CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0665
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 665
By Representative Merchant
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s.
3 231.17, F.S.; revising educator certification
4 requirements; specifying minimum competencies;
5 making conforming changes; authorizing school
6 districts to provide alternate certification
7 programs and systems for demonstrating
8 professional competencies; specifying minimum
9 requirements; requiring approval by the
10 Department of Education; requiring
11 demonstration of professional competencies
12 within a certain period; providing exceptions;
13 authorizing the Commissioner of Education to
14 contract for written certification
15 examinations; deleting state university
16 responsibility for such examinations; deleting
17 requirements for professional orientation
18 programs; deleting requirements for
19 certification to teach certain ages and grades;
20 amending s. 231.24, F.S., relating to renewal
21 of educator certification; providing for
22 extensions of professional certificates;
23 extending permission to use certain training
24 for renewal of any certification
25 specialization; deleting additional renewal
26 requirements for certificate holders not
27 employed in instructional positions; providing
28 for reissuance of expired certificates;
29 amending s. 240.529, F.S., relating to approval
30 of teacher preparation programs; requiring
31 emphasis on educator accomplished practices;
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1 deleting obsolete dates; deleting references to
2 professional orientation programs; requiring
3 higher education institutions to assist in
4 continued program approval; deleting
5 consideration of graduates of out-of-state and
6 alternate preparation programs; making
7 conforming changes in preservice field
8 experiences; repealing s. 231.172, F.S.,
9 relating to alternate preparation programs for
10 teachers; providing an effective date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Section 231.17, Florida Statutes, 1996
15 Supplement, is amended to read:
16 231.17 Official statements of eligibility and
17 certificates granted on application to those meeting
18 prescribed requirements.--
19 (1) REQUIREMENTS.--
20 (a) Each person seeking certification pursuant to this
21 chapter shall submit a completed application to the Department
22 of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to s. 231.30.
23 (b) Pursuant to the provisions in s. 120.60, the
24 Department of Education shall issue within 90 calendar days
25 after of the stamped receipted date of the completed
26 application an official statement of eligibility for
27 certification or a certificate covering the classification,
28 level, and area for which the applicant is deemed qualified.
29 (2)1. The statement of eligibility shall be issued to
30 advise the applicant of qualifications that must be completed
31 to qualify for the temporary or professional certificate
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1 sought. Each statement of eligibility is shall be valid for 2
2 years following its from the date of issuance and may be
3 reissued for one additional 2-year period if application is
4 made while the initial statement of eligibility is valid or
5 within 1 year after the initial statement expires.
6 (3)(a)2. The department shall issue a temporary
7 certificate to any applicant who submits satisfactory evidence
8 of possessing the qualifications for such a certificate as
9 prescribed by this chapter and by rules of the state board.
10 Each temporary certificate is valid for 2 years following the
11 date of its issuance and is nonrenewable, except as otherwise
12 provided in subsection (5).
13 (b) The temporary certificate shall be issued when the
14 department:
15 a. Receives notification from a district
16 superintendent or the governing authority of a developmental
17 research school, state-supported school, or nonpublic school
18 that the applicant has been issued a valid statement of
19 eligibility by the Department of Education and is employed by
20 the school district or developmental research school,
21 state-supported school, or nonpublic school with an approved
22 professional orientation program;
23 1.b. Receives the applicant's fingerprint reports from
24 the Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of
25 Investigation pursuant to s. 231.02 s. 231.1712; and
26 2.c. Determines that the applicant is qualified for
27 the temporary certificate.
28 (c) To be deemed qualified for a temporary
29 professional certificate, the applicant must for certification
30 shall:
31
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1 1. File a written statement under oath that the
2 applicant subscribes to and will uphold the principles
3 incorporated in the Constitutions of the United States and of
4 the State of Florida;
5 2. Be at least 18 years of age;
6 3. Document receipt of a bachelor's or higher degree
7 from an accredited institution of higher learning. The
8 bachelor's or higher degree may shall not be required in areas
9 approved in rule by the State Board of Education as nondegreed
10 areas. Each applicant seeking initial certification must shall
11 have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a
12 4.0 scale in the applicant's major field of study. At least 30
13 of the total number of semester hours required for the initial
14 secondary certificate area on a professional certificate shall
15 be earned in courses in the field of specialization no more
16 than nine of which shall be earned in a college of education
17 unless the applicant's courses in the specialization field
18 were offered only in the college of education. The applicant
19 may document the required education by submitting official
20 transcripts from institutions of higher education or by
21 authorizing the direct submission of such official transcripts
22 through established electronic network systems;
23 4. Meet such academic and professional requirements
24 based on credentials certified by standard institutions of
25 higher learning, including any institutions of higher learning
26 in this state which are accredited by an accrediting
27 association that which is a member of the Commission on
28 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, as is may be
29 prescribed by the state board;
30 5. Be competent and capable of performing the duties,
31 functions, and responsibilities of a teacher; and
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1 6. Be of good moral character.;
2 7. Demonstrate mastery of the minimum competencies
3 required by subsection (2); and
4 8. Complete the professional orientation program
5 required by subsection (3).
6
7 Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall provide for the
8 review and acceptance of credentials from foreign institutions
9 of higher learning.
10 (4) The department shall issue a professional
11 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any
12 applicant who meets the requirements for a temporary
13 certificate and documents mastery of the minimum competencies
14 required by subsection (5). Mastery of the minimum
15 competencies must be documented on a comprehensive written
16 examination or through other criteria as specified by rules of
17 the state board. Mastery of minimum competencies must be
18 demonstrated in the areas of:
19 (a) General knowledge, including the ability to read,
20 write, and compute;
21 (b) Professional skills and knowledge of the standards
22 of professional practice; and
23 (c) The subject matter in each area for which
24 certification is being sought.
25 (5)(2) MINIMUM COMPETENCIES.--
26 (a) The state board must, by rule, specify the minimum
27 essential competencies that educators must possess and
28 demonstrate in order to enable students to meet the standards
29 of student performance adopted by the state board. The minimum
30 competencies must include Each professional certificate issued
31 shall be valid for a period not to exceed 5 years. Each
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1 applicant for initial professional certification shall
2 demonstrate, on a comprehensive written examination or through
3 such other procedures as may be specified by the state board,
4 mastery of those minimum essential generic and specialization
5 competencies and other criteria as shall be adopted into rules
6 by the state board, including, but need not be limited to, the
7 ability to:
8 1. Write in a logical and understandable style with
9 appropriate grammar and sentence structure;
10 2. Read, comprehend, and interpret professional and
11 other written material;
12 3. Comprehend and work with fundamental mathematical
13 concepts;
14 4. Recognize signs of severe emotional distress in
15 students and to apply techniques of crisis intervention with
16 an emphasis on suicide prevention and positive emotional
17 development;
18 5. Recognize signs of alcohol and drug abuse in
19 students and to apply counseling techniques with emphasis on
20 intervention and prevention of future abuse;
21 6. Recognize the physical and behavioral indicators of
22 child abuse and neglect, to know rights and responsibilities
23 regarding reporting, to know how to care for a child's needs
24 after a report is made, and to know recognition, intervention,
25 and prevention strategies pertaining to child abuse and
26 neglect which that can be related to children in a classroom
27 setting in a nonthreatening, positive manner;
28 7. Comprehend patterns of physical, social, and
29 academic development in students, including exceptional
30 students in the regular classroom, and to counsel the same
31 students concerning their needs in these areas;
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1 8. Recognize and be aware of the instructional needs
2 of exceptional students;
3 9. Comprehend patterns of normal Recognize disorders
4 of development in students and employ appropriate intervention
5 strategies for disorders of development;
6 10. Identify and comprehend the codes and standards of
7 professional ethics, performance, and practices adopted
8 pursuant to s. 231.546(2)(b), the grounds for disciplinary
9 action provided by s. 231.28, and the procedures for resolving
10 complaints filed pursuant to this chapter, including appeal
11 processes; and
12 11. Recognize and demonstrate awareness of the
13 educational needs of students who have having limited
14 proficiency in English and employ appropriate teaching
15 strategies;.
16 12. Use appropriate technology in teaching and
17 learning processes;
18 13. Use assessment strategies to assist the continuous
19 development of the learner;
20 14. Use teaching and learning strategies that include
21 considering each student's culture, learning styles, special
22 needs, and socioeconomic background; and
23 15. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
24 subject matter that is aligned with the subject knowledge and
25 skills specified in the student performance standards approved
26 by the state board.
27 (b) The state board shall adopt rules that specify the
28 minimum essential generic and subject matter competencies to
29 be demonstrated by means of the written examination and those
30 to be demonstrated by other means. Any individual enrolled in
31 a postsecondary institution who pays the appropriate fee and
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1 completes the required application procedures may take the
2 written examination prior to graduation. The examination shall
3 require a candidate to demonstrate the following:
4 1. Mastery of general knowledge, including the ability
5 to read, write, and compute;
6 2. Mastery of professional skills and knowledge of the
7 standards of professional practice; and
8 3. Mastery of the subject matter in each area for
9 which certification is being sought.
10 (b) The state board shall designate the certification
11 areas for which subject area tests shall be developed.
12 However, an applicant may satisfy the subject area and
13 professional knowledge testing requirements by demonstrating
14 professional education competencies and subject-area expertise
15 as provided in subsection (6) or attaining scores on
16 corresponding tests from the National Teachers Examination
17 series, and successors to that series, that meet standards
18 established by the state board. The College Level Academic
19 Skills Test, a similar test approved by the state board, or,
20 beginning January 1, 1996, the National Teachers Examination
21 shall be used by degreed personnel to demonstrate mastery of
22 general knowledge as required in paragraph (4)(a) subparagraph
23 1. The College Level Academic Skills Test shall be waived for
24 any applicant who passed the reading, writing, and mathematics
25 subtest of the old Florida Teacher Certification Examination
26 or the College Level Academic Skills Test and subsequently
27 obtained a certificate pursuant to this chapter.
28 (c) Each person seeking initial certification shall
29 have earned credits in courses related to normal child
30 development and the disorders of development.
31
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1 (c)(d) An applicant A person who meets all
2 requirements established by law or rule for issuance of a
3 professional certificate, other than passing the examination,
4 successfully completing the first year of the professional
5 orientation program, or completing the professional education
6 courses in which the applicant is deficient, shall be issued a
7 nonrenewable, 2-year temporary certificate.
8 (d) The department shall issue However, the State
9 Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance
10 of:
11 1. one nonrenewable 2-year temporary certificate and
12 one nonrenewable 5-year professional certificate to a
13 qualified applicant an individual who holds a bachelor's
14 degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
15 completion of a master's degree program in speech-language
16 impairment.
17 (e) The state board shall adopt rules to allow the
18 department to reissue temporary certificates as follows:
19 1.2. One additional 2-year temporary certificate when
20 the requirements for the professional certificate were not
21 completed because of the serious illness, injury, or other
22 extraordinary, extenuating circumstance of the applicant.
23 2.3. A 1-year extension of the temporary certificate
24 for an applicant who was employed less than 99 days during the
25 first year of teaching.
26 3.4. Two additional 2-year temporary certificates to
27 an applicant who is completing the training and professional
28 education course certification requirements for an English or
29 language arts teacher of limited English proficient students
30 with limited proficiency in English.
31
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1 4.5. A 1-year extension of the temporary certificate
2 to a foreign educated applicant who is completing professional
3 certification requirements, or to a bilingual curriculum
4 content teacher of limited English proficient students with
5 limited proficiency in English.
6 5. One additional 2-year temporary certificate to an
7 applicant who is completing college credits to satisfy the
8 professional education requirements for certification.
9
10 The department shall reissue, pursuant to this paragraph, a
11 temporary certificate upon the written request of the district
12 school superintendent, the governing authority of a
13 developmental research school, or the governing authority of a
14 state-supported school or nonpublic school with an approved
15 professional orientation program.
16 (6) DEMONSTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
17 COMPETENCIES.--
18 (a) Each school district may develop and maintain an
19 alternative certification program by which members of the
20 district's instructional staff may satisfy the professional
21 education competencies required by this section for issuance
22 of a professional certificate. Each district's alternative
23 certification program must be approved by the department. The
24 state board must adopt, by rule, standards and guidelines for
25 the approval of alternative certification programs. Each
26 approved program must include methods for identifying each
27 applicant's entry-level teaching competencies and must require
28 each applicant to:
29 1. Hold at least a bachelor's degree in a subject area
30 for which a professional certificate may be issued under this
31 chapter and rules of the state board;
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1 2. Complete training in only those competency areas in
2 which deficiencies are identified; and
3 3. Complete the program and demonstrate mastery of
4 professional education competencies within 2 years after
5 initial employment as a member of the district's instructional
6 staff.
7 (b) Each school district must develop and maintain a
8 system by which members of the district's instructional staff
9 may demonstrate the professional education competencies
10 required by this section for issuance of a professional
11 certificate. Each district's system must be based on classroom
12 application and instructional performance and must include a
13 performance evaluation plan for documenting the demonstration
14 of required professional education competencies. Each
15 individual employed as a member of the district's
16 instructional staff on or after July 1, 1997, must demonstrate
17 mastery of the required professional education competencies
18 within the first year of employment, unless the individual:
19 1. Has completed an approved teacher preparation
20 program at a postsecondary institution within this state;
21 2. Has completed a teacher education training program
22 and has had at least 2 years of successful full-time teaching
23 experience in another state; or
24 3. Is participating in the district's alternate
25 certification program.
26 (c) Each district school board may expend educational
27 training funds provided under ss. 236.081 and 236.0811 to
28 implement this subsection.
29 (7)(a)(e) The commissioner, with the approval of the
30 state board, may contract assign to a university in the state
31 system the responsibility for the printing, administering,
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1 scoring, and providing appropriate analysis of the written
2 tests required.
3 (b)(f) The state board shall, by rule, specify the
4 examination scores that are the achievement of which shall be
5 required for the issuance of a professional certificate and
6 certain temporary certificates. When the College Level
7 Academic Skills Test is used to demonstrate general knowledge,
8 such rules must shall provide an alternative method by which
9 an applicant may demonstrate mastery of general knowledge,
10 including the ability to read, write, or compute, must shall
11 define generic subject area competencies, and must shall
12 establish uniform evaluation guidelines. The alternative
13 method must shall:
14 1. Apply only to an applicant who has successfully
15 completed all prerequisites for issuance of the professional
16 certificate, except passing one specific subtest of the
17 College Level Academic Skills Test, and who has taken and
18 failed to achieve a passing score on that subtest at least
19 four times.
20 2. Require notification from the superintendent of the
21 employing school district, the governing authority of the
22 employing developmental research school, or the governing
23 authority of the employing state-supported school or nonpublic
24 school with an approved professional orientation program that
25 the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated mastery of the
26 subject area covered by that specific subtest. Such mastery
27 shall be demonstrated through successful experience in the
28 professional application of generic subject area competencies
29 and proficient academic performance in that subject area. The
30 decision of the superintendent or governing authority shall be
31 based on a review of the applicant's official academic
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1 transcript and notification from the applicant's principal, a
2 peer teacher, and a district-level supervisor that the
3 applicant has demonstrated successful professional experience
4 in that subject area.
5 (c)(g) If an applicant takes an examination developed
6 by this state and Provision shall be made for a person who
7 does not achieve the score necessary for certification, the
8 applicant may to review his or her completed examination and
9 bring to the attention of the department any errors that would
10 result in a passing score.
11 (d)(h) The department and the board shall maintain
12 confidentiality of the examination, developmental materials,
13 and workpapers, and the examination, developmental materials,
14 and workpapers are shall be exempt from the provisions of s.
15 119.07(1). The board shall adopt such rules as may be
16 necessary to accomplish this purpose.
17 (3) PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM.--Each school
18 district and developmental research school shall develop and
19 maintain a plan for a professional orientation program for
20 beginning teachers, teachers employed in the state for the
21 first time, and teachers whose professional certificates are
22 inactive. A state-supported school or nonpublic school may
23 develop a plan for a professional orientation program and
24 submit it to the commissioner for initial approval.
25 (a) The professional orientation program is a 3-year
26 program for developing professional skills and competencies.
27 The first year of the program shall be mandatory for beginning
28 teachers and shall offer individualized mentoring and
29 assistance. The goal of the first year shall be to provide an
30 orientation to professional responsibilities and the training
31 and support activities required to enable the beginning
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1 teacher to successfully demonstrate the competencies required
2 by this section. Other professional competencies identified by
3 the State Board of Education or local school board may be
4 required. The program for the first year may include a reduced
5 teaching load. The optional second and third years may offer
6 continued development for successful beginning teachers or for
7 any teacher with identified skill development needs, may
8 involve decreasing levels of assistance, and may include peer
9 mentoring and professional orientation teams. The professional
10 orientation program for experienced teachers shall be a 90-day
11 program of orientation to state and district policies and
12 practices.
13 (b) No teacher who has less than 1 full year of
14 successful teaching experience as defined in s. 228.041(16)
15 shall be issued the professional educator's certificate until
16 the individual has successfully completed the first year of
17 the professional orientation program. The teacher employed in
18 the state for the first time or whose professional certificate
19 is inactive and who has at least 1 full year of successful
20 teaching experience may, during the first 90 days of
21 employment, demonstrate successful instructional performance
22 on an instructional performance evaluation system that has
23 been approved for use in the professional orientation program
24 in the employing district of the teacher. This performance
25 evaluation system shall measure demonstration of the
26 competencies described in subsection (2). The experienced
27 teacher who fails to document successful demonstration of the
28 essential competencies during the first 90 days of employment
29 shall complete 1 year of the professional orientation program.
30 (c) A teacher participating in the professional
31 orientation program shall be a member of the bargaining unit
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1 with the same rights as any other first-year teacher and shall
2 receive full pay according to the adopted salary schedule of
3 the district. The requirement for participation in a
4 professional orientation program may be met by a contract
5 employee while teaching full-time or on an equivalent
6 part-time basis in a school district or in a nonpublic school,
7 state-supported school, or developmental research school with
8 an approved professional orientation program.
9 (d) The professional orientation program shall
10 include, but is not limited to, the following conditions:
11 1. Each school district and each developmental
12 research school, state-supported school, or nonpublic school
13 with an approved professional orientation program plan shall
14 annually submit evaluation data on its professional
15 orientation program to the Commissioner of Education. The
16 commissioner shall develop criteria for continued approval
17 after consultation with the Education Standards Commission.
18 2. Professional orientation activities during the
19 first year shall be based on classroom application of the
20 competencies described in subsection (2), in appropriate
21 instructional settings. Emphasis shall be given to application
22 of those competencies which are directly related to effective
23 performance of the instructional services for which the
24 participant is seeking certification coverage. The orientation
25 activities shall also develop school improvement skills.
26 3. Successful completion of that portion of the
27 professional orientation program required for a professional
28 certificate means that the superintendent or chief
29 administrator has verified to the Department of Education that
30 the teacher has successfully completed the first year of the
31 program.
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1 4. A teacher who has successfully completed the
2 professional orientation program shall have the same
3 reemployment rights as any other teacher on probationary
4 service.
5 (e) The state board shall adopt the rules necessary to
6 provide for the professional orientation program. Such rules
7 shall include opportunities for school districts to work with
8 teacher preparation institutions to devise, and submit for
9 approval, performance appraisal systems and other professional
10 development mechanisms tailored to meet local situations. The
11 rules shall provide for a procedure by which the applicant for
12 a professional certificate may appeal the judgment of the
13 superintendent or chief administrator regarding successful
14 completion of the program. The appeals procedures shall
15 involve the Education Practices Commission and shall not apply
16 to continued employment or reemployment. The involvement of
17 the Education Practices Commission in such appeals procedures
18 shall be pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.
19 (f) District school boards may expend educational
20 training funds as provided for in ss. 236.081 and 236.0811 for
21 professional orientation program activities.
22 (8)(4) NONCITIZENS.--
23 (a) The state board may adopt shall have authority to
24 prescribe rules for issuing under which certificates may be
25 issued to noncitizens who may be needed to teach and who are
26 legally admitted to the United States through the United
27 States Immigration and Naturalization Service. The filing of
28 a written oath to uphold the principles of the Constitutions
29 of the United States and of the State of Florida, required
30 under subparagraph (3)(c)1., does referred to above shall not
31 apply to individuals assigned to teach on an exchange basis.
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1 (b) A No certificate may not shall be issued to a
2 citizen of a nation controlled by forces that which are
3 antagonistic to democratic forms of government, except to an
4 individual who has been legally admitted to the United States
5 through the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
6 (9)(5) DENIAL OF CERTIFICATE.--
7 (a) The Department of Education may is authorized to
8 deny an applicant a certificate if the department it possesses
9 evidence satisfactory to it that the applicant has committed
10 an act or acts, or that a situation exists, for which the
11 Education Practices Commission would be authorized to revoke a
12 teaching certificate.
13 (b) The decision of the Department of Education is
14 subject to review by the Education Practices Commission upon
15 the filing of a written request from the applicant within 20
16 days after from receipt of the notice of denial.
17 (10)(6) STATE BOARD RULES.--By January 1, 1991, The
18 State Board of Education shall adopt promulgate rules as
19 necessary to implement this section for initial certification
20 specifically covering ages birth through 4 years and grade
21 spans prekindergarten or age 3 through grade 3, grades 5
22 through 9, and others as designated by the State Board of
23 Education.
24 (11)(7) PRIOR APPLICATION.--Those Persons who apply
25 for initial professional or temporary certification are shall
26 be governed by the law and rules in effect at the time of
27 application for issuance of the initial certificate.
28 (12)(8) PERSONNEL RECORDS.--The Department of
29 Education shall maintain a complete statement of the academic
30 preparation, professional training, and teaching experience of
31 each person to whom a certificate is issued. The applicant or
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1 the superintendent shall furnish the information using a
2 format or forms provided by the department.
3 Section 2. Section 231.24, Florida Statutes, is
4 amended to read:
5 231.24 Process for renewal of professional
6 certificates.--
7 (1)(a) School districts in this state shall renew be
8 responsible for renewal of state-issued professional
9 certificates as follows:
10 1. Each school district shall renew state-issued
11 professional certificates for individuals who hold a
12 professional certificate by this state and are employed by in
13 that district. Renewals shall be granted pursuant to criteria
14 established in subsections (2), (3), and (4) and requirements
15 specified in rules of the State Board of Education.
16 2. The employing school district may charge the
17 individual an application fee not to exceed the amount charged
18 by the Department of Education for such services, including
19 associated late renewal fees. Each school board shall
20 transmit monthly to the department $20 for each renewed
21 certificate to cover the costs for maintenance and operation
22 of the statewide certification database and for costs incurred
23 in printing and mailing such renewed certificates. As defined
24 in current rules of the State Board of Education, the
25 department shall contribute a portion of such fee for purposes
26 of funding the Educator Recovery Network as established in s.
27 231.263. All funds shall be deposited by the department into
28 the Educational Certification Trust Fund and used for purposes
29 specified in s. 231.30.
30 (b) The department shall renew is responsible for
31 renewal of state-issued professional certificates for
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1 individuals who are not employed by a school board of this
2 state. Renewals shall be granted pursuant to criteria
3 established in subsections (2), (3), and (4) and requirements
4 specified in rules of the State Board of Education.
5 (2) All professional certificates, except a
6 nonrenewable professional certificate, issued to school
7 personnel shall be renewable for successive periods not to
8 exceed 5 years from the date of submission of documentation of
9 completion of the requirements for renewal provided in
10 subsection (3). Only one renewal may be granted during each
11 5-year validity period of a professional certificate. However,
12 if the renewal application form is not received by the
13 department or by the employing school district before the
14 expiration of the professional certificate, the application
15 form, application fee, and a late fee must shall be submitted
16 prior to July 1 of the year following expiration of the
17 certificate in order to renew the professional certificate.
18 The state board shall adopt rules to allow a 1-year extension
19 of the validity period of a professional certificate in the
20 event of serious illness, injury, or other extraordinary
21 extenuating circumstances of the applicant. The department
22 shall grant such 1-year extension upon written request by the
23 applicant or by of the superintendent of the local school
24 district or the governing authority of a developmental
25 research school, state-supported school, or nonpublic school
26 that employs the applicant has an approved professional
27 orientation program.
28 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
29 following requirements must shall be met:
30 (a)1. The applicant must shall earn a minimum of 6
31 college credits or 120 inservice points or a combination
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1 thereof. For each area of specialization to be retained on a
2 certificate, the applicant must shall earn at least 3 of the
3 required credit hours or equivalent inservice points in the
4 specialization area. Education in "clinical educator" training
5 pursuant to s. 240.529(5)(b) and credits or points that
6 provide training in the area of exceptional student education,
7 normal child development, and the disorders of development may
8 be applied toward any specialization area. Until June 30,
9 2000, Credits or points that provide training in the areas of
10 drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in teaching
11 limited English proficient students having limited proficiency
12 in English, or dropout prevention, or training in areas
13 identified in the educational goals and performance standards
14 adopted pursuant to ss. 229.591(3) and 229.592 may be applied
15 toward any specialization area. Credits or points earned
16 through approved summer institutes may be applied toward the
17 fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also
18 be earned by participation in professional growth components
19 approved by the State Board of Education and specified
20 pursuant to s. 236.0811 in the district's approved master plan
21 for inservice educational training, including, but not limited
22 to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher training
23 activity, serving on an instructional materials committee or a
24 state board or commission that deals with educational issues,
25 or serving on an advisory council created pursuant to s.
26 229.58.
27 (b)2. In lieu of college course credit or inservice
28 points, the applicant may renew a specialization area by
29 passage of a state board approved subject area test or by
30 completion of a department approved summer work program in a
31 business or industry directly related to an area of
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1 specialization listed on the certificate. The state board
2 shall adopt rules providing for the approval procedure.
3 (c)3. If In the event an applicant wishes to retain
4 more than two specialization areas on the certificate, the
5 applicant shall be permitted two successive validity periods
6 for renewal of all specialization areas. However, at no time
7 shall fewer than 6 college course credit hours or the
8 equivalent be earned in any one validity period.
9 (b) A candidate who holds an active certificate and
10 has not been employed in an instructional position by a public
11 school district or a nonpublic school requiring state
12 certification having a Department of Education approved
13 professional orientation program plan at any time during the
14 validity period of such current certificate may renew the
15 certificate by receiving a passing score on the subject area
16 examination or completing the college course credits as
17 provided in paragraph (a); however, if the candidate becomes
18 employed in an instructional position by a public school
19 district or a nonpublic school requiring state certification
20 having a Department of Education approved professional
21 orientation program plan, he or she shall undergo a
22 performance evaluation by a performance measurement system
23 approved by the department for such purpose during the first
24 90 days of employment. A candidate who fails to demonstrate
25 satisfactory performance shall continue in the program
26 pursuant to s. 231.17. For the purposes of this paragraph,
27 "instructional position" includes those positions held by
28 certificateholders who are district-level personnel,
29 district-level personnel on special assignment, nonpublic
30 school area administrators and supervisors, school principals,
31 assistant school principals, school board members,
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1 instructional personnel on special assignment, and
2 instructional personnel on leave through collective bargaining
3 regarding contracts or school board rule, and other positions
4 held by certificateholders as specified by necessary State
5 Board of Education rules.
6 (4) When any person who holds a valid temporary
7 certificate or professional Florida teacher's certificate is
8 called into or volunteers for actual wartime service or
9 required peacetime military service training, the certificate
10 shall be renewed for a period of time equal to the time spent
11 in military service if the, provided such person makes proper
12 application and presents substantiating evidence to the
13 department or the employing school district regarding such
14 military service.
15 (5) The state board shall adopt rules to allow the
16 reinstatement of expired professional certificates. The
17 department may reinstate an expired professional certificate
18 within 3 years after the date of expiration if the
19 certificateholder:
20 (a) Submits an application for reinstatement of the
21 expired certificate;
22 (b) Documents completion of 6 college credits during
23 the 5 years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired
24 certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a
25 combination thereof, in an area specified in subsection
26 (3)(a); and
27 (c) During the 5 years immediately preceding
28 reinstatement of the certificate, achieves a passing score on
29 the subject area test for each subject to be shown on the
30 reinstated certificate.
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1 The requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by
2 subject-area tests or college credits completed for issuance
3 of the certificate that has expired.
4 Section 3. Subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6), and
5 paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section 240.529, Florida
6 Statutes, are amended to read:
7 240.529 Public accountability and state approval for
8 teacher preparation programs.--
9 (2) DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.--A
10 system shall be developed by the Department of Education in
11 collaboration with institutions of higher education to assist
12 departments and colleges of education in the restructuring of
13 their programs to meet the need for producing quality teachers
14 now and in the future. The system shall assist teacher
15 educators in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and
16 evaluating programs that meet state-adopted standards. The
17 Education Standards Commission shall have primary
18 responsibility for recommending these standards to the State
19 Board of Education for adoption. These standards shall
20 emphasize quality indicators drawn from research, professional
21 literature, recognized guidelines, Florida essential teaching
22 competencies and educator-accomplished practices, effective
23 classroom practices, and the outcomes of the state system of
24 school improvement and education accountability, and
25 "Blueprint 2000," as well as performance measures. Departments
26 and colleges of education shall ensure that teacher
27 preparation programs and courses emphasizing the state system
28 of school improvement and education-accountability "Blueprint
29 2000" concepts and standards receive priority funding.
30 (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Beginning July 1,
31 1995, and Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3),
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1 failure by a public or nonpublic teacher preparation program
2 to meet the criteria for continued program approval shall
3 result in loss of program approval. The Department of
4 Education, in collaboration with the departments and colleges
5 of education, shall develop procedures for continued program
6 approval which that document the continuous improvement of
7 program processes and graduates' performance.
8 (a) Continued approval of specific teacher preparation
9 programs at each public and nonpublic institution of higher
10 education within the state is shall be contingent upon the
11 passing of the state written examination required by s. 231.17
12 s. 231.17(2) by at least 80 percent of the graduates of the
13 program who take the examination and the successful completion
14 of an approved professional orientation program by at least 90
15 percent of the graduates who enter such programs. On request
16 of an institution, the Department of Education shall provide
17 an analysis of the performance of the graduates of such
18 institution with respect to the competencies assessed by the
19 examination required by s. 231.17.
20 (b) Additional criteria for continued program approval
21 for public institutions may be developed by the Education
22 Standards Commission and approved by the State Board of
23 Education. Such criteria must shall emphasize outcome measures
24 and may include, but need not be limited to, program
25 graduates' satisfaction with training and the unit's
26 responsiveness to local school districts. Additional criteria
27 for continued program approval for nonpublic institutions
28 shall be developed in the same manner as for public
29 institutions; however, such criteria must shall be based upon
30 significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance
31 measures. Responsibility for collecting data on outcome
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1 measures through survey instruments and other appropriate
2 means shall be shared by the institutions of higher education,
3 the Board of Regents, the State Board of Independent Colleges
4 and Universities, and the Department of Education. In addition
5 to graduates of approved programs, data shall be collected on
6 alternate preparation program completers and a representative
7 sample of recent out-of-state graduates teaching in Florida.
8 Beginning January 1, 1995, and By January 1 of each succeeding
9 year, the Department of Education, in cooperation with the
10 Board of Regents and the State Board of Independent Colleges
11 and Universities, shall report this information for each
12 Florida postsecondary institution that has having
13 state-approved programs of teacher education to the Governor,
14 the Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of the State
15 University System, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
16 the House of Representatives, all Florida postsecondary
17 teacher preparation programs, and interested members of the
18 general public. This report must shall analyze the data and
19 make recommendations for improving improvement of teacher
20 preparation programs in the state.
21 (c) Beginning July 1, 1997, continued approval for a
22 teacher preparation program is shall be contingent upon the
23 results of annual reviews of the program conducted by the
24 institution of higher education, using procedures and criteria
25 outlined in an institutional program evaluation plan approved
26 by the Department of Education. This plan must shall
27 incorporate the criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b)
28 and include provisions for involving primary stakeholders,
29 such as program graduates, district school personnel,
30 classroom teachers, principals, community agencies, and
31 business representatives in the evaluation process. Upon
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1 request by an institution, the department shall provide
2 assistance in developing, enhancing, or reviewing the
3 institutional program evaluation plan and training evaluation
4 team members.
5 (5) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--Beginning July 1,
6 1995, All postsecondary instructors, school district personnel
7 and instructional personnel teachers, and school sites
8 preparing instructional personnel teachers through preservice
9 field experience courses and internships shall meet special
10 requirements.
11 (a) All instructors in postsecondary teacher
12 preparation programs who instruct or supervise preservice
13 field experience courses or internships shall have at least
14 one of the following: specialized training in clinical
15 supervision; a valid professional teaching certificate
16 pursuant to ss. 231.17 and 231.24; at least 3 years of
17 successful teaching experience in prekindergarten through
18 grade 12; or a commitment to spend periods of time specified
19 by State Board of Education rule teaching in the public
20 schools.
21 (b) All school district personnel and instructional
22 personnel teachers who supervise or direct teacher preparation
23 students during field experience courses or internships must
24 shall have evidence of "clinical educator" training. The
25 Education Standards Commission shall recommend, and the state
26 board shall approve, the training requirements.
27 (c) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in
28 cooperation with district school boards and approved nonpublic
29 school associations shall select the school sites for
30 preservice field experience activities. These sites must shall
31 represent the full spectrum of school communities, including,
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1 but not limited to, schools located in urban settings. In
2 order to be selected, school sites must shall demonstrate
3 commitment to the education of public school students and to
4 the preparation of future teachers. A nonpublic school
5 association, in order to be approved, must shall have a
6 state-approved master inservice program plan in accordance
7 with s. 236.0811 and a state-approved professional orientation
8 program plan in accordance with s. 231.17.
9 (6) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.--The Education Standards
10 Commission shall recommend, and the State Board of Education
11 shall approve, standards of excellence for teacher
12 preparation. These standards must shall exceed the
13 requirements for program approval pursuant to subsection (3)
14 and must shall incorporate state and national recommendations
15 for exemplary teacher preparation programs. Beginning July 1,
16 1995, Approved teacher preparation programs that which meet
17 these standards of excellence shall receive public recognition
18 as programs of excellence and may be eligible to receive
19 teaching profession enhancement grants pursuant to s.
20 240.5291.
21 (9) PRETEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT
22 PROGRAMS.--Universities and community colleges may establish
23 preteacher education and teacher education pilot programs to
24 encourage promising minority students to prepare for a career
25 in education. These pilot programs shall be designed to
26 recruit and provide additional academic, clinical, and
27 counseling support for students whom the institution judges to
28 be potentially successful teacher education candidates, but
29 who may not meet teacher education program admission
30 standards. Priority consideration shall be given to those
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1 pilot programs that which are jointly submitted by community
2 colleges and universities.
3 (b) Universities and community colleges may admit into
4 the pilot program those incoming students who demonstrate an
5 interest in teaching as a career, but who may not meet the
6 requirements for entrance into an approved teacher education
7 program.
8 1. Flexibility may be given to colleges of education
9 to develop and market innovative teacher training programs
10 directed at specific target groups such as graduates from the
11 colleges of arts and sciences, employed education
12 paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, early federal
13 retirees, and nontraditional college students. Programs must
14 be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval.
15 2. Academically successful graduates in the fields of
16 liberal arts and science may be encouraged, under s. 231.172,
17 to embark upon a career in education.
18 3. Models may be developed to provide a positive
19 initial experience in teaching in order to encourage
20 retention. Priority should be given to models that encourage
21 minority graduates.
22 Section 4. Section 231.172, Florida Statutes, is
23 repealed.
24 Section 5. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1997.
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2 SENATE SUMMARY
3 Revises requirements and procedures for the Department of
Education in certifying teachers and school district
4 personnel. Revises application requirements. Provides for
the department to issue a 2-year temporary certificate.
5 Authorizes school districts to develop an alternate
certification program. Requires that the program be
6 approved by the department. Requires the State Board of
Education to adopt rules for approving an alternate
7 certification program. Requires school districts to issue
professional certificates based on professional education
8 competencies. Deletes a requirement that each school
district and developmental research school implement a
9 professional orientation program. Revises requirements
for the department in approving teacher preparation
10 programs. Repeals s. 231.172, F.S., which established an
alternate preparation program for certifying teachers who
11 had not completed a professional preparation program.
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