1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to teacher retention; amending s. 1004.04,

3

F.S.; requiring that graduates of teacher preparation

4

programs demonstrate the competencies specified in the

5

educator-accomplished practices adopted by the State Board

6

of Education; revising the requirements for preservice

7

field experience; requiring that school districts provide

8

salary incentives to personnel who supervise or direct

9

teacher preparation students; requiring that field

10

experience provide for student-teacher participation in K-

11

12 classrooms; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; requiring that a

12

postsecondary educator preparation institute guarantee the

13

high quality of its graduates; requiring that additional

14

training be provided at no expense to the educator or the

15

employer if the educator fails to demonstrate certain

16

competencies; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; requiring that

17

the school report card that is delivered to parents

18

throughout each school district include the district's

19

teacher turnover rate; amending s. 1009.57, F.S.;

20

extending eligibility for the Florida Teacher Scholarship

21

and Forgivable Loan Program to part-time students;

22

providing for a scholarship award for paraprofessionals

23

during a teaching internship; requiring that the school

24

district maintain the paraprofessional's insurance during

25

the internship; amending s. 1009.58, F.S.; requiring that

26

the critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement

27

program include tuition reimbursement for certain

28

undergraduate courses; increasing the number of semester

29

hours that are eligible for reimbursement payments at the

30

approved tuition rate; amending ss. 1012.28 and 1012.34,

31

F.S.; providing duties of school principals with respect

32

to implementing the changes made by the act; amending s.

33

1012.72, F.S.; providing for bonuses under the Dale Hickam

34

Excellent Teaching Program for teachers who supervise or

35

direct teacher-preparation students; creating s. 1012.988,

36

F.S.; creating the Florida New Teacher Induction

37

Initiative for the purpose of providing support to new

38

teachers; requiring each school district to develop and

39

implement the initiative; specifying required minimum

40

elements of the initiative; requiring that districts

41

report the teacher turnover rate to the Commissioner of

42

Education and the Florida Quality Education Council;

43

requiring that a district submit a plan to address its

44

attrition rate under certain circumstances; requiring the

45

Department of Education to assist districts in developing

46

initiatives and goals for reducing teacher attrition;

47

creating s. 1012.989, F.S.; establishing the Florida

48

Quality Education Council within the Executive Office of

49

the Governor; specifying duties of the council; providing

50

for membership and for meetings; authorizing the members

51

to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses;

52

requiring the council to conduct comprehensive data

53

collection and analysis jointly with a state research

54

institution; requiring the council to implement a research

55

project for the purpose of redesigning and approving all

56

teacher preparation programs; requiring the council to

57

report annually to the Governor and the Legislature;

58

providing an effective date.

59

60

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

61

62

     Section 1.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (5) and subsection

63

(6) of section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

64

     1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for

65

teacher preparation programs.--

66

     (5)  CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Notwithstanding subsection

67

(4), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher preparation program

68

to meet the criteria for continued program approval shall result

69

in loss of program approval. The Department of Education, in

70

collaboration with the departments and colleges of education,

71

shall develop procedures for continued program approval that

72

document the continuous improvement of program processes and

73

graduates' performance.

74

     (e) Continued approval of a teacher preparation program

75

programs is contingent upon compliance with the student admission

76

requirements of subsection (4) and upon the receipt of at least a

77

satisfactory rating from the public schools and private schools

78

that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher preparation

79

program shall guarantee the high quality of its graduates during

80

the first 2 years immediately following graduation from the

81

program or following the graduate's initial certification,

82

whichever occurs first. Any educator in a Florida school who

83

fails to demonstrate the competencies essential skills specified

84

in the educator-accomplished practices adopted by the State Board

85

of Education subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional

86

training by the teacher preparation program at no expense to the

87

educator or the employer. Such training must consist of an

88

individualized plan agreed upon by the school district and the

89

postsecondary educational institution that includes specific

90

learning outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution

91

assumes no responsibility for the educator's employment contract

92

with the employer. Employer satisfaction shall be determined by

93

an annually administered survey instrument approved by the

94

Department of Education that, at a minimum, must include employer

95

satisfaction with of the graduates' ability to demonstrate the

96

educator-accomplished practices at the professional level. do the

97

following:

98

     1. Write and speak in a logical and understandable style

99

with appropriate grammar.

100

     2. Recognize signs of students' difficulty with the reading

101

and computational process and apply appropriate measures to

102

improve students' reading and computational performance.

103

     3. Use and integrate appropriate technology in teaching and

104

learning processes.

105

     4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sunshine

106

State Standards.

107

     5. Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom conducive

108

to student learning.

109

     (6)  PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--All postsecondary

110

instructors, school district personnel and instructional

111

personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel

112

through preservice field experiences, preservice experience

113

courses, and internships shall meet special requirements.

114

District school boards are authorized to pay student teachers

115

during their internships.

116

     (a)  All instructors in postsecondary teacher preparation

117

programs who instruct or supervise preservice field experiences,

118

preservice experience courses, or internships shall have at least

119

one of the following: specialized training in clinical

120

supervision; a valid professional teaching certificate issued

121

under pursuant to ss. 1012.56 and 1012.585; or at least 3 years

122

of successful teaching experience in prekindergarten through

123

grade 12.

124

     (b)  All school district personnel and instructional

125

personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students

126

during field experience courses or internships must have evidence

127

of "clinical educator" training or documented experience as a

128

mentor pursuant to s. 1012.72 and must successfully demonstrate

129

effective classroom management strategies that consistently

130

result in improved student performance. The State Board of

131

Education shall approve the training requirements.

132

     (c) School districts shall provide salary incentives to

133

school district personnel and instructional personnel who

134

supervise or direct teacher preparation students during field

135

experience courses or internships and who comply with subsection

136

(b). Salary incentives may include differentiated pay pursuant to

137

s. 1012.22 or a mentoring bonus under the Excellent Teaching

138

Program if the supervising teacher qualifies pursuant to s.

139

1012.72.

140

     (d)(c) Preservice field experience programs must provide

141

for student-teacher participation in K-12 classroom settings and

142

engagement in supervised instruction of K-12 students at the

143

earliest stage of postsecondary education courses. All preservice

144

field experience programs must provide specific guidance and

145

demonstration of effective classroom management strategies,

146

strategies for incorporating technology into classroom

147

instruction, strategies for incorporating scientifically

148

researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and computational

149

skills acquisition into classroom instruction, and ways to link

150

instructional plans to the Sunshine State Standards, as

151

appropriate. The length of structured field experiences may be

152

extended to ensure that candidates achieve the competencies

153

needed to meet certification requirements.

154

     (e)(d) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs, in

155

consultation cooperation with district school boards and approved

156

private school associations, shall select the school sites for

157

preservice field experience activities. These sites must

158

represent the full spectrum of school communities, including, but

159

not limited to, schools located in urban settings. In order to be

160

selected, school sites must demonstrate commitment to the

161

education of public school students and to the preparation of

162

future teachers.

163

     Section 2.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of

164

section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

165

     1004.85  Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.--

166

     (3)  Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to

167

this section may offer alternative certification programs

168

specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate degree

169

holders to enable program participants to meet the educator

170

certification requirements of s. 1012.56. Such programs shall be

171

competency-based educator certification preparation programs that

172

prepare educators through an alternative route. An educator

173

preparation institute choosing to offer an alternative

174

certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section

175

must implement a program previously approved by the Department of

176

Education for this purpose or a program developed by the

177

institute and approved by the department for this purpose.

178

Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved

179

educator preparation institutes.

180

     (a)  Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,

181

the Department of Education shall approve an alternative

182

certification program or issue a statement describing of the

183

deficiencies in the request for approval. The department shall

184

approve an alternative certification program if the educator

185

preparation institute provides sufficient evidence of the

186

following:

187

     1. Instruction must be provided in professional knowledge

188

and subject matter content must include that includes educator-

189

accomplished practices and competencies specified in State Board

190

of Education rule and meet meets subject matter content

191

requirements, professional competency testing requirements, and

192

competencies associated with teaching scientifically based

193

reading instruction and strategies that research has shown to be

194

successful in improving reading among low-performing readers.

195

     2. The program must provide field experience that is

196

supervised by with supervision from qualified educators.

197

     3.  The program must provide a certification ombudsman to

198

assist facilitate the process and procedures required for

199

participants who complete the program with to meet any

200

requirements related to the background screening pursuant to s.

201

1012.32 and educator professional or temporary certification

202

pursuant to s. 1012.56.

203

     4. The program must guarantee the high quality of its

204

graduates during the first 2 years immediately following

205

graduation from the program or following the graduate's initial

206

certification, whichever occurs first. Any educator in a state

207

school who fails to demonstrate the competencies specified in the

208

Florida Educator Accomplished Practices adopted by the State

209

Board of Education shall be provided additional training by the

210

program at no expense to the educator or the employer. Such

211

training shall consist of an individualized plan agreed upon by

212

the school district and the educator preparation institute which

213

includes specific learning outcomes. The institute assumes no

214

responsibility for the educator's employment contract with the

215

employer.

216

     (b)  Each program participant must:

217

     1. Obtain Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.

218

1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility

219

pursuant to s. 1012.56 which verifies eligibility for a temporary

220

certificate and meet the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).

221

     2.  Participate in field experience that is appropriate to

222

his or her educational plan.

223

     3.  Fully demonstrate his or her ability to teach the

224

subject area for which he or she is seeking certification and

225

demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and education

226

competence by obtaining achievement of a passing score on the

227

professional education competency examination required by state

228

board rule prior to completion of the program.

229

     Section 3.  Subsection (5) of section 1008.34, Florida

230

Statutes, is amended to read:

231

     1008.34  School grading system; school report cards;

232

district grade.--

233

     (5)  SCHOOL REPORT CARD.--The Department of Education shall

234

annually develop, in collaboration with the school districts, a

235

school report card to be delivered to parents throughout each

236

school district. The report card shall include the school's

237

grade, information regarding school improvement, an explanation

238

of school performance as evaluated by the federal No Child Left

239

Behind Act of 2001, teacher turnover rate pursuant to s.

240

1012.988, and indicators of return on investment. Each school's

241

report card shall be published annually by the department on its

242

website, and the school district shall provide the school report

243

card to each parent.

244

     Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 1009.57, Florida

245

Statutes, is amended to read:

246

     1009.57  Florida Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan

247

Program.--

248

     (3)(a)  Within the Florida Teacher Scholarship and

249

Forgivable Loan Program shall be established the Florida Critical

250

Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan Program which shall make

251

undergraduate and graduate forgivable loans available to eligible

252

students entering programs of study that lead to a degree in a

253

teaching program in a critical teacher shortage area. Special

254

emphasis shall be given to education paraprofessionals who are

255

seeking teacher certification in critical teacher shortage areas.

256

To be eligible for a program loan, a candidate shall:

257

     1. Be a full-time or part-time student at the upper-

258

division undergraduate or graduate level in a teacher training

259

program approved by the department pursuant to s. 1004.04 leading

260

to certification in a critical teacher shortage subject area. A

261

part-time student must complete six semester hours or its

262

equivalent during the semester or its equivalent.

263

     2.  Have declared an intent to teach, for at least the

264

number of years for which a forgivable loan is received, in

265

publicly funded elementary or secondary schools of Florida in a

266

critical teacher shortage area identified by the State Board of

267

Education. For purposes of this subsection, part-time student

268

status will be reflected as a proportion of the year, and a

269

school is considered publicly funded if it receives at least 75

270

percent of its operating costs from governmental agencies and

271

operates its educational program under contract with a public

272

school district or the Department of Education.

273

     3.  Meet the general requirements for student eligibility as

274

provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this

275

section.

276

     4.  If applying for an undergraduate forgivable loan, have

277

maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a

278

4.0 scale for all undergraduate work. Renewal applicants for

279

undergraduate loans shall maintain a minimum cumulative grade

280

point average of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all

281

undergraduate work and have earned at least 6 12 semester credits

282

per term, or the equivalent.

283

     5.  If applying for a graduate forgivable loan, have

284

maintained an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at

285

least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or have attained a Graduate Record

286

Examination score of at least 1,000. Renewal applicants for

287

graduate loans shall maintain a minimum cumulative grade point

288

average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate work

289

and have earned at least 6 9 semester credits per term, or the

290

equivalent.

291

     (b)  An undergraduate forgivable loan may be awarded for 2

292

undergraduate years, or its part-time equivalent, not to exceed

293

$4,000 per year, or for a maximum of 3 years for programs

294

requiring a fifth year of instruction to obtain initial teaching

295

certification.

296

     (c)  A graduate forgivable loan may be awarded for 2

297

graduate years, or its part-time equivalent, not to exceed $8,000

298

per year. In addition to meeting criteria specified in paragraph

299

(a), a loan recipient at the graduate level shall:

300

     1.  Hold a bachelor's degree from any college or university

301

accredited by a regional accrediting association as defined by

302

State Board of Education rule.

303

     2.  Not already hold a teaching certificate resulting from

304

an undergraduate degree in education in an area of critical

305

teacher shortage as designated by the State Board of Education.

306

     3.  Not have received an undergraduate forgivable loan as

307

provided for in paragraph (b).

308

     (d) Education paraprofessionals who receive a Florida

309

Teacher Scholarship and Forgivable Loan for the semester in which

310

a teaching internship is required shall also receive an

311

additional scholarship award equal to 100 percent of their school

312

district salary for that semester. The local school district must

313

provide an approved leave of absence for the education

314

paraprofessional and must maintain all district-paid insurance

315

for the education paraprofessional during the semester of

316

internship.

317

     (e)(d) Recipients of the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship

318

Loan Program as authorized under title IV, part D, subpart 1 of

319

the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, shall not be

320

eligible to participate in the Florida Critical Teacher Shortage

321

Forgivable Loan Program.

322

     (f)(e) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule

323

repayment schedules and applicable interest rates under ss.

324

1009.82 and 1009.95. A forgivable loan must be repaid within 10

325

years of completion of a program of studies.

326

     1.  Credit for repayment of an undergraduate or graduate

327

forgivable loan shall be in an amount not to exceed $4,000 in

328

loan principal plus applicable accrued interest for each full

329

year of eligible teaching service. However, credit in an amount

330

not to exceed $8,000 in loan principal plus applicable accrued

331

interest shall be given for each full year of eligible teaching

332

service completed at a high-density, low-economic urban school or

333

at a low-density, low-economic rural school, as identified by the

334

State Board of Education.

335

     2.  Any forgivable loan recipient who fails to teach in a

336

publicly funded elementary or secondary school in this state as

337

specified in this subsection is responsible for repaying the loan

338

plus accrued interest at 8 percent annually.

339

     3.  Forgivable loan recipients may receive loan repayment

340

credit for teaching service rendered at any time during the

341

scheduled repayment period. However, such repayment credit shall

342

be applicable only to the current principal and accrued interest

343

balance that remains at the time the repayment credit is earned.

344

No loan recipient shall be reimbursed for previous cash payments

345

of principal and interest.

346

     (g)(f) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the

347

program shall be deposited in the State Student Financial

348

Assistance Trust Fund.

349

     Section 5.  Section 1009.58, Florida Statutes, is amended to

350

read:

351

     1009.58  Critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement

352

program.--

353

     (1)  A critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement

354

program shall be established for the purpose of improving the

355

skills and knowledge of current teachers or persons preparing to

356

teach in critical teacher shortage areas. Special emphasis shall

357

be given to education paraprofessionals who are seeking teacher

358

certification in critical teacher shortage areas.

359

     (2)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to

360

implement the critical teacher shortage tuition reimbursement

361

program. Any full-time public school employee or lab school

362

employee certified to teach in this state or full-time education

363

paraprofessional seeking certification in a critical teacher

364

shortage area is eligible for the program. For the purposes of

365

this program, tuition reimbursement shall be limited to courses

366

in critical teacher shortage areas as determined by the State

367

Board of Education. Such courses shall be:

368

     (a)  Graduate-level courses leading to a master's,

369

specialist, or doctoral degree;

370

     (b)  Graduate-level courses leading to a new certification

371

area; or

372

     (c)  State-approved undergraduate courses leading to an

373

advanced degree or new certification area; or.

374

     (d) State-approved undergraduate courses leading to a

375

degree in a critical teacher shortage area.

376

     (3)  Participants may receive tuition reimbursement payments

377

for up to 15 9 semester hours, or the equivalent in quarter

378

hours, per year, at a rate not to exceed the approved tuition

379

rate $78 per semester hour, up to a total of 60 36 semester

380

hours. All tuition reimbursements shall be contingent on passing

381

an approved course with a minimum grade of 3.0 or its equivalent.

382

     (4)  This section shall be implemented only to the extent

383

specifically funded and authorized by law.

384

     Section 6.  Present subsections (4), (5), and (6) of section

385

1012.28, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5),

386

(6), and (7), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to

387

that section, to read:

388

     1012.28  Public school personnel; duties of school

389

principals.--

390

     (4) Each school principal is responsible for the

391

establishment and success of the New Teacher Induction Initiative

392

and the goal to reduce the teacher attrition rate in his or her

393

school in accordance to s. 1012.988.

394

     Section 7.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section

395

1012.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

396

     1012.34  Assessment procedures and criteria.--

397

     (3)  The assessment procedure for instructional personnel

398

and school administrators must be primarily based on the

399

performance of students assigned to their classrooms or schools,

400

as appropriate. Pursuant to this section, a school district's

401

performance assessment is not limited to basing unsatisfactory

402

performance of instructional personnel and school administrators

403

upon student performance, but may include other criteria approved

404

to assess instructional personnel and school administrators'

405

performance, or any combination of student performance and other

406

approved criteria. The procedures must comply with, but are not

407

limited to, the following requirements:

408

     (a)  An assessment must be conducted for each employee at

409

least once a year. The assessment must be based upon sound

410

educational principles and contemporary research in effective

411

educational practices. The assessment must primarily use data and

412

indicators of improvement in student performance assessed

413

annually as specified in s. 1008.22 and may consider results of

414

peer reviews in evaluating the employee's performance. Student

415

performance must be measured by state assessments required under

416

s. 1008.22 and by local assessments for subjects and grade levels

417

not measured by the state assessment program. The assessment

418

criteria must include, but are not limited to, indicators that

419

relate to the following:

420

     1.  Performance of students.

421

     2.  Ability to maintain appropriate discipline.

422

     3.  Knowledge of subject matter. The district school board

423

shall make special provisions for evaluating teachers who are

424

assigned to teach out-of-field.

425

     4.  Ability to plan and deliver instruction and the use of

426

technology in the classroom.

427

     5.  Ability to evaluate instructional needs.

428

     6.  Ability to establish and maintain a positive

429

collaborative relationship with students' families to increase

430

student achievement.

431

     7. Ability of the school principal to establish the New

432

Teacher Induction Initiative and to reduce teacher attrition at

433

the school in accordance with s. 1012.988.

434

     8.7. Other professional competencies, responsibilities, and

435

requirements as established by rules of the State Board of

436

Education and policies of the district school board.

437

     Section 8.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section

438

1012.72, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

439

     1012.72  Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.--

440

     (2)  The Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program is created

441

to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and

442

bonuses for teaching excellence. The Department of Education

443

shall distribute to each school district or to the NBPTS an

444

amount as prescribed annually by the Legislature for the Dale

445

Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. For purposes of this section,

446

the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall be considered

447

a school district. Unless otherwise provided in the General

448

Appropriations Act, each distribution shall be the sum of the

449

amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:

450

     (d)  An annual bonus equal to 10 percent of the prior fiscal

451

year's statewide average salary for classroom teachers to be

452

distributed to the school district to be paid to each individual

453

who meets the requirements of paragraph (c) and agrees, in

454

writing, to provide the equivalent of 12 workdays of mentoring,

455

supervising, or directing teacher-preparation students during

456

field experience courses or internships, pursuant to s. 1004.04,

457

and related services to public school teachers within the state

458

who do not hold NBPTS certification. Related services must

459

include instruction in helping teachers work more effectively

460

with the families of their students. The district school board

461

shall distribute the annual bonus in a single payment following

462

the completion of all required mentoring and related services for

463

the year. It is not the intent of the Legislature to remove

464

excellent teachers from their assigned classrooms; therefore,

465

credit may not be granted by a school district or public school

466

for mentoring or related services provided during student contact

467

time during the 196 days of required service for the school year.

468

469

A teacher for whom the state pays the certification fee and who

470

does not complete the certification program or does not teach in

471

a public school of this state for at least 1 year after

472

completing the certification program must repay the amount of the

473

certification fee to the state. However, a teacher who completes

474

the certification program but fails to be awarded NBPTS

475

certification is not required to repay the amount of the

476

certification fee if the teacher meets the 1-year teaching

477

requirement. Repayment is not required of a teacher who does not

478

complete the certification program or fails to fulfill the

479

teaching requirement because of the teacher's death or disability

480

or because of other extenuating circumstances as determined by

481

the State Board of Education.

482

     Section 9.  Section 1012.988, Florida Statutes, is created

483

to read:

484

     1012.988 Florida New Teacher Induction Initiative.--

485

     (1) The Florida New Teacher Induction Initiative is

486

established to develop quality induction models in school

487

districts so as to provide new teachers with professional support

488

and guidance in the development of teaching skills, best

489

practices, and classroom management and to provide emotional and

490

logistical support.

491

     (2) Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, each school

492

district shall develop a new teacher induction initiative that

493

includes the following minimum elements:

494

     (a) Provide each new teacher with an appropriate 2-year

495

induction program that supports the teacher in achieving success

496

in the classroom. The plan shall include professional development

497

opportunities for beginning teachers which are aligned to student

498

achievement and classroom organization skills.

499

     (b) Implement strategies that include components of

500

effective teacher induction in leadership training for

501

principals.

502

     (c) Propose strategies to redirect existing financial and

503

human resources to support and expand quality induction efforts

504

and retain effective teachers.

505

     (d) Review the feasibility and fiscal impact of adjusting

506

levels of teaching responsibility and providing mentoring in

507

order to reduce teaching preparations and reduce extracurricular

508

assignments.

509

     (e) Assess annual teacher turnover rates for the prior 2

510

school years, exclusive of retirements, by school and by school

511

district, including data analysis of the level of teacher

512

experience, teacher age, teacher ethnicity, teacher-preparation

513

pathway, in-state or out-of-state training, and in-field or out-

514

of-field assignment. These reports shall be provided to the

515

Commissioner of Education and to the Florida Quality Education

516

Council.

517

     (f) Establish school goals and district goals to reduce

518

teacher attrition to no more than 10 percent, exclusive of

519

retirements, with special attention to the first 7 years of

520

teacher service.

521

     (3) In the 2009-2010 school year and thereafter, each

522

school district, as part of an on-going evaluation of its new

523

teacher induction initiative, shall review and report the teacher

524

turnover rate by school and school district along with associated

525

data analysis and the progress made towards meeting its goal to

526

reduce teacher attrition. The report of the district's findings

527

shall be provided to the Commissioner of Education and to the

528

Florida Quality Education Council and shall include:

529

     (a) The teacher turnover rate at each school, which shall

530

be reported as part of the school report card as required in s.

531

1008.34(5).

532

     (b) The teacher turnover rate, which shall be reflected in

533

the principal assessment criteria in accordance with s.

534

1012.34(3).

535

     (4) If the teacher turnover report shows no improvement

536

over the prior year in the retention of new teachers in schools

537

having grades of "D" or "F," the district must submit a specific

538

plan to address the attrition rate of new teachers and must use

539

mentoring and other methods to address teacher turnover.

540

     (5) If the district goal to reduce teacher attrition is not

541

met, the district must revise its new teacher induction

542

initiative and evaluate other methods of retaining teachers.

543

     (6) The Department of Education shall provide technical

544

assistance to school districts in developing the new teacher

545

induction initiative and in establishing school and district

546

goals to reduce teacher attrition.

547

     (7) Districts shall provide appropriate data to the Florida

548

Quality Education Council to assist the council in establishing

549

the cost of teacher turnover and in finding solutions for

550

reducing teacher turnover rates.

551

     Section 10.  Section 1012.989, Florida Statutes, is created

552

to read:

553

     1012.989 Florida Quality Education Council.--

554

     (1) The Florida Quality Education Council is established

555

within the Executive Office of the Governor to promote, recruit,

556

support, and sustain an effective teacher workforce in order to

557

meet the state's education needs and to compete in a global

558

economy. The purposes and objectives of the initiatives and

559

programs developed by the council shall be to:

560

     (a) Promote the extent to which teachers affect the state's

561

ability to compete in a global, knowledge economy.

562

     (b) Advance teaching as a valued profession.

563

     (c) Monitor the progress of the Florida New Teacher

564

Induction Initiative created in s. 1012.988, and recommend

565

modifications to the initiative when needed.

566

     (d) Implement a long-term data-collection and analysis

567

initiative to identify and promote the most effective practices

568

and policies for teacher preparation and the Florida New Teacher

569

Induction Initiative and provide continuous support of highly

570

effective teachers.

571

     (e) Provide on-going review and support of teacher

572

preparation and teacher support programs provided by

573

postsecondary institutions, school districts, and individual

574

schools, and recommend modifications when needed.

575

     (f) Support contemporary research through collaborative

576

partnerships between postsecondary institutions and local school

577

districts.

578

     (g) Explore the viability of expanding reciprocal

579

certification agreements with other states.

580

     (h) Examine optimum working conditions in order to enhance

581

retention of beginning teachers.

582

     (i) Examine the effect that salaries, benefits, and working

583

conditions have on teacher attrition.

584

     (2) The council shall consist of 15 members appointed as

585

follows:

586

     (a) Five members appointed by the Governor, one from

587

each of the following categories:

588

     1. A Florida Teacher of the Year who has demonstrated

589

evidence of sustained student achievement.

590

     2. An elementary school principal having a demonstrated

591

commitment to beginning teachers, effective classroom

592

instruction, and sustained student achievement and learning

593

gains.

594

     3. A secondary school student currently serving as an ad

595

hoc school district board representative and recommended by the

596

school board chair.

597

     4. An elementary school teacher who has demonstrated

598

evidence of sustained student achievement and who currently

599

teaches in a high-poverty or low-performing school and

600

recommended by the Florida Education Association.

601

     5. A dean, director, or chair of a college of education of

602

a state postsecondary institution who is engaged in research

603

concerning effective teacher quality, creating new teacher

604

recruitment initiatives, and partnerships with local schools and

605

instructional leaders and recommended by the Florida Association

606

of Colleges for Teacher Education.

607

     (b) Five members appointed by the President of the Senate,

608

one from each of the following categories:

609

     1. A middle school teacher from a school district having

610

fewer than 10,000 students and recommended by a school district

611

superintendent.

612

     2. A secondary school principal who has a demonstrated

613

commitment to beginning teachers, effective classroom

614

instruction, and sustained student achievement and learning gains

615

and recommended by the Florida Association of School

616

Administrators.

617

     3. A school district superintendent who is currently

618

engaged in and committed to a comprehensive quality induction

619

program for new teachers and recommended by the Florida

620

Association of District School Superintendents.

621

     4. A parent of a student enrolled in public school and

622

recommended by the Florida Parent Teacher Association.

623

     5. A faculty member of a state postsecondary institution

624

who is engaged in research concerning effective teacher quality,

625

creating new teacher recruitment initiatives, and recommended by

626

the Florida Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

627

     (c) Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of

628

Representatives, one from each of the following categories:

629

     1. A high school teacher from a school district having more

630

than 100,000 students and recommended by the Florida Education

631

Association.

632

     2. A school board member from a district currently engaged

633

in and committed to a comprehensive quality induction program for

634

new teachers and recommended by the Florida School Boards

635

Association.

636

     3. A school district representative who is responsible for

637

coordinating teacher recruitment, professional development, and

638

retention efforts and recommended by the Florida Association of

639

School Administrators.

640

     4. A faculty member or dean working in an Educator

641

Preparation Institute offered at a state community college.

642

     5. A chief operating officer of a state incorporated

643

business who is a member of a statewide economic development

644

organization and recommended by the Associated Industries of

645

Florida.

646

     (3) The council shall be established no later than October

647

1, 2008, and shall meet bimonthly during the 2008-2009 fiscal

648

year and as considered necessary thereafter.

649

     (a) The council shall elect a chair from among its

650

membership. Eight members constitute a quorum. Business may not

651

be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present.

652

     (b) Council members shall be appointed to 4-year terms and

653

may be reappointed for no more than two consecutive terms.

654

     (c) Members of the council shall serve without

655

compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and

656

travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061.

657

     (d) The Executive Office of the Governor shall provide

658

administrative support to the council.

659

     (4) The council may apply for and accept funds, grants,

660

gifts, and services from the state and federal government or any

661

other public or private source, and may use funds derived from

662

these sources to defray clerical and administrative costs as

663

necessary to carry out the council's assigned duties.

664

     (5) The council shall implement a comprehensive data

665

collection and analysis initiative to provide policy

666

recommendations, to identify successful and cost-efficient

667

pathways that enhance high-quality and effective classroom

668

instruction, and to investigate the causes and costs of teacher

669

attrition. This initiative shall be conducted jointly by the K-20

670

data warehouse and a state research institution that has

671

demonstrated expertise and national recognition in conducting

672

scientific studies related to K-12 education. The initiative

673

shall include gathering data relating to student achievement and

674

learning gains resulting from highly effective teaching. Data

675

collection shall, at a minimum, examine correlations between

676

student achievement, if any, and the following factors:

677

     (a) A teacher's prior involvement in a high school teaching

678

career academy.

679

     (b) Standardized test scores of teacher education

680

candidates.

681

     (c) A teacher's years of classroom experience.

682

     (d) The institution or teacher-preparation pathway

683

attended.

684

     (e) Components of postsecondary teacher preparation

685

including:

686

     1. The onset and extent of classroom field experiences.

687

     2. A description of both content and pedagogical

688

coursework.

689

     3. The extent of opportunities for student teachers to

690

observe effective classroom instruction.

691

     4. The extent of opportunities for student teachers to

692

demonstrate and model effective classroom instruction.

693

     5. The K-12 classroom teaching experience of faculty

694

members.

695

     (f) Participation in the Florida New Teacher Induction

696

Initiative or other support and induction programs provided for

697

beginning teachers, including information regarding:

698

     1. The length of the induction program.

699

     2. The extent of the principal's involvement in the

700

induction process.

701

     3. A description of any mentoring provided to new teachers

702

and support provided by teachers who hold national board

703

certification.

704

     4. A description of mentor screening, selection, and

705

training.

706

     5. Provision for common planning time and involvement in

707

professional learning communities comprised of other teachers.

708

     6. Professional development that is aligned to the

709

development of teaching skills, best practices, classroom

710

management, and enhancement of student achievement.

711

     7. Teaching load and assignment of extracurricular

712

responsibilities.

713

     (6) In order to implement currently available research and

714

findings of the data collection and analysis initiative described

715

in subsection (5), by January 1, 2009, the council shall request

716

proposals from a state postsecondary institution that is

717

accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

718

and that operates a state-approved teacher preparation program

719

and a leadership program for school principals as described in s.

720

1012.986. The postsecondary institution must submit evidence of

721

expertise and national recognition in conducting research related

722

to K-12 teaching and learning, provide opportunities for

723

effective public school teachers to serve as adjunct instructors,

724

and commit to engagement from the entire institution to recruit

725

and prepare classroom teachers. The research proposal, at a

726

minimum shall include:

727

     (a) Commitment, support, and involvement from at least five

728

school district superintendents. Schools in those districts must

729

commit to serving as teaching and learning laboratories, and

730

provide student teachers continuing opportunities to observe

731

effective classroom instruction.

732

     (b) Technologies to deploy to state school districts and to

733

state-approved teacher preparation programs the research

734

practices and key findings that result from the partnership.

735

     (c) Research-based cost analysis of teacher attrition, with

736

identification of significant factors related to teacher

737

attrition.

738

     (7) The comprehensive data collection and analysis

739

described in subsection (5) and the research project described in

740

subsection (6) shall serve as the basis for the redesign and

741

approval of all teacher preparation programs in the state.

742

     (8) The council shall prepare an annual report containing

743

the status and results of the data collection and research

744

analysis. The report must include policy recommendations,

745

including, but not limited to, the Florida New Teacher Induction

746

Initiative, measures to reduce teacher attrition, teacher

747

professional development, teacher-preparation pathways, and ways

748

to advance high-quality teaching. The report shall be presented

749

to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of

750

the House of Representatives by March 1 of each year.

751

     Section 11.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.