Senate Bill 0748

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    Florida Senate - 2000                                   SB 748

    By the Committee on Education





    304-626A-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education; providing an

  3         intent to demonstrate benefits of a program to

  4         prepare new teachers and to provide certain

  5         professional development activities to support

  6         them; providing for recruitment of persons to

  7         participate in a fellowship program by means of

  8         forgivable loans; providing standards and

  9         conditions for eligibility for the program;

10         assigning responsibility for recruitment;

11         requiring regional review committees; providing

12         for selection of certain postsecondary

13         education institutions to participate in the

14         program; providing standards and conditions for

15         receipt and forgiveness of a loan; providing

16         conditions for repayment of loans not eligible

17         for loan forgiveness; authorizing conditions

18         for deferment of repayment; providing for a

19         revolving fund; establishing a professional

20         development program for recipients of a

21         fellowship and other college graduates;

22         providing standards for recruitment of

23         participating teachers, school districts, and

24         postgraduate programs; requiring certain

25         conditions of employment of participants;

26         establishing tiers of sequential professional

27         development activities; creating a

28         not-for-profit organization to be

29         administratively assigned to the Executive

30         Office of the Governor; providing for

31         appointment of members of its board of

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  1         directors; authorizing the employment of staff;

  2         providing its duties and responsibilities;

  3         providing for cooperation with an office of the

  4         Department of Education; providing an effective

  5         date.

  6

  7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  8

  9         Section 1.  Professional Teaching Fellowship Act; short

10  title; intent.--

11         (1)  This act, which provides for the Student

12  Fellowship Program and the Teaching Fellowship Program, may be

13  cited as the "Professional Teaching Fellowship Act."

14         (2)  The Legislature intends to demonstrate the need

15  for and benefits of providing intensive programs of

16  professional development for new teachers. New teachers need

17  expertise in the content areas in which they teach, and they

18  need skill in imparting that content. A teacher attains such

19  expertise and skill through simultaneous study of the liberal

20  arts combined with work with school children and master

21  teachers in a planned, sequential program of increasing

22  concentration on student achievement. Therefore, the

23  Professional Teaching Fellowship Act is created to coordinate

24  the network needed to identify and recruit excellent

25  candidates to become new teachers, to support them through an

26  enriched teacher preparation program, and to implement a

27  program to provide professional development support which has

28  three tiers of intensive involvement throughout the first 3

29  years of teaching experience.

30         Section 2.  Student Fellowship Program;

31  recruitment.--The purpose of the recruitment component of the

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  1  Student Fellowship Program is to identify the postsecondary

  2  education institutions and fellowship candidates that will

  3  implement the forgivable loan program created in section 3 of

  4  this act.

  5         (1)  A fellowship candidate must be a citizen and a

  6  resident of this state who is a rising junior enrolled in a

  7  state community college, a state university, or an independent

  8  postsecondary education institution that is eligible for the

  9  Florida Resident Access Grant.

10         (2)  The Florida Institute for Teachers shall identify

11  the postsecondary education institutions that are willing and

12  able to conduct the educational and professional development

13  activities required to implement the program. The board of

14  directors of the institute shall assure that participating

15  colleges of education agree to work with colleges of liberal

16  arts so as to attract to the program candidates who possess

17  the highest qualifications in a content area speciality.

18         (3)  The institute shall develop standards and

19  guidelines for selecting candidates for the Student Fellowship

20  Program. The guidelines must require a minimum grade point

21  average, recommendations from liberal arts professors, and

22  the pursuit of extracurricular activities by a candidate.

23         (4)  The institute shall form regional review

24  committees to assist it in assuring the participation of the

25  postsecondary education institutions that are best equipped to

26  implement the program and to recruit the best students.

27  Recruitment efforts should concentrate on areas that have been

28  identified through research as most in need of an improved

29  supply of teachers, including areas where there is a critical

30  teacher shortage, and on teachers having demographic

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  1  characteristics that will correct an imbalance in the ratio of

  2  teachers compared to students enrolled in public schools.

  3         (5)  The regional review committees shall plan and

  4  implement activities designed to inform students concerning

  5  the benefits of the program and to assist postsecondary

  6  education institutions in carrying out the required

  7  activities.

  8         (6)  A candidate for a student fellowship must agree to

  9  enroll in a participating postsecondary education institution

10  and to participate in a 12-month program during the junior and

11  senior years of college.

12         (7)  The postsecondary education institution shall

13  assure that the junior and senior years' 12-month program

14  provides an opportunity to demonstrate:

15         (a)  Competency in the Accomplished Practices for

16  Teachers adopted by the State Board of Education.

17         (b)  Mastery of the subject area requirements in a

18  subject for which a professional certificate may be issued. If

19  a student fellow intends to teach elementary education, the

20  competency demonstrated must be the equivalent of required

21  coursework in methods of teaching reading and other key

22  content areas. Traditional coursework toward a major offered

23  by a college of education is not required.

24         (c)  Eligibility for a master's degree in education as

25  well as a baccalaureate degree in a content area.

26         (d)  Any additional requirements to be eligible for a

27  2-year temporary certificate.

28         Section 3.  Student Fellowship Program; postsecondary

29  education component.--The Florida Institute for Teachers shall

30  administer the Student Fellowship Program.

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  1         (1)  The program shall provide a 2-year scholarship

  2  loan of $6,500 per year to citizens who are residents of this

  3  state and who are rising juniors at a state community college,

  4  state university, or independent postsecondary education

  5  institution that is eligible to participate in the Florida

  6  Resident Access Grant.

  7         (2)  The institute shall administer the program in

  8  cooperation with postsecondary education institutions selected

  9  by the institute.

10         (a)  A student fellowship recipient shall participate

11  in a 12-month program developed by the participating

12  postsecondary education institution in consultation with the

13  Florida Institute for Teachers.

14         (b)  The recipient must receive an intensive

15  preparation in a content area combined with ongoing experience

16  with school children through internships or working with a

17  master teacher identified as a mentor.

18         (3)  To continue to receive a fellowship, a student

19  fellow must maintain satisfactory progress toward a

20  baccalaureate degree at a participating postsecondary

21  institution. The institute shall set standards for

22  satisfactory progress, which must exceed the standards

23  required of other students majoring in education and which may

24  include extracurricular activities related to the program or a

25  participating school district.

26         (4)  A recipient may receive a fellowship loan for 2

27  years. The institute shall forgive the fellowship loan if,

28  within 5 years after graduation, the recipient teaches full

29  time for 2 years at a public school in this state. The

30  institute shall also forgive a loan if it finds that the

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  1  recipient cannot teach for 2 years because of the death or

  2  permanent and total disability of the recipient.

  3         (5)  If a Student Fellowship Program recipient does not

  4  graduate within 2 years, or if the recipient graduates but,

  5  within the first 5 years after graduation, does not fulfill

  6  the required employment as a teacher in a public school in

  7  this state, the fellowship recipient must repay the total

  8  amount awarded plus annual interest of 8 percent.

  9         (a)  Interest begins accruing the first day of the 13th

10  month after the fourth anniversary of the month in which the

11  recipient receives a baccalaureate degree or after the month

12  in which enrollment as a full-time student is terminated.

13  Interest does not accrue during any period of deferment or

14  eligible teaching service.

15         (b)  The repayment period begins the first day of the

16  13th month after the month in which the fourth anniversary of

17  college graduation occurs or after the month in which

18  enrollment as a full-time student is terminated.

19         (c)  The terms and conditions of the fellowship

20  repayment must be contained in both a promissory note and a

21  repayment schedule. The loan must be paid within 10 years

22  after the date of graduation or termination of full-time

23  enrollment, including any periods of deferment. A shorter

24  repayment period may be granted. The minimum monthly repayment

25  is $50 or the unpaid balance, unless otherwise approved,

26  except that the monthly payment may not be less than the

27  accruing interest. The recipient may prepay all or any part of

28  the scholarship without penalty.

29         (d)  The holder of the promissory note may grant a

30  deferment of repayment for a recipient who is unable to secure

31  a teaching position that would qualify as repayment, who

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  1  becomes disabled, or who experiences other hardships. Such a

  2  deferment may be granted for a total of 24 months and may not

  3  exceed 12 consecutive months.

  4         (6)  All funds appropriated to or otherwise received by

  5  the Student Fellowship Program for scholarships, all funds

  6  received as repayment of scholarship loans, and all interest

  7  earned on these funds must be placed in a revolving fund

  8  within the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund.

  9  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 216.301, Florida

10  Statutes, and pursuant to section 216.351, Florida Statutes,

11  any balance in the fund at the end of any fiscal year which

12  has been allocated to the Student Fellowship Program must

13  remain in the fund and will be available for carrying out the

14  purposes of this section. With the prior approval of the

15  Legislature in the General Appropriations Act, the revolving

16  fund may also be used for campus and summer program support

17  and costs related to disbursement of awards and the collection

18  of loan repayments.

19         Section 4.  Teaching Fellowship Program.--

20         (1)  The Teaching Fellowship Program is a concentrated,

21  sequential professional development program provided to a

22  teacher under an annual contract during the first 3 years of

23  teaching. The program is available to all recipients of the

24  student fellowship created in section 3 of this act, and to

25  others selected by the Florida Institute for Teachers, if

26  funds are available. The institute shall establish selection

27  criteria at least as rigorous as the criteria for selecting

28  the student fellowship recipients. A graduate may be selected

29  whether or not he or she has completed college coursework

30  required to be eligible for certification to teach in this

31  state, if a school district is willing to employ him or her as

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  1  a teacher under conditions arranged by the institute. These

  2  conditions must provide for eligibility for a temporary

  3  certificate and a planned route to a professional certificate,

  4  pursuant to section 231.17, Florida Statutes.

  5         (2)  The Florida Institute for Teachers shall assist

  6  participating school districts in coordinating the activities

  7  required to conduct the program. The institute shall also

  8  select and work with institutions providing postgraduate

  9  programs to assure that the program confers credit toward a

10  master's degree and to describe conditions under which a

11  participant may earn a master's degree as a result of

12  participation. The institute may not require a participant to

13  pursue a master's degree in education or pedagogy.

14         (3)  The program requires a school district to:

15         (a)  Employ the teaching fellow under a 12-month

16  contract with salaries and benefits established pursuant to

17  part II of chapter 110, Florida Statutes.

18         (b)  Identify and provide a salary bonus or additional

19  stipend to a master teacher to work under a 12-month contract

20  as a mentor to the new teacher. The master teacher must be

21  selected based upon criteria adopted by the Florida Institute

22  for Teachers, such as certification at the national level,

23  selection as teacher of the year at the state or district

24  level, or evidence of consistent and superior gains in

25  achievement by students in the teacher's classes.

26         (c)  Provide to the teaching fellow and his or her

27  mentor a common planning period during the school year, or

28  make other arrangements to enable daily consultation.

29         (d)  Plan an intensive professional development program

30  in three tiers as required in this section.

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  1         (e)  Identify and recruit a cohort of students who,

  2  with the support of their parents, are willing to participate

  3  in the program for 210 days per year. If possible, the same

  4  cohort of 12 to 15 students shall work with the same teaching

  5  fellow during all three tiers of the program.

  6         (4)  After each tier, the teaching fellow will receive

  7  a bonus of $500, to be provided by the Florida Institute for

  8  Teachers, in addition to the salary provided by the school

  9  district.

10         (5)  The professional development program for the

11  teaching fellows must be provided in the following tiers:

12         (a)  In the first tier, the teaching fellow and the

13  master teacher assigned to work as a mentor shall receive

14  orientation and professional development that are planned and

15  provided by a teacher education center or academy selected by

16  the Florida Institute for Teachers.

17         1.  During the summer of the first tier, the teaching

18  fellow and master teacher shall work with from 12 to 15

19  students recruited by the school district for the program.

20  This work must include preparing an individualized education

21  plan for each student. The teaching fellow may be required to

22  conduct other educational or research activities necessary to

23  earn at least 6 credit hours toward a master's degree.

24         2.  During the school year in the first tier, the

25  teaching fellow may be assigned primary responsibility for a

26  classroom, with significant involvement by the mentor teacher

27  or other program participants who have 2 years or more of

28  experience in the program. Provision must be made for at least

29  1 hour of daily consultation between the teacher and mentor.

30  The focus of the professional development must be on effective

31  methods of teaching the subject matter in which the fellow has

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  1  majored. Student achievement as demonstrated by assessment

  2  instruments, portfolios, or other measures must be used to

  3  assist the teaching fellow to evaluate his or her progress.

  4         (b)  During the second tier of the program, the

  5  teaching fellow shall continue the education and research

  6  required for progress toward a master's degree and shall

  7  continue to work with a cohort of students which includes as

  8  many as possible of the same students who were with the

  9  teaching fellow in tier one.

10         1.  During the summer of the second tier, in addition

11  to the professional development activities planned for

12  postgraduate credit, the teacher shall become the lead teacher

13  for the cohort of students and shall begin to act as a mentor

14  for a teacher who is in the program for the first summer. The

15  program must concentrate upon evaluating student progress and

16  adapting teaching methods based upon the results.

17         2.  During the school year of the second tier, the

18  teacher may be assigned additional responsibilities for

19  classroom instruction while continuing to consult with a

20  mentoring teacher and to work as a mentor to the students in

21  the cohort.

22         (c)  During the third tier, the teaching fellow shall

23  continue professional development activities planned to earn

24  postgraduate credit and shall continue to work with a master

25  teacher and students.

26         1.  During the summer of the third tier, the teacher

27  shall work with increased concentration on pedagogical

28  research and its incorporation into classroom management.

29  Recommended fields for this research focus are development of

30  curricula, use of technology in instruction, and student

31  assessment and evaluation, including the ability to interpret

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  1  student performance and adopt varying teaching methods based

  2  upon that interpretation. This tier of professional

  3  development may be planned to allow a teacher to add

  4  additional coverage to his or her certificate to teach

  5  exceptional education classes or another content-area

  6  specialization.

  7         2.  During the school year of the third tier, the

  8  teacher may be assigned responsibility for classroom

  9  management, which may include specialized assistance with

10  classroom technology and curriculum development, and may also

11  provide assistance as a mentor to teaching fellows in their

12  first or second year in the program.

13         (6)  Upon completion of the program, a new teacher is

14  eligible for:

15         (a)  A master's degree in the subject matter provided

16  through an agreement with a postgraduate program, or a

17  certificate that guarantees substantial credit toward a

18  master's degree as provided in the agreement required by

19  subsection (2);

20         (b)  A position as a master teacher in the Teaching

21  Fellowship Program; and

22         (c)  A professional-service contract with the

23  participating school district, with salary as provided for a

24  teacher who holds a master's degree. However, the school

25  district and the teacher have the same rights to employment

26  decisions that apply with respect to other newly employed

27  teachers.

28         Section 5.  Florida Institute for Teachers.--

29         (1)  The Florida Institute for Teachers is created as a

30  not-for-profit statutory corporation assigned for

31  administrative purposes to the Executive Office of the

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  1  Governor. The institute shall plan, organize, administer, and

  2  manage the programs required by the Professional Teaching

  3  Fellowship Act.

  4         (2)  A board of directors shall administer the

  5  institute. The board consists of 11 nonlegislative members as

  6  follows:

  7         (a)  Three persons appointed by the Governor;

  8         (b)  Three persons appointed by the President of the

  9  Senate;

10         (c)  Three persons appointed by the Speaker of the

11  House of Representatives;

12         (d)  The Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee;

13  and

14         (e)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her

15  designee.

16

17  The Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee shall serve as

18  chairperson. The appointed members shall serve terms of 4

19  years, except that three of the initial members shall serve

20  2-year terms and three shall serve 3-year terms. Those

21  responsible for appointments shall select members who have

22  demonstrated a commitment to education. A member may be

23  reappointed. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of

24  the term. Members of the board are entitled to reimbursement

25  for travel and per diem expenses, as provided in section

26  112.061, Florida Statutes.

27         (3)  The board shall:

28         (a)  Hold meetings as needed to administer this act.

29         (b)  Adopt rules for its own government.

30         (c)  Appoint an executive director to serve at its

31  pleasure. The executive director shall be the chief

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  1  administrative officer and agent of the board and may employ

  2  staff as authorized by the board.

  3         (d)  Maintain a record of its proceedings.

  4         (e)  Plan and implement the Student Fellowship Program

  5  and the Teaching Fellowship Program as provided in sections 1

  6  through 4 of this act. The planning and implementation should

  7  be directed toward the state's identified needs for teachers.

  8         (f)  In cooperation with the Office of Student

  9  Financial Assistance of the Department of Education,

10  administer the forgivable loan provisions of the Student

11  Fellowship Program.

12         (g)  Evaluate the success of the Professional Teaching

13  Fellowship Act. The evaluation must include following up on

14  the fellowship recipients to develop a report of their success

15  in teaching. The measures of success must include the number

16  who continue teaching in this state, the number of loans

17  forgiven and repaid, the number who attain the status of

18  master teacher, and the achievement gains of students in the

19  classrooms assigned to the teaching fellows and master

20  teachers. The student achievement gains must be compared to

21  the gains of students having similar demographic

22  characteristics in classrooms of teachers who did not receive

23  a teaching fellowship.

24         Section 6.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.

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26            *****************************************

27                          SENATE SUMMARY

28    Creates the "Professional Teaching Fellowship Act."
      Provides fellowships to prepare new teachers and promote
29    professional development activities. (See bill for
      details.)
30

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