Florida Senate - 2013 CS for CS for SB 1664
By the Committees on Appropriations; and Education; and Senator
Legg
576-04666-13 20131664c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 1004.04,
3 F.S.; revising legislative intent; revising the
4 requirements of State Board of Education rule for
5 uniform core curricula for state-approved teacher
6 preparation programs; revising the process for initial
7 approval of state-approved teacher preparation
8 programs; revising the requirements for continued
9 approval of state-approved teacher preparation
10 programs; requiring the State Board of Education to
11 adopt rules for continued approval of teacher
12 preparation programs; requiring the Commissioner of
13 Education to determine the continued approval of each
14 program; providing requirements for a report that
15 certain public and private institutions prepare
16 regarding their teacher preparation programs;
17 requiring the Department of Education to report to the
18 Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of
19 Education, the Board of Governors, the Commissioner of
20 Education, each Florida postsecondary teacher
21 preparation program, each district school
22 superintendent, and the public the results of each
23 approved program’s annual progress and the current
24 approval status of each program; revising the
25 requirements for preservice field experience; amending
26 s. 1004.85, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
27 “educator preparation institute”; authorizing a
28 qualified private provider to seek approval to offer a
29 competency-based certification program; revising the
30 criteria for approval of preparation programs;
31 requiring the department to approve a certification
32 program under certain circumstances; revising the
33 requirements for program participants; revising the
34 criteria for continued approval of programs; revising
35 the requirements for personnel that participate in
36 field experiences; providing requirements for
37 measuring student performance in instructional
38 personnel and school administrator performance
39 evaluations; providing requirements for the
40 performance evaluation of personnel for purposes of
41 the performance salary schedule; amending s. 1008.22,
42 F.S.; requiring each school district to establish and
43 approve testing schedules for district-mandated
44 assessments and publish the schedules on its website;
45 requiring reporting of the schedules to the Department
46 of Education; amending s. 1012.05, F.S.; conforming
47 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
48 1012.32, F.S.; conforming cross-references and
49 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
50 amending s. 1012.55, F.S.; requiring the State Board
51 of Education to adopt rules that allow an individual
52 who meets specified criteria to be eligible for a
53 temporary certificate in education leadership;
54 amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; authorizing the State Board
55 of Education to adopt rules that allow for the
56 acceptance of college course credits recommended by
57 the American Council for Education; revising the
58 acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
59 professional preparation and education competence;
60 authorizing a school district to provide a
61 professional development certification program;
62 specifying the components of the program; revising
63 requirements for demonstrating mastery of professional
64 education competence; requiring the Commissioner of
65 Education to determine the continued approval of the
66 programs; requiring the Department of Education to
67 provide a review procedure for an applicant who fails
68 a certification examination; requiring the applicant
69 to bear the actual cost in order for the department to
70 provide an examination review; amending s. 1012.585,
71 F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
72 1012.71, F.S.; renaming the Florida Teachers Lead
73 Program as the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
74 Assistance Program; providing that the calculation of
75 funds for each teacher includes local contributions;
76 requiring that a teacher’s proportionate share of
77 funds be provided by any means determined appropriate,
78 including a debit card; providing requirements for the
79 debit card; authorizing the Department of Education
80 and the district school boards to enter into public
81 private partnerships; deleting provisions relating to
82 a pilot program established for the 2009-2010 fiscal
83 year; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; authorizing rather
84 than requiring each school principal to establish and
85 maintain an individual professional development plan
86 for each instructional employee assigned to the school
87 as a seamless component to the school improvement
88 plans; providing an effective date.
89
90 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
91
92 Section 1. Section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to
93 read:
94 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
95 teacher preparation programs.—
96 (1) INTENT.—
97 (a) The Legislature recognizes that effective skilled
98 teachers make an important contribution to a system that allows
99 students to obtain a high-quality education.
100 (b) The intent of the Legislature is to require the State
101 Board of Education to maintain attain a system for development
102 and approval of teacher preparation programs which that allows
103 postsecondary teacher preparation institutions to employ varied
104 and innovative teacher preparation techniques while being held
105 accountable for producing program completers graduates with the
106 competencies and skills necessary to achieve the state education
107 goals; help all students in the state’s diverse student
108 population, including students who have substandard reading and
109 computational skills and students with limited English
110 proficiency, meet high standards for academic achievement;
111 maintain safe, secure classroom learning environments; and
112 sustain the state system of school improvement and education
113 accountability established pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
114 1008.345.
115 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
116 (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
117 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which that establish uniform core
118 curricula for each state-approved teacher preparation program.
119 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
120 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
121 not limited to, the following:
122 1. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
123 2. The state-adopted content standards. a State Board of
124 Education identified foundation in
125 3. Scientifically researched reading instruction.,
126 knowledge-based reading
127 4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
128 computational skills acquisition; classroom management;
129 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
130 language learners.
131 6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
132 with disabilities.
133 7. School safety; professional ethics; educational law;
134 human development and learning; and understanding of the
135 Sunshine State Standards content measured by state achievement
136 tests, reading and interpretation of data, and use of data to
137 improve student achievement.
138 (c) Each candidate must receive instruction and be assessed
139 on the uniform core curricula in the candidate’s area or areas
140 of program concentration during course work and field
141 experiences These rules shall not require an additional period
142 of time-to-degree but may be phased in to enable teacher
143 preparation programs to supplant courses, including pedagogy
144 courses, not required by law or State Board of Education rule
145 with the courses identified pursuant to paragraph (b).
146 (d) Before program completion, each candidate must
147 demonstrate his or her ability to positively impact student
148 learning growth in the candidate’s area or areas of program
149 concentration during a prekindergarten through grade 12 field
150 experience and must pass each portion of the Florida Teacher
151 Certification Examination required for a professional
152 certificate in the area or areas of program concentration.
153 (3) DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.—A system
154 developed by the Department of Education in collaboration with
155 postsecondary educational institutions shall assist departments
156 and colleges of education in the restructuring of their programs
157 in accordance with this section to meet the need for producing
158 quality teachers now and in the future.
159 (a) The system must be designed to assist teacher educators
160 in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and evaluating
161 programs that meet state-adopted standards. These standards
162 shall emphasize quality indicators drawn from research,
163 professional literature, recognized guidelines, Florida
164 essential teaching competencies and educator-accomplished
165 practices, effective classroom practices, and the outcomes of
166 the state system of school improvement and education
167 accountability, as well as performance measures.
168 (b) Departments and colleges of education shall emphasize
169 the state system of school improvement and education
170 accountability concepts and standards, including Sunshine State
171 Standards.
172 (c) State-approved teacher preparation programs must
173 incorporate:
174 1. Appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages
175 instruction so that program graduates will have completed the
176 requirements for teaching limited English proficient students in
177 Florida public schools.
178 2. Scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
179 literacy and computational skills instruction so that program
180 graduates will be able to provide the necessary academic
181 foundations for their students at whatever grade levels they
182 choose to teach.
183 (3)(4) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
184 (a) A program approval process based on standards adopted
185 pursuant to this subsection and subsection subsections (2) and
186 (3) must be established for postsecondary teacher preparation
187 programs, phased in according to timelines determined by the
188 Department of Education, and fully implemented for all teacher
189 preparation programs in the state. Each program shall be
190 approved by the department, consistent with the intent set forth
191 in subsection (1) and based primarily upon evidence of the
192 institution’s and the program’s capacity to meet the
193 requirements for continued approval as provided in subsection
194 (4) and by the rules of the State Board of Education
195 significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance
196 measures.
197 (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
198 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
199 require students to meet, at a minimum, the following as
200 prerequisites for admission into the program:
201 1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
202 scale for the general education component of undergraduate
203 studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
204 degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
205 from any college or university accredited by a regional
206 accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
207 rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
208 State Board of Education rule.
209 2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
210 entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
211 and perform in mathematics compute, by passing the General
212 Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination
213 or, for a graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree
214 from an institution that is accredited or approved, the College
215 Level Academic Skills Test, a corresponding component of the
216 National Teachers Examination series, or a similar test pursuant
217 to the rules of the State Board of Education.
218
219 Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
220 requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
221 Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
222 admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
223 competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
224 and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
225 status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
226 (c) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
227 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
228 provide a certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
229 procedures required for graduates to obtain educator
230 professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
231 (4)(5) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Notwithstanding
232 subsection (4), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher
233 preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program
234 approval shall result in loss of program approval. The
235 Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments
236 and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for
237 continued program approval that document the continuous
238 improvement of program processes and graduates’ performance.
239 (a) Continued approval of a specific teacher preparation
240 program shall be based upon evidence that the program continues
241 to implement the requirements for initial approval and upon
242 significant, objective, and quantifiable measures of the program
243 and the performance of the program completers.
244 (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
245 of the following:
246 1. Documentation from the program that each program
247 candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
248 (3).
249 2. Documentation from the program that the program and each
250 program completer have met the requirements provided in
251 subsection (2).
252 3. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
253 a. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
254 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
255 available.
256 b. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
257 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
258 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
259 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
260 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
261 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
262 d. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
263 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
264 student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
265 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
266 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
267 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
268 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
269 e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
270 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
271 f. Production of program completers in statewide critical
272 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07 programs at
273 each public and nonpublic postsecondary educational institution
274 within the state is contingent upon the passing of the written
275 examination required by s. 1012.56 by at least 90 percent of the
276 graduates of the program who take the examination. The
277 Department of Education shall annually provide an analysis of
278 the performance of the graduates of such institution with
279 respect to the competencies assessed by the examination required
280 by s. 1012.56.
281 (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
282 continued approval of teacher preparation programs which include
283 the program review process, the continued approval timelines,
284 and the performance level targets for each of the continued
285 approval criteria in paragraph (a). Additional criteria for
286 continued program approval for public institutions may be
287 approved by the State Board of Education. Such criteria may
288 include a must emphasize instruction in classroom management and
289 must provide for the evaluation of the teacher candidates’
290 performance in this area. The criteria shall also require
291 instruction in working with underachieving students. Program
292 evaluation procedures must include, but are not limited to,
293 program completer’s graduates’ satisfaction with instruction and
294 an employer’s satisfaction with, and the program’s
295 responsiveness to, local school districts. The Commissioner of
296 Education shall determine the continued approval of each program
297 based on the data collected pursuant to this section and the
298 rules of the State Board of Education Additional criteria for
299 continued program approval for nonpublic institutions shall be
300 developed in the same manner as for public institutions;
301 however, such criteria must be based upon significant,
302 objective, and quantifiable graduate performance measures.
303 Responsibility for collecting data on outcome measures through
304 survey instruments and other appropriate means shall be shared
305 by the postsecondary educational institutions and the Department
306 of Education. By January 1 of each year, the Department of
307 Education shall report this information for each postsecondary
308 educational institution that has state-approved programs of
309 teacher education to the Governor, the State Board of Education,
310 the Board of Governors, the Commissioner of Education, the
311 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
312 Representatives, all Florida postsecondary teacher preparation
313 programs, and interested members of the public. This report must
314 analyze the data and make recommendations for improving teacher
315 preparation programs in the state.
316 (c) Each program must prepare and submit to the Department
317 of Education Continued approval for a teacher preparation
318 program is contingent upon the results of periodic reviews, on a
319 schedule established by the State Board of Education, of the
320 program conducted by the postsecondary educational institution,
321 using procedures and criteria outlined in an institutional
322 program evaluation plan approved by the Department of Education.
323 Each institutional program evaluation This plan must incorporate
324 the criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b) and may
325 include additional data chosen by the program. The plan must
326 provide information on how the institution addresses continuous
327 program improvement and must include provisions for involving
328 primary stakeholders, such as program completers graduates,
329 public district school personnel, classroom teachers,
330 principals, community agencies, and business representatives in
331 the evaluation process. Upon request by an institution, the
332 department shall provide assistance in developing, enhancing, or
333 reviewing the institutional program evaluation plan and training
334 evaluation team members.
335 (d) Continued approval for a teacher preparation program is
336 contingent upon standards being in place that are designed to
337 adequately prepare elementary, middle, and high school teachers
338 to instruct their students in reading and higher-level
339 mathematics concepts and in the use of technology at the
340 appropriate grade level.
341 (e) Continued approval of teacher preparation programs is
342 contingent upon compliance with the student admission
343 requirements of subsection (4) and upon the receipt of at least
344 a satisfactory rating from public schools and private schools
345 that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher preparation
346 program must shall guarantee the high quality of its program
347 completers graduates during the first 2 years immediately
348 following completion of graduation from the program or following
349 initial certification, whichever occurs first. Any program
350 completer who is employed in a Florida public school during this
351 2-year period and who earns an evaluation result of developing
352 or unsatisfactory on the school district’s evaluation system
353 implemented under s. 1012.34 educator in a Florida school who
354 fails to demonstrate the essential skills specified in
355 subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional training by the
356 teacher preparation program at no expense to the educator or the
357 employer if requested by the employing school district or
358 charter school. Such training must consist of an individualized
359 plan agreed upon by the school district and the postsecondary
360 educational institution which that includes specific learning
361 outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution assumes no
362 responsibility for the educator’s employment contract with the
363 employer. Employer satisfaction shall be determined by an
364 annually administered survey instrument approved by the
365 Department of Education that, at a minimum, must include
366 employer satisfaction of the graduates’ ability to do the
367 following:
368 1. Write and speak in a logical and understandable style
369 with appropriate grammar.
370 2. Recognize signs of students’ difficulty with the reading
371 and computational process and apply appropriate measures to
372 improve students’ reading and computational performance.
373 3. Use and integrate appropriate technology in teaching and
374 learning processes.
375 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sunshine
376 State Standards.
377 5. Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom conducive
378 to student learning.
379 (e)(f)1. Each Florida public and private institution that
380 offers a state-approved teacher preparation program must
381 annually report information regarding its approved these
382 programs to the state and the general public. The report to the
383 state must include a list of candidates who are admitted to, who
384 are enrolled in, or who complete a teacher preparation program;
385 additional evidence necessary to document requirements for
386 continued approval; and data necessary to complete applicable
387 federal reporting requirements. The state reporting requirements
388 must minimize a program’s reporting burden whenever possible
389 without compromising data quality. The report to the general
390 public must include, at a minimum, the annual progress data
391 reported by the state under this paragraph, and may include
392 other information chosen by the institution or program. This
393 information shall be reported in a uniform and comprehensible
394 manner that is consistent with definitions and methods approved
395 by the Commissioner of the National Center for Educational
396 Statistics and that is approved by the State Board of Education.
397 This information must include, at a minimum:
398 a. The percent of graduates obtaining full-time teaching
399 employment within the first year of graduation.
400 b. The average length of stay of graduates in their full
401 time teaching positions.
402 c. Satisfaction ratings required in paragraph (e).
403 2. Each public and private institution offering training
404 for school readiness related professions, including training in
405 the fields of child care and early childhood education, whether
406 offering career credit, associate in applied science degree
407 programs, associate in science degree programs, or associate in
408 arts degree programs, shall annually report information
409 regarding these programs to the state and the general public in
410 a uniform and comprehensible manner that conforms with
411 definitions and methods approved by the State Board of
412 Education. This information must include, at a minimum:
413 a. Average length of stay of graduates in their positions.
414 b. Satisfaction ratings of graduates’ employers.
415
416 This information shall be reported through publications,
417 including college and university catalogs and promotional
418 materials sent to potential applicants, secondary school
419 guidance counselors, and prospective employers of the
420 institution’s program graduates.
421 (f) By January 1 of each year, the Department of Education
422 shall report the results of each approved program’s annual
423 progress on the performance measures in paragraph (a) as well as
424 the current approval status of each program to:
425 1. The Governor.
426 2. The President of the Senate.
427 3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
428 4. The State Board of Education.
429 5. The Board of Governors.
430 6. The Commissioner of Education.
431 7. Each Florida postsecondary teacher preparation program.
432 8. Each district school superintendent.
433 9. The public.
434
435 This report may include the results of other continued approval
436 requirements provided by State Board of Education rule and
437 recommendations for improving teacher preparation programs in
438 the state.
439 (5)(6) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.—All postsecondary
440 instructors, school district personnel and instructional
441 personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
442 through preservice field experience courses and internships
443 shall meet special requirements. District school boards may are
444 authorized to pay student teachers during their internships.
445 (a) All instructors in postsecondary teacher preparation
446 programs who instruct or supervise preservice field experience
447 courses or internships in which candidates demonstrate an impact
448 on student learning growth must shall have each at least one of
449 the following: specialized training in clinical supervision; a
450 valid professional teaching certificate pursuant to ss. 1012.56
451 and 1012.585; and or at least 3 years of successful teaching
452 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12.
453 (b) All school district personnel and instructional
454 personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
455 during field experience courses or internships in which
456 candidates demonstrate an impact on student learning growth must
457 have evidence of “clinical educator” training, a valid
458 professional certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, and at
459 least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
460 grade 12 and must have earned an effective or highly effective
461 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
462 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
463 system approved under s. 1012.34 successfully demonstrate
464 effective classroom management strategies that consistently
465 result in improved student performance. The State Board of
466 Education shall approve the training requirements.
467 (c) Preservice field experience programs must include
468 candidate practice provide specific guidance and demonstration
469 of the uniform core curricula specific to the candidates’ area
470 or areas of program concentration with a diverse population of
471 students in a variety of settings effective classroom management
472 strategies, strategies for incorporating technology into
473 classroom instruction, strategies for incorporating
474 scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and
475 computational skills acquisition into classroom instruction, and
476 ways to link instructional plans to the Sunshine State
477 Standards, as appropriate. The length of structured field
478 experiences may be extended to ensure that candidates achieve
479 the competencies needed to meet certification requirements.
480 (d) Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in
481 cooperation with district school boards and approved private
482 school associations shall select the school sites for preservice
483 field experience activities based upon the qualifications of the
484 supervising personnel as described in this subsection and the
485 needs of the candidates. These sites must represent the full
486 spectrum of school communities, including, but not limited to,
487 schools located in urban settings. In order to be selected,
488 school sites must demonstrate commitment to the education of
489 public school students and to the preparation of future
490 teachers.
491 (7) STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.—The State Board of Education
492 shall approve standards of excellence for teacher preparation.
493 These standards must exceed the requirements for program
494 approval pursuant to subsection (4) and must incorporate state
495 and national recommendations for exemplary teacher preparation
496 programs.
497 (8) NATIONAL BOARD STANDARDS.—The State Board of Education
498 shall review standards and recommendations developed by the
499 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and may
500 incorporate those parts deemed appropriate into criteria for
501 continued state program approval, standards of excellence, and
502 requirements for inservice education.
503 (9) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS.—To the extent
504 practical, postsecondary educational institutions offering
505 teacher preparation programs shall establish articulation
506 agreements on a core of liberal arts courses and introductory
507 professional courses with field experience components which
508 shall be offered at Florida College System institutions.
509 (10) SHORT-TERM EXPERIENCES AS TEACHER ASSISTANTS.
510 Postsecondary institutions offering teacher preparation programs
511 and Florida College System institutions, in collaboration with
512 school districts, may develop and implement a program to provide
513 short-term experiences as teacher assistants prior to beginning
514 a teacher preparation program or alternative certification
515 program. The program shall serve individuals with baccalaureate
516 degrees who are interested in the teaching profession. This
517 experience may be accepted for use in teacher preparation
518 programs and competency-based alternative certification
519 programs, where applicable.
520 (6)(11) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
521 necessary rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to
522 implement this section.
523 Section 2. Section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to
524 read:
525 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
526 (1) As used in this section, the term “educator preparation
527 institute” means an institute created by a postsecondary
528 institution or a qualified private provider and approved by the
529 Department of Education.
530 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
531 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
532 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
533 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
534 of the following:
535 1.(a) Professional development instruction to assist
536 teachers in improving classroom instruction and in meeting
537 certification or recertification requirements.
538 2.(b) Instruction to assist potential and existing
539 substitute teachers in performing their duties.
540 3.(c) Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
541 education and training requirements.
542 4.(d) Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to
543 become certified teachers as provided in this section in order
544 to increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
545 who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
546 not education majors.
547 (b) A private provider that has a proven history of
548 delivering high-quality teacher preparation, which is based on
549 evidence provided from other state recipients of its services
550 and data showing the successful performance of its completers
551 based on student achievement, may seek approval to offer a
552 competency-based certification program under subsection (3).
553 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
554 this section may offer competency-based alternative
555 certification programs specifically designed for noneducation
556 major baccalaureate degree holders to enable program
557 participants to meet the educator certification requirements of
558 s. 1012.56. Such programs shall be competency-based educator
559 certification preparation programs that prepare educators
560 through an alternative route. An educator preparation institute
561 choosing to offer a competency-based an alternative
562 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
563 must implement a program previously approved by the Department
564 of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
565 institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
566 Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
567 educator preparation institutes.
568 (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
569 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation an
570 alternative certification program pursuant to the requirements
571 of this subsection or issue a statement of the deficiencies in
572 the request for approval. The department shall approve a an
573 alternative certification program if the institute provides
574 sufficient evidence of the institute’s capacity to implement a
575 competency-based program that includes each of the following:
576 1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
577 Educator Accomplished Practices.
578 b. The state-adopted student content standards.
579 c. Scientifically researched reading instruction.
580 d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
581 e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
582 language learners.
583 f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
584 disabilities.
585 g. School safety.
586 2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
587 certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
588 teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
589 certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
590 competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1 Instruction
591 must be provided in professional knowledge and subject matter
592 content that includes educator-accomplished practices and
593 competencies specified in State Board of Education rule and
594 meets subject matter content requirements, professional
595 competency testing requirements, and competencies associated
596 with teaching scientifically based reading instruction and
597 strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving
598 reading among low-performing readers.
599 3.2. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
600 subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
601 population of students in a variety of settings under the
602 program must provide field experience with supervision of from
603 qualified educators.
604 4.3. The program must provide A certification ombudsman to
605 facilitate the process and procedures required for participants
606 who complete the program to meet any requirements related to the
607 background screening pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator
608 professional or temporary certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
609 (b) Each program participant must:
610 1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
611 1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
612 the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
613 the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
614 2. Participate in coursework and field experiences that are
615 experience that is appropriate to his or her educational plan
616 prepared under paragraph (a).
617 3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
618 or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
619 seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
620 student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
621 setting and achieving demonstrate mastery of professional
622 preparation and education competence by achievement of a passing
623 score on the professional education competency examination, the
624 basic skills examination, and the subject area examination for
625 the subject area certification which is required by state board
626 rule prior to completion of the program.
627 (c) Upon completion of all requirements for a an
628 alternative certification program approved pursuant to this
629 subsection, a participant shall receive a credential from the
630 sponsoring institution signifying that the participant has
631 completed a state-approved competency-based certification
632 program in the certification subject area specified in the
633 educational plan satisfaction of the requirements of s.
634 1012.56(6) relating to mastery of professional preparation and
635 education competence. A participant is shall be eligible for
636 educator certification through the Department of Education upon
637 satisfaction of all requirements for certification set forth in
638 s. 1012.56(2), including demonstration of mastery of general
639 knowledge, subject area knowledge, and professional preparation
640 and education competence, through testing or other statutorily
641 authorized means.
642 (d) If an institution offers an alternative certification
643 program approved pursuant to this subsection, such program may
644 be used by the school district or districts served by that
645 institution in addition to the alternative certification program
646 as required in s. 1012.56(8).
647 (4) Continued approval of each program approved pursuant to
648 this section shall be determined by the Commissioner of
649 Education based upon a periodic review of the following areas:
650 (a) Documentation from the program that each program
651 completer has met the requirements of paragraphs (3)(a)-(c);
652 (b) Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
653 1. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
654 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
655 available.
656 2. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
657 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
658 3. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
659 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
660 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
661 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
662 4. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
663 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
664 student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
665 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
666 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
667 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
668 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
669 5. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
670 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
671 6. Production of program completers in statewide critical
672 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
673 (5)(4) Each institute approved pursuant to this section
674 shall submit to the Department of Education annual performance
675 evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
676 including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
677 required for teacher certification, employment rates,
678 longitudinal retention rates, and employer satisfaction surveys.
679 The employer satisfaction surveys must be designed to measure
680 the sufficient preparation of the educator to enter the
681 classroom. These evaluations shall be used by the Department of
682 Education for purposes of continued approval of an educator
683 preparation institute’s alternative certification program.
684 (6)(5) Instructors and supervisors of field experiences in
685 which participants demonstrate an impact on student learning
686 growth for a an alternative certification program approved
687 pursuant to this section must meet the same qualifications as
688 those required in s. 1004.04(5) possess a master’s degree in
689 education or a master’s degree in an appropriate related field
690 and document teaching experience.
691 (7)(6) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
692 this section and providing approved instructional programs for
693 any of the purposes in subsection (2) are eligible for funding
694 from federal and state funds, as appropriated by the
695 Legislature.
696 (8)(7) The State Board of Education may adopt rules
697 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
698 provisions of this section, including performance targets for
699 the measures used for continued program approval described in
700 subsection (4).
701 Section 3. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
702 ss. 1012.22 and 1012.34, Florida Statutes, regarding the
703 performance salary schedule and personnel evaluation procedures
704 and criteria:
705 (1) At least 50 percent of a classroom teacher’s or school
706 administrator’s performance evaluation, or 40 percent if less
707 than 3 years of student performance data are available, shall be
708 based upon learning growth or achievement of the teacher’s
709 students or, for a school administrator, the students attending
710 that school; the remaining portion shall be based upon factors
711 identified in district-determined, state-approved evaluation
712 system plans. Student achievement measures for courses
713 associated with statewide assessments may be used only if a
714 statewide growth formula has not been approved for that
715 assessment or, for courses associated with school district
716 assessments, if achievement is demonstrated to be a more
717 appropriate measure of teacher performance.
718 (2) The student performance data used in the performance
719 evaluation of nonclassroom instructional personnel shall be
720 based on student outcome data that reflects the actual
721 contribution of such personnel to the performance of the
722 students assigned to the individual in the individual’s areas of
723 responsibility.
724 (3) For purposes of the performance salary schedule in s.
725 1012.22, Florida Statutes, the student assessment data in the
726 performance evaluation must be from statewide assessments or
727 district-determined assessments as required in s. 1008.22(8),
728 Florida Statutes, in the subject areas taught.
729 Section 4. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (8) of
730 section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, to read:
731 1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.—
732 (8) LOCAL ASSESSMENTS.—
733 (d) Each school district shall establish schedules for the
734 administration of any district-mandated assessment and approve
735 the schedules as an agenda item at a district school board
736 meeting. The school district shall publish the testing schedules
737 on its website, clearly specifying the district-mandated
738 assessments, and report the schedules to the Department of
739 Education by October 1 of each year.
740 Section 5. Paragraph (p) of subsection (2) of section
741 1012.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
742 1012.05 Teacher recruitment and retention.—
743 (2) The Department of Education shall:
744 (p) The Department of Education shall Notify each teacher,
745 via e-mail, of each item in the General Appropriations Act and
746 legislation that affects teachers, including, but not limited
747 to, the Excellent Teaching Program, the Florida Teachers
748 Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, liability insurance
749 protection for teachers, death benefits for teachers,
750 substantive legislation, rules of the State Board of Education,
751 and issues concerning student achievement.
752 Section 6. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
753 1012.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
754 1012.32 Qualifications of personnel.—
755 (2)
756 (d) Student teachers and, persons participating in a field
757 experience pursuant to s. 1004.04(5) s. 1004.04(6) or s.
758 1004.85, and persons participating in a short-term experience as
759 a teacher assistant pursuant to s. 1004.04(10) in any district
760 school system, lab school, or charter school must, upon
761 engagement to provide services, undergo background screening as
762 required under s. 1012.56.
763
764 Fingerprints shall be submitted to the Department of Law
765 Enforcement for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks
766 and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal criminal
767 records checks. A person subject to this subsection who is found
768 ineligible for employment under s. 1012.315, or otherwise found
769 through background screening to have been convicted of any crime
770 involving moral turpitude as defined by rule of the State Board
771 of Education, shall not be employed, engaged to provide
772 services, or serve in any position that requires direct contact
773 with students. Probationary persons subject to this subsection
774 terminated because of their criminal record have the right to
775 appeal such decisions. The cost of the background screening may
776 be borne by the district school board, the charter school, the
777 employee, the contractor, or a person subject to this
778 subsection.
779 Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 1012.55, Florida
780 Statutes, is amended to read:
781 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
782 (1)(a) The State Board of Education shall classify school
783 services, designate the certification subject areas, establish
784 competencies, including the use of technology to enhance student
785 learning, and certification requirements for all school-based
786 personnel, and adopt rules in accordance with which the
787 professional, temporary, and part-time certificates shall be
788 issued by the Department of Education to applicants who meet the
789 standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service.
790 (b) Each person employed or occupying a position as school
791 supervisor, school principal, teacher, library media specialist,
792 school counselor, athletic coach, or other position in which the
793 employee serves in an instructional capacity, in any public
794 school of any district of this state shall hold the certificate
795 required by law and by rules of the State Board of Education in
796 fulfilling the requirements of the law for the type of service
797 rendered. Such positions include personnel providing direct
798 instruction to students through a virtual environment or through
799 a blended virtual and physical environment.
800 (c) The Department of Education shall identify appropriate
801 educator certification for the instruction of specified courses
802 in an annual publication of a directory of course code numbers
803 for all programs and courses that are funded through the Florida
804 Education Finance Program. However, the state board shall adopt
805 rules authorizing district school boards to employ selected
806 noncertificated personnel to provide instructional services in
807 the individuals’ fields of specialty or to assist instructional
808 staff members as education paraprofessionals.
809 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant
810 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to allow an individual who meets
811 the following criteria to be eligible for a temporary
812 certificate in educational leadership under s. 1012.56(7):
813 1. Earning a passing score on the Florida Educational
814 Leadership Examination;
815 2. Documenting 3 years of successful experience in an
816 executive management or leadership position; and
817 3. Documenting receipt of a bachelor’s degree or higher
818 from an accredited institution of higher learning.
819
820 A person operating under a temporary certificate must be under
821 the mentorship of a state-certified school administrator during
822 the term of the temporary certificate.
823 Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2), subsections (6)
824 and (8), and paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section 1012.56,
825 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
826 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
827 (2) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—To be eligible to seek
828 certification, a person must:
829 (c) Document receipt of a bachelor’s or higher degree from
830 an accredited institution of higher learning, or a nonaccredited
831 institution of higher learning that the Department of Education
832 has identified as having a quality program resulting in a
833 bachelor’s degree, or higher. Each applicant seeking initial
834 certification must have attained at least a 2.5 overall grade
835 point average on a 4.0 scale in the applicant’s major field of
836 study. The applicant may document the required education by
837 submitting official transcripts from institutions of higher
838 education or by authorizing the direct submission of such
839 official transcripts through established electronic network
840 systems. The bachelor’s or higher degree may not be required in
841 areas approved in rule by the State Board of Education as
842 nondegreed areas. The State Board of Education may adopt rules
843 that, for purposes of demonstrating completion of specific
844 certification requirements, allow for the acceptance of college
845 course credits recommended by the American Council for Education
846 (ACE), as posted on an official ACE transcript.
847 (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
848 COMPETENCE.—Any one of the following criteria is an acceptable
849 means of demonstrating mastery of professional preparation and
850 education competence are:
851 (a) Completion of an approved teacher preparation program
852 at a postsecondary educational institution within this state and
853 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
854 competency examination required by state board rule.;
855 (b) Completion of a teacher preparation program at a
856 postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and
857 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
858 competency examination required by state board rule.;
859 (c) A valid professional standard teaching certificate
860 issued by another state.;
861 (d) A valid certificate issued by the National Board for
862 Professional Teaching Standards or a national educator
863 credentialing board approved by the State Board of Education.;
864 (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful teaching
865 in a Florida College System institution, state university, or
866 private college or university that awards an associate or higher
867 degree and is an accredited institution or an institution of
868 higher education identified by the Department of Education as
869 having a quality program.;
870 (f) Completion of professional preparation courses as
871 specified in state board rule, successful completion of a
872 professional education competence demonstration program pursuant
873 to paragraph (8)(b), and achievement of a passing score on the
874 professional education competency examination required by state
875 board rule.;
876 (g) Successful completion of a professional preparation
877 alternative certification and education competency program,
878 outlined in paragraph (8)(a).; or
879 (h) Successful completion of an alternative certification
880 program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and achievement of a passing
881 score on the professional education competency examination
882 required by rule of the State Board of Education.
883 (i) Successful completion of a professional education
884 training program provided by Teach for America and achievement
885 of a passing score on the professional education competency
886 examination required by rule of the State Board of Education.
887 (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION ALTERNATIVE
888 CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
889 (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
890 school district may must provide a cohesive competency-based
891 professional development preparation alternative certification
892 program by which members of a school district’s instructional
893 staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
894 education competence requirements specified in this subsection
895 and rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must
896 hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A school district
897 that implements the program shall provide a competency-based
898 alternative certification preparation program developed by the
899 Department of Education or developed by the district and
900 approved by the Department of Education. The program shall
901 include the following components:
902 1. A minimum period of initial preparation before prior to
903 assuming duties as the teacher of record.
904 2. An option for collaboration between school districts and
905 other supporting agencies or educational entities for
906 implementation.
907 3. Experienced peer mentors. Each individual selected by
908 the district as a peer mentor must hold a valid professional
909 certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, must have earned at
910 least 3 years of teaching experience in prekindergarten through
911 grade 12, and must have earned an effective or highly effective
912 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
913 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
914 system approved under s. 1012.34.
915 4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
916 district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
917 which that provides for:
918 a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
919 determine an appropriate individualized professional development
920 plan.
921 b. A summative evaluation postevaluation to assure
922 successful completion of the program.
923 5. Professional education preparation content knowledge
924 that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
925 a. The state-adopted student content standards, including
926 content literacy and mathematical practices, for each subject
927 identified on the temporary certificate Requirements specified
928 in state board rule for professional preparation.
929 b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
930 state board.
931 c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
932 progress.
933 d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities,
934 including technology-based methodologies, for teaching subject
935 content that supports the Sunshine State Standards for students.
936 e. Methodologies for teaching English language learners
937 appropriate for each subject area identified on the temporary
938 certificate Techniques for effective classroom management.
939 f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
940 of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
941 students.
942 g. Methodologies for assuring the ability of all students
943 to read, write, and compute.
944 6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
945 area and professional education competency examination required
946 by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
947 must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
948 (b)1. Each school district must and a state supported
949 public school or a private school may develop and maintain a
950 system by which members of the instructional staff may
951 demonstrate mastery of professional education competence as
952 required by law. Each program must be based on classroom
953 application of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and
954 instructional performance and, for public schools, must be
955 aligned with the district’s evaluation system approved under s.
956 1012.34 must include a performance evaluation plan for
957 documenting the demonstration of required professional education
958 competence.
959 2. The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
960 continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph,
961 based upon the department’s review of performance data. The
962 department shall review the performance data as a part of the
963 periodic review of each school district’s professional
964 development system required under s. 1012.98.
965 (c) The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
966 continued approval of programs implemented under paragraph (a)
967 based upon the department’s periodic review of the following:
968 1. Evidence that the requirements in paragraph (a) are
969 consistently met; and
970 2. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
971 a. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
972 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
973 b. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
974 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
975 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
976 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
977 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
978 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
979 student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
980 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
981 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
982 prepares teachers to work with a variety of students in Florida
983 public schools.
984 d. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
985 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
986 e. Production of program completers in statewide critical
987 teacher shortage areas as defined in s. 1012.07.
988 (9) EXAMINATIONS.—
989 (d) The department shall provide procedures for an
990 applicant who fails an examination developed by the department
991 or by an entity under contract with the department to review his
992 or her examination questions and his or her incorrectly answered
993 responses to the questions. The applicant bears the actual cost
994 for the department to provide an examination review pursuant to
995 this subsection. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law,
996 only an applicant who fails an examination within a score range
997 established by rule of the State Board of Education is entitled
998 to an examination review under this paragraph or to challenge
999 the validity of the examination If an applicant takes an
1000 examination developed by this state and does not achieve the
1001 score necessary for certification, the applicant may review his
1002 or her completed examination and bring to the attention of the
1003 department any errors that would result in a passing score.
1004 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1005 1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1006 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
1007 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
1008 following requirements must be met:
1009 (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
1010 or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
1011 of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
1012 must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
1013 inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
1014 “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b) s.
1015 1004.04(6)(b) and credits or points that provide training in the
1016 area of scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
1017 literacy and computational skills acquisition, exceptional
1018 student education, normal child development, and the disorders
1019 of development may be applied toward any specialization area.
1020 Credits or points that provide training in the areas of drug
1021 abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in teaching students
1022 having limited proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or
1023 training in areas identified in the educational goals and
1024 performance standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and
1025 1008.345 may be applied toward any specialization area. Credits
1026 or points earned through approved summer institutes may be
1027 applied toward the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice
1028 points may also be earned by participation in professional
1029 growth components approved by the State Board of Education and
1030 specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved
1031 master plan for inservice educational training, including, but
1032 not limited to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher
1033 training activity, serving on an instructional materials
1034 committee or a state board or commission that deals with
1035 educational issues, or serving on an advisory council created
1036 pursuant to s. 1001.452.
1037 Section 10. Section 1012.71, Florida Statutes, is amended
1038 to read:
1039 1012.71 The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
1040 Lead Program.—
1041 (1) For purposes of the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
1042 Assistance Lead Program, the term “classroom teacher” means a
1043 certified teacher employed by a public school district or a
1044 public charter school in that district on or before September 1
1045 of each year whose full-time or job-share responsibility is the
1046 classroom instruction of students in prekindergarten through
1047 grade 12, including full-time media specialists and guidance
1048 counselors serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12,
1049 who are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program. A
1050 “job-share” classroom teacher is one of two teachers whose
1051 combined full-time equivalent employment for the same teaching
1052 assignment equals one full-time classroom teacher.
1053 (2) The Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act,
1054 shall determine funding for the Florida Teachers Classroom
1055 Supply Assistance Lead Program. The funds appropriated are for
1056 classroom teachers to purchase, on behalf of the school district
1057 or charter school, classroom materials and supplies for the
1058 public school students assigned to them and may not be used to
1059 purchase equipment. The funds appropriated shall be used to
1060 supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to
1061 classroom teachers. From the funds appropriated for the Florida
1062 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the
1063 Commissioner of Education shall calculate an amount for each
1064 school district based upon each school district’s proportionate
1065 share of the state’s total unweighted FTE student enrollment and
1066 shall disburse the funds to the school districts by July 15.
1067 (3) From the funds allocated to each school district and
1068 any funds received from local contributions for the Florida
1069 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program, the district
1070 school board shall calculate an identical amount for each
1071 classroom teacher, which is that teacher’s proportionate share
1072 of the total amount allocated to the district from state funds
1073 and funds received from local contributions. A job-share
1074 classroom teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount
1075 provided to a full-time classroom teacher. The district school
1076 board and each charter school board shall provide each classroom
1077 teacher with his or her total proportionate share by September
1078 30 of each year by any means determined appropriate by the
1079 district school board or charter school board, including, but
1080 not limited to, direct deposit, check, debit card, or purchasing
1081 card, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. If a debit card
1082 is used, an identifier must be placed on the front of the debit
1083 card which clearly indicates that the card has been issued for
1084 the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program.
1085 Expenditures under the program are not subject to state or local
1086 competitive bidding requirements. Funds received by a classroom
1087 teacher do not affect wages, hours, or terms and conditions of
1088 employment and, therefore, are not subject to collective
1089 bargaining. Any classroom teacher may decline receipt of or
1090 return the funds without explanation or cause. This subsection
1091 shall apply retroactively to July 1, 2007.
1092 (4) Each classroom teacher must sign a statement
1093 acknowledging receipt of the funds, keep receipts for no less
1094 than 4 years to show that funds expended meet the requirements
1095 of this section, and return any unused funds to the district
1096 school board at the end of the regular school year. Any unused
1097 funds that are returned to the district school board shall be
1098 deposited into the school advisory council account of the school
1099 at which the classroom teacher returning the funds was employed
1100 when that teacher received the funds or deposited into the
1101 Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program
1102 account of the school district in which a charter school is
1103 sponsored, as applicable.
1104 (5) The statement must be signed and dated by each
1105 classroom teacher before receipt of the Florida Teachers
1106 Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds and shall include
1107 the wording: “I, ...(name of teacher)..., am employed by the
1108 ....County District School Board or by the ....Charter School as
1109 a full-time classroom teacher. I acknowledge that Florida
1110 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program funds are
1111 appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of
1112 purchasing classroom materials and supplies to be used in the
1113 instruction of students assigned to me. In accepting custody of
1114 these funds, I agree to keep the receipts for all expenditures
1115 for no less than 4 years. I understand that if I do not keep the
1116 receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any
1117 federal taxes due on these funds. I also agree to return any
1118 unexpended funds to the district school board at the end of the
1119 regular school year for deposit into the school advisory council
1120 account of the school where I was employed at the time I
1121 received the funds or for deposit into the Florida Teachers
1122 Classroom Supply Assistance Lead Program account of the school
1123 district in which the charter school is sponsored, as
1124 applicable.”
1125 (6) The Department of Education and district school boards
1126 may, and are encouraged to, enter into public-private
1127 partnerships in order to increase the total amount of Florida
1128 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Programs funds available to
1129 classroom teachers For the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the Department
1130 of Education is authorized to conduct a pilot program to
1131 determine the feasibility of managing the Florida Teachers Lead
1132 Program through a centralized electronic system. The pilot
1133 program must:
1134 (a) Be established through a competitive procurement
1135 process;
1136 (b) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
1137 purchase from online sources;
1138 (c) Provide the capability for participating teachers to
1139 purchase from local vendors by means other than online
1140 purchasing;
1141 (d) Generally comply with the provisions of this section;
1142 (e) Be subject to annual auditing requirements to ensure
1143 accountability for funds received and disbursed; and
1144 (f) Provide for all unused funds to be returned to the
1145 state at the close of each fiscal year.
1146
1147 Any participation in this pilot program by school districts and
1148 individual teachers must be on a voluntary basis. The department
1149 may limit the number of participating districts to the number it
1150 deems feasible to adequately measure the viability of the pilot
1151 program. The department is not required to implement this pilot
1152 program if it determines that the number of school districts
1153 willing to participate is insufficient to adequately measure the
1154 viability of the pilot program.
1155 Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
1156 1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1157 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
1158 (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
1159 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
1160 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
1161 responsibilities include the following:
1162 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
1163 development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
1164 shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
1165 educators of Florida College System institutions and state
1166 universities, business and community representatives, and local
1167 education foundations, consortia, and professional
1168 organizations. The professional development system must:
1169 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
1170 to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
1171 for continued approval.
1172 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
1173 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
1174 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
1175 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
1176 development system, shall also review and monitor school
1177 discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
1178 parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
1179 managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
1180 indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
1181 by improved professional performance.
1182 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
1183 support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
1184 level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
1185 for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
1186 achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
1187 student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
1188 differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
1189 relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
1190 subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
1191 technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
1192 management, parent involvement, and school safety.
1193 4. Include a master plan for inservice activities, pursuant
1194 to rules of the State Board of Education, for all district
1195 employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall be
1196 updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
1197 teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
1198 use the latest available student achievement data and research
1199 to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
1200 inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
1201 inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
1202 1001.42(18). District plans must be approved by the district
1203 school board annually in order to ensure compliance with
1204 subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research-based
1205 best practices to other districts. District school boards must
1206 submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner of
1207 Education no later than October 1, annually.
1208 5. Require Each school principal may to establish and
1209 maintain an individual professional development plan for each
1210 instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
1211 component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
1212 s. 1001.42(18). The individual professional development plan
1213 must:
1214 a. be related to specific performance data for the students
1215 to whom the teacher is assigned,.
1216 b. define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
1217 improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
1218 inservice activity, and.
1219 c. include an evaluation component that determines the
1220 effectiveness of the professional development plan.
1221 5.6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
1222 personnel that address updated skills necessary for
1223 instructional leadership and effective school management
1224 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
1225 6.7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
1226 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
1227 evaluation of local professional development programs.
1228 7.8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
1229 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
1230 reach more educators at lower costs.
1231 8.9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
1232 and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
1233 to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
1234 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
1235 activities on the performance of participating educators and
1236 their students’ achievement and behavior.
1237 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.