Florida Senate - 2020 CS for SB 1220
By the Committee on Education; and Senator Diaz
581-02438-20 20201220c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.394,
3 F.S.; revising initial scholarship eligibility
4 criteria for the Family Empowerment Scholarship
5 Program, beginning with a specified school year;
6 providing that participation in certain virtual
7 schools, correspondence schools, or distance learning
8 programs does not make a student ineligible for a
9 scholarship under the program in certain
10 circumstances; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; revising
11 eligibility criteria for the Florida Tax Credit
12 Scholarship Program and applying the criteria only to
13 initial eligibility; requiring that priority be given
14 to students whose household incomes do not exceed a
15 specified amount; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; requiring
16 that the rules to establish uniform core curricula for
17 each state-approved teacher preparation program
18 include evidence-based reading instructional
19 strategies and mental health strategies and support;
20 requiring state-approved teacher preparation programs
21 include opportunities to complete endorsements and
22 complete training required of instructional personnel;
23 removing admission requirements, and deleting a
24 provision allowing teacher preparation programs to
25 waive admission requirements for up to 10 percent of
26 the students admitted; requiring an assessment of
27 student proficiency is employer surveys; amending s.
28 1004.85, F.S.; expanding requirements for the
29 certification program of a postsecondary educator
30 preparation institute to be approved by the Department
31 of Education; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; providing
32 that a certain scholarship award is not subject to the
33 maximum value for funding a student under the Florida
34 Education Finance Program; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
35 providing that for a subject requiring only a
36 baccalaureate degree, a baccalaureate degree with a
37 major in the subject area, conferred within the last
38 10 years, is an acceptable means of demonstrating
39 mastery of subject area knowledge; amending s.
40 1012.585, F.S.; specifying that teachers may earn
41 inservice points only once during a certain time
42 period for any mandatory training topic not linked to
43 student learning or professional growth; amending s.
44 1012.79, F.S.; directing the Commissioner of
45 Education, with the advice and consent of the chair of
46 the Education Practices Commission, to appoint an
47 executive director who is exempt from career service
48 and may be removed by the commissioner; specifying
49 that the executive director will have administrative
50 duties, as determined by the commissioner; making a
51 technical change; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; requiring
52 district school boards to calculate a proportionate
53 share of professional development funds for each
54 classroom teacher; authorizing classroom teachers to
55 use up to a certain amount of such funds for certain
56 purposes; requiring the Department of Education to
57 identify professional development opportunities for
58 classroom teachers to demonstrate proficiency in a
59 specific classroom practice; requiring the department
60 to create and develop a model annual and 5-year
61 calendar of professional development by a specified
62 date; requiring school districts to develop annual and
63 5-year calendars of professional development for
64 inclusion in the department’s professional development
65 system by a specified date; requiring the department
66 to maintain a statewide registry of approved
67 professional development providers and professional
68 development activities for use by teachers; requiring
69 professional development providers to be approved by
70 the department; specifying requirements for
71 professional development providers; requiring the
72 department to review professional development provider
73 applications for compliance and to approve or deny an
74 application within a certain timeframe; providing for
75 provider reapplication; requiring each school district
76 to accept an approved professional development
77 activity for a certain purpose; requiring the
78 department to determine the number of inservice hours
79 to be awarded for completion of an activity; creating
80 the Professional Development Choice Pilot Program to
81 be administered by the department for a specified
82 period; providing the pilot program’s purpose;
83 authorizing the use of pilot program grants for
84 specified purposes; providing requirements for the use
85 of such grants; providing eligibility requirements for
86 receiving pilot program grants; providing requirements
87 and limits for grant disbursements; providing certain
88 duties of each school district; requiring the
89 department to maintain a registry of approved provider
90 and professional development activities; requiring the
91 department to establish an application form by a
92 specified date; creating s. 1012.981, F.S.; creating
93 the Professional Education Excellence Resources (PEER)
94 Pilot Program in specified counties; authorizing
95 school districts implementing the pilot program to
96 engage in certain activities; authorizing school
97 districts to use program funds for certain purposes;
98 requiring school districts participating in the
99 program to collaborate with the department and other
100 entities to develop high-quality online professional
101 development opportunities accessible to instructional
102 personnel statewide; providing requirements for such
103 professional online development opportunities;
104 authorizing participating school districts to use
105 program funds to establish a master teacher program;
106 providing requirements for the master teacher program;
107 requiring participating school districts to
108 collaborate with the department and the University of
109 Florida Lastinger Center to develop a master teacher
110 academy; providing duties for the master teacher
111 academy; requiring each school district participating
112 in the PEER Pilot Program to report annually to the
113 Governor, the Legislature, and the department on the
114 performance of the pilot program; requiring the annual
115 report to contain certain information; requiring the
116 State Board of Education to adopt rules; specifying
117 that the pilot program be implemented only to the
118 extent specifically funded and authorized by law;
119 amending s. 1012.586, F.S.; conforming a cross
120 reference; providing an effective date.
121
122 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
123
124 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
125 (5) of section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
126 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
127 (3) INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—A student is eligible
128 for a Family Empowerment Scholarship under this section if the
129 student meets the following criteria:
130 (b)1. The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten or
131 has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
132 public school; or
133 2. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, the student
134 received a scholarship pursuant to s. 1002.395 during the
135 previous school year and, before initial receipt of such
136 scholarship, spent the prior school year in attendance at a
137 Florida public school.
138
139 For purposes of this paragraph, the term “prior school year in
140 attendance” means that the student was enrolled and reported by
141 a school district for funding during the preceding October and
142 February Florida Education Finance Program surveys in
143 kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
144 Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
145 under the Florida Education Finance Program. However, a
146 dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces
147 who transfers to a school in this state from out of state or
148 from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent change of
149 station orders or a foster child is exempt from the prior public
150 school attendance requirement under this paragraph, but must
151 meet the other eligibility requirements specified under this
152 section to participate in the program.
153 (5) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
154 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
155 (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not limited
156 to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the College
157 Preparatory Boarding Academy, a developmental research school
158 authorized under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized
159 under this chapter;
160 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
161 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
162 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
163 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
164 this chapter;
165 (d) Participating in a home education program as defined in
166 s. 1002.01(1);
167 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
168 s. 1002.43; or
169 (f) Participating in a virtual school, correspondence
170 school, or distance learning program that receives state funding
171 pursuant to the student’s participation, unless the
172 participation is limited to no more than two courses per school
173 year.
174 Section 2. Subsection (3) and paragraph (e) of subsection
175 (6) of section 1002.395, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
176 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
177 (3) PROGRAM; INITIAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—
178 (a) The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is
179 established.
180 (b) A student is eligible for a Florida tax credit
181 scholarship under this section if the student meets one or more
182 of the following criteria:
183 1. The student is on the direct certification list or the
184 student’s household income level does not exceed 300 185 percent
185 of the federal poverty level; or
186 2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous
187 state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home
188 care as defined in s. 39.01.
189 3. The student’s household income level is greater than 185
190 percent of the federal poverty level but does not exceed 260
191 percent of the federal poverty level.
192
193 Priority must be given to students whose household income levels
194 do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who
195 are in foster care or out-of-home care. A student who initially
196 receives a scholarship based on eligibility under this paragraph
197 subparagraph (b)2. remains eligible to participate until he or
198 she the student graduates from high school or attains the age of
199 21 years, whichever occurs first, regardless of the student’s
200 household income level. A student who initially received a
201 scholarship based on income eligibility before the 2019-2020
202 school year remains eligible to participate until he or she
203 graduates from high school, attains the age of 21 years, or the
204 student’s household income level exceeds 260 percent of the
205 federal poverty level, whichever occurs first. A sibling of a
206 student who is participating in the scholarship program under
207 this subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student
208 resides in the same household as the sibling.
209 (6) OBLIGATIONS OF ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT SCHOLARSHIP-FUNDING
210 ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding
211 organization:
212 (e) Must give first priority to eligible students who
213 received a scholarship from an eligible nonprofit scholarship
214 funding organization or from the State of Florida during the
215 previous school year. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, an
216 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization shall give
217 priority to new applicants whose household income levels do not
218 exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who are in
219 foster care or out-of-home care.
220
221 Information and documentation provided to the Department of
222 Education and the Auditor General relating to the identity of a
223 taxpayer that provides an eligible contribution under this
224 section shall remain confidential at all times in accordance
225 with s. 213.053.
226 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
227 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (b) of
228 subsection (3) of that section is amended, paragraphs (d) and
229 (e) of subsection (3) of that section are added, and subsection
230 (4) of that section is amended, to read:
231 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
232 teacher preparation programs.—
233 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
234 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
235 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
236 not limited to, the following:
237 1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
238 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
239 2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
240 curricula and instruction.
241 3. Evidence-based Scientifically researched and evidence
242 based reading instructional strategies that improve reading
243 performance for all students, including explicit, systematic,
244 and sequential approaches to teaching phonemic awareness,
245 phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension and
246 multisensory intervention strategies.
247 4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
248 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
249 language learners.
250 6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
251 with disabilities.
252 7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
253 needs.
254 8. The use of character-based classroom management.
255 9. Mental health strategies and support.
256 (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
257 (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
258 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
259 require students, at a minimum, to meet, at a minimum, the
260 following as prerequisites for admission into the program:
261 1. Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
262 scale for the general education component of undergraduate
263 studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
264 degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
265 from any college or university accredited by a regional
266 accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
267 rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
268 State Board of Education rule.
269 2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
270 entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
271 and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
272 Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or, for a
273 graduate level program, obtain a baccalaureate degree from an
274 institution that is accredited or approved pursuant to the rules
275 of the State Board of Education.
276
277 Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
278 requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
279 Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
280 admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
281 competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
282 and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
283 status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
284 (d) Each program must include the opportunity for the
285 candidate to complete coursework to obtain a required
286 endorsement in the candidate’s chosen teaching field.
287 (e) Each program must include, in addition to the core
288 standards for effective education, instruction in the training
289 required of certified instructional personnel, including, but
290 not limited to:
291 1. Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
292 abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
293 2. Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
294 3. Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
295 learning and performance;
296 4. Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
297 conflict resolution, and related areas;
298 5. Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
299 6. Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
300 1012.583; and
301 7. Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
302 s. 1012.584.
303 (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Continued approval of a
304 teacher preparation program shall be based upon evidence that
305 the program continues to implement the requirements for initial
306 approval and upon significant, objective, and quantifiable
307 measures of the program and the performance of the program
308 completers.
309 (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
310 of the following:
311 1. Documentation from the program that each program
312 candidate met the admission requirements provided in subsection
313 (3).
314 2. Documentation from the program that the program and each
315 program completer have met the requirements provided in
316 subsection (2).
317 3. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
318 a. Placement rate of program completers into instructional
319 positions in Florida public schools and private schools, if
320 available.
321 b. Rate of retention for employed program completers in
322 instructional positions in Florida public schools.
323 c. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
324 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
325 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
326 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
327 d. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
328 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by
329 student subgroup, as defined in the federal Elementary and
330 Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
331 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program
332 prepares teachers to work with a diverse population of students
333 in a variety of settings in Florida public schools.
334 e. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
335 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
336 f. Production of program completers in statewide critical
337 teacher shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
338 4. Results of the program completers’ survey measuring
339 their satisfaction with preparation for the realities of the
340 classroom.
341 5. Results of the employers’ survey measuring satisfaction
342 with the program and the program’s responsiveness to local
343 school districts. The survey must include the employer’s
344 assessment of the student’s proficiency in the use of state
345 adopted content standards and general preparation for the
346 classroom.
347 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) and subsection
348 (5) of section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
349 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
350 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
351 this section may offer competency-based certification programs
352 specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
353 degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
354 educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
355 preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
356 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
357 must implement a program previously approved by the Department
358 of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
359 institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
360 Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
361 educator preparation institutes.
362 (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
363 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
364 pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
365 statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
366 department shall approve a certification program if the
367 institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
368 implement a competency-based program that includes each of the
369 following:
370 1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
371 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
372 b. The use of state-adopted student content standards to
373 guide curriculum and instruction.
374 c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
375 instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
376 all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
377 approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
378 fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
379 strategies.
380 d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
381 e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
382 language learners.
383 f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
384 disabilities.
385 g. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
386 needs.
387 h. The use of character-based classroom management.
388 2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
389 certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
390 teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
391 certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
392 competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
393 3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
394 subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
395 population of students in a variety of challenging environments,
396 including, but not limited to, high-poverty schools, urban
397 schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified
398 educators.
399 4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
400 procedures required for participants who complete the program to
401 meet any requirements related to the background screening
402 pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
403 certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
404 5. The opportunity for a candidate to complete coursework
405 to obtain a required endorsement in the candidate’s chosen
406 teaching field.
407 6. In addition to the core standards for effective
408 education, instruction in the training required of certified
409 instructional personnel, including, but not limited to:
410 a. Identification, intervention, and prevention of child
411 abuse, abandonment, and neglect;
412 b. Integration of technology into classroom teaching;
413 c. Management, assessment, and monitoring of student
414 learning and performance;
415 d. Skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
416 conflict resolution, and related areas;
417 e. Developmental disabilities pursuant to s. 1012.582;
418 f. Youth suicide awareness and prevention pursuant to s.
419 1012.583; and
420 g. Youth mental health awareness and assistance pursuant to
421 s. 1012.584.
422 (5) Each institute approved pursuant to this section shall
423 submit to the Department of Education annual performance
424 evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs,
425 including the pass rates of participants on all examinations
426 required for teacher certification, employment rates,
427 longitudinal retention rates, and satisfaction surveys of
428 employers and candidates. The satisfaction surveys must be
429 designed to measure the sufficient preparation of the educator
430 for the student’s proficiency in the use of state-adopted
431 content standards, the realities of the classroom, and the
432 institute’s responsiveness to local school districts. These
433 evaluations shall be used by the Department of Education for
434 purposes of continued approval of an educator preparation
435 institute’s certification program.
436 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1011.61, Florida
437 Statutes, is amended to read:
438 1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
439 1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
440 purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
441 (4) The maximum value for funding a student in kindergarten
442 through grade 12 or in a prekindergarten program for exceptional
443 children as provided in s. 1003.21(1)(e) shall be the sum of the
444 calculations in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as calculated by
445 the department.
446 (a) The sum of the student’s full-time equivalent student
447 membership value for the school year or the equivalent derived
448 from paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), subparagraph (1)(c)1., sub
449 subparagraphs (1)(c)2.b. and c., subparagraph (1)(c)3., and
450 subsection (2). If the sum is greater than 1.0, the full-time
451 equivalent student membership value for each program or course
452 shall be reduced by an equal proportion so that the student’s
453 total full-time equivalent student membership value is equal to
454 1.0.
455 (b) If the result in paragraph (a) is less than 1.0 full
456 time equivalent student and the student has full-time equivalent
457 student enrollment pursuant to sub-sub-subparagraph
458 (1)(c)1.b.(VIII), calculate an amount that is the lesser of the
459 value in sub-sub-subparagraph (1)(c)1.b.(VIII) or the value of
460 1.0 less the value in paragraph (a).
461 (c) The full-time equivalent student enrollment value in
462 sub-subparagraph (1)(c)2.a.
463
464 A scholarship award provided to a student enrolled in the John
465 M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program
466 pursuant to s. 1002.39 or the Family Empowerment Scholarship
467 Program pursuant to s. 1002.394 is not subject to the maximum
468 value for funding a student under this subsection.
469 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1012.56, Florida
470 Statutes, is amended to read:
471 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
472 (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
473 demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
474 (a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree, a
475 baccalaureate degree with a major in the subject area, conferred
476 within the last 10 years from an accredited or approved
477 institution as defined in rule 6A-4.003, Florida Administrative
478 Code;
479 (b)(a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree
480 for which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
481 achievement of a passing score on the Florida-developed subject
482 area examination specified in state board rule;
483 (c)(b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
484 examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
485 score on a standardized examination specified in state board
486 rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
487 oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations
488 administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
489 Languages;
490 (d)(c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
491 examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
492 has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
493 subject area specialization requirements specified in state
494 board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
495 subject matter competencies by the district school
496 superintendent of the employing school district or chief
497 administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
498 private school;
499 (e)(d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
500 completion of the subject area specialization requirements
501 specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score
502 on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a
503 standardized examination specified in state board rule;
504 (f)(e) Documentation of a valid professional standard
505 teaching certificate issued by another state;
506 (g)(f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
507 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
508 educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
509 Education;
510 (h)(g) Documentation of successful completion of a United
511 States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
512 program; or
513 (i)(h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense
514 Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
515
516 School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle
517 grades teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to
518 obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through
519 postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.
520 Section 7. Paragraph (g) is added to subsection (3) of
521 section 1012.585, Florida Statutes, to read:
522 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
523 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
524 following requirements must be met:
525 (g) A teacher may earn inservice points only once during
526 each 5-year validity period for any mandatory training topic
527 that is not linked to student learning or professional growth.
528 Section 8. Subsections (5), (6), and (9) of section
529 1012.79, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
530 1012.79 Education Practices Commission; organization.—
531 (5) The Commissioner of Education, with the advice and
532 consent of the commission chair, is responsible for appointing,
533 and may remove, commission, by a vote of three-fourths of the
534 membership, shall employ an executive director, who shall be
535 exempt from career service. The executive director shall have
536 administrative duties, as determined by the Commissioner of
537 Education. The executive director may not impact or influence
538 decisions of the commission. The executive director may be
539 dismissed by a majority vote of the membership.
540 (6)(a) The commission shall be assigned to the Department
541 of Education for administrative and fiscal accountability
542 purposes. The commission, in the performance of its powers and
543 duties, shall not be subject to control, supervision, or
544 direction by the Department of Education.
545 (b) The property, personnel, and appropriations related to
546 the specified authority, powers, duties, and responsibilities of
547 the commission shall be provided to the commission by the
548 Department of Education.
549 (9) The commission shall make such expenditures as may be
550 necessary in exercising its authority and powers and carrying
551 out its duties and responsibilities, including expenditures for
552 personal services, legal services general counsel or access to
553 counsel, and rent at the seat of government and elsewhere; for
554 books of reference, periodicals, furniture, equipment, and
555 supplies; and for printing and binding. The expenditures of the
556 commission shall be subject to the powers and duties of the
557 Department of Financial Services as provided in s. 17.03.
558 Section 9. Subsection (5) of section 1012.98, Florida
559 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (13), (14), and (15) are
560 added to that section, to read:
561 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
562 (5) Each district school board shall provide funding for
563 the professional development system as required by s. 1011.62
564 and the General Appropriations Act, and shall direct
565 expenditures from other funding sources to continuously
566 strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement
567 and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance
568 in the classroom. Each district school board shall calculate a
569 proportionate share of professional development funds for each
570 classroom teacher and allow each classroom teacher to use up to
571 25 percent of the proportionate share on professional
572 development that addresses the academic needs of students or an
573 identified area of professional growth for the classroom
574 teacher. The department shall identify professional development
575 opportunities that require the classroom teacher to demonstrate
576 proficiency in a specific classroom practice. A school district
577 may coordinate its professional development program with that of
578 another district, with an educational consortium, or with a
579 Florida College System institution or university, especially in
580 preparing and educating personnel. Each district school board
581 shall make available inservice activities to instructional
582 personnel of nonpublic schools in the district and the state
583 certified teachers who are not employed by the district school
584 board on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per
585 all participants.
586 (13) To assist school district planning for required
587 teacher professional development, by August 1, 2020, the
588 department shall develop a model annual and 5-year calendar that
589 incorporates all state-required professional development. No
590 later than January 1, 2021, school districts shall develop an
591 annual and a 5-year calendar of professional development for
592 inclusion in the professional development system approved by the
593 department pursuant to subsection (4).
594 (14) The department shall develop and maintain a statewide
595 registry of approved professional development providers and
596 professional development activities for use by teachers in this
597 state. The registry is intended to provide educators with high
598 quality professional development opportunities in addition to
599 those offered by an entity specified in subsection (1).
600 (a) Any professional development provider seeking to be
601 added to the registry must complete an application developed by
602 the department. Approved providers are responsible for notifying
603 the department of any changes to the provider or approved
604 activities using an update form developed by the department. The
605 approval form must include, but is not limited to, requirements
606 that the provider specify:
607 1. Compliance with this section.
608 2. The alignment of professional development activities
609 with professional development standards adopted by the state
610 board in rule and standards adopted by the National Staff
611 Development Council.
612 3. Professional development activities offered by the
613 provider.
614 4. Qualifications of instructors for the professional
615 development activities to be approved.
616 (b) Providers specified in subsection (1), as well as
617 providers approved by such entities, are not required to seek
618 department approval to offer professional development activities
619 and are not required to be added to the registry. However, such
620 providers that wish to offer statewide professional development
621 opportunities may seek department approval and be added to the
622 registry.
623 (c) Providers approved by the department must maintain
624 information that includes, but is not limited to, the
625 professional development activity, date of the activity, hours
626 of instruction, and instructor, if applicable. The approved
627 provider must provide such information to each participant.
628 (d) The department shall review the professional
629 development provider application for compliance with
630 requirements. The department must inform the provider in writing
631 within 90 days after submission of an application regarding the
632 approval or denial of the provider. The approval is valid for a
633 period not to exceed 5 years, after which the provider must
634 reapply.
635 1. Each school district shall accept an approved
636 professional development activity on the registry toward meeting
637 the requirements of s. 1002.385(3).
638 2. The department shall determine the number of inservice
639 hours to be awarded for completion of each specified
640 professional development activity.
641 (15) There is created the Professional Development Choice
642 Pilot Program to be administered by the department for a period
643 of 3 years, subject to legislative appropriation. The purpose of
644 the pilot program is to provide grants to eligible teachers to
645 select professional learning opportunities that best meet each
646 teacher’s individual needs.
647 (a) A teacher may use a pilot program grant for
648 professional development approved by a school district or by a
649 provider approved by the department pursuant to subsection (14).
650 1. Professional development must be aligned with the
651 standards adopted by the state board in rule and standards
652 adopted by the National Staff Development Council.
653 2. Training completed under this subsection must comply
654 with and satisfy the requirements of s. 1012.585(3).
655 3. Professional learning activities may include, but are
656 not limited to, in-person or online training; travel and
657 registration for conferences or workshops; college credit
658 courses; and district professional development certification and
659 education competency programs.
660 (b) To be eligible for a pilot program grant, an individual
661 must:
662 1. Hold a professional certificate issued pursuant to s.
663 1012.56(7)(a);
664 2. Be employed as a classroom teacher, as defined in s.
665 1012.01(2)(a), excluding substitute teachers, by a district
666 school board or by a charter school; and
667 3. Apply for a grant in a format determined by the
668 department. The application must require an applicant to
669 describe how the professional development activity relates to
670 and will improve instruction in the classroom.
671 (c) Each classroom teacher eligible under paragraph (b) may
672 receive a reimbursement for training pursuant to paragraph (a).
673 The reimbursement for each teacher participating in the pilot
674 program may not exceed $500 per school year. Each classroom
675 teacher is eligible for one grant per school year. The pilot
676 program grants must be awarded on a first-come, first-served
677 basis.
678 (d) Each school district shall:
679 1. Review a proposed professional development activity to
680 determine alignment with district and individual professional
681 development plans and determine the number of inservice credit
682 hours to be awarded; and
683 2. Approve any professional development opportunity
684 included on the department’s registry pursuant to subsection
685 (13).
686 (e) The department shall:
687 1. Maintain a registry of approved providers and
688 professional development activities pursuant to subsection (14).
689 2. Establish, no later than August 1, 2020, a grant
690 application form.
691 Section 10. Section 1012.981, Florida Statutes, is created
692 to read:
693 1012.981 Professional Education Excellence Resources Pilot
694 Program.—
695 (1) There is established the Professional Education
696 Excellence Resources (PEER) Pilot Program, administered by the
697 department, to provide school district flexibility to increase
698 opportunities for professional learning, collaboration with
699 teachers and leaders, and teacher leadership.
700 (2) The PEER Pilot Program is established in Clay,
701 Pinellas, and Walton Counties.
702 (3) Participating school districts implementing the PEER
703 Pilot Program may:
704 (a) Extend the contract day or the contract year, or both,
705 for participating teachers for professional development,
706 collaboration with colleagues, or instructional coaching. A
707 participating school district that chooses to extend the
708 contract day or year must, before the start of the 2020-2021
709 school year, negotiate with the certified collective bargaining
710 unit for instructional personnel a memorandum of understanding
711 that addresses the additional duty hours in a week or duty days
712 in a school year and additional payments based on the salary
713 scale of the district to teachers who participate in the pilot
714 program.
715 (b) Use program funds to:
716 1. Compensate teachers who are assigned to an extended
717 school day or school year pursuant to paragraph (a).
718 2. Hire additional instructional personnel to provide
719 teachers with additional planning periods or other release time
720 to complete professional development, collaborate with
721 colleagues, or perform other appropriate activities.
722 3. Provide content area specialists to provide support for
723 teachers’ individual needs and professional growth.
724 4. Provide instructional coaches for participating
725 teachers.
726 5. Provide professional development opportunities.
727 (4) School districts participating in the pilot program
728 must collaborate with the department, postsecondary educational
729 institutions, regional education consortia, the University of
730 Florida Lastinger Center, or other appropriate organizations to
731 develop high-quality online professional development
732 opportunities accessible to instructional personnel statewide.
733 Such online professional development must:
734 (a) Be self-paced and available to teachers at any time.
735 (b) Align with standards for professional development as
736 described in state board rule.
737 (c) Protect the private information of participants.
738 (d) Satisfy requirements for renewal of an educator
739 certificate.
740 (e) Include online assessments with timely feedback to
741 evaluate participant learning measured against program goals.
742 (5) Participating school districts may use program funds to
743 establish a master teacher program. The master teacher program
744 provides accomplished teachers the opportunity to innovate and
745 improve classroom practices, facilitate improved professional
746 development, and improve instructional quality through
747 collaboration with teachers and leaders. School districts shall
748 determine the specific roles assigned to a master teacher.
749 (a) Each master teacher program must include, but is not
750 limited to:
751 1. Providing release time for planning and meeting with
752 teachers and leaders;
753 2. Additional professional development opportunities, to
754 include participation in local and national conferences or
755 payments for college credit courses to increase skills or obtain
756 a higher university degree; and
757 3. Monetary compensation.
758 (b) School districts may select for the master teacher
759 program teachers who were rated highly effective in the previous
760 school year and may determine other selection criteria, which
761 may include, but are not limited to, information in performance
762 evaluations, peer reviews, demonstration of content expertise,
763 principal recommendation, or candidate interviews.
764 (c) Each participating school district must collaborate
765 with the department and with the University of Florida Lastinger
766 Center to develop a master teacher academy to support
767 instructional personnel statewide. The master teacher academy
768 must:
769 1. Provide recommendations for the selection, training, and
770 support of district master teachers.
771 2. Create a bank of online professional development tools
772 that serve as exemplars for instructional best practices. Such
773 content may include pedagogy, instructional delivery,
774 professional learning communities, collaboration, personalized
775 learning, teacher and student or parent conferencing, positive
776 behavior supports, and using data to improve instruction.
777 3. Provide instructional coaching for school-based leaders
778 and principal supervisors. The content must focus on providing
779 teachers with actionable feedback on performance.
780 (6) Each school district participating in the PEER Pilot
781 Program must annually, by August 1, report to the Governor, the
782 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
783 Representatives, and the department on the performance of the
784 pilot program. Each report must include, but is not limited to:
785 (a) The use of the pilot program funds.
786 (b) The impact of the pilot program on student achievement.
787 (c) The impact of the pilot program on teacher annual
788 evaluations.
789 (d) The results of satisfaction surveys given to pilot
790 program participants.
791 (e) Recommendations for continuation of the pilot program
792 and for scaling the pilot program for statewide implementation.
793 (7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
794 administer this section.
795 (8) This section shall be implemented only to the extent
796 specifically funded and authorized by law.
797 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1012.586, Florida
798 Statutes, is amended to read:
799 1012.586 Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate
800 certificates.—A school district may process via a Department of
801 Education website certificates for the following applications of
802 public school employees:
803 (1) Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a
804 valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of the
805 appropriate subject area testing requirements of s.
806 1012.56(5)(b) s. 1012.56(5)(a) or the completion of the
807 requirements of an approved school district program or the
808 inservice components for an endorsement.
809 (a) To reduce duplication, the department may recommend the
810 consolidation of endorsement areas and requirements to the State
811 Board of Education.
812 (b) By July 1, 2018, and at least once every 5 years
813 thereafter, the department shall conduct a review of existing
814 subject coverage or endorsement requirements in the elementary,
815 reading, and exceptional student educational areas. The review
816 must include reciprocity requirements for out-of-state
817 certificates and requirements for demonstrating competency in
818 the reading instruction professional development topics listed
819 in s. 1012.98(4)(b)11. The review must also consider the award
820 of an endorsement to an individual who holds a certificate
821 issued by an internationally recognized organization that
822 establishes standards for providing evidence-based interventions
823 to struggling readers or who completes a postsecondary program
824 that is accredited by such organization. Any such certificate or
825 program must require an individual who completes the certificate
826 or program to demonstrate competence in reading intervention
827 strategies through clinical experience. At the conclusion of
828 each review, the department shall recommend to the state board
829 changes to the subject coverage or endorsement requirements
830 based upon any identified instruction or intervention strategies
831 proven to improve student reading performance. This paragraph
832 does not authorize the state board to establish any new
833 certification subject coverage.
834
835 The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee
836 not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of Education
837 for such services. Each district school board shall retain a
838 portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the State Board of
839 Education. The portion sent to the department shall be used for
840 maintenance of the technology system, the web application, and
841 posting and mailing of the certificate.
842 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.