Florida Senate - 2020 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1220
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
01/21/2020 .
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The Committee on Education (Diaz) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
6 (5) of section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
8 (3) INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—A student is eligible
9 for a Family Empowerment Scholarship under this section if the
10 student meets the following criteria:
11 (b)1. The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten or
12 has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
13 public school; or
14 2. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the student
15 received a scholarship pursuant to s. 1002.395 during the
16 previous school year and, before initial receipt of such
17 scholarship, spent the prior school year in attendance at a
18 Florida public school.
19
20 For purposes of this paragraph, the term “prior school year in
21 attendance” means that the student was enrolled and reported by
22 a school district for funding during the preceding October and
23 February Florida Education Finance Program surveys in
24 kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
25 Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
26 under the Florida Education Finance Program. However, a
27 dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces
28 who transfers to a school in this state from out of state or
29 from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent change of
30 station orders or a foster child is exempt from the prior public
31 school attendance requirement under this paragraph, but must
32 meet the other eligibility requirements specified under this
33 section to participate in the program.
34 (5) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
35 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
36 (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not limited
37 to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the College
38 Preparatory Boarding Academy, a developmental research school
39 authorized under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized
40 under this chapter;
41 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
42 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
43 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
44 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
45 this chapter;
46 (d) Participating in a home education program as defined in
47 s. 1002.01(1);
48 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
49 s. 1002.43; or
50 (f) Participating in a virtual school, correspondence
51 school, or distance learning program that receives state funding
52 pursuant to the student’s participation, unless the
53 participation is limited to no more than two courses per school
54 year.
55 Section 2. Subsection (3) and paragraph (e) of subsection
56 (6) of section 1002.395, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
57 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
58 (3) PROGRAM; INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
59 (a) The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is
60 established.
61 (b) A student is eligible for a Florida tax credit
62 scholarship under this section if the student meets one or more
63 of the following criteria:
64 1. The student is on the direct certification list or the
65 student’s household income level does not exceed 300 185 percent
66 of the federal poverty level; or
67 2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous
68 state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home
69 care as defined in s. 39.01.
70 3. The student’s household income level is greater than 185
71 percent of the federal poverty level but does not exceed 260
72 percent of the federal poverty level.
73
74 Priority must be given to students whose household income levels
75 do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who
76 are in foster care or out-of-home care. A student who initially
77 receives a scholarship based on eligibility under this paragraph
78 subparagraph (b)2. remains eligible to participate until he or
79 she the student graduates from high school or attains the age of
80 21 years, whichever occurs first, regardless of the student’s
81 household income level. A student who initially received a
82 scholarship based on income eligibility before the 2019-2020
83 school year remains eligible to participate until he or she
84 graduates from high school, attains the age of 21 years, or the
85 student’s household income level exceeds 260 percent of the
86 federal poverty level, whichever occurs first. A sibling of a
87 student who is participating in the scholarship program under
88 this subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student
89 resides in the same household as the sibling.
90 (6) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDING
91 ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding
92 organization:
93 (e) Must give first priority to eligible students who
94 received a scholarship from an eligible nonprofit scholarship
95 funding organization or from the State of Florida during the
96 previous school year. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, an
97 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization shall give
98 priority to new applicants whose household income levels do not
99 exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who are in
100 foster care or out-of-home care.
101
102 Information and documentation provided to the Department of
103 Education and the Auditor General relating to the identity of a
104 taxpayer that provides an eligible contribution under this
105 section shall remain confidential at all times in accordance
106 with s. 213.053.
107 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
108 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (b) of
109 subsection (3) of that section is amended, paragraphs (d) and
110 (e) of subsection (3) of that section are added, and subsection
111 (4) of that section is amended, to read:
112 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
113 teacher preparation programs.—
114 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
115 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
116 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
117 not limited to, the following:
118 1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
119 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
120 2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
121 curricula and instruction.
122 3. Evidence-based Scientifically researched and evidence
123 based reading instructional strategies that improve reading
124 performance for all students, including explicit, systematic,
125 and sequential approaches to teaching phonemic awareness,
126 phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension and
127 multisensory intervention strategies.
128 4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
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. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
134 needs.
135 8. The use of character-based classroom management.
136 9. Mental health strategies and support.
137 (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
138 (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
139 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
140 require students, at a minimum, to meet, at a minimum, the
141 following as prerequisites for admission into the program:
142 1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
143 scale for the general education component of undergraduate
144 studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
145 degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
146 from any college or university accredited by a regional
147 accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
148 rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
149 State Board of Education rule.
150 2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
151 entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
152 and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
153 Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or, for a
154 graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree from an
155 institution that is accredited or approved pursuant to the rules
156 of the State Board of Education.
157
158 Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
159 requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
160 Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
161 admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
162 competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
163 and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
164 status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
165 (d) Each program must include the opportunity for the
166 candidate to complete coursework to obtain a required
167 endorsement in the candidate’s chosen teaching field.
168 (e) Each program must include, in addition to the core
169 standards for effective education, instruction in the training
170 required of certified instructional personnel, including, but
171 not limited to:
172 1. Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
173 abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
174 2. Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
175 3. Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
176 learning and performance;
177 4. Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
178 conflict resolution, and related areas;
179 5. Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
180 6. Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
181 1012.583; and
182 7. Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
183 s. 1012.584.
184 (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Continued approval of a
185 teacher preparation program shall be based upon evidence that
186 the program continues to implement the requirements for initial
187 approval and upon significant, objective, and quantifiable
188 measures of the program and the performance of the program
189 completers.
190 (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
191 of the following:
192 1. Documentation from the program that each program
193 candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
194 (3).
195 2. Documentation from the program that the program and each
196 program completer have met the requirements provided in
197 subsection (2).
198 3. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
199 a. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
200 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
201 available.
202 b. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
203 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
204 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
205 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
206 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
207 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
208 d. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
209 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
210 student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
211 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
212 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
213 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
214 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
215 e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
216 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
217 f. Production of program completers in statewide critical
218 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
219 4. Results of the program completers’ survey measuring
220 their satisfaction with preparation for the realities of the
221 classroom.
222 5. Results of the employers’ survey measuring satisfaction
223 with the program and the program’s responsiveness to local
224 school districts. The survey must include the employer’s
225 assessment of the student’s proficiency in the use of state
226 adopted content standards and general preparation for the
227 classroom.
228 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and subsection
229 (5) of section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
230 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
231 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
232 this section may offer competency-based certification programs
233 specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
234 degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
235 educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
236 preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
237 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
238 must implement a program previously approved by the Department
239 of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
240 institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
241 Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
242 educator preparation institutes.
243 (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
244 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
245 pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
246 statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
247 department shall approve a certification program if the
248 institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
249 implement a competency-based program that includes each of the
250 following:
251 1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
252 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
253 b. The use of state-adopted student content standards to
254 guide curriculum and instruction.
255 c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
256 instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
257 all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
258 approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
259 fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
260 strategies.
261 d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
262 e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
263 language learners.
264 f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
265 disabilities.
266 g. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
267 needs.
268 h. The use of character-based classroom management.
269 2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
270 certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
271 teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
272 certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
273 competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
274 3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
275 subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
276 population of students in a variety of challenging environments,
277 including, but not limited to, high-poverty schools, urban
278 schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified
279 educators.
280 4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
281 procedures required for participants who complete the program to
282 meet any requirements related to the background screening
283 pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
284 certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
285 5. The opportunity for a candidate to complete coursework
286 to obtain a required endorsement in the candidate’s chosen
287 teaching field.
288 6. In addition to the core standards for effective
289 education, instruction in the training required of certified
290 instructional personnel, including, but not limited to:
291 a. Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
292 abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
293 b. Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
294 c. Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
295 learning and performance;
296 d. Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
297 conflict resolution, and related areas;
298 e. Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
299 f. Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
300 1012.583; and
301 g. Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
302 s. 1012.584.
303 (5) Each institute approved pursuant to this section shall
304 submit to the Department of Education annual performance
305 evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
306 including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
307 required for teacher certification, employment rates,
308 longitudinal retention rates, and satisfaction surveys of
309 employers and candidates. The satisfaction surveys must be
310 designed to measure the sufficient preparation of the educator
311 for the student’s proficiency in the use of state-adopted
312 content standards, the realities of the classroom, and the
313 institute’s responsiveness to local school districts. These
314 evaluations shall be used by the Department of Education for
315 purposes of continued approval of an educator preparation
316 institute’s certification program.
317 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1011.61, Florida
318 Statutes, is amended to read:
319 1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
320 1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
321 purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
322 (4) The maximum value for funding a student in kindergarten
323 through grade 12 or in a prekindergarten program for exceptional
324 children as provided in s. 1003.21(1)(e) shall be the sum of the
325 calculations in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as calculated by
326 the department.
327 (a) The sum of the student’s full-time equivalent student
328 membership value for the school year or the equivalent derived
329 from paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), subparagraph (1)(c)1., sub
330 subparagraphs (1)(c)2.b. and c., subparagraph (1)(c)3., and
331 subsection (2). If the sum is greater than 1.0, the full-time
332 equivalent student membership value for each program or course
333 shall be reduced by an equal proportion so that the student’s
334 total full-time equivalent student membership value is equal to
335 1.0.
336 (b) If the result in paragraph (a) is less than 1.0 full
337 time equivalent student and the student has full-time equivalent
338 student enrollment pursuant to sub-sub-subparagraph
339 (1)(c)1.b.(VIII), calculate an amount that is the lesser of the
340 value in sub-sub-subparagraph (1)(c)1.b.(VIII) or the value of
341 1.0 less the value in paragraph (a).
342 (c) The full-time equivalent student enrollment value in
343 sub-subparagraph (1)(c)2.a.
344
345 A scholarship award provided to a student enrolled in the John
346 M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program
347 pursuant to s. 1002.39 or the Family Empowerment Scholarship
348 Program pursuant to s. 1002.394 is not subject to the maximum
349 value for funding a student under this subsection.
350 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1012.56, Florida
351 Statutes, is amended to read:
352 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
353 (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
354 demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
355 (a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree, a
356 baccalaureate degree with a major in the subject area, conferred
357 within the last 10 years from an accredited or approved
358 institution as defined in rule 6A-4.003, Florida Administrative
359 Code;
360 (b)(a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree
361 for which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
362 achievement of a passing score on the Florida-developed subject
363 area examination specified in state board rule;
364 (c)(b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
365 examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
366 score on a standardized examination specified in state board
367 rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
368 oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations
369 administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
370 Languages;
371 (d)(c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
372 examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
373 has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
374 subject area specialization requirements specified in state
375 board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
376 subject matter competencies by the district school
377 superintendent of the employing school district or chief
378 administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
379 private school;
380 (e)(d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
381 completion of the subject area specialization requirements
382 specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score
383 on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a
384 standardized examination specified in state board rule;
385 (f)(e) Documentation of a valid professional standard
386 teaching certificate issued by another state;
387 (g)(f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
388 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
389 educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
390 Education;
391 (h)(g) Documentation of successful completion of a United
392 States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
393 program; or
394 (i)(h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense
395 Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
396
397 School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle
398 grades teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to
399 obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through
400 postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.
401 Section 7. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (3) of
402 section 1012.585, Florida Statutes, to read:
403 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
404 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
405 following requirements must be met:
406 (g) A teacher may earn inservice points only once during
407 each 5-year validity period for any mandatory training topic
408 that is not linked to student learning or professional growth.
409 Section 8. Subsections (5), (6), and (9) of section
410 1012.79, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
411 1012.79 Education Practices Commission; organization.—
412 (5) The Commissioner of Education, with the advice and
413 consent of the commission chair, is responsible for appointing,
414 and may remove, commission, by a vote of three-fourths of the
415 membership, shall employ an executive director, who shall be
416 exempt from career service. The executive director shall have
417 administrative duties, as determined by the Commissioner of
418 Education. The executive director may not impact or influence
419 decisions of the commission. The executive director may be
420 dismissed by a majority vote of the membership.
421 (6)(a) The commission shall be assigned to the Department
422 of Education for administrative and fiscal accountability
423 purposes. The commission, in the performance of its powers and
424 duties, shall not be subject to control, supervision, or
425 direction by the Department of Education.
426 (b) The property, personnel, and appropriations related to
427 the specified authority, powers, duties, and responsibilities of
428 the commission shall be provided to the commission by the
429 Department of Education.
430 (9) The commission shall make such expenditures as may be
431 necessary in exercising its authority and powers and carrying
432 out its duties and responsibilities, including expenditures for
433 personal services, legal services general counsel or access to
434 counsel, and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; for
435 books of reference, periodicals, furniture, equipment, and
436 supplies; and for printing and binding. The expenditures of the
437 commission shall be subject to the powers and duties of the
438 Department of Financial Services as provided in s. 17.03.
439 Section 9. Subsection (5) of section 1012.98, Florida
440 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (13), (14), and (15) are
441 added to that section, to read:
442 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
443 (5) Each district school board shall provide funding for
444 the professional development system as required by s. 1011.62
445 and the General Appropriations Act, and shall direct
446 expenditures from other funding sources to continuously
447 strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement
448 and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance
449 in the classroom. Each district school board shall calculate a
450 proportionate share of professional development funds for each
451 classroom teacher and allow each classroom teacher to use up to
452 25 percent of the proportionate share on professional
453 development that addresses the academic needs of students or an
454 identified area of professional growth for the classroom
455 teacher. The department shall identify professional development
456 opportunities that require the classroom teacher to demonstrate
457 proficiency in a specific classroom practice. A school district
458 may coordinate its professional development program with that of
459 another district, with an educational consortium, or with a
460 Florida College System institution or university, especially in
461 preparing and educating personnel. Each district school board
462 shall make available inservice activities to instructional
463 personnel of nonpublic schools in the district and the state
464 certified teachers who are not employed by the district school
465 board on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per
466 all participants.
467 (13) To assist school district planning for required
468 teacher professional development, by August 1, 2020, the
469 department shall develop a model annual and 5-year calendar that
470 incorporates all state-required professional development. No
471 later than January 1, 2021, school districts shall develop an
472 annual and a 5-year calendar of professional development for
473 inclusion in the professional development system approved by the
474 department pursuant to subsection (4).
475 (14) The department shall develop and maintain a statewide
476 registry of approved professional development providers and
477 professional development activities for use by teachers in this
478 state. The registry is intended to provide educators with high
479 quality professional development opportunities in addition to
480 those offered by an entity specified in subsection (1).
481 (a) Any professional development provider seeking to be
482 added to the registry must complete an application developed by
483 the department. Approved providers are responsible for notifying
484 the department of any changes to the provider or approved
485 activities using an update form developed by the department. The
486 approval form must include, but is not limited to, requirements
487 that the provider specify:
488 1. Compliance with this section.
489 2. The alignment of professional development activities
490 with professional development standards adopted by the state
491 board in rule and standards adopted by the National Staff
492 Development Council.
493 3. Professional development activities offered by the
494 provider.
495 4. Qualifications of instructors for the professional
496 development activities to be approved.
497 (b) Providers specified in subsection (1), as well as
498 providers approved by such entities, are not required to seek
499 department approval to offer professional development activities
500 and are not required to be added to the registry. However, such
501 providers that wish to offer statewide professional development
502 opportunities may seek department approval and be added to the
503 registry.
504 (c) Providers approved by the department must maintain
505 information that includes, but is not limited to, the
506 professional development activity, date of the activity, hours
507 of instruction, and instructor, if applicable. The approved
508 provider must provide such information to each participant.
509 (d) The department shall review the professional
510 development provider application for compliance with
511 requirements. The department must inform the provider in writing
512 within 90 days after submission of an application regarding the
513 approval or denial of the provider. The approval is valid for a
514 period not to exceed 5 years, after which the provider must
515 reapply.
516 1. Each school district shall accept an approved
517 professional development activity on the registry toward meeting
518 the requirements of s. 1002.385(3).
519 2. The department shall determine the number of inservice
520 hours to be awarded for completion of each specified
521 professional development activity.
522 (15) There is created the Professional Development Choice
523 Pilot Program to be administered by the department for a period
524 of 3 years, subject to legislative appropriation. The purpose of
525 the pilot program is to provide grants to eligible teachers to
526 select professional learning opportunities that best meet each
527 teacher’s individual needs.
528 (a) A teacher may use a pilot program grant for
529 professional development approved by a school district or by a
530 provider approved by the department pursuant to subsection (14).
531 1. Professional development must be aligned with the
532 standards adopted by the state board in rule and standards
533 adopted by the National Staff Development Council.
534 2. Training completed under this subsection must comply
535 with and satisfy the requirements of s. 1012.585(3).
536 3. Professional learning activities may include, but are
537 not limited to, in-person or online training; travel and
538 registration for conferences or workshops; college credit
539 courses; and district professional development certification and
540 education competency programs.
541 (b) To be eligible for a pilot program grant, an individual
542 must:
543 1. Hold a professional certificate issued pursuant to s.
544 1012.56(7)(a);
545 2. Be employed as a classroom teacher, as defined in s.
546 1012.01(2)(a), excluding substitute teachers, by a district
547 school board or by a charter school; and
548 3. Apply for a grant in a format determined by the
549 department. The application must require an applicant to
550 describe how the professional development activity relates to
551 and will improve instruction in the classroom.
552 (c) Each classroom teacher eligible under paragraph (b) may
553 receive a reimbursement for training pursuant to paragraph (a).
554 The reimbursement for each teacher participating in the pilot
555 program may not exceed $500 per school year. Each classroom
556 teacher is eligible for one grant per school year. The pilot
557 program grants must be awarded on a first-come, first-served
558 basis.
559 (d) Each school district shall:
560 1. Review a proposed professional development activity to
561 determine alignment with district and individual professional
562 development plans and determine the number of inservice credit
563 hours to be awarded; and
564 2. Approve any professional development opportunity
565 included on the department’s registry pursuant to subsection
566 (13).
567 (e) The department shall:
568 1. Maintain a registry of approved providers and
569 professional development activities pursuant to subsection (14).
570 2. Establish, no later than August 1, 2020, a grant
571 application form.
572 Section 10. Section 1012.981, Florida Statutes, is created
573 to read:
574 1012.981 Professional Education Excellence Resources Pilot
575 Program.—
576 (1) There is established the Professional Education
577 Excellence Resources (PEER) Pilot Program, administered by the
578 department, to provide school district flexibility to increase
579 opportunities for professional learning, collaboration with
580 teachers and leaders, and teacher leadership.
581 (2) The PEER Pilot Program is established in Clay,
582 Pinellas, and Walton Counties.
583 (3) Participating school districts implementing the PEER
584 Pilot Program may:
585 (a) Extend the contract day or the contract year, or both,
586 for participating teachers for professional development,
587 collaboration with colleagues, or instructional coaching. A
588 participating school district that chooses to extend the
589 contract day or year must, before the start of the 2020-2021
590 school year, negotiate with the certified collective bargaining
591 unit for instructional personnel a memorandum of understanding
592 that addresses the additional duty hours in a week or duty days
593 in a school year and additional payments based on the salary
594 scale of the district to teachers who participate in the pilot
595 program.
596 (b) Use program funds to:
597 1. Compensate teachers who are assigned to an extended
598 school day or school year pursuant to paragraph (a).
599 2. Hire additional instructional personnel to provide
600 teachers with additional planning periods or other release time
601 to complete professional development, collaborate with
602 colleagues, or perform other appropriate activities.
603 3. Provide content area specialists to provide support for
604 teachers’ individual needs and professional growth.
605 4. Provide instructional coaches for participating
606 teachers.
607 5. Provide professional development opportunities.
608 (4) School districts participating in the pilot program
609 must collaborate with the department, postsecondary educational
610 institutions, regional education consortia, the University of
611 Florida Lastinger Center, or other appropriate organizations to
612 develop high-quality online professional development
613 opportunities accessible to instructional personnel statewide.
614 Such online professional development must:
615 (a) Be self-paced and available to teachers at any time.
616 (b) Align with standards for professional development as
617 described in state board rule.
618 (c) Protect the private information of participants.
619 (d) Satisfy requirements for renewal of an educator
620 certificate.
621 (e) Include online assessments with timely feedback to
622 evaluate participant learning measured against program goals.
623 (5) Participating school districts may use program funds to
624 establish a master teacher program. The master teacher program
625 provides accomplished teachers the opportunity to innovate and
626 improve classroom practices, facilitate improved professional
627 development, and improve instructional quality through
628 collaboration with teachers and leaders. School districts shall
629 determine the specific roles assigned to a master teacher.
630 (a) Each master teacher program must include, but is not
631 limited to:
632 1. Providing release time for planning and meeting with
633 teachers and leaders;
634 2. Additional professional development opportunities, to
635 include participation in local and national conferences or
636 payments for college credit courses to increase skills or obtain
637 a higher university degree; and
638 3. Monetary compensation.
639 (b) School districts may select for the master teacher
640 program teachers who were rated highly effective in the previous
641 school year and may determine other selection criteria, which
642 may include, but are not limited to, information in performance
643 evaluations, peer reviews, demonstration of content expertise,
644 principal recommendation, or candidate interviews.
645 (c) Each participating school district must collaborate
646 with the department and with the University of Florida Lastinger
647 Center to develop a master teacher academy to support
648 instructional personnel statewide. The master teacher academy
649 must:
650 1. Provide recommendations for the selection, training, and
651 support of district master teachers.
652 2. Create a bank of online professional development tools
653 that serve as exemplars for instructional best practices. Such
654 content may include pedagogy, instructional delivery,
655 professional learning communities, collaboration, personalized
656 learning, teacher and student or parent conferencing, positive
657 behavior supports, and using data to improve instruction.
658 3. Provide instructional coaching for school-based leaders
659 and principal supervisors. The content must focus on providing
660 teachers with actionable feedback on performance.
661 (6) Each school district participating in the PEER Pilot
662 Program must annually, by August 1, report to the Governor, the
663 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
664 Representatives, and the department on the performance of the
665 pilot program. Each report must include, but is not limited to:
666 (a) The use of the pilot program funds.
667 (b) The impact of the pilot program on student achievement.
668 (c) The impact of the pilot program on teacher annual
669 evaluations.
670 (d) The results of satisfaction surveys given to pilot
671 program participants.
672 (e) Recommendations for continuation of the pilot program
673 and for scaling the pilot program for statewide implementation.
674 (7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
675 administer this section.
676 (8) This section shall be implemented only to the extent
677 specifically funded and authorized by law.
678 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1012.586, Florida
679 Statutes, is amended to read:
680 1012.586 Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate
681 certificates.—A school district may process via a Department of
682 Education website certificates for the following applications of
683 public school employees:
684 (1) Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a
685 valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of the
686 appropriate subject area testing requirements of s.
687 1012.56(5)(b) s. 1012.56(5)(a) or the completion of the
688 requirements of an approved school district program or the
689 inservice components for an endorsement.
690 (a) To reduce duplication, the department may recommend the
691 consolidation of endorsement areas and requirements to the State
692 Board of Education.
693 (b) By July 1, 2018, and at least once every 5 years
694 thereafter, the department shall conduct a review of existing
695 subject coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary,
696 reading, and exceptional student educational areas. The review
697 must include reciprocity requirements for out-of-state
698 certificates and requirements for demonstrating competency in
699 the reading instruction professional development topics listed
700 in s. 1012.98(4)(b)11. The review must also consider the award
701 of an endorsement to an individual who holds a certificate
702 issued by an internationally recognized organization that
703 establishes standards for providing evidence-based interventions
704 to struggling readers or who completes a postsecondary program
705 that is accredited by such organization. Any such certificate or
706 program must require an individual who completes the certificate
707 or program to demonstrate competence in reading intervention
708 strategies through clinical experience. At the conclusion of
709 each review, the department shall recommend to the state board
710 changes to the subject coverage or endorsement requirements
711 based upon any identified instruction or intervention strategies
712 proven to improve student reading performance. This paragraph
713 does not authorize the state board to establish any new
714 certification subject coverage.
715
716 The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee
717 not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of Education
718 for such services. Each district school board shall retain a
719 portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the State Board of
720 Education. The portion sent to the department shall be used for
721 maintenance of the technology system, the web application, and
722 posting and mailing of the certificate.
723 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.
724
725 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
726 And the title is amended as follows:
727 Delete everything before the enacting clause
728 and insert:
729 A bill to be entitled
730 An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.394,
731 F.S.; revising initial scholarship eligibility
732 criteria for the Family Empowerment Scholarship
733 Program, beginning with a specified school year;
734 providing that participation in certain virtual
735 schools, correspondence schools, or distance learning
736 programs does not make a student ineligible for a
737 scholarship under the program in certain
738 circumstances; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; revising
739 eligibility criteria for the Florida Tax Credit
740 Scholarship Program and applying the criteria only to
741 initial eligibility; requiring that priority be given
742 to students whose household incomes do not exceed a
743 specified amount; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; requiring
744 that the rules to establish uniform core curricula for
745 each state-approved teacher preparation program
746 include evidence-based reading instructional
747 strategies and mental health strategies and support;
748 requiring state-approved teacher preparation programs
749 include opportunities to complete endorsements and
750 complete training required of instructional personnel;
751 removing admission requirements, and deleting a
752 provision allowing teacher preparation programs to
753 waive admission requirements for up to 10 percent of
754 the students admitted; requiring an assessment of
755 student proficiency is employer surveys; amending s.
756 1004.85, F.S.; expanding requirements for the
757 certification program of a postsecondary educator
758 preparation institute to be approved by the Department
759 of Education; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; providing
760 that a certain scholarship award is not subject to the
761 maximum value for funding a student under the Florida
762 Education Finance Program; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
763 providing that for a subject requiring only a
764 baccalaureate degree, a baccalaureate degree with a
765 major in the subject area, conferred within the last
766 10 years, is an acceptable means of demonstrating
767 mastery of subject area knowledge; amending s.
768 1012.585, F.S.; specifying that teachers may earn
769 inservice points only once during a certain time
770 period for any mandatory training topic not linked to
771 student learning or professional growth; amending s.
772 1012.79, F.S.; directing the Commissioner of
773 Education, with the advice and consent of the chair of
774 the Education Practices Commission, to appoint an
775 executive director who is exempt from career service
776 and may be removed by the commissioner; specifying
777 that the executive director will have administrative
778 duties, as determined by the commissioner; making a
779 technical change; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; requiring
780 district school boards to calculate a proportionate
781 share of professional development funds for each
782 classroom teacher; authorizing classroom teachers to
783 use up to a certain amount of such funds for certain
784 purposes; requiring the Department of Education to
785 identify professional development opportunities for
786 classroom teachers to demonstrate proficiency in a
787 specific classroom practice; requiring the department
788 to create and develop a model annual and 5-year
789 calendar of professional development by a specified
790 date; requiring school districts to develop annual and
791 5-year calendars of professional development for
792 inclusion in the department’s professional development
793 system by a specified date; requiring the department
794 to maintain a statewide registry of approved
795 professional development providers and professional
796 development activities for use by teachers; requiring
797 professional development providers to be approved by
798 the department; specifying requirements for
799 professional development providers; requiring the
800 department to review professional development provider
801 applications for compliance and to approve or deny an
802 application within a certain timeframe; providing for
803 provider reapplication; requiring each school district
804 to accept an approved professional development
805 activity for a certain purpose; requiring the
806 department to determine the number of inservice hours
807 to be awarded for completion of an activity; creating
808 the Professional Development Choice Pilot Program to
809 be administered by the department for a specified
810 period; providing the pilot program’s purpose;
811 authorizing the use of pilot program grants for
812 specified purposes; providing requirements for the use
813 of such grants; providing eligibility requirements for
814 receiving pilot program grants; providing requirements
815 and limits for grant disbursements; providing certain
816 duties of each school district; requiring the
817 department to maintain a registry of approved provider
818 and professional development activities; requiring the
819 department to establish an application form by a
820 specified date; creating s. 1012.981, F.S.; creating
821 the Professional Education Excellence Resources (PEER)
822 Pilot Program in specified counties; authorizing
823 school districts implementing the pilot program to
824 engage in certain activities; authorizing school
825 districts to use program funds for certain purposes;
826 requiring school districts participating in the
827 program to collaborate with the department and other
828 entities to develop high-quality online professional
829 development opportunities accessible to instructional
830 personnel statewide; providing requirements for such
831 professional online development opportunities;
832 authorizing participating school districts to use
833 program funds to establish a master teacher program;
834 providing requirements for the master teacher program;
835 requiring participating school districts to
836 collaborate with the department and the University of
837 Florida Lastinger Center to develop a master teacher
838 academy; providing duties for the master teacher
839 academy; requiring each school district participating
840 in the PEER Pilot Program to report annually to the
841 Governor, the Legislature, and the department on the
842 performance of the pilot program; requiring the annual
843 report to contain certain information; requiring the
844 State Board of Education to adopt rules; specifying
845 that the pilot program be implemented only to the
846 extent specifically funded and authorized by law;
847 amending s. 1012.586, F.S.; conforming a cross
848 reference; providing an effective date.