Florida Senate - 2017 SB 1474
By Senator Perry
8-01283-17 20171474__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to teacher certification; amending s.
3 1012.56, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education
4 to issue a temporary educator certificate within a
5 specified period; requiring the department to provide
6 electronic notice of the issuance of a temporary
7 certificate to specified entities; requiring the
8 department to provide the applicant an official
9 statement of status of eligibility upon issuance of a
10 temporary certificate; providing content requirements
11 for the statement of status of eligibility; revising
12 the criteria instructional personnel must meet to be
13 issued a professional certificate; providing that an
14 applicant for professional certification is not
15 required to take or pass a specified examination under
16 certain circumstances; authorizing charter schools and
17 charter management organizations to develop a
18 professional development certification and education
19 competency program; revising program requirements;
20 requiring the department to adopt standards for the
21 approval of such programs by a specified date;
22 providing requirements for such standards; requiring
23 each school district and charter school to submit its
24 program for approval by a specified date; providing
25 that certification requirements may not be met in a
26 program that is not approved by the department after a
27 specified date; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; revising
28 college credit and inservice hour requirements for
29 renewal of a professional certificate to include
30 participation in specified activities; amending s.
31 1012.98, F.S.; revising the activities designed to
32 implement the school community professional
33 development act to include specified training relating
34 to a professional development certification and
35 education competency program; revising requirements
36 for school district professional development systems;
37 requiring the department to disseminate professional
38 development programs that meet specified criteria;
39 amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; conforming a cross
40 reference; providing an effective date.
41
42 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
43
44 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
45 1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (d),
46 subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (7), and paragraph
47 (a) of subsection (8) are amended, and a new paragraph (c) is
48 added to subsection (8) of that section, to read:
49 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
50 (1) APPLICATION.—Each person seeking certification pursuant
51 to this chapter shall submit a completed application containing
52 the applicant’s social security number to the Department of
53 Education and remit the fee required pursuant to s. 1012.59 and
54 rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant to the federal
55 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
56 of 1996, each party is required to provide his or her social
57 security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of
58 social security numbers obtained through this requirement is
59 limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D
60 program of the Social Security Act for child support
61 enforcement.
62 (a) Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue
63 within 90 calendar days after the stamped receipted date of the
64 completed application:
65 (a) If the applicant meets the requirements, a professional
66 certificate to a qualifying applicant covering the
67 classification, level, and area for which the applicant is
68 deemed qualified and a document explaining the requirements for
69 renewal of the professional certificate.;
70 (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to a
71 qualifying applicant within 14 calendar days after receipt of a
72 request from if the applicant meets the requirements and if
73 requested by an employing school district or an employing
74 private school with a professional education competence
75 demonstration program pursuant to paragraphs (6)(f) and (8)(b).
76 The, a temporary certificate must cover covering the
77 classification, level, and area for which the applicant is
78 deemed qualified. The department shall electronically notify the
79 applicant’s employing school district or employing private
80 school that the temporary certificate has been issued and
81 provide the applicant an official statement of status of
82 eligibility at the time the certificate is issued. and an
83 official statement of status of eligibility; or
84 (c) Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue
85 within 90 calendar days after the stamped receipted date of the
86 completed application, if an applicant does not meet the
87 requirements for either certificate, an official statement of
88 status of eligibility.
89
90 The statement of status of eligibility must be provided
91 electronically and must advise the applicant of any
92 qualifications that must be completed to qualify for
93 certification. Each method by which an applicant can complete
94 the qualifications for a professional certificate must be
95 included in the statement of status of eligibility. Each
96 statement of status of eligibility is valid for 3 years after
97 its date of issuance, except as provided in paragraph (2)(d).
98 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
99 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
100 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
101 who fulfills one of the following:
102 1. Meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2).
103 2. or, For a professional certificate covering grades 6
104 through 12, any applicant who:
105 a.1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
106 b.2. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
107 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
108 c.3. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
109 advanced degree.
110 d.4. Is rated highly effective as determined by the
111 teacher’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part
112 on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
113 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
114 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
115 examination.
116 e.5. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
117 education competency examination required by state board rule.
118 3. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h) and
119 completes a professional preparation and education competence
120 program approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c).
121 An applicant who completes the program and is rated highly
122 effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
123 under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
124 score on the professional education competency examination in
125 order to be awarded a professional certificate.
126
127 Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
128 and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
129 (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
130 employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
131 employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
132 period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
133 year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
134 not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
135 position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
136 this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
137 of paragraph (2)(g). The State Board of Education shall adopt
138 rules to allow the department to extend the validity period of a
139 temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
140 professional certificate, not including the requirement in
141 paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
142 or injury of the applicant or other extraordinary extenuating
143 circumstances. The department shall reissue the temporary
144 certificate for 2 additional years upon approval by the
145 Commissioner of Education. A written request for reissuance of
146 the certificate shall be submitted by the district school
147 superintendent, the governing authority of a university lab
148 school, the governing authority of a state-supported school, or
149 the governing authority of a private school.
150 (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION
151 COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
152 (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
153 school district, charter school, and charter management
154 organization may provide a cohesive competency-based
155 professional development certification and education competency
156 program by which members of a school district’s instructional
157 staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
158 education competence requirements specified in subsection (6)
159 and rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must
160 hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A school district,
161 charter school, or charter management organization that
162 implements the program shall provide a competency-based
163 certification program developed by the Department of Education
164 or developed by the district, charter school, or charter
165 management organization and approved by the Department of
166 Education. The program shall include the following:
167 1. A minimum period of initial preparation before assuming
168 duties as the teacher of record.
169 2. An option for collaboration with between school
170 districts and other supporting agencies or educational entities
171 for implementation.
172 3. A teacher mentorship and induction An experienced peer
173 mentor component.
174 a. Each individual selected by the district as a peer
175 mentor:
176 (I) Must hold a valid professional certificate issued
177 pursuant to this section;,
178 (II) Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching
179 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12;,and
180 (III) Must have completed specialized training in clinical
181 supervision and participate in ongoing mentor training provided
182 through the coordinated system of professional development under
183 s. 1012.98(3)(e);
184 (IV) Must have earned an effective or highly effective
185 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
186 1012.34; and
187 (V) May or be a peer evaluator under the district’s
188 evaluation system approved under s. 1012.34.
189 b. The teacher mentorship and induction component must, at
190 a minimum, provide weekly opportunities for mentoring and
191 induction activities, including common planning time, ongoing
192 professional development targeted to a teacher’s needs,
193 opportunities for a teacher to observe other teachers, co
194 teaching experiences, and reflection and followup discussions.
195 Mentorship and induction activities must be provided for an
196 applicant’s first year in the program and may be provided until
197 the applicant attains his or her professional certificate in
198 accordance with this section. A principal who is rated highly
199 effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
200 under s. 1012.34 must be provided flexibility in selecting
201 professional development activities under this paragraph;
202 however, the activities must be approved by the department as
203 part of the district’s, charter school’s, or charter management
204 organization’s program.
205 4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
206 district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
207 which provides for:
208 a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
209 determine an appropriate individualized professional development
210 plan.
211 b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
212 of the program.
213 5. Professional education preparation content knowledge,
214 which must be included in the mentoring and induction activities
215 under subparagraph 3., that includes, but is not limited to, the
216 following:
217 a. The state standards provided under s. 1003.41, including
218 scientifically based reading instruction, content literacy, and
219 mathematical practices, for each subject identified on the
220 temporary certificate.
221 b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
222 state board.
223 c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
224 progress.
225 d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities.
226 e. Methodologies for teaching students of limited English
227 proficiency appropriate for each subject area identified on the
228 temporary certificate.
229 f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
230 of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
231 students.
232 6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
233 area and professional education competency examination required
234 by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
235 must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
236 (c) No later than December 31, 2017, the department shall
237 adopt standards for the approval of professional development
238 certification and education competency programs, including
239 standards for the teacher mentorship and induction component,
240 under paragraph (a). Standards for the teacher mentorship and
241 induction component must include program administration and
242 evaluation; mentor roles, selection, and training; beginning
243 teacher assessment and professional development; and teacher
244 content knowledge and practices aligned to the Florida Educator
245 Accomplished Practices. Each school district or charter school
246 with a program under this subsection must submit its program,
247 including the teacher mentorship and induction component, to the
248 department for approval no later than June 30, 2018. After
249 December 31, 2018, a teacher may not satisfy requirements for a
250 professional certificate through a professional development
251 certification and education competency program under paragraph
252 (a) unless the program has been approved by the department
253 pursuant to this paragraph.
254 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
255 1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
256 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
257 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
258 following requirements must be met:
259 (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
260 or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
261 of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
262 must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
263 inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
264 “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b);
265 participation in mentorship and induction activities, including
266 as a mentor, pursuant to s. 1012.56(8)(a); and credits or points
267 that provide training in the area of scientifically researched,
268 knowledge-based reading literacy and computational skills
269 acquisition, exceptional student education, normal child
270 development, and the disorders of development may be applied
271 toward any specialization area. Credits or points that provide
272 training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and neglect,
273 strategies in teaching students having limited proficiency in
274 English, or dropout prevention, or training in areas identified
275 in the educational goals and performance standards adopted
276 pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be applied toward
277 any specialization area. Credits or points earned through
278 approved summer institutes may be applied toward the fulfillment
279 of these requirements. Inservice points may also be earned by
280 participation in professional growth components approved by the
281 State Board of Education and specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in
282 the district’s approved master plan for inservice educational
283 training, including, but not limited to, serving as a trainer in
284 an approved teacher training activity, serving on an
285 instructional materials committee or a state board or commission
286 that deals with educational issues, or serving on an advisory
287 council created pursuant to s. 1001.452.
288 Section 3. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of
289 section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (b) of
290 subsection (4) and subsections (10) and (11) of that section are
291 amended, to read:
292 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
293 (3) The activities designed to implement this section must:
294 (e) Provide training to teacher mentors as part of the
295 professional development certification and education competency
296 program under s. 1012.56(8)(a). The training must include
297 components on teacher development, peer coaching, time
298 management, and other related topics as determined by the
299 Department of Education.
300 (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
301 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
302 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
303 responsibilities include the following:
304 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
305 development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
306 shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
307 educators of Florida College System institutions and state
308 universities, business and community representatives, and local
309 education foundations, consortia, and professional
310 organizations. The professional development system must:
311 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
312 to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
313 for continued approval.
314 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
315 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
316 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
317 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
318 development system, shall also review and monitor school
319 discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
320 parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
321 managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
322 indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
323 by improved professional performance.
324 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
325 support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
326 level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
327 for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
328 achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
329 student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
330 differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
331 relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
332 subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
333 technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
334 management, parent involvement, and school safety.
335 4. Provide inservice activities and support targeted to the
336 individual needs of new teachers participating in the
337 professional development certification and education competency
338 program under s. 1012.56(8)(a).
339 5.4. Include a master plan for inservice activities,
340 pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
341 district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
342 be updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
343 teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
344 use the latest available student achievement data and research
345 to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
346 inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
347 inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
348 1001.42(18). Each district inservice plan must provide a
349 description of the training that middle grades instructional
350 personnel and school administrators receive on the district’s
351 code of student conduct adopted pursuant to s. 1006.07;
352 integrated digital instruction and competency-based instruction
353 and CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry
354 certifications; classroom management; student behavior and
355 interaction; extended learning opportunities for students; and
356 instructional leadership. District plans must be approved by the
357 district school board annually in order to ensure compliance
358 with subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research
359 based best practices to other districts. District school boards
360 must submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner
361 of Education no later than October 1, annually. Each school
362 principal may establish and maintain an individual professional
363 development plan for each instructional employee assigned to the
364 school as a seamless component to the school improvement plans
365 developed pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional
366 development plan must be related to specific performance data
367 for the students to whom the teacher is assigned, define the
368 inservice objectives and specific measurable improvements
369 expected in student performance as a result of the inservice
370 activity, and include an evaluation component that determines
371 the effectiveness of the professional development plan.
372 6.5. Include inservice activities for school administrative
373 personnel that address updated skills necessary for
374 instructional leadership and effective school management
375 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
376 7.6. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
377 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
378 evaluation of local professional development programs.
379 8.7. Provide for delivery of professional development by
380 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
381 reach more educators at lower costs.
382 9.8. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
383 and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
384 to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
385 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
386 activities on the performance of participating educators and
387 their students’ achievement and behavior.
388 10.9. For middle grades, emphasize:
389 a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
390 instruction.
391 b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
392 the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
393 c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
394 inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
395 strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
396 instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
397 instruction.
398
399 Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include
400 in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a
401 description of the specific strategies used by the school to
402 implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
403 (10) For instructional personnel and administrative
404 personnel who have been evaluated as less than effective, a
405 district school board shall require participation in specific
406 professional development programs as provided in subparagraph
407 (4)(b)5. (4)(b)4. as part of the improvement prescription.
408 (11) The department shall disseminate to the school
409 community proven model professional development programs that
410 have demonstrated success in increasing rigorous and relevant
411 content, increasing student achievement and engagement, and
412 meeting identified student needs, and providing effective
413 mentorship activities to new teachers and training to teacher
414 mentors. The methods of dissemination must include a web-based
415 statewide performance-support system including a database of
416 exemplary professional development activities, a listing of
417 available professional development resources, training programs,
418 and available technical assistance.
419 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (18) of section
420 1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
421 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
422 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
423 powers and perform all duties listed below:
424 (18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
425 Maintain a system of school improvement and education
426 accountability as provided by statute and State Board of
427 Education rule. This system of school improvement and education
428 accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented
429 through, the district’s continuing system of planning and
430 budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01,
431 and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education
432 accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33,
433 1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following:
434 (a) School improvement plans.—
435 1. The district school board shall annually approve and
436 require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation school
437 improvement plan for each school in the district. If a school
438 has a significant gap in achievement on statewide, standardized
439 assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22 by one or more
440 student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
441 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
442 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II); has not significantly increased the
443 percentage of students passing statewide, standardized
444 assessments; has not significantly increased the percentage of
445 students demonstrating Learning Gains, as defined in s. 1008.34
446 and as calculated under s. 1008.34(3)(b), who passed statewide,
447 standardized assessments; or has significantly lower graduation
448 rates for a subgroup when compared to the state’s graduation
449 rate, that school’s improvement plan shall include strategies
450 for improving these results. The state board shall adopt rules
451 establishing thresholds and for determining compliance with this
452 subparagraph.
453 2. A school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 shall
454 include annually in its school improvement plan information and
455 data on the school’s early warning system required under
456 paragraph (b), including a list of the early warning indicators
457 used in the system, the number of students identified by the
458 system as exhibiting two or more early warning indicators, the
459 number of students by grade level that exhibit each early
460 warning indicator, and a description of all intervention
461 strategies employed by the school to improve the academic
462 performance of students identified by the early warning system.
463 In addition, a school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8
464 shall describe in its school improvement plan the strategies
465 used by the school to implement the instructional practices for
466 middle grades emphasized by the district’s professional
467 development system pursuant to s. 1012.98(4)(b)10. s.
468 1012.98(4)(b)9.
469 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.