Florida Senate - 2017              PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
       Bill No. CS for SB 1598
       
       
       
       
       
                               Ì614458BÎ614458                          
       
       576-04059-17                                                    
       Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
       (Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K - 12 Education)
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to education; amending s. 944.801,
    3         F.S.; authorizing the Department of Corrections to
    4         contract with charter schools to provide education
    5         services to the Correctional Education Program;
    6         creating s. 1003.631, F.S.; creating the Schools of
    7         Excellence Program; providing for designation as a
    8         School of Excellence; providing requirements for a
    9         School of Excellence; providing for redesignation;
   10         authorizing Schools of Excellence to have specified
   11         administrative flexibilities; authorizing certain
   12         teachers to earn a professional certificate by
   13         completing a specified program; amending s. 1011.80,
   14         F.S.; removing a provision prohibiting state funds for
   15         the operation of postsecondary workforce programs from
   16         being used for the education of state or federal
   17         inmates; amending s. 1012.28, F.S.; providing
   18         additional authority and responsibilities to the
   19         principal of a School of Excellence; providing that
   20         newly assigned principals of certain schools must be
   21         provided specified authority and responsibilities;
   22         amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; providing that successful
   23         completion of a specified program demonstrates mastery
   24         of certain skills; revising the criteria instructional
   25         personnel must meet to be issued a professional
   26         certificate; providing that an applicant for
   27         professional certification is not required to take or
   28         pass a specified examination under certain
   29         circumstances; providing requirements for the
   30         development and implementation of a comprehensive
   31         teacher mentorship certification program; providing
   32         the purpose of the program; requiring the Department
   33         of Education to adopt standards for the approval of
   34         district-developed programs; providing requirements
   35         for such standards; providing program requirements;
   36         providing peer mentor requirements; amending s.
   37         1012.585, F.S.; providing that instructional personnel
   38         may substitute 1 year of specified employment for a
   39         certain amount of inservice points within a certain
   40         cycle for certificate renewal; providing such
   41         employment does not satisfy a specified credit hour
   42         requirement; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; revising the
   43         activities designed to implement the School Community
   44         Professional Development Act to include specified
   45         training relating to the comprehensive teacher
   46         mentorship program; revising requirements for school
   47         district professional development systems; requiring
   48         the department to disseminate professional development
   49         programs that meet specified criteria; providing an
   50         effective date.
   51          
   52  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   53  
   54         Section 1. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
   55  944.801, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
   56  and (6), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that
   57  section, to read:
   58         944.801 Education for state prisoners.—
   59         (4) The department may enter into a contract with a charter
   60  school authorized to operate under s. 1002.33 to provide
   61  education services for the Correctional Education Program.
   62         Section 2. Section 1003.631, Florida Statutes, is created
   63  to read:
   64         1003.631Schools of Excellence.—The Schools of Excellence
   65  Program is established to provide administrative flexibility to
   66  the state’s top schools so that the instructional personnel and
   67  administrative staff at such schools can continue to serve their
   68  communities and increase student learning to the best of their
   69  professional ability.
   70         (1)DESIGNATION.—
   71         (a)The State Board of Education shall designate a school
   72  as a School of Excellence if the school’s percentage of possible
   73  points earned in its school grade calculation is in the 80th
   74  percentile or higher for schools comprised of the same grade
   75  groupings, including elementary schools, middle schools, high
   76  schools, and schools with a combination of grade levels, for at
   77  least 2 of the last 3 school years. The school must have data
   78  for each applicable school grade component pursuant to s.
   79  1008.34(3) to be eligible for designation as a School of
   80  Excellence. A qualifying school shall retain the designation as
   81  a School of Excellence for up to 3 years, at the end of which
   82  time the school may renew the designation, if:
   83         1.The school was in the 80th percentile or higher pursuant
   84  to this subsection for 2 of the previous 3 years; and
   85         2.The school did not receive a school grade lower than “B”
   86  pursuant to s. 1008.34 during any of the previous 3 years.
   87         (b)A school that earns a school grade lower than “B”
   88  pursuant to s. 1008.34 during the 3-year period may not continue
   89  to be designated as a School of Excellence during the remainder
   90  of that 3-year period and loses the administrative flexibilities
   91  provided in subsection (2).
   92         (2)ADMINISTRATIVE FLEXIBILITIES.—A School of Excellence
   93  must be provided the following administrative flexibilities:
   94         (a)Exemption from any provision of law or rule that
   95  expressly requires a minimum period of daily or weekly
   96  instruction in a specified subject area.
   97         (b)Principal autonomy as provided under s. 1012.28(8).
   98         (c)For instructional personnel, the substitution of 1
   99  school year of employment at a School of Excellence for 20
  100  inservice points toward the renewal of a professional
  101  certificate, up to 60 inservice points in a 5-year cycle,
  102  pursuant to s. 1012.585(3).
  103         (d)Exemption from compliance with district policies or
  104  procedures that establish times for the start and completion of
  105  the school day.
  106         (3)TEACHER CERTIFICATION.—A temporary certificateholder
  107  under s. 1012.56(7)(b) who is employed by a School of Excellence
  108  may earn a professional certificate by meeting the requirements
  109  of s. 1012.56(7)(a)3.
  110         Section 3. Subsection (7) of section 1011.80, Florida
  111  Statutes, is amended to read:
  112         1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education
  113  programs.—
  114         (7)(a) A school district or Florida College System
  115  institution that receives workforce education funds must use the
  116  money to benefit the workforce education programs it provides.
  117  The money may be used for equipment upgrades, program
  118  expansions, or any other use that would result in workforce
  119  education program improvement. The district school board or
  120  Florida College System institution board of trustees may not
  121  withhold any portion of the performance funding for indirect
  122  costs.
  123         (b) State funds provided for the operation of postsecondary
  124  workforce programs may not be expended for the education of
  125  state or federal inmates.
  126         Section 4. Subsection (8) of section 1012.28, Florida
  127  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (9) is added to that
  128  section, to read:
  129         1012.28 Public school personnel; duties of school
  130  principals.—
  131         (8) The principal of a School of Excellence or a school
  132  participating in the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative
  133  under s. 1011.6202 has the following additional authority and
  134  responsibilities:
  135         (a) In addition to the authority provided in subsection
  136  (6), the authority to select qualified instructional personnel
  137  for placement or to refuse to accept the placement or transfer
  138  of instructional personnel by the district school
  139  superintendent. Placement of instructional personnel at a
  140  participating school in a participating school district does not
  141  affect the employee’s status as a school district employee.
  142         (b) The authority to deploy financial resources to school
  143  programs at the principal’s discretion to help improve student
  144  achievement, as defined in s. 1008.34(1), and meet performance
  145  goals identified in the principal autonomy proposal submitted
  146  pursuant to s. 1011.6202.
  147         (c) To annually provide to the district school
  148  superintendent and the district school board a budget for the
  149  operation of the participating school that identifies how funds
  150  provided pursuant to s. 1011.69(2) are allocated. The school
  151  district shall include the budget in the annual report provided
  152  to the State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1011.6202(6).
  153         (9)A school district must provide a principal newly
  154  assigned to a school with a school grade of “D” or “F” under s.
  155  1008.34 with the additional authority and responsibilities
  156  provided in subsection (8). The district may revoke the
  157  principal’s additional authority and responsibilities under this
  158  subsection after the school year following the first school year
  159  the school achieves a school grade of “C” or higher.
  160         Section 5. Subsection (6), paragraph (a) of subsection (7),
  161  and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section 1012.56, Florida
  162  Statutes, are amended to read:
  163         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  164         (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
  165  COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
  166  professional preparation and education competence are:
  167         (a) Successful completion of an approved teacher
  168  preparation program at a postsecondary educational institution
  169  within this state and achievement of a passing score on the
  170  professional education competency examination required by state
  171  board rule;
  172         (b) Successful completion of a teacher preparation program
  173  at a postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and
  174  achievement of a passing score on the professional education
  175  competency examination required by state board rule;
  176         (c) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  177  certificate issued by another state;
  178         (d) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  179  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  180  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  181  Education;
  182         (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
  183  or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
  184  state university, or private college or university that awards
  185  an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
  186  or an institution of higher education identified by the
  187  Department of Education as having a quality program and
  188  achievement of a passing score on the professional education
  189  competency examination required by state board rule;
  190         (f) Successful completion of professional preparation
  191  courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion
  192  of a professional preparation and education competence program
  193  pursuant to paragraph (8)(b), and achievement of a passing score
  194  on the professional education competency examination required by
  195  state board rule;
  196  (g) Successful completion of a comprehensive teacher mentorship
  197  certification professional development certification and
  198  education competency program pursuant to, outlined in paragraph
  199  (8)(a); or
  200         (h) Successful completion of a competency-based
  201  certification program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and achievement of
  202  a passing score on the professional education competency
  203  examination required by rule of the State Board of Education;
  204  or.
  205         (i) Enrollment in a state-approved teacher preparation
  206  program or a comprehensive teacher mentorship certification
  207  program within 90 days after the issuance of a temporary
  208  certificate.
  209         1. An applicant whose temporary certificate has been
  210  revoked due to his or her failure to enroll in a teacher
  211  preparation program or a comprehensive teacher mentorship
  212  certification program must be enrolled in such program before
  213  the department may issue the applicant a new temporary
  214  certificate.
  215         2. An applicant who was enrolled in a teacher preparation
  216  program or a comprehensive teacher mentorship certification
  217  program but is no longer enrolled in the program has 30 days to
  218  reenroll or his or her temporary certificate shall be revoked.
  219  
  220  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this
  221  subsection by December 31, 2014, including rules to approve
  222  specific teacher preparation programs that are not identified in
  223  this subsection which may be used to meet requirements for
  224  mastery of professional preparation and education competence.
  225         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
  226         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
  227  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
  228  who fulfills one of the following:
  229         1. Meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2).
  230         2.or, For a professional certificate covering grades 6
  231  through 12, any applicant who:
  232         a.1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
  233         b.2. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
  234  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
  235         c.3. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
  236  advanced degree.
  237         d.4. Is rated highly effective as determined by the
  238  teacher’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part
  239  on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
  240  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
  241  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
  242  examination.
  243         e.5. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
  244  education competency examination required by state board rule.
  245         3.Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h) and
  246  completes a comprehensive teacher mentorship certification
  247  program pursuant to paragraph (8)(a). An applicant who completes
  248  the program and is rated highly effective as determined by his
  249  or her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required
  250  to take or achieve a passing score on the professional education
  251  competency examination in order to be awarded a professional
  252  certificate.
  253  
  254  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
  255  and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
  256  (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
  257  employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
  258  employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
  259  period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
  260  year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
  261  not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
  262  position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
  263  this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
  264  of paragraph (2)(g). The State Board of Education shall adopt
  265  rules to allow the department to extend the validity period of a
  266  temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
  267  professional certificate, not including the requirement in
  268  paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
  269  or injury of the applicant or other extraordinary extenuating
  270  circumstances. The department shall reissue the temporary
  271  certificate for 2 additional years upon approval by the
  272  Commissioner of Education. A written request for reissuance of
  273  the certificate shall be submitted by the district school
  274  superintendent, the governing authority of a university lab
  275  school, the governing authority of a state-supported school, or
  276  the governing authority of a private school.
  277         (8) COMPREHENSIVE TEACHER MENTORSHIP CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
  278  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION COMPETENCY
  279  PROGRAM.—
  280         (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
  281  school district may provide a cohesive competency-based,
  282  comprehensive teacher mentorship certification professional
  283  development certification and education competency program. The
  284  purpose of the program is to provide by which members of a
  285  school district’s instructional staff supportive induction
  286  services through which they can demonstrate may satisfy the
  287  mastery of professional preparation and education competence
  288  requirements consistent with specified in subsection (6) and
  289  rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must hold a
  290  state-issued temporary certificate. A school district that
  291  implements the program shall provide a competency-based
  292  certification program developed by the Department of Education
  293  or developed by the district and approved by the Department of
  294  Education. The department shall adopt standards for the approval
  295  of district-developed comprehensive teacher mentorship
  296  certification programs, including program administration and
  297  evaluation; mentor roles, selection, and training; beginning
  298  teacher assessment and professional development; and
  299  instructional practices aligned to the Florida Educator
  300  Accomplished Practices. The program shall include the following:
  301         1. A minimum period of initial preparation before assuming
  302  duties as the teacher of record.
  303         2. An option for collaboration between school districts and
  304  other supporting agencies or educational entities for
  305  implementation.
  306         3. An experienced peer-mentor component. Each individual
  307  selected by the district as a peer mentor:
  308         a. Must hold a valid professional certificate issued
  309  pursuant to this section;,
  310         b. Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching experience
  311  in prekindergarten through grade 12;, and
  312         c. Must have completed specialized training in clinical
  313  supervision and participate in ongoing mentor training;
  314         d.Must have earned an effective or highly effective rating
  315  on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34; and
  316         e.May or be a peer evaluator under the district’s
  317  evaluation system approved under s. 1012.34.
  318         4.Weekly opportunities for mentoring activities that
  319  include, at a minimum, common planning time, ongoing
  320  professional development targeted to a teacher’s needs,
  321  opportunities for a teacher to observe other teachers, co
  322  teaching experiences, and reflection and follow-up discussions.
  323  Mentorship activities must be provided for a teacher’s first
  324  year in the program and may be provided until the teacher
  325  attains his or her professional certificate in accordance with
  326  this section.
  327         5.4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
  328  district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
  329  which provides for:
  330         a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
  331  determine an appropriate individualized professional development
  332  plan.
  333         b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
  334  of the program.
  335         6.5.Competency-based training on professional education
  336  preparation content knowledge that includes, but is not limited
  337  to, the following:
  338         a. The state standards provided under s. 1003.41, including
  339  scientifically based reading instruction, content literacy, and
  340  mathematical practices, for each subject identified on the
  341  temporary certificate.
  342         b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
  343  state board.
  344         c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
  345  progress.
  346         d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities.
  347         e. Methodologies for teaching students of limited English
  348  proficiency appropriate for each subject area identified on the
  349  temporary certificate.
  350         f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
  351  of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
  352  students.
  353         7.6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
  354  area and professional education competency examination required
  355  by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
  356  must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
  357         Section 6. Subsection (3) and paragraph (b) of subsection
  358  (5) of section 1012.585, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  359         1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
  360         (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
  361  following requirements must be met:
  362         (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
  363  or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
  364  of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
  365  must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
  366  inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
  367  “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b) and
  368  credits or points that provide training in the area of
  369  scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and
  370  computational skills acquisition, exceptional student education,
  371  normal child development, and the disorders of development may
  372  be applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points
  373  that provide training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse
  374  and neglect, strategies in teaching students having limited
  375  proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or training in
  376  areas identified in the educational goals and performance
  377  standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be
  378  applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points earned
  379  through approved summer institutes may be applied toward the
  380  fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also be
  381  earned by participation in professional growth components
  382  approved by the State Board of Education and specified pursuant
  383  to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved master plan for
  384  inservice educational training, including, but not limited to,
  385  serving as a trainer in an approved teacher training activity,
  386  serving on an instructional materials committee or a state board
  387  or commission that deals with educational issues, or serving on
  388  an advisory council created pursuant to s. 1001.452.
  389         (b) In lieu of college course credit or inservice points,
  390  the applicant may renew a subject area specialization by passage
  391  of a state board approved Florida-developed subject area
  392  examination or, if a Florida subject area examination has not
  393  been developed, a standardized examination specified in state
  394  board rule.
  395         (c)Instructional personnel may substitute 1 school year of
  396  employment at a School of Excellence, as defined in s. 1003.631,
  397  for 20 inservice points, up to a maximum of 60 inservice points
  398  in a 5-year cycle. However, inservice points earned under this
  399  paragraph may not be used to satisfy the 3 credit hour
  400  specialization area requirement under paragraph (a).
  401         (d)(c) If an applicant wishes to retain more than two
  402  specialization areas on the certificate, the applicant shall be
  403  permitted two successive validity periods for renewal of all
  404  specialization areas, but must earn no fewer than 6 college
  405  course credit hours or the equivalent in any one validity
  406  period.
  407         (e)(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
  408  the expanded use of training for renewal of the professional
  409  certificate for educators who are required to complete training
  410  in teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  411  with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading as
  412  follows:
  413         1. A teacher who holds a professional certificate may use
  414  college credits or inservice points earned through training in
  415  teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  416  with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading in
  417  excess of 6 semester hours during one certificate-validity
  418  period toward renewal of the professional certificate during the
  419  subsequent validity periods.
  420         2. A teacher who holds a temporary certificate may use
  421  college credits or inservice points earned through training in
  422  teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  423  with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading toward
  424  renewal of the teacher’s first professional certificate. Such
  425  training must not have been included within the degree program,
  426  and the teacher’s temporary and professional certificates must
  427  be issued for consecutive school years.
  428         (f)(e) Beginning July 1, 2014, an applicant for renewal of
  429  a professional certificate must earn a minimum of one college
  430  credit or the equivalent inservice points in the area of
  431  instruction for teaching students with disabilities. The
  432  requirement in this paragraph may not add to the total hours
  433  required by the department for continuing education or inservice
  434  training.
  435         (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow
  436  the reinstatement of expired professional certificates. The
  437  department may reinstate an expired professional certificate if
  438  the certificateholder:
  439         (b) Documents completion of 6 college credits during the 5
  440  years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired
  441  certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a
  442  combination thereof, in an area specified in paragraph (3)(a) to
  443  include the credit required under paragraph (3)(f) (3)(e).
  444  
  445  The requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by
  446  subject area examinations or college credits completed for
  447  issuance of the certificate that has expired.
  448         Section 7. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of
  449  section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (b) of
  450  subsection (4) and subsections (10) and (11) of that section are
  451  amended, to read:
  452         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
  453         (3) The activities designed to implement this section must:
  454         (e)Provide training to teacher mentors as part of the
  455  comprehensive teacher mentorship certification program under s.
  456  1012.56(8)(a). The training must include components on teacher
  457  development, peer coaching, time management, and other related
  458  topics as determined by the Department of Education.
  459         (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
  460  Florida College System institutions, and state universities
  461  share the responsibilities described in this section. These
  462  responsibilities include the following:
  463         (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
  464  development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
  465  shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
  466  educators of Florida College System institutions and state
  467  universities, business and community representatives, and local
  468  education foundations, consortia, and professional
  469  organizations. The professional development system must:
  470         1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
  471  to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
  472  for continued approval.
  473         2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
  474  instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
  475  relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
  476  and districts, in developing and refining the professional
  477  development system, shall also review and monitor school
  478  discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
  479  parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
  480  managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
  481  indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
  482  by improved professional performance.
  483         3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
  484  support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
  485  level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
  486  for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
  487  achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
  488  student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
  489  differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
  490  relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
  491  subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
  492  technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
  493  management, parent involvement, and school safety.
  494         4.Provide inservice activities and support targeted to the
  495  individual needs of new teachers participating in a
  496  comprehensive teacher mentor certification program pursuant to
  497  s. 1012.56(8)(a).
  498         5.4. Include a master plan for inservice activities,
  499  pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
  500  district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
  501  be updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
  502  teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
  503  use the latest available student achievement data and research
  504  to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
  505  inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
  506  inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
  507  1001.42(18). Each district inservice plan must provide a
  508  description of the training that middle grades instructional
  509  personnel and school administrators receive on the district’s
  510  code of student conduct adopted pursuant to s. 1006.07;
  511  integrated digital instruction and competency-based instruction
  512  and CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry
  513  certifications; classroom management; student behavior and
  514  interaction; extended learning opportunities for students; and
  515  instructional leadership. District plans must be approved by the
  516  district school board annually in order to ensure compliance
  517  with subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research
  518  based best practices to other districts. District school boards
  519  must submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner
  520  of Education no later than October 1, annually. Each school
  521  principal may establish and maintain an individual professional
  522  development plan for each instructional employee assigned to the
  523  school as a seamless component to the school improvement plans
  524  developed pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional
  525  development plan must be related to specific performance data
  526  for the students to whom the teacher is assigned, define the
  527  inservice objectives and specific measurable improvements
  528  expected in student performance as a result of the inservice
  529  activity, and include an evaluation component that determines
  530  the effectiveness of the professional development plan.
  531         6.5. Include inservice activities for school administrative
  532  personnel that address updated skills necessary for
  533  instructional leadership and effective school management
  534  pursuant to s. 1012.986.
  535         7.6. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
  536  state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
  537  evaluation of local professional development programs.
  538         8.7. Provide for delivery of professional development by
  539  distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
  540  reach more educators at lower costs.
  541         9.8. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
  542  and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
  543  to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
  544  effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
  545  activities on the performance of participating educators and
  546  their students’ achievement and behavior.
  547         10.9. For middle grades, emphasize:
  548         a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
  549  instruction.
  550         b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
  551  the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
  552         c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
  553  inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
  554  strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
  555  instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
  556  instruction.
  557  
  558  Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include
  559  in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a
  560  description of the specific strategies used by the school to
  561  implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
  562         (10) For instructional personnel and administrative
  563  personnel who have been evaluated as less than effective, a
  564  district school board shall require participation in specific
  565  professional development programs as provided in subparagraph
  566  (4)(b)5. (4)(b)4. as part of the improvement prescription.
  567         (11) The department shall disseminate to the school
  568  community proven model professional development programs that
  569  have demonstrated success in increasing rigorous and relevant
  570  content, increasing student achievement and engagement, and
  571  meeting identified student needs, and providing effective
  572  mentorship activities to new teachers and training to teacher
  573  mentors. The methods of dissemination must include a web-based
  574  statewide performance-support system including a database of
  575  exemplary professional development activities, a listing of
  576  available professional development resources, training programs,
  577  and available technical assistance.
  578         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.