Florida Senate - 2020                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 1220
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì535638FÎ535638                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
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       The Committee on Education (Diaz) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
    6  (5) of section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
    7         1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
    8         (3) INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—A student is eligible
    9  for a Family Empowerment Scholarship under this section if the
   10  student meets the following criteria:
   11         (b)1. The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten or
   12  has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
   13  public school; or
   14         2.Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the student
   15  received a scholarship pursuant to s. 1002.395 during the
   16  previous school year and, before initial receipt of such
   17  scholarship, spent the prior school year in attendance at a
   18  Florida public school.
   19  
   20  For purposes of this paragraph, the term prior school year in
   21  attendance means that the student was enrolled and reported by
   22  a school district for funding during the preceding October and
   23  February Florida Education Finance Program surveys in
   24  kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
   25  Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
   26  under the Florida Education Finance Program. However, a
   27  dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces
   28  who transfers to a school in this state from out of state or
   29  from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent change of
   30  station orders or a foster child is exempt from the prior public
   31  school attendance requirement under this paragraph, but must
   32  meet the other eligibility requirements specified under this
   33  section to participate in the program.
   34         (5) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
   35  a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
   36         (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not limited
   37  to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the College
   38  Preparatory Boarding Academy, a developmental research school
   39  authorized under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized
   40  under this chapter;
   41         (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
   42  providing educational services to youth in a Department of
   43  Juvenile Justice commitment program;
   44         (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
   45  this chapter;
   46         (d) Participating in a home education program as defined in
   47  s. 1002.01(1);
   48         (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
   49  s. 1002.43; or
   50         (f) Participating in a virtual school, correspondence
   51  school, or distance learning program that receives state funding
   52  pursuant to the student’s participation, unless the
   53  participation is limited to no more than two courses per school
   54  year.
   55         Section 2. Subsection (3) and paragraph (e) of subsection
   56  (6) of section 1002.395, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   57         1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
   58         (3) PROGRAM; INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
   59         (a) The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is
   60  established.
   61         (b) A student is eligible for a Florida tax credit
   62  scholarship under this section if the student meets one or more
   63  of the following criteria:
   64         1. The student is on the direct certification list or the
   65  student’s household income level does not exceed 300 185 percent
   66  of the federal poverty level; or
   67         2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous
   68  state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home
   69  care as defined in s. 39.01.
   70         3. The student’s household income level is greater than 185
   71  percent of the federal poverty level but does not exceed 260
   72  percent of the federal poverty level.
   73  
   74  Priority must be given to students whose household income levels
   75  do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who
   76  are in foster care or out-of-home care. A student who initially
   77  receives a scholarship based on eligibility under this paragraph
   78  subparagraph (b)2. remains eligible to participate until he or
   79  she the student graduates from high school or attains the age of
   80  21 years, whichever occurs first, regardless of the student’s
   81  household income level. A student who initially received a
   82  scholarship based on income eligibility before the 2019-2020
   83  school year remains eligible to participate until he or she
   84  graduates from high school, attains the age of 21 years, or the
   85  student’s household income level exceeds 260 percent of the
   86  federal poverty level, whichever occurs first. A sibling of a
   87  student who is participating in the scholarship program under
   88  this subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student
   89  resides in the same household as the sibling.
   90         (6) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDING
   91  ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding
   92  organization:
   93         (e) Must give first priority to eligible students who
   94  received a scholarship from an eligible nonprofit scholarship
   95  funding organization or from the State of Florida during the
   96  previous school year. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, an
   97  eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization shall give
   98  priority to new applicants whose household income levels do not
   99  exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who are in
  100  foster care or out-of-home care.
  101  
  102  Information and documentation provided to the Department of
  103  Education and the Auditor General relating to the identity of a
  104  taxpayer that provides an eligible contribution under this
  105  section shall remain confidential at all times in accordance
  106  with s. 213.053.
  107         Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  108  1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (b) of
  109  subsection (3) of that section is amended, paragraphs (d) and
  110  (e) of subsection (3) of that section are added, and subsection
  111  (4) of that section is amended, to read:
  112         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
  113  teacher preparation programs.—
  114         (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
  115         (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
  116  state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
  117  not limited to, the following:
  118         1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
  119  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
  120         2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
  121  curricula and instruction.
  122         3. Evidence-based Scientifically researched and evidence
  123  based reading instructional strategies that improve reading
  124  performance for all students, including explicit, systematic,
  125  and sequential approaches to teaching phonemic awareness,
  126  phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension and
  127  multisensory intervention strategies.
  128         4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
  129         5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
  130  language learners.
  131         6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
  132  with disabilities.
  133         7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
  134  needs.
  135         8. The use of character-based classroom management.
  136         9.Mental health strategies and support.
  137         (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
  138         (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
  139  Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
  140  require students, at a minimum, to meet, at a minimum, the
  141  following as prerequisites for admission into the program:
  142         1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
  143  scale for the general education component of undergraduate
  144  studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
  145  degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
  146  from any college or university accredited by a regional
  147  accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
  148  rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
  149  State Board of Education rule.
  150         2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
  151  entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
  152  and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
  153  Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or, for a
  154  graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree from an
  155  institution that is accredited or approved pursuant to the rules
  156  of the State Board of Education.
  157  
  158  Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
  159  requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
  160  Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
  161  admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
  162  competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
  163  and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
  164  status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
  165         (d) Each program must include the opportunity for the
  166  candidate to complete coursework to obtain a required
  167  endorsement in the candidate’s chosen teaching field.
  168         (e) Each program must include, in addition to the core
  169  standards for effective education, instruction in the training
  170  required of certified instructional personnel, including, but
  171  not limited to:
  172         1.Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
  173  abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
  174         2.Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
  175         3.Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
  176  learning and performance;
  177         4.Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
  178  conflict resolution, and related areas;
  179         5.Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
  180         6.Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
  181  1012.583; and
  182         7.Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
  183  s. 1012.584.
  184         (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Continued approval of a
  185  teacher preparation program shall be based upon evidence that
  186  the program continues to implement the requirements for initial
  187  approval and upon significant, objective, and quantifiable
  188  measures of the program and the performance of the program
  189  completers.
  190         (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
  191  of the following:
  192         1. Documentation from the program that each program
  193  candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
  194  (3).
  195         2. Documentation from the program that the program and each
  196  program completer have met the requirements provided in
  197  subsection (2).
  198         3. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
  199         a. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
  200  positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
  201  available.
  202         b. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
  203  instructional positions in Florida public schools.
  204         c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  205  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
  206  assessments using the results of the student learning growth
  207  formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
  208         d. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
  209  12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
  210  student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
  211  Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
  212  6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
  213  prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
  214  in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
  215         e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
  216  accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
  217         f. Production of program completers in statewide critical
  218  teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
  219         4. Results of the program completers’ survey measuring
  220  their satisfaction with preparation for the realities of the
  221  classroom.
  222         5. Results of the employers’ survey measuring satisfaction
  223  with the program and the program’s responsiveness to local
  224  school districts. The survey must include the employer’s
  225  assessment of the student’s proficiency in the use of state
  226  adopted content standards and general preparation for the
  227  classroom.
  228         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and subsection
  229  (5) of section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  230         1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
  231         (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
  232  this section may offer competency-based certification programs
  233  specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
  234  degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
  235  educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
  236  preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
  237  certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
  238  must implement a program previously approved by the Department
  239  of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
  240  institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
  241  Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
  242  educator preparation institutes.
  243         (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
  244  the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
  245  pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
  246  statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
  247  department shall approve a certification program if the
  248  institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
  249  implement a competency-based program that includes each of the
  250  following:
  251         1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
  252  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
  253         b. The use of state-adopted student content standards to
  254  guide curriculum and instruction.
  255         c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
  256  instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
  257  all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
  258  approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
  259  fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
  260  strategies.
  261         d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
  262         e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
  263  language learners.
  264         f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
  265  disabilities.
  266         g. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
  267  needs.
  268         h. The use of character-based classroom management.
  269         2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
  270  certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
  271  teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
  272  certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
  273  competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
  274         3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
  275  subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
  276  population of students in a variety of challenging environments,
  277  including, but not limited to, high-poverty schools, urban
  278  schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified
  279  educators.
  280         4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
  281  procedures required for participants who complete the program to
  282  meet any requirements related to the background screening
  283  pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
  284  certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
  285         5.The opportunity for a candidate to complete coursework
  286  to obtain a required endorsement in the candidate’s chosen
  287  teaching field.
  288         6. In addition to the core standards for effective
  289  education, instruction in the training required of certified
  290  instructional personnel, including, but not limited to:
  291         a.Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
  292  abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
  293         b.Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
  294         c.Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
  295  learning and performance;
  296         d.Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
  297  conflict resolution, and related areas;
  298         e.Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
  299         f.Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
  300  1012.583; and
  301         g.Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
  302  s. 1012.584.
  303         (5) Each institute approved pursuant to this section shall
  304  submit to the Department of Education annual performance
  305  evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
  306  including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
  307  required for teacher certification, employment rates,
  308  longitudinal retention rates, and satisfaction surveys of
  309  employers and candidates. The satisfaction surveys must be
  310  designed to measure the sufficient preparation of the educator
  311  for the student’s proficiency in the use of state-adopted
  312  content standards, the realities of the classroom, and the
  313  institute’s responsiveness to local school districts. These
  314  evaluations shall be used by the Department of Education for
  315  purposes of continued approval of an educator preparation
  316  institute’s certification program.
  317         Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1011.61, Florida
  318  Statutes, is amended to read:
  319         1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
  320  1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
  321  purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
  322         (4) The maximum value for funding a student in kindergarten
  323  through grade 12 or in a prekindergarten program for exceptional
  324  children as provided in s. 1003.21(1)(e) shall be the sum of the
  325  calculations in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as calculated by
  326  the department.
  327         (a) The sum of the student’s full-time equivalent student
  328  membership value for the school year or the equivalent derived
  329  from paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), subparagraph (1)(c)1., sub
  330  subparagraphs (1)(c)2.b. and c., subparagraph (1)(c)3., and
  331  subsection (2). If the sum is greater than 1.0, the full-time
  332  equivalent student membership value for each program or course
  333  shall be reduced by an equal proportion so that the student’s
  334  total full-time equivalent student membership value is equal to
  335  1.0.
  336         (b) If the result in paragraph (a) is less than 1.0 full
  337  time equivalent student and the student has full-time equivalent
  338  student enrollment pursuant to sub-sub-subparagraph
  339  (1)(c)1.b.(VIII), calculate an amount that is the lesser of the
  340  value in sub-sub-subparagraph (1)(c)1.b.(VIII) or the value of
  341  1.0 less the value in paragraph (a).
  342         (c) The full-time equivalent student enrollment value in
  343  sub-subparagraph (1)(c)2.a.
  344  
  345  A scholarship award provided to a student enrolled in the John
  346  M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program
  347  pursuant to s. 1002.39 or the Family Empowerment Scholarship
  348  Program pursuant to s. 1002.394 is not subject to the maximum
  349  value for funding a student under this subsection.
  350         Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1012.56, Florida
  351  Statutes, is amended to read:
  352         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  353         (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  354  demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
  355         (a)For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree, a
  356  baccalaureate degree with a major in the subject area, conferred
  357  within the last 10 years from an accredited or approved
  358  institution as defined in rule 6A-4.003, Florida Administrative
  359  Code;
  360         (b)(a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree
  361  for which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
  362  achievement of a passing score on the Florida-developed subject
  363  area examination specified in state board rule;
  364         (c)(b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
  365  examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
  366  score on a standardized examination specified in state board
  367  rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
  368  oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations
  369  administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
  370  Languages;
  371         (d)(c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
  372  examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
  373  has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
  374  subject area specialization requirements specified in state
  375  board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
  376  subject matter competencies by the district school
  377  superintendent of the employing school district or chief
  378  administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
  379  private school;
  380         (e)(d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
  381  completion of the subject area specialization requirements
  382  specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score
  383  on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a
  384  standardized examination specified in state board rule;
  385         (f)(e) Documentation of a valid professional standard
  386  teaching certificate issued by another state;
  387         (g)(f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  388  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  389  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  390  Education;
  391         (h)(g) Documentation of successful completion of a United
  392  States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
  393  program; or
  394         (i)(h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense
  395  Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
  396  
  397  School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle
  398  grades teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to
  399  obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through
  400  postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.
  401         Section 7. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (3) of
  402  section 1012.585, Florida Statutes, to read:
  403         1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
  404         (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
  405  following requirements must be met:
  406         (g)A teacher may earn inservice points only once during
  407  each 5-year validity period for any mandatory training topic
  408  that is not linked to student learning or professional growth.
  409         Section 8. Subsections (5), (6), and (9) of section
  410  1012.79, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  411         1012.79 Education Practices Commission; organization.—
  412         (5) The Commissioner of Education, with the advice and
  413  consent of the commission chair, is responsible for appointing,
  414  and may remove, commission, by a vote of three-fourths of the
  415  membership, shall employ an executive director, who shall be
  416  exempt from career service. The executive director shall have
  417  administrative duties, as determined by the Commissioner of
  418  Education. The executive director may not impact or influence
  419  decisions of the commission. The executive director may be
  420  dismissed by a majority vote of the membership.
  421         (6)(a) The commission shall be assigned to the Department
  422  of Education for administrative and fiscal accountability
  423  purposes. The commission, in the performance of its powers and
  424  duties, shall not be subject to control, supervision, or
  425  direction by the Department of Education.
  426         (b) The property, personnel, and appropriations related to
  427  the specified authority, powers, duties, and responsibilities of
  428  the commission shall be provided to the commission by the
  429  Department of Education.
  430         (9) The commission shall make such expenditures as may be
  431  necessary in exercising its authority and powers and carrying
  432  out its duties and responsibilities, including expenditures for
  433  personal services, legal services general counsel or access to
  434  counsel, and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; for
  435  books of reference, periodicals, furniture, equipment, and
  436  supplies; and for printing and binding. The expenditures of the
  437  commission shall be subject to the powers and duties of the
  438  Department of Financial Services as provided in s. 17.03.
  439         Section 9. Subsection (5) of section 1012.98, Florida
  440  Statutes, is amended, and subsections (13), (14), and (15) are
  441  added to that section, to read:
  442         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
  443         (5) Each district school board shall provide funding for
  444  the professional development system as required by s. 1011.62
  445  and the General Appropriations Act, and shall direct
  446  expenditures from other funding sources to continuously
  447  strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement
  448  and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance
  449  in the classroom. Each district school board shall calculate a
  450  proportionate share of professional development funds for each
  451  classroom teacher and allow each classroom teacher to use up to
  452  25 percent of the proportionate share on professional
  453  development that addresses the academic needs of students or an
  454  identified area of professional growth for the classroom
  455  teacher. The department shall identify professional development
  456  opportunities that require the classroom teacher to demonstrate
  457  proficiency in a specific classroom practice. A school district
  458  may coordinate its professional development program with that of
  459  another district, with an educational consortium, or with a
  460  Florida College System institution or university, especially in
  461  preparing and educating personnel. Each district school board
  462  shall make available inservice activities to instructional
  463  personnel of nonpublic schools in the district and the state
  464  certified teachers who are not employed by the district school
  465  board on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per
  466  all participants.
  467         (13) To assist school district planning for required
  468  teacher professional development, by August 1, 2020, the
  469  department shall develop a model annual and 5-year calendar that
  470  incorporates all state-required professional development. No
  471  later than January 1, 2021, school districts shall develop an
  472  annual and a 5-year calendar of professional development for
  473  inclusion in the professional development system approved by the
  474  department pursuant to subsection (4).
  475         (14)The department shall develop and maintain a statewide
  476  registry of approved professional development providers and
  477  professional development activities for use by teachers in this
  478  state. The registry is intended to provide educators with high
  479  quality professional development opportunities in addition to
  480  those offered by an entity specified in subsection (1).
  481         (a) Any professional development provider seeking to be
  482  added to the registry must complete an application developed by
  483  the department. Approved providers are responsible for notifying
  484  the department of any changes to the provider or approved
  485  activities using an update form developed by the department. The
  486  approval form must include, but is not limited to, requirements
  487  that the provider specify:
  488         1. Compliance with this section.
  489         2. The alignment of professional development activities
  490  with professional development standards adopted by the state
  491  board in rule and standards adopted by the National Staff
  492  Development Council.
  493         3.Professional development activities offered by the
  494  provider.
  495         4.Qualifications of instructors for the professional
  496  development activities to be approved.
  497         (b)Providers specified in subsection (1), as well as
  498  providers approved by such entities, are not required to seek
  499  department approval to offer professional development activities
  500  and are not required to be added to the registry. However, such
  501  providers that wish to offer statewide professional development
  502  opportunities may seek department approval and be added to the
  503  registry.
  504         (c)Providers approved by the department must maintain
  505  information that includes, but is not limited to, the
  506  professional development activity, date of the activity, hours
  507  of instruction, and instructor, if applicable. The approved
  508  provider must provide such information to each participant.
  509         (d)The department shall review the professional
  510  development provider application for compliance with
  511  requirements. The department must inform the provider in writing
  512  within 90 days after submission of an application regarding the
  513  approval or denial of the provider. The approval is valid for a
  514  period not to exceed 5 years, after which the provider must
  515  reapply.
  516         1.Each school district shall accept an approved
  517  professional development activity on the registry toward meeting
  518  the requirements of s. 1002.385(3).
  519         2.The department shall determine the number of inservice
  520  hours to be awarded for completion of each specified
  521  professional development activity.
  522         (15)There is created the Professional Development Choice
  523  Pilot Program to be administered by the department for a period
  524  of 3 years, subject to legislative appropriation. The purpose of
  525  the pilot program is to provide grants to eligible teachers to
  526  select professional learning opportunities that best meet each
  527  teacher’s individual needs.
  528         (a)A teacher may use a pilot program grant for
  529  professional development approved by a school district or by a
  530  provider approved by the department pursuant to subsection (14).
  531         1.Professional development must be aligned with the
  532  standards adopted by the state board in rule and standards
  533  adopted by the National Staff Development Council.
  534         2.Training completed under this subsection must comply
  535  with and satisfy the requirements of s. 1012.585(3).
  536         3. Professional learning activities may include, but are
  537  not limited to, in-person or online training; travel and
  538  registration for conferences or workshops; college credit
  539  courses; and district professional development certification and
  540  education competency programs.
  541         (b)To be eligible for a pilot program grant, an individual
  542  must:
  543         1.Hold a professional certificate issued pursuant to s.
  544  1012.56(7)(a);
  545         2. Be employed as a classroom teacher, as defined in s.
  546  1012.01(2)(a), excluding substitute teachers, by a district
  547  school board or by a charter school; and
  548         3.Apply for a grant in a format determined by the
  549  department. The application must require an applicant to
  550  describe how the professional development activity relates to
  551  and will improve instruction in the classroom.
  552         (c)Each classroom teacher eligible under paragraph (b) may
  553  receive a reimbursement for training pursuant to paragraph (a).
  554  The reimbursement for each teacher participating in the pilot
  555  program may not exceed $500 per school year. Each classroom
  556  teacher is eligible for one grant per school year. The pilot
  557  program grants must be awarded on a first-come, first-served
  558  basis.
  559         (d)Each school district shall:
  560         1.Review a proposed professional development activity to
  561  determine alignment with district and individual professional
  562  development plans and determine the number of inservice credit
  563  hours to be awarded; and
  564         2. Approve any professional development opportunity
  565  included on the department’s registry pursuant to subsection
  566  (13).
  567         (e)The department shall:
  568         1.Maintain a registry of approved providers and
  569  professional development activities pursuant to subsection (14).
  570         2.Establish, no later than August 1, 2020, a grant
  571  application form.
  572         Section 10. Section 1012.981, Florida Statutes, is created
  573  to read:
  574         1012.981 Professional Education Excellence Resources Pilot
  575  Program.—
  576         (1)There is established the Professional Education
  577  Excellence Resources (PEER) Pilot Program, administered by the
  578  department, to provide school district flexibility to increase
  579  opportunities for professional learning, collaboration with
  580  teachers and leaders, and teacher leadership.
  581         (2) The PEER Pilot Program is established in Clay,
  582  Pinellas, and Walton Counties.
  583         (3)Participating school districts implementing the PEER
  584  Pilot Program may:
  585         (a)Extend the contract day or the contract year, or both,
  586  for participating teachers for professional development,
  587  collaboration with colleagues, or instructional coaching. A
  588  participating school district that chooses to extend the
  589  contract day or year must, before the start of the 2020-2021
  590  school year, negotiate with the certified collective bargaining
  591  unit for instructional personnel a memorandum of understanding
  592  that addresses the additional duty hours in a week or duty days
  593  in a school year and additional payments based on the salary
  594  scale of the district to teachers who participate in the pilot
  595  program.
  596         (b)Use program funds to:
  597         1.Compensate teachers who are assigned to an extended
  598  school day or school year pursuant to paragraph (a).
  599         2.Hire additional instructional personnel to provide
  600  teachers with additional planning periods or other release time
  601  to complete professional development, collaborate with
  602  colleagues, or perform other appropriate activities.
  603         3.Provide content area specialists to provide support for
  604  teachers’ individual needs and professional growth.
  605         4.Provide instructional coaches for participating
  606  teachers.
  607         5.Provide professional development opportunities.
  608         (4)School districts participating in the pilot program
  609  must collaborate with the department, postsecondary educational
  610  institutions, regional education consortia, the University of
  611  Florida Lastinger Center, or other appropriate organizations to
  612  develop high-quality online professional development
  613  opportunities accessible to instructional personnel statewide.
  614  Such online professional development must:
  615         (a)Be self-paced and available to teachers at any time.
  616         (b)Align with standards for professional development as
  617  described in state board rule.
  618         (c)Protect the private information of participants.
  619         (d)Satisfy requirements for renewal of an educator
  620  certificate.
  621         (e)Include online assessments with timely feedback to
  622  evaluate participant learning measured against program goals.
  623         (5)Participating school districts may use program funds to
  624  establish a master teacher program. The master teacher program
  625  provides accomplished teachers the opportunity to innovate and
  626  improve classroom practices, facilitate improved professional
  627  development, and improve instructional quality through
  628  collaboration with teachers and leaders. School districts shall
  629  determine the specific roles assigned to a master teacher.
  630         (a) Each master teacher program must include, but is not
  631  limited to:
  632         1. Providing release time for planning and meeting with
  633  teachers and leaders;
  634         2. Additional professional development opportunities, to
  635  include participation in local and national conferences or
  636  payments for college credit courses to increase skills or obtain
  637  a higher university degree; and
  638         3. Monetary compensation.
  639         (b)School districts may select for the master teacher
  640  program teachers who were rated highly effective in the previous
  641  school year and may determine other selection criteria, which
  642  may include, but are not limited to, information in performance
  643  evaluations, peer reviews, demonstration of content expertise,
  644  principal recommendation, or candidate interviews.
  645         (c)Each participating school district must collaborate
  646  with the department and with the University of Florida Lastinger
  647  Center to develop a master teacher academy to support
  648  instructional personnel statewide. The master teacher academy
  649  must:
  650         1. Provide recommendations for the selection, training, and
  651  support of district master teachers.
  652         2.Create a bank of online professional development tools
  653  that serve as exemplars for instructional best practices. Such
  654  content may include pedagogy, instructional delivery,
  655  professional learning communities, collaboration, personalized
  656  learning, teacher and student or parent conferencing, positive
  657  behavior supports, and using data to improve instruction.
  658         3.Provide instructional coaching for school-based leaders
  659  and principal supervisors. The content must focus on providing
  660  teachers with actionable feedback on performance.
  661         (6) Each school district participating in the PEER Pilot
  662  Program must annually, by August 1, report to the Governor, the
  663  President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
  664  Representatives, and the department on the performance of the
  665  pilot program. Each report must include, but is not limited to:
  666         (a) The use of the pilot program funds.
  667         (b) The impact of the pilot program on student achievement.
  668         (c) The impact of the pilot program on teacher annual
  669  evaluations.
  670         (d) The results of satisfaction surveys given to pilot
  671  program participants.
  672         (e) Recommendations for continuation of the pilot program
  673  and for scaling the pilot program for statewide implementation.
  674         (7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
  675  administer this section.
  676         (8) This section shall be implemented only to the extent
  677  specifically funded and authorized by law.
  678         Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1012.586, Florida
  679  Statutes, is amended to read:
  680         1012.586 Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate
  681  certificates.—A school district may process via a Department of
  682  Education website certificates for the following applications of
  683  public school employees:
  684         (1) Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a
  685  valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of the
  686  appropriate subject area testing requirements of s.
  687  1012.56(5)(b) s. 1012.56(5)(a) or the completion of the
  688  requirements of an approved school district program or the
  689  inservice components for an endorsement.
  690         (a) To reduce duplication, the department may recommend the
  691  consolidation of endorsement areas and requirements to the State
  692  Board of Education.
  693         (b) By July 1, 2018, and at least once every 5 years
  694  thereafter, the department shall conduct a review of existing
  695  subject coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary,
  696  reading, and exceptional student educational areas. The review
  697  must include reciprocity requirements for out-of-state
  698  certificates and requirements for demonstrating competency in
  699  the reading instruction professional development topics listed
  700  in s. 1012.98(4)(b)11. The review must also consider the award
  701  of an endorsement to an individual who holds a certificate
  702  issued by an internationally recognized organization that
  703  establishes standards for providing evidence-based interventions
  704  to struggling readers or who completes a postsecondary program
  705  that is accredited by such organization. Any such certificate or
  706  program must require an individual who completes the certificate
  707  or program to demonstrate competence in reading intervention
  708  strategies through clinical experience. At the conclusion of
  709  each review, the department shall recommend to the state board
  710  changes to the subject coverage or endorsement requirements
  711  based upon any identified instruction or intervention strategies
  712  proven to improve student reading performance. This paragraph
  713  does not authorize the state board to establish any new
  714  certification subject coverage.
  715  
  716  The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee
  717  not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of Education
  718  for such services. Each district school board shall retain a
  719  portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the State Board of
  720  Education. The portion sent to the department shall be used for
  721  maintenance of the technology system, the web application, and
  722  posting and mailing of the certificate.
  723         Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
  724  
  725  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  726  And the title is amended as follows:
  727         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  728  and insert:
  729                        A bill to be entitled                      
  730         An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.394,
  731         F.S.; revising initial scholarship eligibility
  732         criteria for the Family Empowerment Scholarship
  733         Program, beginning with a specified school year;
  734         providing that participation in certain virtual
  735         schools, correspondence schools, or distance learning
  736         programs does not make a student ineligible for a
  737         scholarship under the program in certain
  738         circumstances; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; revising
  739         eligibility criteria for the Florida Tax Credit
  740         Scholarship Program and applying the criteria only to
  741         initial eligibility; requiring that priority be given
  742         to students whose household incomes do not exceed a
  743         specified amount; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; requiring
  744         that the rules to establish uniform core curricula for
  745         each state-approved teacher preparation program
  746         include evidence-based reading instructional
  747         strategies and mental health strategies and support;
  748         requiring state-approved teacher preparation programs
  749         include opportunities to complete endorsements and
  750         complete training required of instructional personnel;
  751         removing admission requirements, and deleting a
  752         provision allowing teacher preparation programs to
  753         waive admission requirements for up to 10 percent of
  754         the students admitted; requiring an assessment of
  755         student proficiency is employer surveys; amending s.
  756         1004.85, F.S.; expanding requirements for the
  757         certification program of a postsecondary educator
  758         preparation institute to be approved by the Department
  759         of Education; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; providing
  760         that a certain scholarship award is not subject to the
  761         maximum value for funding a student under the Florida
  762         Education Finance Program; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
  763         providing that for a subject requiring only a
  764         baccalaureate degree, a baccalaureate degree with a
  765         major in the subject area, conferred within the last
  766         10 years, is an acceptable means of demonstrating
  767         mastery of subject area knowledge; amending s.
  768         1012.585, F.S.; specifying that teachers may earn
  769         inservice points only once during a certain time
  770         period for any mandatory training topic not linked to
  771         student learning or professional growth; amending s.
  772         1012.79, F.S.; directing the Commissioner of
  773         Education, with the advice and consent of the chair of
  774         the Education Practices Commission, to appoint an
  775         executive director who is exempt from career service
  776         and may be removed by the commissioner; specifying
  777         that the executive director will have administrative
  778         duties, as determined by the commissioner; making a
  779         technical change; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; requiring
  780         district school boards to calculate a proportionate
  781         share of professional development funds for each
  782         classroom teacher; authorizing classroom teachers to
  783         use up to a certain amount of such funds for certain
  784         purposes; requiring the Department of Education to
  785         identify professional development opportunities for
  786         classroom teachers to demonstrate proficiency in a
  787         specific classroom practice; requiring the department
  788         to create and develop a model annual and 5-year
  789         calendar of professional development by a specified
  790         date; requiring school districts to develop annual and
  791         5-year calendars of professional development for
  792         inclusion in the department’s professional development
  793         system by a specified date; requiring the department
  794         to maintain a statewide registry of approved
  795         professional development providers and professional
  796         development activities for use by teachers; requiring
  797         professional development providers to be approved by
  798         the department; specifying requirements for
  799         professional development providers; requiring the
  800         department to review professional development provider
  801         applications for compliance and to approve or deny an
  802         application within a certain timeframe; providing for
  803         provider reapplication; requiring each school district
  804         to accept an approved professional development
  805         activity for a certain purpose; requiring the
  806         department to determine the number of inservice hours
  807         to be awarded for completion of an activity; creating
  808         the Professional Development Choice Pilot Program to
  809         be administered by the department for a specified
  810         period; providing the pilot program’s purpose;
  811         authorizing the use of pilot program grants for
  812         specified purposes; providing requirements for the use
  813         of such grants; providing eligibility requirements for
  814         receiving pilot program grants; providing requirements
  815         and limits for grant disbursements; providing certain
  816         duties of each school district; requiring the
  817         department to maintain a registry of approved provider
  818         and professional development activities; requiring the
  819         department to establish an application form by a
  820         specified date; creating s. 1012.981, F.S.; creating
  821         the Professional Education Excellence Resources (PEER)
  822         Pilot Program in specified counties; authorizing
  823         school districts implementing the pilot program to
  824         engage in certain activities; authorizing school
  825         districts to use program funds for certain purposes;
  826         requiring school districts participating in the
  827         program to collaborate with the department and other
  828         entities to develop high-quality online professional
  829         development opportunities accessible to instructional
  830         personnel statewide; providing requirements for such
  831         professional online development opportunities;
  832         authorizing participating school districts to use
  833         program funds to establish a master teacher program;
  834         providing requirements for the master teacher program;
  835         requiring participating school districts to
  836         collaborate with the department and the University of
  837         Florida Lastinger Center to develop a master teacher
  838         academy; providing duties for the master teacher
  839         academy; requiring each school district participating
  840         in the PEER Pilot Program to report annually to the
  841         Governor, the Legislature, and the department on the
  842         performance of the pilot program; requiring the annual
  843         report to contain certain information; requiring the
  844         State Board of Education to adopt rules; specifying
  845         that the pilot program be implemented only to the
  846         extent specifically funded and authorized by law;
  847         amending s. 1012.586, F.S.; conforming a cross
  848         reference; providing an effective date.