ENROLLED
       2013 Legislature            CS for CS for SB 1664, 1st Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20131664er
    1  
    2         An act relating to education; amending s. 1004.04,
    3         F.S.; revising legislative intent; revising the
    4         requirements of State Board of Education rule for
    5         uniform core curricula for state-approved teacher
    6         preparation programs; revising the process for initial
    7         approval of state-approved teacher preparation
    8         programs; revising the requirements for continued
    9         approval of state-approved teacher preparation
   10         programs; requiring the State Board of Education to
   11         adopt rules for continued approval of teacher
   12         preparation programs; requiring the Commissioner of
   13         Education to determine the continued approval of each
   14         program; providing requirements for a report that
   15         certain public and private institutions prepare
   16         regarding their teacher preparation programs;
   17         requiring the Department of Education to report to the
   18         Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of
   19         Education, the Board of Governors, the Commissioner of
   20         Education, each Florida postsecondary teacher
   21         preparation program, each district school
   22         superintendent, and the public the results of each
   23         approved program’s annual progress and the current
   24         approval status of each program; revising the
   25         requirements for preservice field experience; amending
   26         s. 1004.85, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
   27         “educator preparation institute”; authorizing a
   28         qualified private provider to seek approval to offer a
   29         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; providing requirements for
   37         measuring student performance in instructional
   38         personnel and school administrator performance
   39         evaluations; providing requirements for the
   40         performance evaluation of personnel for purposes of
   41         the performance salary schedule; amending s. 1008.22,
   42         F.S.; requiring each school district to establish and
   43         approve testing schedules for district-mandated
   44         assessments and publish the schedules on its website;
   45         requiring reporting of the schedules to the Department
   46         of Education; amending s. 1012.05, F.S.; conforming
   47         provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
   48         1012.32, F.S.; conforming cross-references and
   49         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   50         amending s. 1012.55, F.S.; requiring the State Board
   51         of Education to adopt rules that allow an individual
   52         who meets specified criteria to be eligible for a
   53         temporary certificate in education leadership;
   54         amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; authorizing the State Board
   55         of Education to adopt rules that allow for the
   56         acceptance of college course credits recommended by
   57         the American Council for Education; authorizing a
   58         school district to provide a professional development
   59         certification program; specifying the components of
   60         the program; revising requirements for demonstrating
   61         mastery of professional education competence;
   62         requiring the Commissioner of Education to determine
   63         the continued approval of the programs; requiring the
   64         Department of Education to provide a review procedure
   65         for an applicant who fails a certification
   66         examination; requiring the applicant to bear the
   67         actual cost in order for the department to provide an
   68         examination review; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.;
   69         conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1012.71,
   70         F.S.; renaming the Florida Teachers Lead Program as
   71         the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
   72         Program; providing that the calculation of funds for
   73         each teacher includes local contributions; requiring
   74         that a teacher’s proportionate share of funds be
   75         provided by any means determined appropriate,
   76         including a debit card; providing requirements for the
   77         debit card; authorizing the Department of Education
   78         and the district school boards to enter into public
   79         private partnerships; deleting provisions relating to
   80         a pilot program established for the 2009-2010 fiscal
   81         year; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; authorizing rather
   82         than requiring each school principal to establish and
   83         maintain an individual professional development plan
   84         for each instructional employee assigned to the school
   85         as a seamless component to the school improvement
   86         plans; providing an effective date.
   87  
   88  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   89  
   90         Section 1. Section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   91  read:
   92         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
   93  teacher preparation programs.—
   94         (1) INTENT.—
   95         (a) The Legislature recognizes that effective skilled
   96  teachers make an important contribution to a system that allows
   97  students to obtain a high-quality education.
   98         (b) The intent of the Legislature is to require the State
   99  Board of Education to maintain attain a system for development
  100  and approval of teacher preparation programs which that allows
  101  postsecondary teacher preparation institutions to employ varied
  102  and innovative teacher preparation techniques while being held
  103  accountable for producing program completers graduates with the
  104  competencies and skills necessary to achieve the state education
  105  goals; help all students in the state’s diverse student
  106  population, including students who have substandard reading and
  107  computational skills and students with limited English
  108  proficiency, meet high standards for academic achievement;
  109  maintain safe, secure classroom learning environments; and
  110  sustain the state system of school improvement and education
  111  accountability established pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
  112  1008.345.
  113         (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
  114         (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
  115  to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which that establish uniform core
  116  curricula for each state-approved teacher preparation program.
  117         (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
  118  state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
  119  not limited to, the following:
  120         1. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
  121         2. The state-adopted content standards. a State Board of
  122  Education identified foundation in
  123         3. Scientifically researched reading instruction.,
  124  knowledge-based reading
  125         4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
  126  computational skills acquisition; classroom management;
  127         5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
  128  language learners.
  129         6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
  130  with disabilities.
  131         7. School safety; professional ethics; educational law;
  132  human development and learning; and understanding of the
  133  Sunshine State Standards content measured by state achievement
  134  tests, reading and interpretation of data, and use of data to
  135  improve student achievement.
  136         (c) Each candidate must receive instruction and be assessed
  137  on the uniform core curricula in the candidate’s area or areas
  138  of program concentration during course work and field
  139  experiences These rules shall not require an additional period
  140  of time-to-degree but may be phased in to enable teacher
  141  preparation programs to supplant courses, including pedagogy
  142  courses, not required by law or State Board of Education rule
  143  with the courses identified pursuant to paragraph (b).
  144         (d)Before program completion, each candidate must
  145  demonstrate his or her ability to positively impact student
  146  learning growth in the candidate’s area or areas of program
  147  concentration during a prekindergarten through grade 12 field
  148  experience and must pass each portion of the Florida Teacher
  149  Certification Examination required for a professional
  150  certificate in the area or areas of program concentration.
  151         (3) DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.—A system
  152  developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with
  153  postsecondary educational institutions shall assist departments
  154  and colleges of education in the restructuring of their programs
  155  in accordance with this section to meet the need for producing
  156  quality teachers now and in the future.
  157         (a) The system must be designed to assist teacher educators
  158  in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and evaluating
  159  programs that meet state-adopted standards. These standards
  160  shall emphasize quality indicators drawn from research,
  161  professional literature, recognized guidelines, Florida
  162  essential teaching competencies and educator-accomplished
  163  practices, effective classroom practices, and the outcomes of
  164  the state system of school improvement and education
  165  accountability, as well as performance measures.
  166         (b) Departments and colleges of education shall emphasize
  167  the state system of school improvement and education
  168  accountability concepts and standards, including Sunshine State
  169  Standards.
  170         (c) State-approved teacher preparation programs must
  171  incorporate:
  172         1. Appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages
  173  instruction so that program graduates will have completed the
  174  requirements for teaching limited English proficient students in
  175  Florida public schools.
  176         2. Scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
  177  literacy and computational skills instruction so that program
  178  graduates will be able to provide the necessary academic
  179  foundations for their students at whatever grade levels they
  180  choose to teach.
  181         (3)(4) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
  182         (a) A program approval process based on standards adopted
  183  pursuant to this subsection and subsection subsections (2) and
  184  (3) must be established for postsecondary teacher preparation
  185  programs, phased in according to timelines determined by the
  186  Department of Education, and fully implemented for all teacher
  187  preparation programs in the state. Each program shall be
  188  approved by the department, consistent with the intent set forth
  189  in subsection (1) and based primarily upon evidence of the
  190  institution’s and the program’s capacity to meet the
  191  requirements for continued approval as provided in subsection
  192  (4) and by the rules of the State Board of Education
  193  significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance
  194  measures.
  195         (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
  196  Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
  197  require students to meet, at a minimum, the following as
  198  prerequisites for admission into the program:
  199         1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
  200  scale for the general education component of undergraduate
  201  studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
  202  degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  203  from any college or university accredited by a regional
  204  accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
  205  rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
  206  State Board of Education rule.
  207         2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
  208  entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
  209  and perform in mathematics compute, by passing the General
  210  Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination
  211  or, for a graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree
  212  from an institution that is accredited or approved, the College
  213  Level Academic Skills Test, a corresponding component of the
  214  National Teachers Examination series, or a similar test pursuant
  215  to the rules of the State Board of Education.
  216  
  217  Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
  218  requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
  219  Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
  220  admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
  221  competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
  222  and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
  223  status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
  224         (c) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
  225  Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
  226  provide a certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
  227  procedures required for graduates to obtain educator
  228  professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
  229         (4)(5) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Notwithstanding
  230  subsection (4), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher
  231  preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program
  232  approval shall result in loss of program approval. The
  233  Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments
  234  and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for
  235  continued program approval that document the continuous
  236  improvement of program processes and graduates’ performance.
  237         (a) Continued approval of a specific teacher preparation
  238  program shall be based upon evidence that the program continues
  239  to implement the requirements for initial approval and upon
  240  significant, objective, and quantifiable measures of the program
  241  and the performance of the program completers.
  242         (a)The criteria for continued approval must include each
  243  of the following:
  244         1.Documentation from the program that each program
  245  candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
  246  (3).
  247         2.Documentation from the program that the program and each
  248  program completer have met the requirements provided in
  249  subsection (2).
  250         3.Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
  251         a.Placement rate of program completers into instructional
  252  positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
  253  available.
  254         b.Rate of retention for employed program completers in
  255  instructional positions in Florida public schools.
  256         c.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  257  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
  258  assessments using the results of the student learning growth
  259  formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
  260         d.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  261  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
  262  student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
  263  Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
  264  6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
  265  prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
  266  in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
  267         e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
  268  accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
  269         f.Production of program completers in statewide critical
  270  teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07 programs at
  271  each public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institution
  272  within the state is contingent upon the passing of the written
  273  examination required by s. 1012.56 by at least 90 percent of the
  274  graduates of the program who take the examination. The
  275  Department of Education shall annually provide an analysis of
  276  the performance of the graduates of such institution with
  277  respect to the competencies assessed by the examination required
  278  by s. 1012.56.
  279         (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
  280  continued approval of teacher preparation programs which include
  281  the program review process, the continued approval timelines,
  282  and the performance level targets for each of the continued
  283  approval criteria in paragraph (a). Additional criteria for
  284  continued program approval for public institutions may be
  285  approved by the State Board of Education. Such criteria may
  286  include a must emphasize instruction in classroom management and
  287  must provide for the evaluation of the teacher candidates’
  288  performance in this area. The criteria shall also require
  289  instruction in working with underachieving students. Program
  290  evaluation procedures must include, but are not limited to,
  291  program completer’s graduates’ satisfaction with instruction and
  292  an employer’s satisfaction with, and the program’s
  293  responsiveness to, local school districts. The Commissioner of
  294  Education shall determine the continued approval of each program
  295  based on the data collected pursuant to this section and the
  296  rules of the State Board of Education Additional criteria for
  297  continued program approval for nonpublic institutions shall be
  298  developed in the same manner as for public institutions;
  299  however, such criteria must be based upon significant,
  300  objective, and quantifiable graduate performance measures.
  301  Responsibility for collecting data on outcome measures through
  302  survey instruments and other appropriate means shall be shared
  303  by the postsecondary educational institutions and the Department
  304  of Education. By January 1 of each year, the Department of
  305  Education shall report this information for each postsecondary
  306  educational institution that has state-approved programs of
  307  teacher education to the Governor, the State Board of Education,
  308  the Board of Governors, the Commissioner of Education, the
  309  President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
  310  Representatives, all Florida postsecondary teacher preparation
  311  programs, and interested members of the public. This report must
  312  analyze the data and make recommendations for improving teacher
  313  preparation programs in the state.
  314         (c) Each program must prepare and submit to the Department
  315  of Education Continued approval for a teacher preparation
  316  program is contingent upon the results of periodic reviews, on a
  317  schedule established by the State Board of Education, of the
  318  program conducted by the postsecondary educational institution,
  319  using procedures and criteria outlined in an institutional
  320  program evaluation plan approved by the Department of Education.
  321  Each institutional program evaluation This plan must incorporate
  322  the criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b) and may
  323  include additional data chosen by the program. The plan must
  324  provide information on how the institution addresses continuous
  325  program improvement and must include provisions for involving
  326  primary stakeholders, such as program completers graduates,
  327  public district school personnel, classroom teachers,
  328  principals, community agencies, and business representatives in
  329  the evaluation process. Upon request by an institution, the
  330  department shall provide assistance in developing, enhancing, or
  331  reviewing the institutional program evaluation plan and training
  332  evaluation team members.
  333         (d) Continued approval for a teacher preparation program is
  334  contingent upon standards being in place that are designed to
  335  adequately prepare elementary, middle, and high school teachers
  336  to instruct their students in reading and higher-level
  337  mathematics concepts and in the use of technology at the
  338  appropriate grade level.
  339         (e) Continued approval of teacher preparation programs is
  340  contingent upon compliance with the student admission
  341  requirements of subsection (4) and upon the receipt of at least
  342  a satisfactory rating from public schools and private schools
  343  that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher preparation
  344  program must shall guarantee the high quality of its program
  345  completers graduates during the first 2 years immediately
  346  following completion of graduation from the program or following
  347  initial certification, whichever occurs first. Any program
  348  completer who is employed in a Florida public school during this
  349  2-year period and who earns an evaluation result of developing
  350  or unsatisfactory on the school district’s evaluation system
  351  implemented under s. 1012.34 educator in a Florida school who
  352  fails to demonstrate the essential skills specified in
  353  subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional training by the
  354  teacher preparation program at no expense to the educator or the
  355  employer if requested by the employing school district or
  356  charter school. Such training must consist of an individualized
  357  plan agreed upon by the school district and the postsecondary
  358  educational institution which that includes specific learning
  359  outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution assumes no
  360  responsibility for the educator’s employment contract with the
  361  employer. Employer satisfaction shall be determined by an
  362  annually administered survey instrument approved by the
  363  Department of Education that, at a minimum, must include
  364  employer satisfaction of the graduates’ ability to do the
  365  following:
  366         1. Write and speak in a logical and understandable style
  367  with appropriate grammar.
  368         2. Recognize signs of students’ difficulty with the reading
  369  and computational process and apply appropriate measures to
  370  improve students’ reading and computational performance.
  371         3. Use and integrate appropriate technology in teaching and
  372  learning processes.
  373         4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sunshine
  374  State Standards.
  375         5. Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom conducive
  376  to student learning.
  377         (e)(f)1. Each Florida public and private institution that
  378  offers a state-approved teacher preparation program must
  379  annually report information regarding its approved these
  380  programs to the state and the general public. The report to the
  381  state must include a list of candidates who are admitted to, who
  382  are enrolled in, or who complete a teacher preparation program;
  383  additional evidence necessary to document requirements for
  384  continued approval; and data necessary to complete applicable
  385  federal reporting requirements. The state reporting requirements
  386  must minimize a program’s reporting burden whenever possible
  387  without compromising data quality. The report to the general
  388  public must include, at a minimum, the annual progress data
  389  reported by the state under this paragraph, and may include
  390  other information chosen by the institution or program. This
  391  information shall be reported in a uniform and comprehensible
  392  manner that is consistent with definitions and methods approved
  393  by the Commissioner of the National Center for Educational
  394  Statistics and that is approved by the State Board of Education.
  395  This information must include, at a minimum:
  396         a. The percent of graduates obtaining full-time teaching
  397  employment within the first year of graduation.
  398         b. The average length of stay of graduates in their full
  399  time teaching positions.
  400         c. Satisfaction ratings required in paragraph (e).
  401         2. Each public and private institution offering training
  402  for school readiness related professions, including training in
  403  the fields of child care and early childhood education, whether
  404  offering career credit, associate in applied science degree
  405  programs, associate in science degree programs, or associate in
  406  arts degree programs, shall annually report information
  407  regarding these programs to the state and the general public in
  408  a uniform and comprehensible manner that conforms with
  409  definitions and methods approved by the State Board of
  410  Education. This information must include, at a minimum:
  411         a. Average length of stay of graduates in their positions.
  412         b. Satisfaction ratings of graduates’ employers.
  413  
  414  This information shall be reported through publications,
  415  including college and university catalogs and promotional
  416  materials sent to potential applicants, secondary school
  417  guidance counselors, and prospective employers of the
  418  institution’s program graduates.
  419         (f) By January 1 of each year, the Department of Education
  420  shall report the results of each approved program’s annual
  421  progress on the performance measures in paragraph (a) as well as
  422  the current approval status of each program to:
  423         1. The Governor.
  424         2.The President of the Senate.
  425         3.The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  426         4.The State Board of Education.
  427         5.The Board of Governors.
  428         6.The Commissioner of Education.
  429         7.Each Florida postsecondary teacher preparation program.
  430         8.Each district school superintendent.
  431         9.The public.
  432  
  433  This report may include the results of other continued approval
  434  requirements provided by State Board of Education rule and
  435  recommendations for improving teacher preparation programs in
  436  the state.
  437         (5)(6) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.—All postsecondary
  438  instructors, school district personnel and instructional
  439  personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
  440  through preservice field experience courses and internships
  441  shall meet special requirements. District school boards may are
  442  authorized to pay student teachers during their internships.
  443         (a) All individuals instructors in postsecondary teacher
  444  preparation programs who instruct or supervise preservice field
  445  experience courses or internships in which a candidate
  446  demonstrates his or her impact on student learning growth shall
  447  have at least one of the following: specialized training in
  448  clinical supervision; at least 3 years of successful, relevant
  449  prekindergarten through grade 12 teaching, student services, or
  450  school administration experience; and an annual demonstration of
  451  experience in a relevant prekindergarten through grade 12 school
  452  setting as defined by State Board of Education rule a valid
  453  professional teaching certificate pursuant to ss. 1012.56 and
  454  1012.585; or at least 3 years of successful teaching experience
  455  in prekindergarten through grade 12.
  456         (b) All school district personnel and instructional
  457  personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
  458  during field experience courses or internships in which
  459  candidates demonstrate an impact on student learning growth must
  460  have evidence of “clinical educator” training, a valid
  461  professional certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, and at
  462  least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
  463  grade 12 and must have earned an effective or highly effective
  464  rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
  465  1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
  466  system approved under s. 1012.34 successfully demonstrate
  467  effective classroom management strategies that consistently
  468  result in improved student performance. The State Board of
  469  Education shall approve the training requirements.
  470         (c) Preservice field experience programs must include
  471  candidate practice provide specific guidance and demonstration
  472  of the uniform core curricula specific to the candidates’ area
  473  or areas of program concentration with a diverse population of
  474  students in a variety of settings effective classroom management
  475  strategies, strategies for incorporating technology into
  476  classroom instruction, strategies for incorporating
  477  scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and
  478  computational skills acquisition into classroom instruction, and
  479  ways to link instructional plans to the Sunshine State
  480  Standards, as appropriate. The length of structured field
  481  experiences may be extended to ensure that candidates achieve
  482  the competencies needed to meet certification requirements.
  483         (d) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in
  484  cooperation with district school boards and approved private
  485  school associations shall select the school sites for preservice
  486  field experience activities based upon the qualifications of the
  487  supervising personnel as described in this subsection and the
  488  needs of the candidates. These sites must represent the full
  489  spectrum of school communities, including, but not limited to,
  490  schools located in urban settings. In order to be selected,
  491  school sites must demonstrate commitment to the education of
  492  public school students and to the preparation of future
  493  teachers.
  494         (7) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.—The State Board of Education
  495  shall approve standards of excellence for teacher preparation.
  496  These standards must exceed the requirements for program
  497  approval pursuant to subsection (4) and must incorporate state
  498  and national recommendations for exemplary teacher preparation
  499  programs.
  500         (8) NATIONAL BOARD STANDARDS.—The State Board of Education
  501  shall review standards and recommendations developed by the
  502  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and may
  503  incorporate those parts deemed appropriate into criteria for
  504  continued state program approval, standards of excellence, and
  505  requirements for inservice education.
  506         (9) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS.—To the extent
  507  practical, postsecondary educational institutions offering
  508  teacher preparation programs shall establish articulation
  509  agreements on a core of liberal arts courses and introductory
  510  professional courses with field experience components which
  511  shall be offered at Florida College System institutions.
  512         (10) SHORT-TERM EXPERIENCES AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS.
  513  Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs
  514  and Florida College System institutions, in collaboration with
  515  school districts, may develop and implement a program to provide
  516  short-term experiences as teacher assistants prior to beginning
  517  a teacher preparation program or alternative certification
  518  program. The program shall serve individuals with baccalaureate
  519  degrees who are interested in the teaching profession. This
  520  experience may be accepted for use in teacher preparation
  521  programs and competency-based alternative certification
  522  programs, where applicable.
  523         (6)(11) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
  524  necessary rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to
  525  implement this section.
  526         Section 2. Section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  527  read:
  528         1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
  529         (1) As used in this section, the term “educator preparation
  530  institute” means an institute created by a postsecondary
  531  institution or a qualified private provider and approved by the
  532  Department of Education.
  533         (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
  534  approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
  535  approval from the Department of Education to create educator
  536  preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
  537  of the following:
  538         1.(a) Professional development instruction to assist
  539  teachers in improving classroom instruction and in meeting
  540  certification or recertification requirements.
  541         2.(b) Instruction to assist potential and existing
  542  substitute teachers in performing their duties.
  543         3.(c) Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
  544  education and training requirements.
  545         4.(d) Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to
  546  become certified teachers as provided in this section in order
  547  to increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
  548  who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
  549  not education majors.
  550         (b) A private provider that has a proven history of
  551  delivering high-quality teacher preparation, which is based on
  552  evidence provided from other state recipients of its services
  553  and data showing the successful performance of its completers
  554  based on student achievement, may seek approval to offer a
  555  competency-based certification program under subsection (3).
  556         (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
  557  this section may offer competency-based alternative
  558  certification programs specifically designed for noneducation
  559  major baccalaureate degree holders to enable program
  560  participants to meet the educator certification requirements of
  561  s. 1012.56. Such programs shall be competency-based educator
  562  certification preparation programs that prepare educators
  563  through an alternative route. An educator preparation institute
  564  choosing to offer a competency-based an alternative
  565  certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
  566  must implement a program previously approved by the Department
  567  of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
  568  institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
  569  Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
  570  educator preparation institutes.
  571         (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
  572  the Department of Education shall approve a preparation an
  573  alternative certification program pursuant to the requirements
  574  of this subsection or issue a statement of the deficiencies in
  575  the request for approval. The department shall approve a an
  576  alternative certification program if the institute provides
  577  sufficient evidence of the institute’s capacity to implement a
  578  competency-based program that includes each of the following:
  579         1.a.Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
  580  Educator Accomplished Practices.
  581         b. The state-adopted student content standards.
  582         c. Scientifically researched reading instruction.
  583         d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
  584         e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
  585  language learners.
  586         f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
  587  disabilities.
  588         g. School safety.
  589         2.An educational plan for each participant to meet
  590  certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
  591  teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
  592  certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
  593  competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1 Instruction
  594  must be provided in professional knowledge and subject matter
  595  content that includes educator-accomplished practices and
  596  competencies specified in State Board of Education rule and
  597  meets subject matter content requirements, professional
  598  competency testing requirements, and competencies associated
  599  with teaching scientifically based reading instruction and
  600  strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving
  601  reading among low-performing readers.
  602         3.2.Field experiences appropriate to the certification
  603  subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
  604  population of students in a variety of settings under the
  605  program must provide field experience with supervision of from
  606  qualified educators.
  607         4.3. The program must provide A certification ombudsman to
  608  facilitate the process and procedures required for participants
  609  who complete the program to meet any requirements related to the
  610  background screening pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator
  611  professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
  612         (b) Each program participant must:
  613         1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
  614  1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
  615  the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
  616  the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
  617         2. Participate in coursework and field experiences that are
  618  experience that is appropriate to his or her educational plan
  619  prepared under paragraph (a).
  620         3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
  621  or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
  622  seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
  623  student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
  624  setting and achieving demonstrate mastery of professional
  625  preparation and education competence by achievement of a passing
  626  score on the professional education competency examination, the
  627  basic skills examination, and the subject area examination for
  628  the subject area certification which is required by state board
  629  rule prior to completion of the program.
  630         (c) Upon completion of all requirements for a an
  631  alternative certification program approved pursuant to this
  632  subsection, a participant shall receive a credential from the
  633  sponsoring institution signifying that the participant has
  634  completed a state-approved competency-based certification
  635  program in the certification subject area specified in the
  636  educational plan satisfaction of the requirements of s.
  637  1012.56(6) relating to mastery of professional preparation and
  638  education competence. A participant is shall be eligible for
  639  educator certification through the Department of Education upon
  640  satisfaction of all requirements for certification set forth in
  641  s. 1012.56(2), including demonstration of mastery of general
  642  knowledge, subject area knowledge, and professional preparation
  643  and education competence, through testing or other statutorily
  644  authorized means.
  645         (d) If an institution offers an alternative certification
  646  program approved pursuant to this subsection, such program may
  647  be used by the school district or districts served by that
  648  institution in addition to the alternative certification program
  649  as required in s. 1012.56(8).
  650         (4) Continued approval of each program approved pursuant to
  651  this section shall be determined by the Commissioner of
  652  Education based upon a periodic review of the following areas:
  653         (a)Documentation from the program that each program
  654  completer has met the requirements of paragraphs (3)(a)-(c);
  655         (b)Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
  656         1.Placement rate of program completers into instructional
  657  positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
  658  available.
  659         2.Rate of retention for employed program completers in
  660  instructional positions in Florida public schools.
  661         3.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  662  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
  663  assessments using the results of the student learning growth
  664  formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
  665         4.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  666  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
  667  student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
  668  Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
  669  6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
  670  prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
  671  in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
  672         5. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
  673  accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
  674         6.Production of program completers in statewide critical
  675  teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
  676         (5)(4) Each institute approved pursuant to this section
  677  shall submit to the Department of Education annual performance
  678  evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
  679  including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
  680  required for teacher certification, employment rates,
  681  longitudinal retention rates, and employer satisfaction surveys.
  682  The employer satisfaction surveys must be designed to measure
  683  the sufficient preparation of the educator to enter the
  684  classroom. These evaluations shall be used by the Department of
  685  Education for purposes of continued approval of an educator
  686  preparation institute’s alternative certification program.
  687         (6)(5) Instructors and supervisors of field experiences in
  688  which participants demonstrate an impact on student learning
  689  growth for a an alternative certification program approved
  690  pursuant to this section must meet the same qualifications as
  691  those required in s. 1004.04(5) possess a master’s degree in
  692  education or a master’s degree in an appropriate related field
  693  and document teaching experience.
  694         (7)(6) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
  695  this section and providing approved instructional programs for
  696  any of the purposes in subsection (2) are eligible for funding
  697  from federal and state funds, as appropriated by the
  698  Legislature.
  699         (8)(7) The State Board of Education may adopt rules
  700  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
  701  provisions of this section, including performance targets for
  702  the measures used for continued program approval described in
  703  subsection (4).
  704         Section 3. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
  705  ss. 1012.22 and 1012.34, Florida Statutes, regarding the
  706  performance salary schedule and personnel evaluation procedures
  707  and criteria:
  708         (1) At least 50 percent of a classroom teacher’s or school
  709  administrator’s performance evaluation, or 40 percent if less
  710  than 3 years of student performance data are available, shall be
  711  based upon learning growth or achievement of the teacher’s
  712  students or, for a school administrator, the students attending
  713  that school; the remaining portion shall be based upon factors
  714  identified in district-determined, state-approved evaluation
  715  system plans. Student achievement measures for courses
  716  associated with statewide assessments may be used only if a
  717  statewide growth formula has not been approved for that
  718  assessment or, for courses associated with school district
  719  assessments, if achievement is demonstrated to be a more
  720  appropriate measure of teacher performance.
  721         (2) The student performance data used in the performance
  722  evaluation of nonclassroom instructional personnel shall be
  723  based on student outcome data that reflects the actual
  724  contribution of such personnel to the performance of the
  725  students assigned to the individual in the individual’s areas of
  726  responsibility.
  727         (3) For purposes of the performance salary schedule in s.
  728  1012.22, Florida Statutes, the student assessment data in the
  729  performance evaluation must be from statewide assessments or
  730  district-determined assessments as required in s. 1008.22(8),
  731  Florida Statutes, in the subject areas taught.
  732         Section 4. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (8) of
  733  section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, to read:
  734         1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.—
  735         (8) LOCAL ASSESSMENTS.—
  736         (d) Each school district shall establish schedules for the
  737  administration of any district-mandated assessment and approve
  738  the schedules as an agenda item at a district school board
  739  meeting. The school district shall publish the testing schedules
  740  on its website, clearly specifying the district-mandated
  741  assessments, and report the schedules to the Department of
  742  Education by October 1 of each year.
  743         Section 5. Paragraph (p) of subsection (2) of section
  744  1012.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  745         1012.05 Teacher recruitment and retention.—
  746         (2) The Department of Education shall:
  747         (p) The Department of Education shall Notify each teacher,
  748  via e-mail, of each item in the General Appropriations Act and
  749  legislation that affects teachers, including, but not limited
  750  to, the Excellent Teaching Program, the Florida Teachers
  751  Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, liability insurance
  752  protection for teachers, death benefits for teachers,
  753  substantive legislation, rules of the State Board of Education,
  754  and issues concerning student achievement.
  755         Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
  756  1012.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  757         1012.32 Qualifications of personnel.—
  758         (2)
  759         (d) Student teachers and, persons participating in a field
  760  experience pursuant to s. 1004.04(5) s. 1004.04(6) or s.
  761  1004.85, and persons participating in a short-term experience as
  762  a teacher assistant pursuant to s. 1004.04(10) in any district
  763  school system, lab school, or charter school must, upon
  764  engagement to provide services, undergo background screening as
  765  required under s. 1012.56.
  766  
  767  Fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Law
  768  Enforcement for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks
  769  and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal criminal
  770  records checks. A person subject to this subsection who is found
  771  ineligible for employment under s. 1012.315, or otherwise found
  772  through background screening to have been convicted of any crime
  773  involving moral turpitude as defined by rule of the State Board
  774  of Education, shall not be employed, engaged to provide
  775  services, or serve in any position that requires direct contact
  776  with students. Probationary persons subject to this subsection
  777  terminated because of their criminal record have the right to
  778  appeal such decisions. The cost of the background screening may
  779  be borne by the district school board, the charter school, the
  780  employee, the contractor, or a person subject to this
  781  subsection.
  782         Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 1012.55, Florida
  783  Statutes, is amended to read:
  784         1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
  785         (1)(a) The State Board of Education shall classify school
  786  services, designate the certification subject areas, establish
  787  competencies, including the use of technology to enhance student
  788  learning, and certification requirements for all school-based
  789  personnel, and adopt rules in accordance with which the
  790  professional, temporary, and part-time certificates shall be
  791  issued by the Department of Education to applicants who meet the
  792  standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service.
  793         (b) Each person employed or occupying a position as school
  794  supervisor, school principal, teacher, library media specialist,
  795  school counselor, athletic coach, or other position in which the
  796  employee serves in an instructional capacity, in any public
  797  school of any district of this state shall hold the certificate
  798  required by law and by rules of the State Board of Education in
  799  fulfilling the requirements of the law for the type of service
  800  rendered. Such positions include personnel providing direct
  801  instruction to students through a virtual environment or through
  802  a blended virtual and physical environment.
  803         (c) The Department of Education shall identify appropriate
  804  educator certification for the instruction of specified courses
  805  in an annual publication of a directory of course code numbers
  806  for all programs and courses that are funded through the Florida
  807  Education Finance Program. However, the state board shall adopt
  808  rules authorizing district school boards to employ selected
  809  noncertificated personnel to provide instructional services in
  810  the individuals’ fields of specialty or to assist instructional
  811  staff members as education paraprofessionals.
  812         (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
  813  to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to allow an individual who meets
  814  the following criteria to be eligible for a temporary
  815  certificate in educational leadership under s. 1012.56(7):
  816         1.Earning a passing score on the Florida Educational
  817  Leadership Examination;
  818         2.Documenting 3 years of successful experience in an
  819  executive management or leadership position; and
  820         3.Documenting receipt of a bachelor’s degree or higher
  821  from an accredited institution of higher learning.
  822  
  823  A person operating under a temporary certificate must be under
  824  the mentorship of a state-certified school administrator during
  825  the term of the temporary certificate.
  826         Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2), subsection (8),
  827  and paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section 1012.56, Florida
  828  Statutes, are amended to read:
  829         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  830         (2) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—To be eligible to seek
  831  certification, a person must:
  832         (c) Document receipt of a bachelor’s or higher degree from
  833  an accredited institution of higher learning, or a nonaccredited
  834  institution of higher learning that the Department of Education
  835  has identified as having a quality program resulting in a
  836  bachelor’s degree, or higher. Each applicant seeking initial
  837  certification must have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade
  838  point average on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of
  839  study. The applicant may document the required education by
  840  submitting official transcripts from institutions of higher
  841  education or by authorizing the direct submission of such
  842  official transcripts through established electronic network
  843  systems. The bachelor’s or higher degree may not be required in
  844  areas approved in rule by the State Board of Education as
  845  nondegreed areas. The State Board of Education may adopt rules
  846  that, for purposes of demonstrating completion of specific
  847  certification requirements, allow for the acceptance of college
  848  course credits recommended by the American Council for Education
  849  (ACE), as posted on an official ACE transcript.
  850         (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION ALTERNATIVE
  851  CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
  852         (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
  853  school district may must provide a cohesive competency-based
  854  professional development preparation alternative certification
  855  program by which members of a school district’s instructional
  856  staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
  857  education competence requirements specified in this subsection
  858  and rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must
  859  hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A school district
  860  that implements the program shall provide a competency-based
  861  alternative certification preparation program developed by the
  862  Department of Education or developed by the district and
  863  approved by the Department of Education. The program shall
  864  include the following components:
  865         1. A minimum period of initial preparation before prior to
  866  assuming duties as the teacher of record.
  867         2. An option for collaboration between school districts and
  868  other supporting agencies or educational entities for
  869  implementation.
  870         3. Experienced peer mentors. Each individual selected by
  871  the district as a peer mentor must hold a valid professional
  872  certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, must have earned at
  873  least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
  874  grade 12, and must have earned an effective or highly effective
  875  rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
  876  1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
  877  system approved under s. 1012.34.
  878         4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
  879  district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
  880  which that provides for:
  881         a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
  882  determine an appropriate individualized professional development
  883  plan.
  884         b. A summative evaluation postevaluation to assure
  885  successful completion of the program.
  886         5. Professional education preparation content knowledge
  887  that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  888         a. The state-adopted student content standards, including
  889  content literacy and mathematical practices, for each subject
  890  identified on the temporary certificate Requirements specified
  891  in state board rule for professional preparation.
  892         b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
  893  state board.
  894         c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
  895  progress.
  896         d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities,
  897  including technology-based methodologies, for teaching subject
  898  content that supports the Sunshine State Standards for students.
  899         e. Methodologies for teaching English language learners
  900  appropriate for each subject area identified on the temporary
  901  certificate Techniques for effective classroom management.
  902         f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
  903  of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
  904  students.
  905         g. Methodologies for assuring the ability of all students
  906  to read, write, and compute.
  907         6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
  908  area and professional education competency examination required
  909  by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
  910  must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
  911         (b)1. Each school district must and a state supported
  912  public school or a private school may develop and maintain a
  913  system by which members of the instructional staff may
  914  demonstrate mastery of professional education competence as
  915  required by law. Each program must be based on classroom
  916  application of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and
  917  instructional performance and, for public schools, must be
  918  aligned with the district’s evaluation system approved under s.
  919  1012.34 must include a performance evaluation plan for
  920  documenting the demonstration of required professional education
  921  competence.
  922         2. The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
  923  continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph,
  924  based upon the department’s review of performance data. The
  925  department shall review the performance data as a part of the
  926  periodic review of each school district’s professional
  927  development system required under s. 1012.98.
  928         (c) The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
  929  continued approval of programs implemented under paragraph (a)
  930  based upon the department’s periodic review of the following:
  931         1. Evidence that the requirements in paragraph (a) are
  932  consistently met; and
  933         2. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
  934         a.Rate of retention for employed program completers in
  935  instructional positions in Florida public schools.
  936         b.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  937  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
  938  assessments using the results of the student learning growth
  939  formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
  940         c.Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  941  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
  942  student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
  943  Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
  944  6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
  945  prepares teachers to work with a variety of students in Florida
  946  public schools.
  947         d. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
  948  accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
  949         e.Production of program completers in statewide critical
  950  teacher shortage areas as defined in s. 1012.07.
  951         (9) EXAMINATIONS.—
  952         (d) The department shall provide procedures for an
  953  applicant who fails an examination developed by the department
  954  or by an entity under contract with the department to review his
  955  or her examination questions and his or her incorrectly answered
  956  responses to the questions. The applicant bears the actual cost
  957  for the department to provide an examination review pursuant to
  958  this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
  959  only an applicant who fails an examination within a score range
  960  established by rule of the State Board of Education is entitled
  961  to an examination review under this paragraph or to challenge
  962  the validity of the examination If an applicant takes an
  963  examination developed by this state and does not achieve the
  964  score necessary for certification, the applicant may review his
  965  or her completed examination and bring to the attention of the
  966  department any errors that would result in a passing score.
  967         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  968  1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  969         1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
  970         (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
  971  following requirements must be met:
  972         (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
  973  or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
  974  of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
  975  must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
  976  inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
  977  “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b) s.
  978  1004.04(6)(b) and credits or points that provide training in the
  979  area of scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
  980  literacy and computational skills acquisition, exceptional
  981  student education, normal child development, and the disorders
  982  of development may be applied toward any specialization area.
  983  Credits or points that provide training in the areas of drug
  984  abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in teaching students
  985  having limited proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or
  986  training in areas identified in the educational goals and
  987  performance standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
  988  1008.345 may be applied toward any specialization area. Credits
  989  or points earned through approved summer institutes may be
  990  applied toward the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice
  991  points may also be earned by participation in professional
  992  growth components approved by the State Board of Education and
  993  specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved
  994  master plan for inservice educational training, including, but
  995  not limited to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher
  996  training activity, serving on an instructional materials
  997  committee or a state board or commission that deals with
  998  educational issues, or serving on an advisory council created
  999  pursuant to s. 1001.452.
 1000         Section 10. Section 1012.71, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1001  to read:
 1002         1012.71 The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
 1003  Lead Program.—
 1004         (1) For purposes of the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
 1005  Assistance Lead Program, the term “classroom teacher” means a
 1006  certified teacher employed by a public school district or a
 1007  public charter school in that district on or before September 1
 1008  of each year whose full-time or job-share responsibility is the
 1009  classroom instruction of students in prekindergarten through
 1010  grade 12, including full-time media specialists and guidance
 1011  counselors serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12,
 1012  who are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program. A
 1013  “job-share” classroom teacher is one of two teachers whose
 1014  combined full-time equivalent employment for the same teaching
 1015  assignment equals one full-time classroom teacher.
 1016         (2) The Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act,
 1017  shall determine funding for the Florida Teachers Classroom
 1018  Supply Assistance Lead Program. The funds appropriated are for
 1019  classroom teachers to purchase, on behalf of the school district
 1020  or charter school, classroom materials and supplies for the
 1021  public school students assigned to them and may not be used to
 1022  purchase equipment. The funds appropriated shall be used to
 1023  supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to
 1024  classroom teachers. From the funds appropriated for the Florida
 1025  Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the
 1026  Commissioner of Education shall calculate an amount for each
 1027  school district based upon each school district’s proportionate
 1028  share of the state’s total unweighted FTE student enrollment and
 1029  shall disburse the funds to the school districts by July 15.
 1030         (3) From the funds allocated to each school district and
 1031  any funds received from local contributions for the Florida
 1032  Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the district
 1033  school board shall calculate an identical amount for each
 1034  classroom teacher, which is that teacher’s proportionate share
 1035  of the total amount allocated to the district from state funds
 1036  and funds received from local contributions. A job-share
 1037  classroom teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount
 1038  provided to a full-time classroom teacher. The district school
 1039  board and each charter school board shall provide each classroom
 1040  teacher with his or her total proportionate share by September
 1041  30 of each year by any means determined appropriate by the
 1042  district school board or charter school board, including, but
 1043  not limited to, direct deposit, check, debit card, or purchasing
 1044  card, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. If a debit card
 1045  is used, an identifier must be placed on the front of the debit
 1046  card which clearly indicates that the card has been issued for
 1047  the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program.
 1048  Expenditures under the program are not subject to state or local
 1049  competitive bidding requirements. Funds received by a classroom
 1050  teacher do not affect wages, hours, or terms and conditions of
 1051  employment and, therefore, are not subject to collective
 1052  bargaining. Any classroom teacher may decline receipt of or
 1053  return the funds without explanation or cause. This subsection
 1054  shall apply retroactively to July 1, 2007.
 1055         (4) Each classroom teacher must sign a statement
 1056  acknowledging receipt of the funds, keep receipts for no less
 1057  than 4 years to show that funds expended meet the requirements
 1058  of this section, and return any unused funds to the district
 1059  school board at the end of the regular school year. Any unused
 1060  funds that are returned to the district school board shall be
 1061  deposited into the school advisory council account of the school
 1062  at which the classroom teacher returning the funds was employed
 1063  when that teacher received the funds or deposited into the
 1064  Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program
 1065  account of the school district in which a charter school is
 1066  sponsored, as applicable.
 1067         (5) The statement must be signed and dated by each
 1068  classroom teacher before receipt of the Florida Teachers
 1069  Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds and shall include
 1070  the wording: “I, ...(name of teacher)..., am employed by the
 1071  ....County District School Board or by the ....Charter School as
 1072  a full-time classroom teacher. I acknowledge that Florida
 1073  Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds are
 1074  appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of
 1075  purchasing classroom materials and supplies to be used in the
 1076  instruction of students assigned to me. In accepting custody of
 1077  these funds, I agree to keep the receipts for all expenditures
 1078  for no less than 4 years. I understand that if I do not keep the
 1079  receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any
 1080  federal taxes due on these funds. I also agree to return any
 1081  unexpended funds to the district school board at the end of the
 1082  regular school year for deposit into the school advisory council
 1083  account of the school where I was employed at the time I
 1084  received the funds or for deposit into the Florida Teachers
 1085  Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program account of the school
 1086  district in which the charter school is sponsored, as
 1087  applicable.”
 1088         (6) The Department of Education and district school boards
 1089  may, and are encouraged to, enter into public-private
 1090  partnerships in order to increase the total amount of Florida
 1091  Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Programs funds available to
 1092  classroom teachers For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Department
 1093  of Education is authorized to conduct a pilot program to
 1094  determine the feasibility of managing the Florida Teachers Lead
 1095  Program through a centralized electronic system. The pilot
 1096  program must:
 1097         (a) Be established through a competitive procurement
 1098  process;
 1099         (b) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
 1100  purchase from online sources;
 1101         (c) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
 1102  purchase from local vendors by means other than online
 1103  purchasing;
 1104         (d) Generally comply with the provisions of this section;
 1105         (e) Be subject to annual auditing requirements to ensure
 1106  accountability for funds received and disbursed; and
 1107         (f) Provide for all unused funds to be returned to the
 1108  state at the close of each fiscal year.
 1109  
 1110  Any participation in this pilot program by school districts and
 1111  individual teachers must be on a voluntary basis. The department
 1112  may limit the number of participating districts to the number it
 1113  deems feasible to adequately measure the viability of the pilot
 1114  program. The department is not required to implement this pilot
 1115  program if it determines that the number of school districts
 1116  willing to participate is insufficient to adequately measure the
 1117  viability of the pilot program.
 1118         Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
 1119  1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1120         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
 1121         (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
 1122  Florida College System institutions, and state universities
 1123  share the responsibilities described in this section. These
 1124  responsibilities include the following:
 1125         (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
 1126  development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
 1127  shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
 1128  educators of Florida College System institutions and state
 1129  universities, business and community representatives, and local
 1130  education foundations, consortia, and professional
 1131  organizations. The professional development system must:
 1132         1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
 1133  to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
 1134  for continued approval.
 1135         2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
 1136  instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
 1137  relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
 1138  and districts, in developing and refining the professional
 1139  development system, shall also review and monitor school
 1140  discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
 1141  parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
 1142  managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
 1143  indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
 1144  by improved professional performance.
 1145         3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
 1146  support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
 1147  level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
 1148  for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
 1149  achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
 1150  student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
 1151  differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
 1152  relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
 1153  subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
 1154  technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
 1155  management, parent involvement, and school safety.
 1156         4. Include a master plan for inservice activities, pursuant
 1157  to rules of the State Board of Education, for all district
 1158  employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall be
 1159  updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
 1160  teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
 1161  use the latest available student achievement data and research
 1162  to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
 1163  inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
 1164  inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
 1165  1001.42(18). District plans must be approved by the district
 1166  school board annually in order to ensure compliance with
 1167  subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research-based
 1168  best practices to other districts. District school boards must
 1169  submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner of
 1170  Education no later than October 1, annually.
 1171         5. Require Each school principal may to establish and
 1172  maintain an individual professional development plan for each
 1173  instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
 1174  component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
 1175  s. 1001.42(18). The individual professional development plan
 1176  must:
 1177         a. be related to specific performance data for the students
 1178  to whom the teacher is assigned,.
 1179         b. define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
 1180  improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
 1181  inservice activity, and.
 1182         c. include an evaluation component that determines the
 1183  effectiveness of the professional development plan.
 1184         5.6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
 1185  personnel that address updated skills necessary for
 1186  instructional leadership and effective school management
 1187  pursuant to s. 1012.986.
 1188         6.7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
 1189  state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
 1190  evaluation of local professional development programs.
 1191         7.8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
 1192  distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
 1193  reach more educators at lower costs.
 1194         8.9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
 1195  and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
 1196  to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
 1197  effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
 1198  activities on the performance of participating educators and
 1199  their students’ achievement and behavior.
 1200         Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.