CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0665c1
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 CS/HB 665
By the Committee on Education/K-12 and Representative
Merchant
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to certification and
3 preparation of educators; amending s. 231.17,
4 F.S.; revising educator certification
5 requirements; specifying minimum competencies;
6 making conforming changes; authorizing school
7 districts to provide alternate certification
8 programs and systems for demonstrating
9 professional competence; specifying minimum
10 requirements; requiring approval by the
11 Department of Education; requiring
12 demonstration of professional competence within
13 a certain period; providing exceptions;
14 authorizing the Commissioner of Education to
15 contract for written certification
16 examinations; deleting state university
17 responsibility for such examinations; deleting
18 requirements for professional orientation
19 programs; deleting requirements for
20 certification to teach certain ages and grades;
21 amending s. 231.24, F.S., relating to renewal
22 of educator certification; providing for
23 extensions of professional certificates;
24 extending permission to use certain training
25 for renewal of any certification
26 specialization; deleting additional renewal
27 requirements for certificate holders not
28 employed in instructional positions; providing
29 for reissuance of expired certificates;
30 amending s. 231.29, F.S., relating to
31 assessment procedures and criteria; requiring
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1 the inclusion of a new assessment criterion
2 based on ability to verbally communicate;
3 amending s. 240.529, F.S., relating to approval
4 of teacher preparation programs; requiring
5 emphasis on educator accomplished practices;
6 deleting obsolete dates; deleting references to
7 professional orientation programs; requiring
8 higher education institutions to assist in
9 continued program approval; deleting
10 consideration of graduates of out-of-state and
11 alternate preparation programs; making
12 conforming changes in preservice field
13 experiences; providing technical changes;
14 repealing s. 231.172, F.S., relating to
15 alternate preparation programs for teachers;
16 providing an effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. Section 231.17, Florida Statutes, 1996
21 Supplement, is amended to read:
22 231.17 Official statements of eligibility and
23 certificates granted on application to those meeting
24 prescribed requirements.--
25 (1) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.--
26 (a) Each person seeking certification pursuant to this
27 chapter shall submit a completed application to the Department
28 of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to s. 231.30.
29 (b) Pursuant to the provisions in s. 120.60, the
30 Department of Education shall issue within 90 calendar days
31 after of the stamped receipted date of the completed
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1 application an official statement of eligibility for
2 certification or a certificate covering the classification,
3 level, and area for which the applicant is deemed qualified.
4 (2) STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.--
5 1. The statement of eligibility must shall be issued
6 to advise the applicant of the qualifications that must be
7 completed to qualify for the temporary or professional
8 certificate sought. Each statement of eligibility is shall be
9 valid for 2 years after its from the date of issuance and may
10 be reissued for one additional 2-year period if application is
11 made while the initial statement of eligibility is valid or
12 within 1 year after the initial statement expires.
13 (3) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE.--
14 (a)2. The department shall issue a temporary
15 certificate to any applicant who submits satisfactory evidence
16 of possessing the qualifications for such a certificate as
17 prescribed by this chapter and by rules of the state board.
18 Each temporary certificate is valid for 2 years after the date
19 of its issuance and is nonrenewable, except as otherwise
20 provided in subsection (6).
21 (b) Issuance of the temporary certificate shall occur
22 when the department:
23 a. Receives notification from a district
24 superintendent or the governing authority of a developmental
25 research school, state-supported school, or nonpublic school
26 that the applicant has been issued a valid statement of
27 eligibility by the Department of Education and is employed by
28 the school district or developmental research school,
29 state-supported school, or nonpublic school with an approved
30 professional orientation program;
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1 1.b. Receives the applicant's fingerprint reports from
2 the Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of
3 Investigation pursuant to s. 231.02, s. 231.1712; and
4 2.c. Determines that the applicant is qualified for
5 the temporary certificate.
6 (c) To qualify be deemed qualified for a temporary
7 professional certificate, the applicant must for certification
8 shall:
9 1. File a written statement under oath that the
10 applicant subscribes to and will uphold the principles
11 incorporated in the Constitutions of the United States and of
12 the State of Florida.;
13 2. Be at least 18 years of age.;
14 3. Document receipt of a bachelor's or higher degree
15 from an accredited institution of higher learning. The
16 bachelor's or higher degree may shall not be required in areas
17 approved in rule by the State Board of Education as nondegreed
18 areas. Each applicant seeking initial certification must shall
19 have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a
20 4.0 scale in the applicant's major field of study. At least 30
21 of the total number of semester hours required for the initial
22 secondary certificate area on a professional certificate shall
23 be earned in courses in the field of specialization no more
24 than nine of which shall be earned in a college of education
25 unless the applicant's courses in the specialization field
26 were offered only in the college of education. The applicant
27 may document the required education by submitting official
28 transcripts from institutions of higher education or by
29 authorizing the direct submission of such official transcripts
30 through established electronic network systems.;
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1 4. Meet such academic and professional requirements
2 based on credentials certified by standard institutions of
3 higher learning, including any institutions of higher learning
4 in this state which are accredited by an accrediting
5 association that which is a member of the Commission on
6 Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, as may be
7 prescribed by the state board.;
8 5. Be competent and capable of performing the duties,
9 functions, and responsibilities of a teacher.;
10 6. Be of good moral character.;
11 7. Demonstrate mastery of the minimum competencies
12 required by subsection (2); and
13 8. Complete the professional orientation program
14 required by subsection (3).
15
16 Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall provide for the
17 review and acceptance of credentials from foreign institutions
18 of higher learning.
19 (4) PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE.--The department shall
20 issue a professional certificate for a period not to exceed 5
21 years to any applicant who meets the requirements for a
22 temporary certificate and documents mastery of the minimum
23 competencies required by subsection (5). Mastery of the
24 minimum competencies must be documented on a comprehensive
25 written examination or through other criteria as specified by
26 rules of the state board. Mastery of minimum competencies
27 required under subsection (5) must be demonstrated in the
28 following areas:
29 (a) General knowledge, including the ability to read,
30 write, and compute.
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1 (b) Professional skills and knowledge of the standards
2 of professional practice.
3 (c) The subject matter in each area for which
4 certification is sought.
5 (5)(2) MINIMUM COMPETENCIES FOR PROFESSIONAL
6 CERTIFICATE.--
7 (a) The state board must specify, by rule, the minimum
8 essential competencies that educators must possess and
9 demonstrate in order to qualify to teach students the
10 standards of student performance adopted by the state board.
11 The minimum competencies must include Each professional
12 certificate issued shall be valid for a period not to exceed 5
13 years. Each applicant for initial professional certification
14 shall demonstrate, on a comprehensive written examination or
15 through such other procedures as may be specified by the state
16 board, mastery of those minimum essential generic and
17 specialization competencies and other criteria as shall be
18 adopted into rules by the state board, including, but are not
19 limited to, the ability to:
20 1. Write in a logical and understandable style with
21 appropriate grammar and sentence structure.;
22 2. Read, comprehend, and interpret professional and
23 other written material.;
24 3. Comprehend and work with fundamental mathematical
25 concepts.;
26 4. Recognize signs of severe emotional distress in
27 students and to apply techniques of crisis intervention with
28 an emphasis on suicide prevention and positive emotional
29 development.;
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1 5. Recognize signs of alcohol and drug abuse in
2 students and to apply counseling techniques with emphasis on
3 intervention and prevention of future abuse.;
4 6. Recognize the physical and behavioral indicators of
5 child abuse and neglect, to know rights and responsibilities
6 regarding reporting, to know how to care for a child's needs
7 after a report is made, and to know recognition, intervention,
8 and prevention strategies pertaining to child abuse and
9 neglect which that can be related to children in a classroom
10 setting in a nonthreatening, positive manner.;
11 7. Comprehend patterns of physical, social, and
12 academic development in students, including exceptional
13 students in the regular classroom, and to counsel these the
14 same students concerning their needs in these areas.;
15 8. Recognize and be aware of the instructional needs
16 of exceptional students.;
17 9. Comprehend patterns of normal Recognize disorders
18 of development in students and employ appropriate intervention
19 strategies for disorders of development.;
20 10. Identify and comprehend the codes and standards of
21 professional ethics, performance, and practices adopted
22 pursuant to s. 231.546(2)(b), the grounds for disciplinary
23 action provided by s. 231.28, and the procedures for resolving
24 complaints filed pursuant to this chapter, including appeal
25 processes.; and
26 11. Recognize and demonstrate awareness of the
27 educational needs of students who have having limited
28 proficiency in English and employ appropriate teaching
29 strategies.
30 12. Use appropriate technology in teaching and
31 learning processes.
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1 13. Use assessment strategies to assist the continuous
2 development of the learner.
3 14. Use teaching and learning strategies that include
4 considering each student's culture, learning styles, special
5 needs, and socioeconomic background.
6 15. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the
7 subject matter that is aligned with the subject knowledge and
8 skills specified in the student performance standards approved
9 by the state board.
10 (b) The state board shall adopt rules that specify the
11 minimum essential generic and subject matter competencies to
12 be demonstrated by means of the written examination and those
13 to be demonstrated by other means. Any individual enrolled in
14 a postsecondary institution who pays the appropriate fee and
15 completes the required application procedures may take the
16 written examination prior to graduation. The examination shall
17 require a candidate to demonstrate the following:
18 1. Mastery of general knowledge, including the ability
19 to read, write, and compute;
20 2. Mastery of professional skills and knowledge of the
21 standards of professional practice; and
22 3. Mastery of the subject matter in each area for
23 which certification is being sought.
24 (b) The state board shall designate the certification
25 areas for which subject area tests shall be developed.
26 However, an applicant may satisfy the subject area and
27 professional knowledge testing requirements by attaining
28 scores on corresponding tests from the National Teachers
29 Examination series, and successors to that series, that meet
30 standards established by the state board. The College Level
31 Academic Skills Test, a similar test approved by the state
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1 board, or, beginning January 1, 1996, the National Teachers
2 Examination must shall be used by degreed personnel to
3 demonstrate mastery of general knowledge as required in
4 paragraph (4)(a) subparagraph 1. The College Level Academic
5 Skills Test shall be waived for any applicant who passed the
6 reading, writing, and mathematics subtest of the former old
7 Florida Teacher Certification Examination or the College Level
8 Academic Skills Test and subsequently obtained a certificate
9 pursuant to this chapter.
10 (c) Each person seeking initial certification shall
11 have earned credits in courses related to normal child
12 development and the disorders of development.
13 (6) EXCEPTIONS FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES.--
14 (a)(d) The department shall issue a temporary
15 certificate to an applicant A person who meets all
16 requirements established by law and or rule for issuance of a
17 professional certificate, other than passing the examination,
18 successfully completing the first year of the professional
19 orientation program, or completing the professional education
20 courses in which the applicant is deficient, shall be issued a
21 nonrenewable, 2-year temporary certificate.
22 (b) The department shall issue However, the State
23 Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance
24 of:
25 1. one nonrenewable 2-year temporary certificate and
26 one nonrenewable 5-year professional certificate to a
27 qualified applicant an individual who holds a bachelor's
28 degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
29 completion of a master's degree program in speech-language
30 impairment.
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1 (c) The state board shall adopt rules to allow the
2 department to reissue temporary certificates as follows:
3 1.2. One additional 2-year temporary certificate when
4 the requirements for the professional certificate were not
5 completed because of the serious illness, injury, or other
6 extraordinary, extenuating circumstance of the applicant.
7 2.3. A 1-year extension of the temporary certificate
8 for an applicant who was employed less than 99 days during the
9 first year of teaching.
10 3.4. Two additional 2-year temporary certificates to
11 an applicant who is completing the training and professional
12 education course certification requirements for an English or
13 language arts teacher of limited English proficient students
14 with limited proficiency in English.
15 4.5. A 1-year extension of the temporary certificate
16 to a foreign educated applicant who is completing professional
17 certification requirements, or to a bilingual curriculum
18 content teacher of limited English proficient students with
19 limited proficiency in English.
20 5. One additional 2-year temporary certificate to an
21 applicant who is completing college credits to satisfy the
22 professional education requirements for certification.
23
24 The department shall reissue, pursuant to this paragraph, a
25 temporary certificate upon the written request of the district
26 school superintendent, the governing authority of a
27 developmental research school, or the governing authority of a
28 state-supported school or nonpublic school with an approved
29 professional orientation program.
30 (7) DEMONSTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
31 COMPETENCE.--
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1 (a) Each school district may develop and maintain an
2 alternative certification program by which members of the
3 district's instructional staff may satisfy the professional
4 education course requirements specified in rules of the state
5 board for issuance of a professional certificate. The state
6 board must adopt, by rule, standards and guidelines for the
7 approval of alternative certification programs. Each approved
8 program must include methods for identifying each applicant's
9 entry-level teaching competencies and must require each
10 applicant to:
11 1. Have expertise in the subject and meet requirements
12 for specialization in a subject area for which a professional
13 certificate may be issued under this chapter and rules of the
14 state board.
15 2. Complete training in only those competency areas in
16 which deficiencies are identified.
17 3. Complete the program and demonstrate professional
18 education competence within 2 years after initial employment
19 as a member of the district's instructional staff.
20 (b) Each school district must develop and maintain a
21 system by which members of the district's instructional staff
22 may demonstrate the professional education competence required
23 by this section for issuance of a professional certificate.
24 Each district's system must be based on classroom application
25 and instructional performance and must include a performance
26 evaluation plan for documenting the demonstration of required
27 professional education competence. Each individual employed as
28 a member of the district's instructional staff on or after
29 July 1, 1997, must demonstrate mastery of the required
30 professional education competence within the first year of
31 employment, unless the individual:
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1 1. Has completed an approved teacher preparation
2 program at a postsecondary institution within this state;
3 2. Has completed a teacher education training program
4 and has had at least 2 years of successful full-time teaching
5 experience in another state; or
6 3. Is participating in the district's alternate
7 certification program.
8 (c) Each district school board may expend educational
9 training funds provided under ss. 236.081 and 236.0811 to
10 implement this subsection.
11 (d) The department must approve programs and systems
12 developed to demonstrate professional education competence.
13 (8) EXAMINATIONS.--
14 (a)(e) The commissioner, with the approval of the
15 state board, may contract assign to a university in the state
16 system the responsibility for developing, printing,
17 administering, scoring, and providing appropriate analysis of
18 the written tests required.
19 (b)(f) The state board shall, by rule, specify the
20 examination scores that are the achievement of which shall be
21 required for the issuance of a professional certificate and
22 certain temporary certificates. When the College Level
23 Academic Skills Test is used to demonstrate general knowledge,
24 such rules must shall provide an alternative method by which
25 an applicant may demonstrate mastery of general knowledge,
26 including the ability to read, write, or compute, must shall
27 define generic subject area competencies, and must shall
28 establish uniform evaluation guidelines. The alternative
29 method must shall:
30 1. Apply only to an applicant who has successfully
31 completed all prerequisites for issuance of the professional
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1 certificate, except passing one specific subtest of the
2 College Level Academic Skills Test, and who has taken and
3 failed to achieve a passing score on that subtest at least
4 four times.
5 2. Require notification from the superintendent of the
6 employing school district, the governing authority of the
7 employing developmental research school, or the governing
8 authority of the employing state-supported school or nonpublic
9 school with an approved professional orientation program that
10 the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated mastery of the
11 subject area covered by that specific subtest. Such mastery
12 shall be demonstrated through successful experience in the
13 professional application of generic subject area competencies
14 and proficient academic performance in that subject area. The
15 decision of the superintendent or governing authority shall be
16 based on a review of the applicant's official academic
17 transcript and notification from the applicant's principal, a
18 peer teacher, and a district-level supervisor that the
19 applicant has demonstrated successful professional experience
20 in that subject area.
21 (c)(g) If an applicant takes an examination developed
22 by this state and Provision shall be made for a person who
23 does not achieve the score necessary for certification, the
24 applicant may to review his or her completed examination and
25 bring to the attention of the department any errors that would
26 result in a passing score.
27 (d)(h) The department and the board shall maintain
28 confidentiality of the examination, developmental materials,
29 and workpapers, and the examination, developmental materials,
30 and workpapers are shall be exempt from the provisions of s.
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1 119.07(1). The board shall adopt such rules as may be
2 necessary to accomplish this purpose.
3 (3) PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM.--Each school
4 district and developmental research school shall develop and
5 maintain a plan for a professional orientation program for
6 beginning teachers, teachers employed in the state for the
7 first time, and teachers whose professional certificates are
8 inactive. A state-supported school or nonpublic school may
9 develop a plan for a professional orientation program and
10 submit it to the commissioner for initial approval.
11 (a) The professional orientation program is a 3-year
12 program for developing professional skills and competencies.
13 The first year of the program shall be mandatory for beginning
14 teachers and shall offer individualized mentoring and
15 assistance. The goal of the first year shall be to provide an
16 orientation to professional responsibilities and the training
17 and support activities required to enable the beginning
18 teacher to successfully demonstrate the competencies required
19 by this section. Other professional competencies identified by
20 the State Board of Education or local school board may be
21 required. The program for the first year may include a reduced
22 teaching load. The optional second and third years may offer
23 continued development for successful beginning teachers or for
24 any teacher with identified skill development needs, may
25 involve decreasing levels of assistance, and may include peer
26 mentoring and professional orientation teams. The professional
27 orientation program for experienced teachers shall be a 90-day
28 program of orientation to state and district policies and
29 practices.
30 (b) No teacher who has less than 1 full year of
31 successful teaching experience as defined in s. 228.041(16)
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1 shall be issued the professional educator's certificate until
2 the individual has successfully completed the first year of
3 the professional orientation program. The teacher employed in
4 the state for the first time or whose professional certificate
5 is inactive and who has at least 1 full year of successful
6 teaching experience may, during the first 90 days of
7 employment, demonstrate successful instructional performance
8 on an instructional performance evaluation system that has
9 been approved for use in the professional orientation program
10 in the employing district of the teacher. This performance
11 evaluation system shall measure demonstration of the
12 competencies described in subsection (2). The experienced
13 teacher who fails to document successful demonstration of the
14 essential competencies during the first 90 days of employment
15 shall complete 1 year of the professional orientation program.
16 (c) A teacher participating in the professional
17 orientation program shall be a member of the bargaining unit
18 with the same rights as any other first-year teacher and shall
19 receive full pay according to the adopted salary schedule of
20 the district. The requirement for participation in a
21 professional orientation program may be met by a contract
22 employee while teaching full-time or on an equivalent
23 part-time basis in a school district or in a nonpublic school,
24 state-supported school, or developmental research school with
25 an approved professional orientation program.
26 (d) The professional orientation program shall
27 include, but is not limited to, the following conditions:
28 1. Each school district and each developmental
29 research school, state-supported school, or nonpublic school
30 with an approved professional orientation program plan shall
31 annually submit evaluation data on its professional
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1 orientation program to the Commissioner of Education. The
2 commissioner shall develop criteria for continued approval
3 after consultation with the Education Standards Commission.
4 2. Professional orientation activities during the
5 first year shall be based on classroom application of the
6 competencies described in subsection (2), in appropriate
7 instructional settings. Emphasis shall be given to application
8 of those competencies which are directly related to effective
9 performance of the instructional services for which the
10 participant is seeking certification coverage. The orientation
11 activities shall also develop school improvement skills.
12 3. Successful completion of that portion of the
13 professional orientation program required for a professional
14 certificate means that the superintendent or chief
15 administrator has verified to the Department of Education that
16 the teacher has successfully completed the first year of the
17 program.
18 4. A teacher who has successfully completed the
19 professional orientation program shall have the same
20 reemployment rights as any other teacher on probationary
21 service.
22 (e) The state board shall adopt the rules necessary to
23 provide for the professional orientation program. Such rules
24 shall include opportunities for school districts to work with
25 teacher preparation institutions to devise, and submit for
26 approval, performance appraisal systems and other professional
27 development mechanisms tailored to meet local situations. The
28 rules shall provide for a procedure by which the applicant for
29 a professional certificate may appeal the judgment of the
30 superintendent or chief administrator regarding successful
31 completion of the program. The appeals procedures shall
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1 involve the Education Practices Commission and shall not apply
2 to continued employment or reemployment. The involvement of
3 the Education Practices Commission in such appeals procedures
4 shall be pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.
5 (f) District school boards may expend educational
6 training funds as provided for in ss. 236.081 and 236.0811 for
7 professional orientation program activities.
8 (9)(4) NONCITIZENS.--
9 (a) The state board may adopt shall have authority to
10 prescribe rules for issuing under which certificates may be
11 issued to noncitizens who may be needed to teach and who are
12 legally admitted to the United States through the United
13 States Immigration and Naturalization Service. The filing of
14 a written oath to uphold the principles of the Constitutions
15 of the United States and of the State of Florida, required
16 under subparagraph (3)(c)1., does referred to above shall not
17 apply to individuals assigned to teach on an exchange basis.
18 (b) A No certificate may not shall be issued to a
19 citizen of a nation controlled by forces that which are
20 antagonistic to democratic forms of government, except to an
21 individual who has been legally admitted to the United States
22 through the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
23 (10)(5) DENIAL OF CERTIFICATE.--
24 (a) The Department of Education may is authorized to
25 deny an applicant a certificate if the department it possesses
26 evidence satisfactory to it that the applicant has committed
27 an act or acts, or that a situation exists, for which the
28 Education Practices Commission would be authorized to revoke a
29 teaching certificate.
30 (b) The decision of the Department of Education is
31 subject to review by the Education Practices Commission upon
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1 the filing of a written request from the applicant within 20
2 days after from receipt of the notice of denial.
3 (11)(6) STATE BOARD RULES.--By January 1, 1991, The
4 State Board of Education shall adopt promulgate rules as
5 necessary to implement this section for initial certification
6 specifically covering ages birth through 4 years and grade
7 spans prekindergarten or age 3 through grade 3, grades 5
8 through 9, and others as designated by the State Board of
9 Education.
10 (12)(7) PRIOR APPLICATION.--Those Persons who apply
11 for initial professional or temporary certification are shall
12 be governed by the law and rules in effect at the time of
13 application for issuance of the initial certificate.
14 (13)(8) PERSONNEL RECORDS.--The Department of
15 Education shall maintain a complete statement of the academic
16 preparation, professional training, and teaching experience of
17 each person to whom a certificate is issued. The applicant or
18 the superintendent shall furnish the information using a
19 format or forms provided by the department.
20 Section 2. Section 231.24, Florida Statutes, is
21 amended to read:
22 231.24 Process for renewal of professional
23 certificates.--
24 (1)(a) School districts in this state shall renew be
25 responsible for renewal of state-issued professional
26 certificates as follows:
27 1. Each school district shall renew state-issued
28 professional certificates for individuals who hold a
29 professional certificate by this state and are employed by in
30 that district. Renewals shall be granted pursuant to criteria
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1 established in subsections (2), (3), and (4) and requirements
2 specified in rules of the State Board of Education.
3 2. The employing school district may charge the
4 individual an application fee not to exceed the amount charged
5 by the Department of Education for such services, including
6 associated late renewal fees. Each school board shall
7 transmit monthly to the department $20 for each renewed
8 certificate to cover the costs for maintenance and operation
9 of the statewide certification database and for costs incurred
10 in printing and mailing such renewed certificates. As defined
11 in current rules of the State Board of Education, the
12 department shall contribute a portion of such fee for purposes
13 of funding the Educator Recovery Network as established in s.
14 231.263. The department shall deposit all funds shall be
15 deposited by the department into the Educational Certification
16 Trust Fund for use as and used for purposes specified in s.
17 231.30.
18 (b) The department shall renew is responsible for
19 renewal of state-issued professional certificates for
20 individuals who are not employed by a school board of this
21 state. Renewals shall be granted pursuant to criteria
22 established in subsections (2), (3), and (4) and requirements
23 specified in rules of the State Board of Education.
24 (2) All professional certificates, except a
25 nonrenewable professional certificate, issued to school
26 personnel shall be renewable for successive periods not to
27 exceed 5 years after from the date of submission of
28 documentation of completion of the requirements for renewal
29 provided in subsection (3). Only one renewal may be granted
30 during each 5-year validity period of a professional
31 certificate. However, if the renewal application form is not
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1 received by the department or by the employing school district
2 before the expiration of the professional certificate, the
3 application form, application fee, and a late fee must shall
4 be submitted before prior to July 1 of the year following
5 expiration of the certificate in order to renew the
6 professional certificate. The state board shall adopt rules to
7 allow a 1-year extension of the validity period of a
8 professional certificate in the event of serious illness,
9 injury, or other extraordinary extenuating circumstances of
10 the applicant. The department shall grant such 1-year
11 extension upon written request by the applicant or by of the
12 superintendent of the local school district or the governing
13 authority of a developmental research school, state-supported
14 school, or nonpublic school that employs the applicant has an
15 approved professional orientation program.
16 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
17 following requirements must shall be met:
18 (a)1. The applicant must shall earn a minimum of 6
19 college credits or 120 inservice points or a combination
20 thereof. For each area of specialization to be retained on a
21 certificate, the applicant must shall earn at least 3 of the
22 required credit hours or equivalent inservice points in the
23 specialization area. Education in "clinical educator" training
24 pursuant to s. 240.529(5)(b) and credits or points that
25 provide training in the area of exceptional student education,
26 normal child development, and the disorders of development may
27 be applied toward any specialization area. Until June 30,
28 2000, Credits or points that provide training in the areas of
29 drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in teaching
30 limited English proficient students having limited proficiency
31 in English, or dropout prevention, or training in areas
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1 identified in the educational goals and performance standards
2 adopted pursuant to ss. 229.591(3) and 229.592 may be applied
3 toward any specialization area. Credits or points earned
4 through approved summer institutes may be applied toward the
5 fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also
6 be earned by participation in professional growth components
7 approved by the State Board of Education and specified
8 pursuant to s. 236.0811 in the district's approved master plan
9 for inservice educational training, including, but not limited
10 to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher training
11 activity, serving on an instructional materials committee or a
12 state board or commission that deals with educational issues,
13 or serving on an advisory council created pursuant to s.
14 229.58.
15 (b)2. In lieu of college course credit or inservice
16 points, the applicant may renew a specialization area by
17 passage of a state board approved subject area test or by
18 completion of a department approved summer work program in a
19 business or industry directly related to an area of
20 specialization listed on the certificate. The state board
21 shall adopt rules providing for the approval procedure.
22 (c)3. If In the event an applicant wishes to retain
23 more than two specialization areas on the certificate, the
24 applicant shall be permitted two successive validity periods
25 for renewal of all specialization areas, but must earn.
26 However, at no time shall fewer than 6 college course credit
27 hours or the equivalent be earned in any one validity period.
28 (b) A candidate who holds an active certificate and
29 has not been employed in an instructional position by a public
30 school district or a nonpublic school requiring state
31 certification having a Department of Education approved
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1 professional orientation program plan at any time during the
2 validity period of such current certificate may renew the
3 certificate by receiving a passing score on the subject area
4 examination or completing the college course credits as
5 provided in paragraph (a); however, if the candidate becomes
6 employed in an instructional position by a public school
7 district or a nonpublic school requiring state certification
8 having a Department of Education approved professional
9 orientation program plan, he or she shall undergo a
10 performance evaluation by a performance measurement system
11 approved by the department for such purpose during the first
12 90 days of employment. A candidate who fails to demonstrate
13 satisfactory performance shall continue in the program
14 pursuant to s. 231.17. For the purposes of this paragraph,
15 "instructional position" includes those positions held by
16 certificateholders who are district-level personnel,
17 district-level personnel on special assignment, nonpublic
18 school area administrators and supervisors, school principals,
19 assistant school principals, school board members,
20 instructional personnel on special assignment, and
21 instructional personnel on leave through collective bargaining
22 regarding contracts or school board rule, and other positions
23 held by certificateholders as specified by necessary State
24 Board of Education rules.
25 (4) When any person who holds a valid temporary
26 certificate or professional Florida teacher's certificate is
27 called into or volunteers for actual wartime service or
28 required peacetime military service training, the certificate
29 shall be renewed for a period of time equal to the time spent
30 in military service if the, provided such person makes proper
31 application and presents substantiating evidence to the
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1 department or the employing school district regarding such
2 military service.
3 (5) The state board shall adopt rules to allow the
4 reinstatement of expired professional certificates. The
5 department may reinstate an expired professional certificate
6 within 3 years after the date of expiration if the
7 certificateholder:
8 (a) Submits an application for reinstatement of the
9 expired certificate.
10 (b) Documents completion of 6 college credits during
11 the 5 years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired
12 certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a
13 combination thereof, in an area specified in subsection
14 (3)(a).
15 (c) During the 5 years immediately preceding
16 reinstatement of the certificate, achieves a passing score on
17 the subject area test for each subject to be shown on the
18 reinstated certificate.
19
20 The requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by
21 subject-area tests or college credits completed for issuance
22 of the certificate that has expired.
23 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 231.29, Florida
24 Statutes, is amended to read:
25 231.29 Assessment procedures and criteria.--
26 (3) A complete statement of the assessment criteria
27 shall include, but is shall not be limited to, observable
28 indicators that relate to the following:
29 (a) Ability to use appropriate classroom management
30 techniques, including ability to maintain appropriate
31 discipline.
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1 (b) Knowledge of subject matter. The district school
2 board shall make special provisions for evaluating teachers
3 who are assigned to teach out-of-field.
4 (c) Ability to plan and deliver instruction.
5 (d) Ability to evaluate instructional needs.
6 (e) Ability to communicate verbally.
7 (f)(e) Other professional competencies,
8 responsibilities, and requirements as determined by the local
9 district.
10 Section 4. Subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6), and
11 paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section 240.529, Florida
12 Statutes, are amended to read:
13 240.529 Public accountability and state approval for
14 teacher preparation programs.--
15 (2) DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.--A
16 system shall be developed by the Department of Education in
17 collaboration with institutions of higher education to assist
18 departments and colleges of education in the restructuring of
19 their programs to meet the need for producing quality teachers
20 now and in the future. The system shall assist teacher
21 educators in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and
22 evaluating programs that meet state-adopted standards. The
23 Education Standards Commission shall have primary
24 responsibility for recommending these standards to the State
25 Board of Education for adoption. These standards shall
26 emphasize quality indicators drawn from research, professional
27 literature, recognized guidelines, Florida essential teaching
28 competencies and educator-accomplished practices, effective
29 classroom practices, and the outcomes of the state system of
30 school improvement and education accountability, and
31 "Blueprint 2000," as well as performance measures. Departments
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1 and colleges of education shall make every attempt to secure
2 priority funding for ensure that teacher preparation programs
3 and courses emphasizing the state system of school improvement
4 and education-accountability "Blueprint 2000" concepts and
5 standards receive priority funding.
6 (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Beginning July 1,
7 1995, and Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3),
8 failure by a public or nonpublic teacher preparation program
9 to meet the criteria for continued program approval shall
10 result in loss of program approval. The Department of
11 Education, in collaboration with the departments and colleges
12 of education, shall develop procedures for continued program
13 approval which that document the continuous improvement of
14 program processes and graduates' performance.
15 (a) Continued approval of specific teacher preparation
16 programs at each public and nonpublic institution of higher
17 education within the state is shall be contingent upon the
18 passing of the state written examination required by s. 231.17
19 s. 231.17(2) by at least 80 percent of the graduates of the
20 program who take the examination and the successful completion
21 of an approved professional orientation program by at least 90
22 percent of the graduates who enter such programs. On request
23 of an institution, the Department of Education shall provide
24 an analysis of the performance of the graduates of such
25 institution with respect to the competencies assessed by the
26 examination required by s. 231.17.
27 (b) Additional criteria for continued program approval
28 for public institutions may be developed by the Education
29 Standards Commission and approved by the State Board of
30 Education. Such criteria must shall emphasize outcome measures
31 and may include, but need not be limited to, program
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1 graduates' satisfaction with training and the unit's
2 responsiveness to local school districts. Additional criteria
3 for continued program approval for nonpublic institutions
4 shall be developed in the same manner as for public
5 institutions; however, such criteria must shall be based upon
6 significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance
7 measures. Responsibility for collecting data on outcome
8 measures through survey instruments and other appropriate
9 means shall be shared by the institutions of higher education,
10 the Board of Regents, the State Board of Independent Colleges
11 and Universities, and the Department of Education. In addition
12 to graduates of approved programs, data shall be collected on
13 alternate preparation program completers and a representative
14 sample of recent out-of-state graduates teaching in Florida.
15 Beginning January 1, 1995, and By January 1 of each succeeding
16 year, the Department of Education, in cooperation with the
17 Board of Regents and the State Board of Independent Colleges
18 and Universities, shall report this information for each
19 Florida postsecondary institution that has having
20 state-approved programs of teacher education to the Governor,
21 the Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of the State
22 University System, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
23 the House of Representatives, all Florida postsecondary
24 teacher preparation programs, and interested members of the
25 general public. This report must shall analyze the data and
26 make recommendations for improving improvement of teacher
27 preparation programs in the state.
28 (c) Beginning July 1, 1997, continued approval for a
29 teacher preparation program is shall be contingent upon the
30 results of annual reviews of the program conducted by the
31 institution of higher education, using procedures and criteria
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1 outlined in an institutional program evaluation plan approved
2 by the Department of Education. This plan must shall
3 incorporate the criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b)
4 and include provisions for involving primary stakeholders,
5 such as program graduates, district school personnel,
6 classroom teachers, principals, community agencies, and
7 business representatives in the evaluation process. Upon
8 request by an institution, the department shall provide
9 assistance in developing, enhancing, or reviewing the
10 institutional program evaluation plan and training evaluation
11 team members.
12 (5) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--Beginning July 1,
13 1995, All postsecondary instructors, school district personnel
14 and instructional personnel teachers, and school sites
15 preparing instructional personnel teachers through preservice
16 field experience courses and internships shall meet special
17 requirements.
18 (a) All instructors in postsecondary teacher
19 preparation programs who instruct or supervise preservice
20 field experience courses or internships shall have at least
21 one of the following: specialized training in clinical
22 supervision; a valid professional teaching certificate
23 pursuant to ss. 231.17 and 231.24; at least 3 years of
24 successful teaching experience in prekindergarten through
25 grade 12; or a commitment to spend periods of time specified
26 by State Board of Education rule teaching in the public
27 schools.
28 (b) All school district personnel and instructional
29 personnel teachers who supervise or direct teacher preparation
30 students during field experience courses or internships must
31 shall have evidence of "clinical educator" training. The
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1 Education Standards Commission shall recommend, and the state
2 board shall approve, the training requirements.
3 (c) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in
4 cooperation with district school boards and approved nonpublic
5 school associations shall select the school sites for
6 preservice field experience activities. These sites must shall
7 represent the full spectrum of school communities, including,
8 but not limited to, schools located in urban settings. In
9 order to be selected, school sites must shall demonstrate
10 commitment to the education of public school students and to
11 the preparation of future teachers. A nonpublic school
12 association, in order to be approved, must shall have a
13 state-approved master inservice program plan in accordance
14 with s. 236.0811 and a state-approved professional orientation
15 program plan in accordance with s. 231.17.
16 (6) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.--The Education Standards
17 Commission shall recommend, and the State Board of Education
18 shall approve, standards of excellence for teacher
19 preparation. These standards must shall exceed the
20 requirements for program approval pursuant to subsection (3)
21 and must shall incorporate state and national recommendations
22 for exemplary teacher preparation programs. Beginning July 1,
23 1995, Approved teacher preparation programs that which meet
24 these standards of excellence shall receive public recognition
25 as programs of excellence and may be eligible to receive
26 teaching profession enhancement grants pursuant to s.
27 240.5291.
28 (9) PRETEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT
29 PROGRAMS.--Universities and community colleges may establish
30 preteacher education and teacher education pilot programs to
31 encourage promising minority students to prepare for a career
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1 in education. These pilot programs shall be designed to
2 recruit and provide additional academic, clinical, and
3 counseling support for students whom the institution judges to
4 be potentially successful teacher education candidates, but
5 who may not meet teacher education program admission
6 standards. Priority consideration shall be given to those
7 pilot programs that which are jointly submitted by community
8 colleges and universities.
9 (b) Universities and community colleges may admit into
10 the pilot program those incoming students who demonstrate an
11 interest in teaching as a career, but who may not meet the
12 requirements for entrance into an approved teacher education
13 program.
14 1. Flexibility may be given to colleges of education
15 to develop and market innovative teacher training programs
16 directed at specific target groups such as graduates from the
17 colleges of arts and sciences, employed education
18 paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, early federal
19 retirees, and nontraditional college students. Programs must
20 be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval.
21 2. Academically successful graduates in the fields of
22 liberal arts and science may be encouraged, under s. 231.172,
23 to embark upon a career in education.
24 3. Models may be developed to provide a positive
25 initial experience in teaching in order to encourage
26 retention. Priority should be given to models that encourage
27 minority graduates.
28 Section 5. Section 231.172, Florida Statutes, is
29 repealed.
30 Section 6. This act shall take effect on July 1, 1997.
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