Florida Senate - 2021 SB 934
By Senator Wright
14-00473B-21 2021934__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 1004.04,
3 F.S.; requiring additional specified strategies to be
4 included in rules establishing uniform core curricula
5 for each state-approved teacher preparation program;
6 requiring that certain teacher preparation programs
7 require students to demonstrate mastery of general
8 knowledge by passing the General Knowledge Test of the
9 Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the time
10 of graduation; deleting a provision authorizing a
11 teacher preparation program to waive certain
12 admissions requirements for up to 10 percent of
13 admitted students; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.;
14 expanding the instruction that an educator preparation
15 institute may provide to include instruction and
16 professional development for part-time and full-time
17 nondegreed teachers of career programs; amending s.
18 1012.39, F.S.; revising the minimum qualifications for
19 part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
20 programs; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising the
21 acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of general
22 knowledge to include documentation of receipt of a
23 master’s or higher degree from certain postsecondary
24 institutions; revising the criteria for the Department
25 of Education to issue a professional certificate;
26 amending s. 1012.986, F.S.; defining the term
27 “educational leader”; providing that the William Cecil
28 Golden Professional Development Program for School
29 Leaders must consist of a network of specified
30 entities; revising the goals of the program; requiring
31 the department to also offer program components
32 through university or educational leadership academies
33 and through educational leadership coaching and
34 mentoring; making technical changes; providing an
35 effective date.
36
37 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
38
39 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
40 (b) of subsection (3) of section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are
41 amended to read:
42 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
43 teacher preparation programs.—
44 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
45 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
46 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
47 not limited to, the following:
48 1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
49 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
50 2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
51 curricula and instruction.
52 3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
53 instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
54 all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
55 approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
56 fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
57 strategies.
58 4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
59 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
60 language learners.
61 6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
62 with disabilities.
63 7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
64 needs.
65 8. The use of character-based classroom management.
66 9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of
67 students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
68 the referral of such student to a mental health professional for
69 support.
70 10. Strategies to support the use of technology in
71 education and distance learning.
72 (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
73 (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
74 Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
75 require students to meet, at a minimum, the following
76 requirements as prerequisites for admission into the program:
77 1. For admission into the program, have a grade point
78 average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the general education
79 component of undergraduate studies or have completed the
80 requirements for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade
81 point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from any college or
82 university accredited by a regional accrediting association as
83 defined by State Board of Education rule or any college or
84 university otherwise approved pursuant to State Board of
85 Education rule.
86 2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
87 entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
88 and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
89 Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the
90 time of graduation or, for a graduate level program, obtain a
91 baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited or
92 approved pursuant to the rules of the State Board of Education.
93
94 Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
95 requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
96 Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
97 admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
98 competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
99 and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
100 status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
101 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
102 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
103 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
104 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
105 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
106 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
107 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
108 of the following:
109 1. Professional development instruction to assist teachers
110 in improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification
111 or recertification requirements.
112 2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
113 teachers in performing their duties.
114 3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
115 education and training requirements.
116 4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
117 certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
118 increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
119 who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
120 not education majors.
121 5. Instruction and professional development for part-time
122 and full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
123 1012.39(1)(c).
124 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
125 1012.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
126 1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
127 adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
128 career specialists; students performing clinical field
129 experience.—
130 (1) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.56, and
131 1012.57, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
132 each district school board shall establish the minimal
133 qualifications for:
134 (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
135 programs. Qualifications shall be established for nondegreed
136 teachers of career and technical education courses for program
137 clusters that are recognized in the state and are based
138 primarily on successful occupational experience rather than
139 academic training. The qualifications for such teachers shall
140 require:
141 1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same
142 manner as required by s. 1012.32. Faculty employed solely to
143 conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
144 requirement.
145 2. Documentation of education and successful occupational
146 experience including documentation of:
147 a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
148 b. Completion of 6 years of full-time successful
149 occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
150 experience in the teaching specialization area. The district
151 school board may establish alternative qualifications for
152 teachers with an industry certification in the career area in
153 which they teach.
154 c. Completion of career education training conducted
155 through the local school district inservice master plan or
156 through an educator preparation institute approved by the State
157 Board of Education pursuant to s. 1004.85.
158 d. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
159 education training in teaching methods, course construction,
160 lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
161 students. This training may be completed through coursework from
162 an accredited or approved institution or an approved district
163 teacher education program.
164 e. Demonstration of successful teaching performance.
165 f. Documentation of industry certification when state or
166 national industry certifications are available and applicable.
167 Section 4. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
168 (7) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
169 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
170 (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
171 demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
172 (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
173 examination required by state board rule;
174 (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
175 certificate issued by another state;
176 (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
177 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
178 educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
179 Education;
180 (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
181 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
182 state university, or private college or university that awards
183 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
184 or an institution of higher education identified by the
185 Department of Education as having a quality program; or
186 (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
187 board rule, on national or international examinations that test
188 comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
189 writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
190 limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
191 reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination. Passing
192 scores identified in state board rule must be at approximately
193 the same level of rigor as is required to pass the general
194 knowledge examinations; or
195 (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
196 from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
197 the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
198 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher.
199
200 A school district that employs an individual who does not
201 achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
202 examination must provide information regarding the availability
203 of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
204 assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
205 must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
206 information guides, school district test preparation resources,
207 and preparation courses offered by state universities and
208 Florida College System institutions.
209 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
210 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
211 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
212 who fulfills one of the following:
213 1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
214 subsection (2).
215 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
216 12:
217 a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
218 (h).
219 b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
220 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
221 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
222 advanced degree.
223 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
224 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
225 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
226 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
227 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
228 examination.
229 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
230 education competency examination required by state board rule.
231 3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
232 (h) and completes a professional preparation and education
233 competence program approved by the department pursuant to
234 paragraph (8)(c) or an educator preparation institute approved
235 by the department pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who
236 completes one of these programs the program and is rated highly
237 effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
238 under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
239 score on the professional education competency examination in
240 order to be awarded a professional certificate.
241
242 Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
243 and is nonrenewable. At least 1 year before an individual’s
244 temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
245 electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
246 her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
247 which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
248 completed. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
249 allow the department to extend the validity period of a
250 temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
251 professional certificate were not completed due to the serious
252 illness or injury of the applicant, the military service of an
253 applicant’s spouse, other extraordinary extenuating
254 circumstances, or if the certificateholder is rated highly
255 effective in the immediate prior year’s performance evaluation
256 pursuant to s. 1012.34 or has completed a 2-year mentorship
257 program pursuant to s. 1012.56(8). The department shall extend
258 the temporary certificate upon approval by the Commissioner of
259 Education. A written request for extension of the certificate
260 shall be submitted by the district school superintendent, the
261 governing authority of a university lab school, the governing
262 authority of a state-supported school, or the governing
263 authority of a private school.
264 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1012.986,
265 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
266 1012.986 William Cecil Golden Professional Development
267 Program for School Leaders.—
268 (1) There is established the William Cecil Golden
269 Professional Development Program for School Leaders to provide
270 high-quality high standards and sustained support for
271 educational principals as instructional leaders. For purposes of
272 this section, “educational leader” means teacher leaders,
273 assistant principals, principals, or school district leaders.
274 The program shall consist of a collaborative network of school
275 districts, state-approved educational leadership programs,
276 regional consortia, charter management organizations, and state
277 and national professional leadership organizations to respond to
278 educational instructional leadership needs throughout the state.
279 The network shall support the human-resource development needs
280 of educational leaders principals, principal leadership teams,
281 and candidates for principal leadership positions using the
282 framework of leadership standards adopted by the State Board of
283 Education, the Southern Regional Education Board, and the
284 National Staff Development Council. The goal of the network
285 leadership program is to:
286 (a) Provide resources to support and enhance the roles of
287 educational leaders principal’s role as the instructional
288 leader.
289 (b) Maintain a clearinghouse and disseminate data-supported
290 information related to the continued enhancement of enhanced
291 student achievement and learning, civic education, coaching and
292 mentoring, mental health awareness, technology in education,
293 distance learning, and school safety, based on educational
294 research and best practices.
295 (c) Build the capacity to Increase the quality and capacity
296 of educational leadership development programs for preservice
297 education for aspiring principals and inservice professional
298 development for principals and principal leadership teams.
299 (d) Support evidence-based leadership best teaching and
300 research-based instructional practices through dissemination and
301 modeling at the preservice and inservice levels for educational
302 leaders both teachers and principals.
303 (2) The Department of Education shall coordinate through
304 the network identified in subsection (1) to offer the program
305 components through multiple delivery systems, including:
306 (a) Approved school district training programs.
307 (b) Interactive technology-based instruction.
308 (c) Regional consortium service organizations pursuant to
309 s. 1001.451.
310 (d) State, regional, university, or local educational
311 leadership academies.
312 (e) Educational leadership coaching and mentoring.
313 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.