House Bill 3939e1
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s.
3 24.121, F.S.; deleting obsolete language
4 relating to the release of lottery funds to
5 school districts; amending s. 229.58, F.S.;
6 revising provisions relating to membership of
7 school advisory councils; amending s. 229.591,
8 F.S., relating to school improvement and
9 education accountability; including
10 postsecondary institutions in the goal of
11 ensuring professional teachers and staff;
12 amending s. 231.02, F.S., relating to
13 qualifications of district school system
14 personnel; deleting certain provisions relating
15 to background check; amending s. 231.096, F.S.;
16 revising provisions relating to teaching
17 out-of-field; amending s. 231.15, F.S.;
18 providing State Board of Education duties
19 relating to teacher certification; amending s.
20 231.17, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
21 qualification for a temporary certificate;
22 providing certain decisionmaking authority of
23 the Commissioner of Education; amending s.
24 231.1725, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to
25 employment of noncertificated teachers in
26 critical teacher shortage areas; providing for
27 protection of laws for students performing
28 clinical field experience; amending s. 231.24,
29 F.S.; providing certificate renewal
30 requirements relating to teaching students with
31 limited English proficiency; amending s.
1
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 231.261, F.S.; providing rulemaking authority
2 of the Education Practices Commission; amending
3 s. 231.263, F.S.; clarifying provisions
4 relating to the recovery network program for
5 educators; amending s. 231.29, F.S.; requiring
6 State Board of Education rules relating to
7 personnel assessment; amending s. 231.40, F.S.;
8 providing that members of a school system sick
9 leave pool may contribute additional hours to
10 the pool above the maximum permitted when a
11 member of the pool is suffering a medical
12 hardship; amending s. 231.47, F.S.; correcting
13 a cross reference; amending s. 231.546, F.S.,
14 relating to the Education Standards Commission;
15 deleting duties relating to teacher education
16 centers; amending s. 231.600, F.S.; revising
17 requirements of the school district
18 professional development system; amending s.
19 231.625, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to
20 a teacher referral and recruitment center;
21 requiring establishment of a teacher
22 recruitment and retention services office;
23 amending s. 231.6255, F.S.; revising provisions
24 relating to the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador
25 for Education Program; creating s. 231.63,
26 F.S.; creating the Florida Educator Hall of
27 Fame; providing for nominations,
28 recommendations, and selection of members;
29 repealing s. 231.613, F.S., relating to
30 inservice training institutes; amending s.
31 240.529, F.S.; providing that, beginning in the
2
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 1999-2000 academic year, State University
2 System initial teacher preparation programs
3 shall include an optional teacher field
4 experience in schools located in socially and
5 economically disadvantaged areas; providing for
6 annual stipends for each teacher who has
7 completed a residency program; providing an
8 effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section
13 24.121, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14 24.121 Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds
15 for public education.--
16 (5)
17 (d) Beginning July 1, 1993, No funds shall be released
18 for any purpose from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to
19 any school district in which one or more schools do not have
20 an approved school improvement plan pursuant to s. 230.23(16).
21 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
22 229.58, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
23 229.58 District and school advisory councils.--
24 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.--
25 (a) The school board shall establish an advisory
26 council for each school in the district, and shall develop
27 procedures for the election and appointment of advisory
28 council members. A majority of the members of each school
29 advisory council must be persons who are not employed by the
30 school board. Each advisory council shall be composed of the
31 principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers,
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 education support employees, students, parents, and other
2 business and community citizens who are representative of the
3 ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.,
4 provided that Vocational-technical center and high school
5 advisory councils shall include students, and middle and
6 junior high school advisory councils may include students.
7 School advisory councils of vocational-technical and adult
8 education centers are not required to include parents as
9 members. Council members representing teachers, education
10 support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by
11 their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and
12 equitable manner as follows:
13 1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
14 2. Education support employees shall be elected by
15 education support employees.
16 3. Students shall be elected by students.
17 4. Parents shall be elected by parents.
18
19 The school board shall establish procedures for use by schools
20 in selecting business and community members. Such procedures
21 shall include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and
22 for taking input on possible members from local business,
23 chambers of commerce, community and civic organizations and
24 groups, and the public at large. The school board shall review
25 the membership composition of each advisory council. Should
26 the school board determine that the membership elected by the
27 school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and
28 economic community served by the school, the board shall
29 appoint additional members to achieve proper representation.
30 Although schools should be strongly encouraged to establish
31 school advisory councils, any school district that has a
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 student population of 10,000 or fewer may establish a district
2 advisory council which shall include at least one duly elected
3 teacher from each school in the district. For the purposes of
4 school advisory councils and district advisory councils, the
5 term "teacher" shall include classroom teachers, certified
6 student services personnel, and media specialists. For
7 purposes of this paragraph, "education support employee" means
8 any person employed by a school who is not defined as
9 instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to s.
10 228.041 and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each
11 normal working week.
12 Section 3. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section
13 229.591, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14 229.591 Comprehensive revision of Florida's system of
15 school improvement and education accountability.--
16 (3) EDUCATION GOALS.--The state as a whole shall work
17 toward the following goals:
18 (f) Teachers and staff.--The schools, district, all
19 postsecondary institutions, and state ensure professional
20 teachers and staff.
21 Section 4. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) of
22 section 231.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
23 231.02 Qualifications of personnel.--
24 (2)(a) Instructional and noninstructional personnel
25 who are hired to fill positions requiring direct contact with
26 students in any district school system or laboratory school
27 shall, upon employment, file a complete set of fingerprints
28 taken by an authorized law enforcement officer or an employee
29 of the school or district who is trained to take fingerprints.
30 These fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Law
31 Enforcement for state processing and to the Federal Bureau of
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1 Investigation for federal processing. School districts which
2 have authorized terminal access to the Florida Crimes
3 Information Telecommunications Network or the National Crime
4 Information Center may use this equipment for the background
5 check required by this subsection. Such new employees shall be
6 on probationary status pending fingerprint processing and
7 determination of compliance with standards of good moral
8 character. Employees found through fingerprint processing to
9 have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude shall
10 not be employed in any position requiring direct contact with
11 students. Probationary employees terminated because of their
12 criminal record shall have the right to appeal such decisions.
13 The cost of the fingerprint processing may be borne by the
14 school board or the employee.
15 (b) Any provision of law notwithstanding, by January
16 1, 1997, for personnel currently required to be certified
17 under s. 231.17, and January 1, 1998, for all other personnel
18 currently employed by any district school system or any other
19 public school who have not been fingerprinted and screened in
20 the same manner outlined in paragraph (a) shall submit a
21 complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law
22 enforcement officer or an employee of the school or district
23 who is trained to take fingerprints. The fingerprints shall
24 be submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement for state
25 processing and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal
26 processing. School districts which have authorized terminal
27 access to the Florida Crimes Telecommunications Network or the
28 National Crime Information Center may use that equipment for
29 the background check required by this paragraph. Employees
30 found through fingerprint processing to have been convicted of
31 a crime involving moral turpitude shall not be employed in any
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1 position requiring direct contact with students. The cost of
2 the fingerprint processing may be borne by the school district
3 or the individual employee at a cost not to exceed $24.00.
4 Any additional cost shall be borne by the Department of
5 Education. Each local school board and laboratory school shall
6 develop policies necessary for the implementation of this
7 subsection. The Commissioner of Education shall provide
8 guidelines regarding standards of good moral character for use
9 in the development of these policies. Within these standards,
10 the lack of good moral character shall be defined as having
11 been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
12 Section 5. Section 231.096, Florida Statutes, is
13 amended to read:
14 231.096 Teacher teaching out-of-field;
15 assistance.--Each school district shall have a plan to assist
16 any teacher teaching out-of-field, and priority consideration
17 in professional development activities shall be given to
18 teachers who are teaching out-of-field in summer inservice
19 institutes. A district may include in its annual summer
20 inservice institute plan a section that provides for
21 institutes in instructional areas identified as district
22 critical teacher shortage areas and approved by the Department
23 of Education.
24 Section 6. Section 231.15, Florida Statutes, is
25 amended to read:
26 231.15 Positions for which certificates required.--
27 (1) The State Board of Education shall have authority
28 to classify school services, designate the certification
29 subject areas, establish competencies and certification
30 requirements for all school-based personnel, and to prescribe
31 rules in accordance with which the professional, temporary,
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1 and part-time certificates shall be issued by the Department
2 of Education to applicants school employees who meet the
3 standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service.
4 Each person employed or occupying a position as school
5 supervisor, principal, teacher, library media specialist,
6 school counselor, athletic coach, or other position in which
7 the employee serves in an instructional capacity, in any
8 public school of any district of this state shall hold the
9 certificate required by law and by rules of the state board in
10 fulfilling the requirements of the law for the type of service
11 rendered. However, the state board shall adopt rules
12 authorizing school boards to employ selected noncertificated
13 personnel to provide instructional services in the
14 individuals' fields of specialty or to assist instructional
15 staff members as teacher aides. Each person who is employed
16 and renders service as an athletic coach in any public school
17 in any district of this state shall hold a valid part-time,
18 temporary, or professional certificate. Each person employed
19 as a school nurse shall hold a license to practice nursing in
20 the state, and each person employed as a school physician
21 shall hold a license to practice medicine in the state. The
22 provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any athletic
23 coach who renders service in a voluntary capacity and who is
24 not employed by any public school of any district in this
25 state.
26 (2) A commissioned or noncommissioned military officer
27 who is an instructor of junior reserve officer training shall
28 be exempt from requirements for teacher certification, except
29 for the filing of fingerprints pursuant to s. 231.02 231.1712,
30 if he or she meets the following qualifications:
31
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1 (a) Is retired from active military duty with at least
2 20 years of service and draws retirement pay or is retired, or
3 transferred to retired reserve status, with at least 20 years
4 of active service and draws retirement pay or retainer pay.
5 (b) Satisfies criteria established by the appropriate
6 military service for certification by the service as a junior
7 reserve officer training instructor.
8 (c) Has an exemplary military record.
9
10 If such instructor is assigned instructional duties other than
11 junior reserve officer training, he or she shall hold the
12 certificate required by law and rules of the state board for
13 the type of service rendered.
14 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
15 231.17, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (14) is
16 added to said section, to read:
17 231.17 Official statements of eligibility and
18 certificates granted on application to those meeting
19 prescribed requirements.--
20 (3) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE.--
21 (c) To qualify for a temporary certificate, the
22 applicant must:
23 1. File a written statement under oath that the
24 applicant subscribes to and will uphold the principles
25 incorporated in the Constitutions of the United States and of
26 the State of Florida.
27 2. Be at least 18 years of age.
28 3. Document receipt of a bachelor's or higher degree
29 from an accredited institution of higher learning, as defined
30 by state board rule. Credits and degrees awarded by a newly
31 created Florida state institution that is part of the State
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CS/HB 3939, First Engrossed
1 University System shall be considered as granted by an
2 accredited institution of higher learning during the first 2
3 years of course offerings while accreditation is gained.
4 Degrees from foreign institutions, or degrees from other
5 institutions of higher learning that are in the accreditation
6 process, may be validated by a process established in state
7 board rule. Once accreditation is gained, the institution
8 shall be considered as accredited beginning with the 2-year
9 period prior to the date of accreditation. The bachelor's or
10 higher degree may not be required in areas approved in rule by
11 the State Board of Education as nondegreed areas. Each
12 applicant seeking initial certification must have attained at
13 least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the
14 applicant's major field of study. The applicant may document
15 the required education by submitting official transcripts from
16 institutions of higher education or by authorizing the direct
17 submission of such official transcripts through established
18 electronic network systems.
19 4. Meet such academic and professional requirements
20 based on credentials certified by standard institutions of
21 higher learning, including any institutions of higher learning
22 in this state accredited by an accrediting association that is
23 a member of the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary
24 Accreditation, as prescribed by the state board.
25 4.5. Be competent and capable of performing the
26 duties, functions, and responsibilities of a teacher.
27 5.6. Be of good moral character.
28
29 Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall provide for the
30 review and acceptance of credentials from foreign institutions
31 of higher learning.
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1 (14) AUTHORITY OF COMMISSIONER.--The Commissioner of
2 Education is authorized to make decisions regarding an
3 applicant's certification under extenuating circumstances not
4 otherwise provided for in statute or rule.
5 Section 8. Section 231.1725, Florida Statutes, is
6 amended to read:
7 231.1725 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers
8 of adult education, and nondegreed teachers of career
9 education; students performing clinical field experience, and
10 noncertificated teachers in critical teacher shortage areas.--
11 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 231.02,
12 231.15, and 231.17, and 231.172 or any other provision of law
13 or rule to the contrary, each school board shall establish the
14 minimal qualifications for:
15 (a) Substitute teachers to be employed pursuant to s.
16 231.47. The qualifications shall require the filing of a
17 complete set of fingerprints in the same manner as required by
18 s. 231.02.
19 (b) Part-time and full-time teachers in adult
20 education programs. The qualifications shall require the
21 filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same manner as
22 required by s. 231.02. Faculty employed solely to conduct
23 postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
24 requirement.
25 (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of
26 vocational programs. Qualifications shall be established for
27 agriculture, business, health occupations, family and consumer
28 sciences, industrial, marketing, and public service education
29 teachers, based primarily on successful occupational
30 experience rather than academic training. The qualifications
31 for such teachers shall require:
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1 1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the
2 same manner as required by s. 231.02. Faculty employed solely
3 to conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
4 requirement.
5 2. Documentation of education and successful
6 occupational experience including documentation of:
7 a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
8 b. Completion of 6 years of full-time successful
9 occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
10 experience in the teaching specialization area. Alternate
11 means of determining successful occupational experience may be
12 established by the school board.
13 c. Completion of career education training conducted
14 through the local school district inservice master plan.
15 d. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
16 education training in teaching methods, course construction,
17 lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
18 students. This training may be completed through coursework
19 from a standard institution or an approved district teacher
20 education program.
21 e. Demonstration of successful teaching performance.
22 (d) Part-time and full-time noncertificated teachers
23 in critical teacher shortage areas. The qualifications shall
24 require the filing of fingerprints in the same manner as
25 required by s. 231.02 and shall be based on academic training
26 in the essential generic and specialization competencies of
27 the instructional assignment. The school board shall be
28 responsible for determining critical teacher shortage areas
29 within the school district. Each school board shall annually
30 report the number, qualifications, and areas of assignment of
31
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1 all noncertificated teachers employed pursuant to this
2 paragraph during each school year.
3 (2) Substitute, adult education, and nondegreed career
4 education teachers and noncertificated teachers in critical
5 teacher shortage areas who are employed pursuant to this
6 section shall have the same rights and protection of laws as
7 certified teachers.
8 (3) A student who is enrolled in a state-approved
9 teacher preparation program in an institution of higher
10 education approved by rules of the State Board of Education
11 and who is jointly assigned by such institution of higher
12 education and a school board to perform a clinical field
13 experience under the direction of a regularly employed and
14 certified educator shall be accorded the same protection of
15 laws as that accorded the certified educator while serving
16 such supervised clinical field experience, except for the
17 right to bargain collectively with employees of the school
18 board.
19 Section 9. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (3) of
20 section 231.24, Florida Statutes, to read:
21 231.24 Process for renewal of professional
22 certificates.--
23 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
24 following requirements must be met:
25 (d) For an educator who is required to complete
26 training in teaching students with limited English
27 proficiency, state board of education rules for the expanded
28 use of such training shall apply as follows:
29 1. A teacher who holds a professional certificate may
30 use college credits or inservice points completed in English
31 for Speakers of Other Languages training in excess of 6
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1 semester hours during one certificate validity period toward
2 renewal of the professional certificate during subsequent
3 validity periods.
4 2. A teacher who holds a temporary certificate may use
5 college credits or inservice points completed in English for
6 Speakers of Other Languages training toward renewal of the
7 first professional certificate. Such training shall not have
8 been included within the degree program. The temporary and
9 professional certificates shall be issued for consecutive
10 school years.
11 Section 10. Paragraph (d) of subsection (7) of section
12 231.261, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
13 231.261 Education Practices Commission;
14 organization.--
15 (7) The duties and responsibilities of the commission
16 are to:
17 (d) Have rulemaking authority pursuant to chapter 120
18 to establish procedures for operations and administration,
19 disciplinary proceedings, indexing, implementation of orders,
20 and retention of records, and to establish disciplinary
21 guidelines.
22 Section 11. Subsections (9) and (12) of section
23 231.263, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
24 231.263 Recovery network program for educators.--
25 (9) An approved treatment provider must disclose to
26 the recovery network program all information in its possession
27 which relates to a person's impairment and participation in
28 the treatment program. Information obtained under this
29 subsection is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
30 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This exemption is
31 necessary to promote the rehabilitation of impaired educators
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1 teachers and to protect the privacy of treatment program
2 participants. The failure to provide such information to the
3 program is grounds for withdrawal of approval of a treatment
4 provider. Medical records provided to the program may not be
5 disclosed to any other person, except as authorized by law.
6 (12) The State Board of Education shall include in the
7 fees established pursuant to s. 231.30 s. 231.15(3) an amount
8 sufficient to implement the provisions of this section. The
9 state board shall by rule establish procedures and additional
10 standards for:
11 (a) Approving treatment providers, including
12 appropriate qualifications and experience, amount of
13 reasonable fees and charges, and quality and effectiveness of
14 treatment programs provided.
15 (b) Admitting eligible persons to the program.
16 (c) Evaluating impaired persons by the recovery
17 network program.
18 Section 12. Subsection (8) is added to section 231.29,
19 Florida Statutes, to read:
20 231.29 Assessment procedures and criteria.--
21 (8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
22 pursuant to chapter 120 to review and approve each district's
23 instructional personnel assessment system.
24 Section 13. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
25 231.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
26 231.40 Sick leave.--
27 (4) SICK LEAVE POOL.--Notwithstanding any other
28 provision of this section, a school board, based upon the
29 maintenance of reliable and accurate records by the district
30 school system showing the amount of sick leave which has been
31 accumulated and is unused by employees in accordance with this
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1 section, may, by rule or collective bargaining agreement,
2 establish one or more plans allowing participating full-time
3 employees of a district school system to pool sick leave
4 accrued and allowing any sick leave thus pooled to be
5 disbursed to any participating employee who is in need of sick
6 leave in excess of that amount he or she has personally
7 accrued. Such rules or agreements shall include, but not be
8 limited to, the following provisions:
9 (d)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2.,
10 participating employees shall make equal contributions to the
11 sick leave pool. There shall be established a maximum amount
12 of sick leave which may be contributed by an employee to the
13 pool. After the initial contribution which an employee makes
14 upon electing to participate, no further contributions shall
15 be required except as may be necessary to replenish the pool.
16 Any such further contribution shall be equally required of all
17 employees participating in the pool.
18 2. In the case where an employee is suffering a
19 medical hardship, as defined by rule, other members of the
20 sick leave pool may donate additional days over the maximum
21 amount permitted to be contributed.
22 Section 14. Section 231.47, Florida Statutes, is
23 amended to read:
24 231.47 Substitute teachers.--Each school board shall
25 adopt rules prescribing the compensation of, and the procedure
26 for employment of, substitute teachers. Such procedure for
27 employment shall include, but not be limited to, the filing of
28 a complete set of fingerprints as required in s. 231.02
29 231.1712.
30 Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 231.546, Florida
31 Statutes, is amended to read:
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1 231.546 Education Standards Commission; powers and
2 duties.--
3 (1) The Education Standards Commission shall have the
4 duty to:
5 (a) Recommend to the state board desirable standards
6 relating to programs and policies for the development,
7 certification and certification extension, improvement, and
8 maintenance of competencies of educational personnel,
9 including teacher interns.
10 (b) Recommend to the state board standards for
11 approval of preservice teacher education programs.
12 (c) Plan and conduct an annual review of human
13 resources studies regarding teaching personnel and report the
14 findings to the state board.
15 (d) Recommend to the state board objective,
16 independently verifiable standards of measurement and
17 evaluation of teaching competence.
18 (e) Recommend to the state board alternative ways to
19 demonstrate qualifications for certification which assure
20 fairness and flexibility while protecting against
21 incompetence.
22 (f) Recommend to the state board the most feasible
23 locations for teacher education centers from proposals
24 submitted by school districts and universities.
25 (g) Recommend to the state board guidelines for the
26 expenditure of funds for teacher education centers and
27 approval of teacher education center programs.
28 (f)(h) Recommend critical state priorities for
29 preservice and inservice teacher training such as
30 understanding diverse student populations, working in a
31 changing workplace, and understanding subject matter and
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1 instruction. The commission shall recommend standards for
2 measuring evidence of training in these priorities for
3 continuing program approval for preservice teacher education,
4 initial teacher certification and certificate renewal, and
5 staff development activities.
6 (g)(i) Evaluate the progress of school community
7 professional development systems as provided in s. 231.600.
8 (h)(j) Perform such other duties as may be required to
9 achieve the purposes of this section and s. 231.545.
10 Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and
11 subsection (6) of section 231.600, Florida Statutes, are
12 amended to read:
13 231.600 School Community Professional Development
14 Act.--
15 (4) The Department of Education, school districts,
16 schools, and public colleges and universities share the
17 responsibilities described in this section. These
18 responsibilities include the following:
19 (b) Each district school board shall consult with
20 teachers and representatives of college and university
21 faculty, community agencies, and other interested citizen
22 groups to establish policy and procedures to guide the
23 operation of the district professional development program.
24 The professional development system must:
25 1. Require that schools identify student needs that
26 can be met by improved professional performance, and assist
27 schools in making these identifications;
28 2. Provide training activities coupled with followup
29 support that is and other professional development appropriate
30 to accomplish district-level and school-level improvement
31 goals and standards; and
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1 3. Provide for systematic consultation with regional
2 and state personnel designated to provide technical assistance
3 and evaluation of local professional development programs.
4 (6) The Department of Education shall design methods
5 by which the state and district school boards may evaluate and
6 improve the professional development system. The evaluation
7 must include an annual assessment of data that indicate
8 progress or lack of progress of all students whose needs were
9 identified as most critical to improved professional
10 development, including needs of students with disabilities,
11 students having limited proficiency in English, and
12 low-achieving student populations. If the review of data
13 indicates an achievement level that is unusual, the department
14 may investigate the causes of the success or lack of success,
15 may provide technical assistance, and may require the school
16 district to employ a different approach to professional
17 development. The department shall report annually to the
18 State Board of Education and the Legislature any school
19 district that, in the determination of the department, has
20 failed to provide an adequate professional development system.
21 This report must include the results of the department's
22 investigation and of any intervention provided.
23 Section 17. Section 231.625, Florida Statutes, is
24 amended to read:
25 231.625 Teacher shortage recruitment and retention
26 referral.--
27 (1) The Department of Education, through the Center
28 for Career Development Services, in cooperation with teacher
29 organizations, and district personnel offices, and colleges of
30 education directors, shall expand its career information
31
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1 system to concentrate on the recruitment of qualified teachers
2 in teacher shortage areas.
3 (2) The Department of Education, through the Center
4 for Career Development Services, shall establish a teacher
5 referral and recruitment and retention services office center
6 which shall:
7 (a) Advertise teacher positions in targeted states
8 with declining student enrollments.
9 (b) Advertise in major newspapers, national
10 professional publications, and other professional publications
11 and in graduate schools of education.
12 (c) Utilize state and a nationwide toll-free numbers
13 number and a central post office box.
14 (d) Develop standardized resumes for teacher applicant
15 data.
16 (e) Conduct periodic communications with district
17 superintendents and personnel directors regarding new
18 applicants.
19 (f) Provide district access to the applicant database
20 by computer or telephone.
21 (g) Develop and distribute promotional materials
22 related to teaching as a career.
23 (h) Publish and distribute information pertaining to
24 employment opportunities, application procedures, teacher
25 certification, and teacher salaries and benefits for beginning
26 and continuing teachers.
27 (i) Provide Publish information related to alternative
28 certification procedures.
29 (j) Develop and sponsor the Florida Future Educator of
30 America Program clubs throughout the state.
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1 (k) Review and recommend to the Legislature and school
2 districts incentives for attracting teachers to this state.
3 (3) The Office of Teacher Recruitment and Retention
4 Services teacher referral and recruitment center, in
5 cooperation with teacher organizations and district personnel
6 offices directors, shall sponsor a an annual job fair in a
7 central part of the state to match in-state educators and
8 out-of-state educators with teaching opportunities in this
9 state.
10 Section 18. Section 231.6255, Florida Statutes, is
11 amended to read:
12 231.6255 Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education
13 Program.--
14 (1) The Legislature recognizes that Florida continues
15 to face teacher shortages faces a severe shortage of teachers
16 and that fewer young people consider teaching as a career. It
17 is the intent of the Legislature to promote the positive and
18 rewarding aspects of being a teacher, to encourage more
19 individuals to become teachers, and to provide annual
20 sabbatical support for outstanding Florida teachers to serve
21 as goodwill ambassadors for education. The Legislature
22 further wishes to honor the memory of Christa McAuliffe, who
23 epitomized the challenge and inspiration that teaching can be.
24 (2) There is established the Christa McAuliffe
25 Ambassador for Education Program to provide salary, travel,
26 and other related expenses annually for an outstanding Florida
27 teacher to promote the positive aspects of teaching as a
28 career. The goals of the program are to:
29 (a) Enhance the stature of teachers and the teaching
30 profession.
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1 (b) Promote the importance of quality education and
2 teaching for our future.
3 (c) Inspire and attract talented young people to
4 become teachers.
5 (d) Provide information regarding Florida's
6 scholarship and loan programs related to teaching.
7 (e) Promote the teaching profession within community
8 and business groups.
9 (f) Provide information regarding Florida's
10 alternative certification program to retired military
11 personnel and other individuals who might consider teaching as
12 a second career.
13 (g) Work with and represent the Office of Teacher
14 Recruitment and Retention Services teacher referral and
15 recruitment center, as needed.
16 (h) Work with and encourage the efforts of school and
17 district teachers of the year.
18 (i) Support the activities of the Florida Future
19 Educator Teacher of America Program clubs.
20 (j) Represent Florida teachers at business, trade,
21 education, and other conferences and meetings.
22 (k) Promote the teaching profession in other ways
23 related to the teaching responsibilities, background
24 experiences, and aspirations of the Ambassador for Education.
25 (3) The Teacher of the Year shall serve as the
26 Ambassador for Education, except that for the first 2 years,
27 Florida's NASA Teachers in Space shall also serve as
28 Ambassadors for Education. If the Teacher of the Year is
29 unable to serve as the Ambassador for Education, the first
30 runner-up shall serve in his or her place. The Department of
31 Education Each district school board shall establish
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1 application and selection procedures for determining an annual
2 teacher of the year. Applications and selection criteria shall
3 be developed and distributed annually by the Department of
4 Education to all school districts. The Commissioner of
5 Education shall establish a selection committee which assures
6 representation from teacher organizations, administrators, and
7 parents to select the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador for
8 Education from among the district teachers of the year.
9 Selection criteria shall be developed and distributed annually
10 to all school districts.
11 (4)(a) The Department of Education and the Office of
12 Teacher Recruitment and Retention Services, through the Center
13 for Career Development Services and in conjunction with the
14 teacher referral and recruitment center, shall administer the
15 program.
16 (b) The Commissioner of Education shall pay an annual
17 salary, fringe benefits, travel costs, and other costs
18 associated with administering the program.
19 (c) The Ambassador for Education shall serve for 1
20 year, from July 1 to June 30, and shall be assured of
21 returning to his or her teaching position upon completion of
22 the program. The ambassador will not have a break in
23 creditable or continuous service or employment for the period
24 of time in which he or she participates in the program.
25 Section 19. Section 231.63, Florida Statutes, is
26 created to read:
27 231.63 Florida Educator Hall of Fame.--
28 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize
29 and honor those persons, living or dead, who have made
30 significant contributions to education in this state.
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1 (2)(a) There is hereby established the Florida
2 Educator Hall of Fame. The Florida Educator Hall of Fame shall
3 be located in an area on the Plaza Level of the Capitol
4 Building.
5 (b) The Florida Education Foundation shall make a
6 recommendation for the design and theme for the Florida
7 Educator Hall of Fame. The Commissioner of Education, in
8 consultation with the Secretary of Management Services, shall
9 approve the foundation's recommendation.
10 (c) Each person who is selected as a member shall have
11 a plaque placed in the Florida Educator Hall of Fame. The
12 plaque shall designate the member's particular discipline or
13 contribution and shall set forth vital information relating to
14 the member. Each member shall also receive a standardized
15 memento of the member's selection.
16 (3) The Florida Education Foundation shall accept
17 nominations annually for persons to be recommended as members
18 of the Florida Educator Hall of Fame. Floridians who have made
19 a significant contribution to education in this state, as
20 determined and documented by the Florida Education Foundation,
21 shall be eligible for membership. The foundation shall
22 recommend to the Commissioner of Education persons to be named
23 as members of the Florida Educator Hall of Fame.
24 (4) In the first year, the Commissioner of Education
25 shall name no more than 10 members to the Florida Educator
26 Hall of Fame. Thereafter, the commissioner shall name no more
27 than four members to the Florida Educator Hall of Fame in any
28 1 year.
29 (5) The Commissioner of Education and the Florida
30 Education Foundation shall develop and adopt written policies
31 to carry out the purposes of this section, including
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1 procedures to accept nominations, make recommendations for
2 selection of members, provide recipient's travel expenses, and
3 provide funding for the Florida Educator Hall of Fame.
4 (6) The Commissioner of Education may annually request
5 an appropriation from the Legislature sufficient to carry out
6 the purposes of this section. The Florida Education Foundation
7 may also provide funds to cover any or all expenses related to
8 the Florida Educator Hall of Fame.
9 Section 20. Section 231.613, Florida Statutes, is
10 repealed.
11 Section 21. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (5)
12 of section 240.529, Florida Statutes, and subsection 11 is
13 added to said section to read:
14 240.529 Public accountability and state approval for
15 teacher preparation programs.--
16 (5) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--All postsecondary
17 instructors, school district personnel and instructional
18 personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
19 through preservice field experience courses and internships
20 shall meet special requirements.
21 (d) Beginning with the 1999-2000 academic year,
22 State University System initial teacher preparation programs
23 shall provide all students with the option of multiple field
24 experiences in schools located in socially and economically
25 disadvantaged urban or rural areas. The field experiences
26 must provide interns with classroom experiences throughout the
27 academic year. The field experiences must be designed to
28 provide the intern with the necessary supervision and teaching
29 methodology to become an effective teacher of students who
30 live in a disadvantaged area.
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1 (11) URBAN AND RURAL TEACHING RESIDENCY
2 PROGRAM.--Beginning with the 2000-2001 academic year and
3 contingent upon legislative funding, teacher preparation
4 programs at State University System institutions shall
5 establish teaching residencies in partnership with public
6 school districts. Each university, in conjunction with its
7 partners, shall recruit no more than 20 teaching residents per
8 year. The total number of teaching residencies in the state is
9 not to exceed 200 in any given year at the rate of 20 per
10 university. Persons eligible to be hired as teaching residents
11 must have completed teaching internships as specified in
12 paragraph (5)(d). To be eligible to be hired as a teaching
13 resident, a person must have received his or her initial
14 license no more than 2 years before applying for a residency
15 and must have less than 5 months of full-time equivalency
16 teaching experience as a licensed teacher. The residency
17 program must include:
18 (a) A guarantee from participating universities that
19 those who complete initial teacher preparation programs have
20 the knowledge and experience necessary to succeed in
21 residencies in urban or rural settings and that they are
22 prepared to teach in compliance with the Sunshine State
23 Standards and demonstrate skills at the beginning level of the
24 Florida Accomplished Teaching Practices;
25 (b) A mentoring team consisting of no fewer than one
26 university faculty member and one school district clinical
27 educator for each participating school to provide supervision
28 of the teaching residents;
29 (c) One full-time-equivalent experienced classroom
30 teacher assigned for each cluster of four teaching residents
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1 in order to provide alternative assignments for the resident
2 teachers;
3 (d) Residencies lasting for a full academic year; and
4 (e) Teaching assignments for resident teachers of no
5 more than 80 percent of the instructional time required of a
6 full-time-equivalent teacher in the district. During the
7 remaining time, a teaching resident shall participate in
8 professional development activities as identified in
9 conjunction with the school's mentoring team.
10
11 The resident teacher will be a member of the local bargaining
12 unit and shall be covered under the terms of the contract.
13 Upon successful completion of the teaching residency, each
14 individual who teaches in a school located in a socially and
15 economically disadvantaged urban or rural area in this state,
16 and as funded by the Legislature in the Division of Human
17 Resources within the Department of Education, will receive a
18 supplemental stipend from the state of $3,000 in each year he
19 or she teaches for the duration of legislative funding for the
20 residency program.
21 Section 22. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
22 law.
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