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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to educator certification requirements;

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amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; requiring subject area

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examinations in specified foreign languages for the

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purpose of demonstrating mastery of that subject area

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knowledge; providing an effective date.

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

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     Section 1.  Subsection (4) of section 1012.56, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     1012.56  Educator certification requirements.--

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     (4)  MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable means of

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demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:

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     (a)  Achievement of passing scores on subject area

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examinations required by state board rule, such subject area

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examinations to include foreign language examinations in Spanish,

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French, German, Latin, Hebrew, Italian, and Chinese;

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     (b)  Completion of the subject area specialization

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requirements specified in state board rule and verification of

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the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies by

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the district school superintendent of the employing school

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district or chief administrative officer of the employing state-

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supported or private school for a subject area for which a

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subject area examination has not been developed and required by

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state board rule;

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     (c)  Completion of the subject area specialization

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requirements specified in state board rule for a subject coverage

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requiring a master's or higher degree and achievement of a

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passing score on the subject area examination specified in state

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board rule;

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     (d)  A valid professional standard teaching certificate

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issued by another state; or

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     (e)  A valid certificate issued by the National Board for

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Professional Teaching Standards or a national educator

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credentialing board approved by the State Board of Education.

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School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for those

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middle school teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to

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obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through

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postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.