Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1372
By the Appropriations Committee on Education; and Senators
Ingoglia, Yarborough, and Perry
602-03143-24 20241372c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to educator preparation programs;
3 amending ss. 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56, and 1012.562,
4 F.S.; prohibiting the courses and curricula of teacher
5 preparation programs, postsecondary educator
6 preparation institutes, professional learning
7 certification programs, and school leader preparation
8 programs, respectively, from distorting certain events
9 and including certain curriculum and instruction;
10 requiring teacher preparation programs, postsecondary
11 educator preparation institutes, professional learning
12 certification programs, and school leader preparation
13 programs to afford candidates certain opportunities;
14 providing an effective date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
19 section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, to read:
20 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
21 teacher preparation programs.—
22 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
23 (e) Teacher preparation program courses:
24 1. May not distort significant historical events or include
25 a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
26 violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
27 racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
28 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
29 social, political, and economic inequities.
30 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
31 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
32 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
33 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
34 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
35 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
36 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
37 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
38 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
39 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
40 of the following:
41 1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in
42 improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or
43 recertification requirements.
44 2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
45 teachers in performing their duties.
46 3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
47 education and training requirements.
48 4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
49 certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
50 increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a
51 baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not
52 education majors.
53 5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and
54 full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
55 1012.39(1)(c).
56 6.a. Instruction that does not distort significant
57 historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that
58 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on
59 theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege
60 are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
61 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
62 b. Courses and instruction within the educator preparation
63 institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think
64 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
65 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
66 Section 3. Present paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of
67 section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
68 (c), a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, and
69 paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of that section is amended, to
70 read:
71 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
72 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
73 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
74 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
75 who fulfills one of the following:
76 1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
77 subsection (2).
78 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
79 12:
80 a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
81 (h).
82 b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
83 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
84 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
85 advanced degree.
86 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
87 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
88 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
89 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
90 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
91 examination.
92 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
93 education competency examination required by state board rule.
94 3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
95 (h) and completes a professional learning certification program
96 approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c) (8)(b)
97 or an educator preparation institute approved by the department
98 pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these
99 programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or
100 her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to
101 take or achieve a passing score on the professional education
102 competency examination in order to be awarded a professional
103 certificate.
104
105 At least 1 year before an individual’s temporary certificate is
106 set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the
107 individual of the date on which his or her certificate will
108 expire and provide a list of each method by which the
109 qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed.
110 (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—
111 (b) Professional learning certification program courses:
112 1. May not distort significant historical events or include
113 curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
114 violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
115 racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
116 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
117 social, political, and economic inequities.
118 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
119 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
120 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
121 Section 4. Present subsection (4) of section 1012.562,
122 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
123 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
124 1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of school
125 leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education shall
126 establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level II
127 school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring
128 school leaders to obtain their certificate in educational
129 leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs
130 must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership
131 standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals
132 employed by public schools, including charter schools and
133 virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification
134 in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing
135 individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs
136 build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as
137 a school principal.
138 (4) PROHIBITION; REQUIREMENT.—
139 (a) A school leader preparation program may not distort
140 significant historical events or include curriculum or
141 instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05,
142 or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
143 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
144 the United States and were created to maintain social,
145 political, and economic inequities.
146 (b) A school leader preparation program must afford
147 candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program
148 content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching
149 development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts.
150 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.