for
611 the subject area certification which is required by state board
612 rule prior to completion of the program.
613 (c) Upon completion of all requirements for a an
614 alternative certification program approved pursuant to this
615 subsection, a participant shall receive a credential from the
616 sponsoring institution signifying that the participant has
617 completed a state-approved competency-based certification
618 program in the certification subject area specified in the
619 educational plan satisfaction of the requirements of s.
620 1012.56(6) relating to mastery of professional preparation and
621 education competence. A participant is shall be eligible for
622 educator certification through the Department of Education upon
623 satisfaction of all requirements for certification set forth in
624 s. 1012.56(2), including demonstration of mastery of general
625 knowledge, subject area knowledge, and professional preparation
626 and education competence, through testing or other statutorily
627 authorized means.
628 (d) If an institution offers an alternative certification
629 program approved pursuant to this subsection, such program may
630 be used by the school district or districts served by that
631 institution in addition to the alternative certification program
632 as required in s. 1012.56(8).
633 (4) Continued approval of each program approved pursuant to
634 this section shall be determined by the Commissioner of
635 Education based upon a periodic review of the following areas:
636 (a) Documentation from the program that each program
637 completer has met the requirements of paragraphs (3)(a)-(c);
638 (b) Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
639 1. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
640 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
641 available.
642 2. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
643 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
644 3. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
645 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
646 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
647 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
648 4. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
649 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
650 student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
651 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
652 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
653 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
654 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
655 5. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
656 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
657 6. Production of program completers in statewide critical
658 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
659 (5)(4) Each institute approved pursuant to this section
660 shall submit to the Department of Education annual performance
661 evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
662 including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
663 required for teacher certification, employment rates,
664 longitudinal retention rates, and employer satisfaction surveys.
665 The employer satisfaction surveys must be designed to measure
666 the sufficient preparation of the educator to enter the
667 classroom. These evaluations shall be used by the Department of
668 Education for purposes of continued approval of an educator
669 preparation institute’s alternative certification program.
670 (6)(5) Instructors and supervisors of field experiences in
671 which participants demonstrate an impact on student learning
672 growth for a an alternative certification program approved
673 pursuant to this section must meet the same qualifications as
674 those required in s. 1004.04(5) possess a master’s degree in
675 education or a master’s degree in an appropriate related field
676 and document teaching experience.
677 (7)(6) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
678 this section and providing approved instructional programs for
679 any of the purposes in subsection (2) are eligible for funding
680 from federal and state funds, as appropriated by the
681 Legislature.
682 (8)(7) The State Board of Education may adopt rules
683 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
684 provisions of this section, including performance targets for
685 the measures used for continued program approval described in
686 subsection (4).
687 Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
688 1012.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
689 1012.32 Qualifications of personnel.—
690 (2)
691 (d) Student teachers and, persons participating in a field
692 experience pursuant to s. 1004.04(5) s. 1004.04(6) or s.
693 1004.85, and persons participating in a short-term experience as
694 a teacher assistant pursuant to s. 1004.04(10) in any district
695 school system, lab school, or charter school must, upon
696 engagement to provide services, undergo background screening as
697 required under s. 1012.56.
698
699 Fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Law
700 Enforcement for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks
701 and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal criminal
702 records checks. A person subject to this subsection who is found
703 ineligible for employment under s. 1012.315, or otherwise found
704 through background screening to have been convicted of any crime
705 involving moral turpitude as defined by rule of the State Board
706 of Education, shall not be employed, engaged to provide
707 services, or serve in any position that requires direct contact
708 with students. Probationary persons subject to this subsection
709 terminated because of their criminal record have the right to
710 appeal such decisions. The cost of the background screening may
711 be borne by the district school board, the charter school, the
712 employee, the contractor, or a person subject to this
713 subsection.
714 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 1012.55, Florida
715 Statutes, is amended to read:
716 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
717 (1)(a) The State Board of Education shall classify school
718 services, designate the certification subject areas, establish
719 competencies, including the use of technology to enhance student
720 learning, and certification requirements for all school-based
721 personnel, and adopt rules in accordance with which the
722 professional, temporary, and part-time certificates shall be
723 issued by the Department of Education to applicants who meet the
724 standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service.
725 (b) Each person employed or occupying a position as school
726 supervisor, school principal, teacher, library media specialist,
727 school counselor, athletic coach, or other position in which the
728 employee serves in an instructional capacity, in any public
729 school of any district of this state shall hold the certificate
730 required by law and by rules of the State Board of Education in
731 fulfilling the requirements of the law for the type of service
732 rendered. Such positions include personnel providing direct
733 instruction to students through a virtual environment or through
734 a blended virtual and physical environment.
735 (c) The Department of Education shall identify appropriate
736 educator certification for the instruction of specified courses
737 in an annual publication of a directory of course code numbers
738 for all programs and courses that are funded through the Florida
739 Education Finance Program. However, the state board shall adopt
740 rules authorizing district school boards to employ selected
741 noncertificated personnel to provide instructional services in
742 the individuals’ fields of specialty or to assist instructional
743 staff members as education paraprofessionals.
744 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
745 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to allow an individual who meets
746 the following criteria to be eligible for a temporary
747 certificate in educational leadership under s. 1012.56(7):
748 1. Earning a passing score on the Florida Educational
749 Leadership Examination;
750 2. Documenting 3 years of successful experience in an
751 executive management or leadership position; and
752 3. Documenting receipt of a bachelor’s degree or higher
753 from an accredited institution of higher learning.
754
755 A person operating under a temporary certificate must be under
756 the mentorship of a state-certified school administrator during
757 the term of the temporary certificate.
758 Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2), subsection (8),
759 and paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section 1012.56, Florida
760 Statutes, are amended to read:
761 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
762 (2) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—To be eligible to seek
763 certification, a person must:
764 (c) Document receipt of a bachelor’s or higher degree from
765 an accredited institution of higher learning, or a nonaccredited
766 institution of higher learning that the Department of Education
767 has identified as having a quality program resulting in a
768 bachelor’s degree, or higher. Each applicant seeking initial
769 certification must have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade
770 point average on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of
771 study. The applicant may document the required education by
772 submitting official transcripts from institutions of higher
773 education or by authorizing the direct submission of such
774 official transcripts through established electronic network
775 systems. The bachelor’s or higher degree may not be required in
776 areas approved in rule by the State Board of Education as
777 nondegreed areas. The State Board of Education may adopt rules
778 that, for purposes of demonstrating completion of specific
779 certification requirements, allow for the acceptance of college
780 course credits recommended by the American Council for Education
781 (ACE), as posted on an official ACE transcript.
782 (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION ALTERNATIVE
783 CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
784 (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
785 school district may must provide a cohesive competency-based
786 professional development preparation alternative certification
787 program by which members of a school district’s instructional
788 staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
789 education competence requirements specified in this subsection
790 and rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must
791 hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A school district
792 that implements the program shall provide a competency-based
793 alternative certification preparation program developed by the
794 Department of Education or developed by the district and
795 approved by the Department of Education. The program shall
796 include the following components:
797 1. A minimum period of initial preparation before prior to
798 assuming duties as the teacher of record.
799 2. An option for collaboration between school districts and
800 other supporting agencies or educational entities for
801 implementation.
802 3. Experienced peer mentors. Each individual selected by
803 the district as a peer mentor must hold a valid professional
804 certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, must have earned at
805 least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
806 grade 12, and must have earned an effective or highly effective
807 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
808 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
809 system approved under s. 1012.34.
810 4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
811 district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
812 which that provides for:
813 a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
814 determine an appropriate individualized professional development
815 plan.
816 b. A summative evaluation postevaluation to assure
817 successful completion of the program.
818 5. Professional education preparation content knowledge
819 that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
820 a. The state-adopted student content standards, including
821 content literacy and mathematical practices, for each subject
822 identified on the temporary certificate Requirements specified
823 in state board rule for professional preparation.
824 b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
825 state board.
826 c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
827 progress.
828 d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities,
829 including technology-based methodologies, for teaching subject
830 content that supports the Sunshine State Standards for students.
831 e. Methodologies for teaching English language learners
832 appropriate for each subject area identified on the temporary
833 certificate Techniques for effective classroom management.
834 f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
835 of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
836 students.
837 g. Methodologies for assuring the ability of all students
838 to read, write, and compute.
839 6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
840 area and professional education competency examination required
841 by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
842 must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
843 (b)1. Each school district must and a state supported
844 public school or a private school may develop and maintain a
845 system by which members of the instructional staff may
846 demonstrate mastery of professional education competence as
847 required by law. Each program must be based on classroom
848 application of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and
849 instructional performance and, for public schools, must be
850 aligned with the district’s evaluation system approved under s.
851 1012.34 must include a performance evaluation plan for
852 documenting the demonstration of required professional education
853 competence.
854 2. The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
855 continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph,
856 based upon the department’s review of performance data. The
857 department shall review the performance data as a part of the
858 periodic review of each school district’s professional
859 development system required under s. 1012.98.
860 (c) The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
861 continued approval of programs implemented under paragraph (a)
862 based upon the department’s periodic review of the following:
863 1. Evidence that the requirements in paragraph (a) are
864 consistently met; and
865 2. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
866 a. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
867 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
868 b. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
869 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
870 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
871 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
872 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
873 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
874 student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
875 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
876 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
877 prepares teachers to work with a variety of students in Florida
878 public schools.
879 d. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
880 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
881 e. Production of program completers in statewide critical
882 teacher shortage areas as defined in s. 1012.07.
883 (9) EXAMINATIONS.—
884 (d) The department shall provide procedures for an
885 applicant who fails an examination developed by the department
886 or by an entity under contract with the department to review his
887 or her examination questions and his or her incorrectly answered
888 responses to the questions. The applicant bears the actual cost
889 for the department to provide an examination review pursuant to
890 this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
891 only an applicant who fails an examination within a score range
892 established by rule of the State Board of Education is entitled
893 to an examination review under this paragraph or to challenge
894 the validity of the examination If an applicant takes an
895 examination developed by this state and does not achieve the
896 score necessary for certification, the applicant may review his
897 or her completed examination and bring to the attention of the
898 department any errors that would result in a passing score.
899 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
900 1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
901 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
902 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
903 following requirements must be met:
904 (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
905 or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
906 of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
907 must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
908 inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
909 “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b) s.
910 1004.04(6)(b) and credits or points that provide training in the
911 area of scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
912 literacy and computational skills acquisition, exceptional
913 student education, normal child development, and the disorders
914 of development may be applied toward any specialization area.
915 Credits or points that provide training in the areas of drug
916 abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in teaching students
917 having limited proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or
918 training in areas identified in the educational goals and
919 performance standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
920 1008.345 may be applied toward any specialization area. Credits
921 or points earned through approved summer institutes may be
922 applied toward the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice
923 points may also be earned by participation in professional
924 growth components approved by the State Board of Education and
925 specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved
926 master plan for inservice educational training, including, but
927 not limited to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher
928 training activity, serving on an instructional materials
929 committee or a state board or commission that deals with
930 educational issues, or serving on an advisory council created
931 pursuant to s. 1001.452.
932 Section 7. Section 1012.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to
933 read:
934 1012.71 The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
935 Lead Program.—
936 (1) For purposes of the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
937 Assistance Lead Program, the term “classroom teacher” means a
938 certified teacher employed by a public school district or a
939 public charter school in that district on or before September 1
940 of each year whose full-time or job-share responsibility is the
941 classroom instruction of students in prekindergarten through
942 grade 12, including full-time media specialists and guidance
943 counselors serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12,
944 who are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program. A
945 “job-share” classroom teacher is one of two teachers whose
946 combined full-time equivalent employment for the same teaching
947 assignment equals one full-time classroom teacher.
948 (2) The Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act,
949 shall determine funding for the Florida Teachers Classroom
950 Supply Assistance Lead Program. The funds appropriated are for
951 classroom teachers to purchase, on behalf of the school district
952 or charter school, classroom materials and supplies for the
953 public school students assigned to them and may not be used to
954 purchase equipment. The funds appropriated shall be used to
955 supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to
956 classroom teachers. From the funds appropriated for the Florida
957 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the
958 Commissioner of Education shall calculate an amount for each
959 school district based upon each school district’s proportionate
960 share of the state’s total unweighted FTE student enrollment and
961 shall disburse the funds to the school districts by July 15.
962 (3) From the funds allocated to each school district and
963 any funds received from local contributions for the Florida
964 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the district
965 school board shall calculate an identical amount for each
966 classroom teacher, which is that teacher’s proportionate share
967 of the total amount allocated to the district from state funds
968 and funds received from local contributions. A job-share
969 classroom teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount
970 provided to a full-time classroom teacher. The district school
971 board and each charter school board shall provide each classroom
972 teacher with his or her total proportionate share by September
973 30 of each year by any means determined appropriate by the
974 district school board or charter school board, including, but
975 not limited to, direct deposit, check, debit card, or purchasing
976 card, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. If a debit card
977 is used, an identifier must be placed on the front of the debit
978 card which clearly indicates that the card has been issued for
979 the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program.
980 Expenditures under the program are not subject to state or local
981 competitive bidding requirements. Funds received by a classroom
982 teacher do not affect wages, hours, or terms and conditions of
983 employment and, therefore, are not subject to collective
984 bargaining. Any classroom teacher may decline receipt of or
985 return the funds without explanation or cause. This subsection
986 shall apply retroactively to July 1, 2007.
987 (4) Each classroom teacher must sign a statement
988 acknowledging receipt of the funds, keep receipts for no less
989 than 4 years to show that funds expended meet the requirements
990 of this section, and return any unused funds to the district
991 school board at the end of the regular school year. Any unused
992 funds that are returned to the district school board shall be
993 deposited into the school advisory council account of the school
994 at which the classroom teacher returning the funds was employed
995 when that teacher received the funds or deposited into the
996 Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program
997 account of the school district in which a charter school is
998 sponsored, as applicable.
999 (5) The statement must be signed and dated by each
1000 classroom teacher before receipt of the Florida Teachers
1001 Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds and shall include
1002 the wording: “I, ...(name of teacher)..., am employed by the
1003 ....County District School Board or by the ....Charter School as
1004 a full-time classroom teacher. I acknowledge that Florida
1005 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds are
1006 appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of
1007 purchasing classroom materials and supplies to be used in the
1008 instruction of students assigned to me. In accepting custody of
1009 these funds, I agree to keep the receipts for all expenditures
1010 for no less than 4 years. I understand that if I do not keep the
1011 receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any
1012 federal taxes due on these funds. I also agree to return any
1013 unexpended funds to the district school board at the end of the
1014 regular school year for deposit into the school advisory council
1015 account of the school where I was employed at the time I
1016 received the funds or for deposit into the Florida Teachers
1017 Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program account of the school
1018 district in which the charter school is sponsored, as
1019 applicable.”
1020 (6) The Department of Education and district school boards
1021 may, and are encouraged to, enter into public-private
1022 partnerships in order to increase the total amount of Florida
1023 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Programs funds available to
1024 classroom teachers For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Department
1025 of Education is authorized to conduct a pilot program to
1026 determine the feasibility of managing the Florida Teachers Lead
1027 Program through a centralized electronic system. The pilot
1028 program must:
1029 (a) Be established through a competitive procurement
1030 process;
1031 (b) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
1032 purchase from online sources;
1033 (c) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
1034 purchase from local vendors by means other than online
1035 purchasing;
1036 (d) Generally comply with the provisions of this section;
1037 (e) Be subject to annual auditing requirements to ensure
1038 accountability for funds received and disbursed; and
1039 (f) Provide for all unused funds to be returned to the
1040 state at the close of each fiscal year.
1041
1042 Any participation in this pilot program by school districts and
1043 individual teachers must be on a voluntary basis. The department
1044 may limit the number of participating districts to the number it
1045 deems feasible to adequately measure the viability of the pilot
1046 program. The department is not required to implement this pilot
1047 program if it determines that the number of school districts
1048 willing to participate is insufficient to adequately measure the
1049 viability of the pilot program.
1050 Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
1051 1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1052 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
1053 (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
1054 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
1055 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
1056 responsibilities include the following:
1057 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
1058 development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
1059 shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
1060 educators of Florida College System institutions and state
1061 universities, business and community representatives, and local
1062 education foundations, consortia, and professional
1063 organizations. The professional development system must:
1064 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
1065 to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
1066 for continued approval.
1067 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
1068 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
1069 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
1070 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
1071 development system, shall also review and monitor school
1072 discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
1073 parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
1074 managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
1075 indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
1076 by improved professional performance.
1077 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
1078 support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
1079 level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
1080 for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
1081 achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
1082 student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
1083 differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
1084 relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
1085 subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
1086 technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
1087 management, parent involvement, and school safety.
1088 4. Include a master plan for inservice activities, pursuant
1089 to rules of the State Board of Education, for all district
1090 employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall be
1091 updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
1092 teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
1093 use the latest available student achievement data and research
1094 to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
1095 inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
1096 inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
1097 1001.42(18). District plans must be approved by the district
1098 school board annually in order to ensure compliance with
1099 subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research-based
1100 best practices to other districts. District school boards must
1101 submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner of
1102 Education no later than October 1, annually.
1103 5. Require Each school principal may to establish and
1104 maintain an individual professional development plan for each
1105 instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
1106 component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
1107 s. 1001.42(18). The individual professional development plan
1108 must:
1109 a. be related to specific performance data for the students
1110 to whom the teacher is assigned,.
1111 b. define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
1112 improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
1113 inservice activity, and.
1114 c. include an evaluation component that determines the
1115 effectiveness of the professional development plan.
1116 5.6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
1117 personnel that address updated skills necessary for
1118 instructional leadership and effective school management
1119 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
1120 6.7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
1121 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
1122 evaluation of local professional development programs.
1123 7.8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
1124 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
1125 reach more educators at lower costs.
1126 8.9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
1127 and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
1128 to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
1129 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
1130 activities on the performance of participating educators and
1131 their students’ achievement and behavior.
1132 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.