Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 7000
By the Committees on Fiscal Policy; and Education Pre-K -12
594-01838-24 20247000c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to deregulation of public
3 schools/instructional, administrative, and support
4 personnel; amending s. 1002.451, F.S.; requiring
5 innovation schools of technology to comply with
6 specified provisions of law relating to instructional
7 multiyear contracts for instructional personnel in
8 addition to annual contracts; amending s. 1002.55,
9 F.S.; requiring newly hired prekindergarten
10 instructors to complete specified training within a
11 specified timeframe; deleting obsolete language;
12 amending s. 1004.88, F.S.; authorizing the Florida
13 Institute for Charter School Innovation to develop a
14 professional learning system; amending s. 1011.6202,
15 F.S.; requiring schools participating in the Principal
16 Autonomy Program Initiative to comply with specified
17 provisions of law relating to instructional multiyear
18 contracts for instructional personnel in addition to
19 annual contracts; amending s. 1012.05, F.S.;
20 authorizing, rather than requiring, district school
21 boards to base certain policies on guidelines from the
22 Department of Education; revising the frequency with
23 which school districts must submit certain information
24 to the department; amending s. 1012.07, F.S.;
25 requiring the State Board of Education to develop
26 written strategies to address critical teacher
27 shortages; making a technical change; amending s.
28 1012.22, F.S.; deleting a prohibition on district
29 school boards using advanced degrees to set salary
30 schedules for instructional personnel and school
31 administrators hired after a specified date; deleting
32 requirements relating to annual salary adjustments;
33 providing that collective bargaining may not preclude
34 a district school board from carrying out specified
35 duties; providing that if a superintendent appears
36 before the State Board of Education for a specified
37 purpose, the president of the school district
38 bargaining unit also must appear; making technical
39 changes; amending s. 1012.2315, F.S.; providing that
40 provisions of law relating to the assignment of
41 teachers apply to inexperienced teachers instead of
42 temporarily certified teachers; defining the term
43 “inexperienced teacher”; providing that a school
44 district may still provide specified incentives to
45 teachers despite collective bargaining provisions;
46 making technical changes; amending s. 1012.335, F.S.;
47 defining the term “instructional multiyear contract”;
48 providing requirements for the award of an
49 instructional multiyear contract; requiring that an
50 employee awarded an instructional multiyear contract
51 be returned to an annual contract under certain
52 conditions; making conforming and technical changes;
53 amending s. 1012.34, F.S.; requiring that procedures
54 and requirements established by the district school
55 superintendent for performance evaluations be approved
56 by the district school board; requiring the district
57 school superintendent to submit evaluation systems to
58 the department under certain circumstances; deleting a
59 requirement for the department to approve and monitor
60 each school district’s evaluation systems; revising
61 the portion of a performance evaluation that is based
62 on student performance; deleting requirements for
63 performance evaluations; providing that student
64 performance may not be the sole determinant for
65 incentive pay for instructional personnel or school
66 administrators; amending s. 1012.39, F.S.; revising an
67 occupational experience qualification requirement for
68 nondegreed teachers of career programs; deleting a
69 training requirement for full-time nondegreed teachers
70 of career programs; amending s. 1012.42, F.S.;
71 providing that a teacher is considered in-field under
72 certain circumstances; defining the term “self
73 contained classroom”; amending s. 1012.45, F.S.;
74 revising requirements for school bus drivers;
75 authorizing district school boards to adopt additional
76 requirements for school bus drivers; requiring school
77 bus drivers and school bus attendants to complete
78 training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first
79 aid; requiring school districts to maintain
80 documentation of such training; requiring district
81 school boards to provide training to school bus
82 drivers and school bus attendants relating to students
83 with disabilities; deleting a requirement for the
84 State Board of Education to adopt rules relating to
85 school bus drivers; amending s. 1012.555, F.S.;
86 revising requirements for individuals to participate
87 in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program; amending s.
88 1012.56, F.S.; adding an additional method for an
89 individual seeking an educator certification to
90 demonstrate a mastery of general knowledge;
91 authorizing school districts and consortia of school
92 districts to issue temporary certificates under
93 certain conditions; conforming a cross-reference;
94 amending s. 1012.57, F.S.; deleting a provision
95 relating to adjunct teaching certificates; amending s.
96 1012.575, F.S.; providing that certain provisions
97 relating to alternative teacher preparation programs
98 also apply to the Florida Institute for Charter School
99 Innovation; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; revising the
100 validity period for professional certificates;
101 providing eligibility requirements for 5-year and 10
102 year professional certificates; requiring the State
103 Board of Education to adopt rules to provide for the
104 transition to or renewal of a 10-year professional
105 certificate in certain situations; revising
106 requirements for the renewal of professional
107 certificates; authorizing certain private school
108 teachers to extend the expiration date of a
109 professional certificate; repealing s. 1012.72, F.S.,
110 relating to the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching
111 Program; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; conforming a
112 cross-reference; providing that provisions relating to
113 the development of a professional learning system
114 apply to the Florida Institute for Charter School
115 Innovation; making technical changes; amending ss.
116 1004.04, 1004.85, and 1012.586, F.S.; conforming
117 cross-references; providing an effective date.
118
119 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
120
121 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
122 1002.451, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
123 1002.451 District innovation school of technology program.—
124 (5) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.—
125 (a) An innovation school of technology is exempt from
126 chapters 1000-1013. However, an innovation school of technology
127 shall comply with the following provisions of those chapters:
128 1. Laws pertaining to the following:
129 a. Schools of technology, including this section.
130 b. Student assessment program and school grading system.
131 c. Services to students who have disabilities.
132 d. Civil rights, including s. 1000.05, relating to
133 discrimination.
134 e. Student health, safety, and welfare.
135 2. Laws governing the election and compensation of district
136 school board members and election or appointment and
137 compensation of district school superintendents.
138 3. Section 1003.03, governing maximum class size, except
139 that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s. 1003.03 is
140 the average at the school level.
141 4. Sections 1012.22(1)(c) and 1012.27(2), relating to
142 compensation and salary schedules.
143 5. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions,
144 for annual contracts for instructional personnel. This
145 subparagraph does not apply to at-will employees.
146 6. Section 1012.335, relating to contracts with
147 instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011, for
148 annual or instructional multiyear contracts for instructional
149 personnel. This subparagraph does not apply to at-will
150 employees.
151 7. Section 1012.34, relating to requirements for
152 performance evaluations of instructional personnel and school
153 administrators.
154 Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
155 1002.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
156 1002.55 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
157 private prekindergarten providers.—
158 (3) To be eligible to deliver the prekindergarten program,
159 a private prekindergarten provider must meet each of the
160 following requirements:
161 (c) The private prekindergarten provider must have, for
162 each prekindergarten class of 11 children or fewer, at least one
163 prekindergarten instructor who meets each of the following
164 requirements:
165 1. The prekindergarten instructor must hold, at a minimum,
166 one of the following credentials:
167 a. A child development associate credential issued by the
168 National Credentialing Program of the Council for Professional
169 Recognition; or
170 b. A credential approved by the Department of Children and
171 Families as being equivalent to or greater than the credential
172 described in sub-subparagraph a.
173
174 The Department of Children and Families may adopt rules under
175 ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which provide criteria and procedures
176 for approving equivalent credentials under sub-subparagraph b.
177 2. The prekindergarten instructor must successfully
178 complete three emergent literacy training courses that include
179 developmentally appropriate and experiential learning practices
180 for children and a student performance standards training course
181 approved by the department as meeting or exceeding the minimum
182 standards adopted under s. 1002.59. A newly hired
183 prekindergarten instructor must complete the three emergent
184 literacy training courses within 60 calendar days after being
185 hired if the instructor has not previously completed the
186 courses. The prekindergarten instructor must complete an
187 emergent literacy training course at least once every 5 years
188 after initially completing the three emergent literacy training
189 courses. The courses in this subparagraph must be recognized as
190 part of the informal early learning and career pathway
191 identified by the department under s. 1002.995(1)(b). The
192 requirement for completion of the standards training course
193 shall take effect July 1, 2022. The courses must be made
194 available online or in person.
195 Section 3. Present subsections (3) and (4) of section
196 1004.88, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
197 and (5), respectively, and a new subsection (3) is added to that
198 section, to read:
199 1004.88 Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation.—
200 (3) The institute may develop a professional learning
201 system pursuant to s. 1012.98(7).
202 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
203 1011.6202, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
204 1011.6202 Principal Autonomy Program Initiative.—The
205 Principal Autonomy Program Initiative is created within the
206 Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to
207 provide a highly effective principal of a participating school
208 with increased autonomy and authority to operate his or her
209 school, as well as other schools, in a way that produces
210 significant improvements in student achievement and school
211 management while complying with constitutional requirements. The
212 State Board of Education may, upon approval of a principal
213 autonomy proposal, enter into a performance contract with the
214 district school board for participation in the program.
215 (3) EXEMPTION FROM LAWS.—
216 (b) A participating school or a school operated by a
217 principal pursuant to subsection (5) shall comply with the
218 provisions of chapters 1000-1013, and rules of the state board
219 that implement those provisions, pertaining to the following:
220 1. Those laws relating to the election and compensation of
221 district school board members, the election or appointment and
222 compensation of district school superintendents, public meetings
223 and public records requirements, financial disclosure, and
224 conflicts of interest.
225 2. Those laws relating to the student assessment program
226 and school grading system, including chapter 1008.
227 3. Those laws relating to the provision of services to
228 students with disabilities.
229 4. Those laws relating to civil rights, including s.
230 1000.05, relating to discrimination.
231 5. Those laws relating to student health, safety, and
232 welfare.
233 6. Section 1001.42(4)(f), relating to the uniform opening
234 date for public schools.
235 7. Section 1003.03, governing maximum class size, except
236 that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s. 1003.03 is
237 the average at the school level for a participating school.
238 8. Sections 1012.22(1)(c) and 1012.27(2), relating to
239 compensation and salary schedules.
240 9. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions for
241 annual contracts for instructional personnel. This subparagraph
242 does not apply to at-will employees.
243 10. Section 1012.335, relating to annual or instructional
244 multiyear contracts for instructional personnel hired on or
245 after July 1, 2011. This subparagraph does not apply to at-will
246 employees.
247 11. Section 1012.34, relating to personnel evaluation
248 procedures and criteria.
249 12. Those laws pertaining to educational facilities,
250 including chapter 1013, except that s. 1013.20, relating to
251 covered walkways for relocatables, and s. 1013.21, relating to
252 the use of relocatable facilities exceeding 20 years of age, are
253 eligible for exemption.
254 13. Those laws pertaining to participating school
255 districts, including this section and ss. 1011.69(2) and
256 1012.28(8).
257 Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 1012.05, Florida
258 Statutes, is amended to read:
259 1012.05 Teacher recruitment and retention.—
260 (3)(a) Each school board shall adopt policies relating to
261 mentors and support for first-time teachers which may include
262 the based upon guidelines issued by the Department of Education.
263 (b) By September 15 and February 15 each school year, each
264 school district shall electronically submit accurate public
265 school e-mail addresses for all instructional and administrative
266 personnel, as identified in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), to the
267 Department of Education.
268 Section 6. Section 1012.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
269 read:
270 1012.07 Identification of critical teacher shortage areas.
271 The term “critical teacher shortage area” means high-need
272 content areas and high-priority location areas identified by the
273 State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall
274 adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to
275 annually identify critical teacher shortage areas. The state
276 board must consider current and emerging educational
277 requirements and workforce demands in determining critical
278 teacher shortage areas. School grade levels may also be
279 designated critical teacher shortage areas. Individual district
280 school boards may identify and submit other critical teacher
281 shortage areas. Such submissions must be aligned to current and
282 emerging educational requirements and workforce demands in order
283 to be approved by the State Board of Education. High-priority
284 location areas must shall be in high-density, low-economic urban
285 schools; low-density, low-economic rural schools; and schools
286 that earned a grade of “F” or three consecutive grades of “D”
287 pursuant to s. 1008.34. The State Board of Education shall
288 develop written strategies to address the critical teacher
289 shortages identified.
290 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
291 1012.22, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) is
292 added to that section, to read:
293 1012.22 Public school personnel; powers and duties of the
294 district school board.—The district school board shall:
295 (1) Designate positions to be filled, prescribe
296 qualifications for those positions, and provide for the
297 appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and dismissal
298 of employees as follows, subject to the requirements of this
299 chapter:
300 (c) Compensation and salary schedules.—
301 1. Definitions.—As used in this paragraph:
302 a. “Adjustment” means an addition to the base salary
303 schedule that is not a bonus and becomes part of the employee’s
304 permanent base salary and shall be considered compensation under
305 s. 121.021(22).
306 b. “Grandfathered salary schedule” means the salary
307 schedule or schedules adopted by a district school board before
308 July 1, 2014, pursuant to subparagraph 3 4.
309 c. “Instructional personnel” means instructional personnel
310 as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d), excluding substitute
311 teachers.
312 d. “Performance salary schedule” means the salary schedule
313 or schedules adopted by a district school board pursuant to
314 subparagraph 4 5.
315 e. “Salary schedule” means the schedule or schedules used
316 to provide the base salary for district school board personnel.
317 f. “School administrator” means a school administrator as
318 defined in s. 1012.01(3)(c).
319 g. “Supplement” means an annual addition to the base salary
320 for the term of the negotiated supplement as long as the
321 employee continues his or her employment for the purpose of the
322 supplement. A supplement does not become part of the employee’s
323 continuing base salary but shall be considered compensation
324 under s. 121.021(22).
325 2. Cost-of-living adjustment.—A district school board may
326 provide a cost-of-living salary adjustment if the adjustment:
327 a. Does not discriminate among comparable classes of
328 employees based upon the salary schedule under which they are
329 compensated.
330 b. Does not exceed 50 percent of the annual adjustment
331 provided to instructional personnel rated as effective.
332 3. Advanced degrees.—A district school board may not use
333 advanced degrees in setting a salary schedule for instructional
334 personnel or school administrators hired on or after July 1,
335 2011, unless the advanced degree is held in the individual’s
336 area of certification and is only a salary supplement.
337 4. Grandfathered salary schedule.—
338 a. The district school board shall adopt a salary schedule
339 or salary schedules to be used as the basis for paying all
340 school employees hired before July 1, 2014. Instructional
341 personnel on annual contract as of July 1, 2014, shall be placed
342 on the performance salary schedule adopted under subparagraph 4
343 5. Instructional personnel on continuing contract or
344 professional service contract may opt into the performance
345 salary schedule if the employee relinquishes such contract and
346 agrees to be employed on an annual contract under s. 1012.335.
347 Such an employee shall be placed on the performance salary
348 schedule and may not return to continuing contract or
349 professional service contract status. Any employee who opts into
350 the performance salary schedule may not return to the
351 grandfathered salary schedule.
352 b. In determining the grandfathered salary schedule for
353 instructional personnel, a district school board must base a
354 portion of each employee’s compensation upon performance
355 demonstrated under s. 1012.34 and shall provide differentiated
356 pay for both instructional personnel and school administrators
357 based upon district-determined factors, including, but not
358 limited to, additional responsibilities, school demographics,
359 critical shortage areas, and level of job performance
360 difficulties.
361 4.5. Performance salary schedule.—By July 1, 2014, the
362 district school board shall adopt a performance salary schedule
363 that provides annual salary adjustments for instructional
364 personnel and school administrators based upon performance
365 determined under s. 1012.34. Employees hired on or after July 1,
366 2014, or employees who choose to move from the grandfathered
367 salary schedule to the performance salary schedule shall be
368 compensated pursuant to the performance salary schedule once
369 they have received the appropriate performance evaluation for
370 this purpose.
371 a. Base salary.—The base salary shall be established as
372 follows:
373 (I) The base salary for instructional personnel or school
374 administrators who opt into the performance salary schedule
375 shall be the salary paid in the prior year, including
376 adjustments only.
377 (II) Instructional personnel or school administrators new
378 to the district, returning to the district after a break in
379 service without an authorized leave of absence, or appointed for
380 the first time to a position in the district in the capacity of
381 instructional personnel or school administrator shall be placed
382 on the performance salary schedule.
383 b. Salary adjustments.—Salary adjustments for highly
384 effective or effective performance shall be established as
385 follows:
386 (I) The annual salary adjustment under the performance
387 salary schedule for an employee rated as highly effective must
388 be at least 25 percent greater than the highest annual salary
389 adjustment available to an employee of the same classification
390 through any other salary schedule adopted by the district.
391 (II) The annual salary adjustment under the performance
392 salary schedule for an employee rated as effective must be equal
393 to at least 50 percent and no more than 75 percent of the annual
394 adjustment provided for a highly effective employee of the same
395 classification.
396 (II)(III) A salary schedule may shall not provide an annual
397 salary adjustment for an employee who receives a rating other
398 than highly effective or effective for the year.
399 c. Salary supplements.—In addition to the salary
400 adjustments, each district school board shall provide for salary
401 supplements for activities that must include, but are not
402 limited to:
403 (I) Assignment to a Title I eligible school.
404 (II) Assignment to a school that earned a grade of “F” or
405 three consecutive grades of “D” pursuant to s. 1008.34 such that
406 the supplement remains in force for at least 1 year following
407 improved performance in that school.
408 (III) Certification and teaching in critical teacher
409 shortage areas. Statewide critical teacher shortage areas shall
410 be identified by the State Board of Education under s. 1012.07.
411 However, the district school board may identify other areas of
412 critical shortage within the school district for purposes of
413 this sub-sub-subparagraph and may remove areas identified by the
414 state board which do not apply within the school district.
415 (IV) Assignment of additional academic responsibilities.
416
417 If budget constraints in any given year limit a district school
418 board’s ability to fully fund all adopted salary schedules, the
419 performance salary schedule may shall not be reduced on the
420 basis of total cost or the value of individual awards in a
421 manner that is proportionally greater than reductions to any
422 other salary schedules adopted by the district. Any compensation
423 for longevity of service awarded to instructional personnel who
424 are on any other salary schedule must be included in calculating
425 the salary adjustments required by sub-subparagraph b.
426 (3)(a) Collective bargaining.—Notwithstanding provisions of
427 chapter 447 related to district school board collective
428 bargaining, collective bargaining may not preclude a district
429 school board from carrying out its constitutional and statutory
430 duties related to the following:
431 1. Providing incentives to effective and highly effective
432 teachers.
433 2. Implementing school improvement plans under s. 1008.33
434 to address the causes of low student performance and improve
435 student academic performance and attendance.
436 3. Implementing student discipline provisions required by
437 law, including a review of a student’s abilities, past
438 performance, behavior, and needs.
439 4. Implementing school safety plans and requirements.
440 5. Implementing staff and student recognition programs.
441 6. Distributing correspondence to parents, teachers, and
442 community members related to the daily operation of schools and
443 the district.
444 7. Providing any required notice or copies of information
445 related to the district school board or district operations
446 which is readily available on the school district’s website.
447 8. The school district’s calendar.
448 9. The award of instructional multiyear contracts under s.
449 1012.335.
450 (b) Appearances before the board.—If a district school
451 superintendent appears before the state board to provide an
452 update under s. 1011.62(14)(e), the state board must require
453 that the president of the school district bargaining unit also
454 must appear.
455 Section 8. Subsections (1) and (2) and paragraph (a) of
456 subsection (4) of section 1012.2315, Florida Statutes, are
457 amended to read:
458 1012.2315 Assignment of teachers.—
459 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds
460 disparities between teachers assigned to teach in a majority of
461 schools that do not need improvement and schools that do need
462 improvement pursuant to s. 1008.33. The disparities may be found
463 in the assignment of inexperienced temporarily certified
464 teachers, teachers in need of improvement, and out-of-field
465 teachers and in the performance of the students. It is the
466 intent of the Legislature that district school boards have
467 flexibility through the collective bargaining process to assign
468 teachers more equitably across the schools in the district.
469 (2) ASSIGNMENT TO SCHOOLS GRADED “D” OR “F”.—
470 (a) A school district may not assign a higher percentage
471 than the school district average of inexperienced temporarily
472 certified teachers, teachers in need of improvement, or out-of
473 field teachers to schools graded “D” or “F” pursuant to s.
474 1008.34. As used in this section, the term “inexperienced
475 teacher” means a teacher who has been teaching for 2 years or
476 less.
477 (b)1. A school district may assign an individual newly
478 hired as instructional personnel to a school that has earned a
479 grade of “F” in the previous year or any combination of three
480 consecutive grades of “D” or “F” in the previous 3 years
481 pursuant to s. 1008.34 if the individual:
482 a. Has received an effective rating or highly effective
483 rating in the immediate prior year’s performance evaluation
484 pursuant to s. 1012.34;
485 b. Has successfully completed or is enrolled in a teacher
486 preparation program pursuant to s. 1004.04, s. 1004.85, or s.
487 1012.56, or a teacher preparation program specified in State
488 Board of Education rule, is provided with high quality mentoring
489 during the first 2 years of employment, holds a certificate
490 issued pursuant to s. 1012.56, and holds a probationary contract
491 pursuant to s. 1012.335(2)(a); or
492 c. Holds a probationary contract pursuant to s.
493 1012.335(2)(a), holds a certificate issued pursuant to s.
494 1012.56, and has successful teaching experience, and if, in the
495 judgment of the school principal, students would benefit from
496 the placement of that individual.
497 2. As used in this paragraph, the term “mentoring” includes
498 the use of student achievement data combined with at least
499 monthly observations to improve the educator’s effectiveness in
500 improving student outcomes. Mentoring may be provided by a
501 school district, a teacher preparation program approved pursuant
502 to s. 1004.04, s. 1004.85, or s. 1012.56, or a teacher
503 preparation program specified in State Board of Education rule.
504
505 Each school district shall annually certify to the Commissioner
506 of Education that the requirements in this subsection have been
507 met. If the commissioner determines that a school district is
508 not in compliance with this subsection, the State Board of
509 Education must shall be notified and must shall take action
510 pursuant to s. 1008.32 in the next regularly scheduled meeting
511 to require compliance.
512 (4) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.—
513 (a) Notwithstanding provisions of chapter 447 relating to
514 district school board collective bargaining, collective
515 bargaining provisions may not preclude a school district from
516 providing incentives to high-quality teachers and assigning such
517 teachers to low-performing schools, including incentives in s.
518 1011.69(4).
519 Section 9. Present paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1)
520 of section 1012.335, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
521 paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is
522 added to that subsection, paragraphs (d) and (e) are added to
523 subsection (2) of that section, and subsections (3) and (4) of
524 that section are amended, to read:
525 1012.335 Contracts with instructional personnel hired on or
526 after July 1, 2011.—
527 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
528 (b) “Instructional multiyear contract,” beginning July 1,
529 2025, means an employment contract for a period not to exceed 3
530 years which the district school board may choose to award upon
531 completion of a probationary contract and at least one annual
532 contract.
533 (2) EMPLOYMENT.—
534 (d) An instructional multiyear contract may be awarded,
535 beginning July 1, 2025, only if the employee:
536 1. Holds an active professional certificate or temporary
537 certificate issued pursuant to s. 1012.56 and rules of the State
538 Board of Education;
539 2. Has been recommended by the district school
540 superintendent for the instructional multiyear contract based
541 upon the individual’s evaluation under s. 1012.34 and approved
542 by the district school board; and
543 3. Has not received an annual performance evaluation rating
544 of unsatisfactory or needs improvement under s. 1012.34.
545 (e) An employee awarded an instructional multiyear contract
546 who receives an annual performance evaluation rating of
547 unsatisfactory or needs improvement under s. 1012.34 must be
548 returned to an annual contract in the following school year.
549 Such evaluation rating must be included with the evaluation
550 ratings under subsequent annual contracts for determinations of
551 just cause under s. 1012.33.
552 (3) VIOLATION OF ANNUAL OR INSTRUCTIONAL MULTIYEAR
553 CONTRACT.—Instructional personnel who accept a written offer
554 from the district school board and who leave their positions
555 without prior release from the district school board are subject
556 to the jurisdiction of the Education Practices Commission.
557 (4) SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL OF INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL ON
558 ANNUAL OR INSTRUCTIONAL MULTIYEAR CONTRACT.—Any instructional
559 personnel with an annual or instructional multiyear contract may
560 be suspended or dismissed at any time during the term of the
561 contract for just cause as provided in subsection (5). The
562 district school board shall notify the employee in writing
563 whenever charges are made and may suspend such person without
564 pay. However, if the charges are not sustained, the employee
565 must shall be immediately reinstated and his or her back pay
566 must shall be paid. If the employee wishes to contest the
567 charges, he or she must, within 15 days after receipt of the
568 written notice, submit a written request for a hearing to the
569 district school board. A direct hearing must shall be conducted
570 by the district school board or a subcommittee thereof within 60
571 days after receipt of the written appeal. The hearing must shall
572 be conducted in accordance with ss. 120.569 and 120.57. A
573 majority vote of the membership of the district school board
574 shall be required to sustain the district school
575 superintendent’s recommendation. The district school board’s
576 determination is final as to the sufficiency or insufficiency of
577 the grounds for suspension without pay or dismissal. Any such
578 decision adverse to the employee may be appealed by the employee
579 pursuant to s. 120.68.
580 Section 10. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) and
581 paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 1012.34, Florida
582 Statutes, are amended, and paragraph (c) is added to subsection
583 (7) of that section, to read:
584 1012.34 Personnel evaluation procedures and criteria.—
585 (1) EVALUATION SYSTEM APPROVAL AND REPORTING.—
586 (a) For the purpose of increasing student academic
587 performance by improving the quality of instructional,
588 administrative, and supervisory services in the public schools
589 of this the state, the district school superintendent shall
590 establish procedures for evaluating the performance of duties
591 and responsibilities of all instructional, administrative, and
592 supervisory personnel employed by the school district. The
593 procedures and requirements in subsection (3) must be
594 established by the district school superintendent and approved
595 by the district school board, must set the standards of service
596 to be offered to the public within the meaning of s. 447.209,
597 and are not subject to collective bargaining. The district
598 school superintendent shall provide instructional personnel the
599 opportunity to review their class rosters for accuracy and to
600 correct any mistakes. The district school superintendent shall
601 report accurate class rosters for the purpose of calculating
602 district and statewide student performance and annually report
603 the evaluation results of instructional personnel and school
604 administrators to the Department of Education in addition to the
605 information required under subsection (5).
606 (b) The district school superintendent must submit the
607 district instructional personnel and school administrator
608 evaluation systems to the department whenever the evaluation
609 systems in subsection (2) are amended department must approve
610 each school district’s instructional personnel and school
611 administrator evaluation systems. The department shall monitor
612 each district’s implementation of its instructional personnel
613 and school administrator evaluation systems for compliance with
614 the requirements of this section.
615 (3) EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA.—Instructional
616 personnel and school administrator performance evaluations must
617 be based upon the performance of students assigned to their
618 classrooms or schools, as provided in this section. Pursuant to
619 this section, a school district’s performance evaluation system
620 is not limited to basing unsatisfactory performance of
621 instructional personnel and school administrators solely upon
622 student performance, but may include other criteria to evaluate
623 instructional personnel and school administrators’ performance,
624 or any combination of student performance and other criteria.
625 Evaluation procedures and criteria must comply with, but are not
626 limited to, the following:
627 (a) A performance evaluation must be conducted for each
628 employee at least once a year, except that a classroom teacher,
629 as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), excluding substitute teachers,
630 who is newly hired by the district school board must be observed
631 and evaluated at least twice in the first year of teaching in
632 the school district. The performance evaluation must be based
633 upon sound educational principles and contemporary research in
634 effective educational practices. The evaluation criteria must
635 include:
636 1. Performance of students.—At least one-half one-third of
637 a performance evaluation must be based upon data and indicators
638 of student performance, as determined by each school district.
639 This portion of the evaluation must include growth or
640 achievement data of the teacher’s students or, for a school
641 administrator, the students attending the school over the course
642 of at least 3 years. If less than 3 years of data are available,
643 the years for which data are available must be used. The
644 proportion of growth or achievement data may be determined by
645 instructional assignment.
646 2. Instructional practice.—For instructional personnel, at
647 least one-third of the performance evaluation must be based upon
648 instructional practice. Evaluation criteria used when annually
649 observing classroom teachers, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a),
650 excluding substitute teachers, must include indicators based
651 upon each of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices adopted
652 by the State Board of Education. For instructional personnel who
653 are not classroom teachers, evaluation criteria must be based
654 upon indicators of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices
655 and may include specific job expectations related to student
656 support. This section does not preclude a school administrator
657 from visiting and observing classroom teachers throughout the
658 school year for purposes of providing mentorship, training,
659 instructional feedback, or professional learning.
660 3. Instructional leadership.—For school administrators, at
661 least one-third of the performance evaluation must be based on
662 instructional leadership. Evaluation criteria for instructional
663 leadership must include indicators based upon each of the
664 leadership standards adopted by the State Board of Education
665 under s. 1012.986, including performance measures related to the
666 effectiveness of classroom teachers in the school, the
667 administrator’s appropriate use of evaluation criteria and
668 procedures, recruitment and retention of effective and highly
669 effective classroom teachers, improvement in the percentage of
670 instructional personnel evaluated at the highly effective or
671 effective level, and other leadership practices that result in
672 student learning growth. The system may include a means to give
673 parents and instructional personnel an opportunity to provide
674 input into the administrator’s performance evaluation.
675 4. Other indicators of performance.—For instructional
676 personnel and school administrators, the remainder of a
677 performance evaluation may include, but is not limited to,
678 professional and job responsibilities as recommended by the
679 State Board of Education or identified by the district school
680 board and, for instructional personnel, peer reviews,
681 objectively reliable survey information from students and
682 parents based on teaching practices that are consistently
683 associated with higher student achievement, and other valid and
684 reliable measures of instructional practice.
685 (7) MEASUREMENT OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE.—
686 (c) The measurement of student learning growth under
687 paragraph (a) may not be the sole determinant for any incentive
688 pay for instructional personnel or school administrators.
689 Section 11. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
690 1012.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
691 1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
692 adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
693 career specialists; students performing clinical field
694 experience.—
695 (1) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.56, and
696 1012.57, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
697 each district school board shall establish the minimal
698 qualifications for:
699 (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
700 programs. Qualifications must be established for nondegreed
701 teachers of career and technical education courses for program
702 clusters that are recognized in the state and are based
703 primarily on successful occupational experience rather than
704 academic training. The qualifications for such teachers must
705 require:
706 1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same
707 manner as required by s. 1012.32. Faculty employed solely to
708 conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
709 requirement.
710 2. Documentation of education and successful occupational
711 experience including documentation of:
712 a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
713 b. Completion of a minimum level, established by the
714 district school board, 3 years of full-time successful
715 occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
716 experience in the teaching specialization area. The district
717 school board may establish alternative qualifications for
718 teachers with an industry certification in the career area in
719 which they teach.
720 c. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
721 education training in teaching methods, course construction,
722 lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
723 students. This training may be completed through coursework from
724 an accredited or approved institution or an approved district
725 teacher education program, or the local school district
726 inservice master plan.
727 d. Documentation of industry certification when state or
728 national industry certifications are available and applicable.
729 Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 1012.42, Florida
730 Statutes, is amended to read:
731 1012.42 Teacher teaching out-of-field.—
732 (1) ASSISTANCE.—
733 (a) Each district school board shall adopt and implement a
734 plan to assist any teacher teaching out-of-field, and priority
735 consideration in professional development activities shall be
736 given to a teacher who is teaching out-of-field. The district
737 school board shall require that the teacher participate in a
738 certification or staff development program designed to provide
739 the teacher with the competencies required for the assigned
740 duties. The board-approved assistance plan must include duties
741 of administrative personnel and other instructional personnel to
742 provide students with instructional services.
743 (b) A teacher who holds an educator certificate in
744 exceptional student education is considered in-field if he or
745 she is teaching in a self-contained classroom. For the purpose
746 of this paragraph, the term “self-contained classroom” means a
747 classroom of exceptional students as defined in s. 1003.01
748 taught by an educator who holds a certificate in exceptional
749 student education and who is responsible for instruction of all
750 academic subjects.
751 Section 13. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1012.45,
752 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
753 1012.45 School bus drivers; requirements and duties.—
754 (1) Each school bus driver must be of good moral character,
755 of good vision and hearing, able-bodied, free from communicable
756 disease, mentally alert, and sufficiently strong physically to
757 handle the bus with ease, and must meet he or she must possess
758 other qualifications prescribed by the Commissioner of
759 Education, including those qualifications described in 49 C.F.R.
760 s. 391, relating to physical qualifications and examinations,
761 and 49 C.F.R. part 40 and part 382, relating to controlled
762 substance and alcohol use and testing, and he or she must hold a
763 valid commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement.
764 (3) Each district school board shall require that school
765 bus drivers and school bus attendants complete a certified
766 cardiopulmonary resuscitation course and first aid training
767 before being employed as a school bus driver or a school bus
768 attendant. The school district shall maintain documentation of
769 the completion of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation course and
770 first aid training. Each district school board must also provide
771 training to school bus drivers and school bus attendants for
772 students with disabilities under s. 1003.57. Each district
773 school board may adopt additional The State Board of Education
774 shall adopt rules outlining requirements that school bus drivers
775 must meet to be before they are employed by district school
776 boards.
777 Section 14. Subsection (2) and paragraph (a) of subsection
778 (3) of section 1012.555, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
779 1012.555 Teacher Apprenticeship Program.—
780 (2)(a) An individual must meet the following minimum
781 eligibility requirements to participate in the apprenticeship
782 program:
783 1. Be enrolled in or have completed Have received an
784 associate degree program at from an accredited postsecondary
785 institution.
786 2. Have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 3.0
787 in that degree program.
788 3. Have successfully passed a background screening as
789 provided in s. 1012.32.
790 4. Have received a temporary apprenticeship certificate as
791 provided in s. 1012.56(7)(d).
792 (b) As a condition of participating in the program, an
793 apprentice teacher must commit to spending at least the first 2
794 years in the classroom of a mentor teacher using team teaching
795 strategies identified in s. 1003.03(5)(b) and fulfilling the on
796 the-job training component of the registered apprenticeship and
797 its associated standards.
798 (c) An apprentice teacher must do both of the following:
799 1. Complete at least 2 years in an apprenticeship before
800 being eligible to apply for a professional certificate
801 established in s. 1012.56(7)(a). Completion of the Teacher
802 Apprenticeship Program does not exempt an apprentice teacher
803 from the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(c).
804 2. Receive related instruction as provided in s. 446.051.
805 (d) An apprentice teacher must be appointed by the district
806 school board as an education paraprofessional and must be paid
807 in accordance with s. 446.032 and rules adopted by the State
808 Board of Education.
809 (e) An apprentice teacher may change schools or districts
810 after the first year of his or her apprenticeship if the hiring
811 school or district has agreed to fund the remaining year of the
812 apprenticeship.
813 (3) A teacher who serves as a mentor in the apprenticeship
814 program shall mentor his or her apprentice teacher using team
815 teaching strategies and must, at a minimum, meet all of the
816 following requirements:
817 (a) Have at least 5 7 years of teaching experience in this
818 state.
819 Section 15. Subsections (3) and (7) and paragraph (a) of
820 subsection (8) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended
821 to read:
822 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
823 (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
824 demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
825 (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
826 examination required by state board rule;
827 (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
828 certificate issued by another state;
829 (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
830 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
831 educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
832 Education;
833 (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
834 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
835 state university, or private college or university that awards
836 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
837 or an institution of higher education identified by the
838 Department of Education as having a quality program;
839 (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
840 board rule, on national or international examinations that test
841 comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
842 writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
843 limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
844 reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination. Passing
845 scores identified in state board rule must be at approximately
846 the same level of rigor as is required to pass the general
847 knowledge examinations; or
848 (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
849 from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
850 the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
851 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher; or
852 (g) Documentation of a rating of effective or highly
853 effective under s. 1012.34 in each year of the validity period
854 of the temporary certificate.
855
856 A school district that employs an individual who does not
857 achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
858 examination must provide information regarding the availability
859 of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
860 assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
861 must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
862 information guides, school district test preparation resources,
863 and preparation courses offered by state universities and
864 Florida College System institutions. The requirement of mastery
865 of general knowledge shall be waived for an individual who has
866 been provided 3 years of supports and instruction and who has
867 been rated effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 for
868 each of the last 3 years.
869 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
870 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
871 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
872 who fulfills one of the following:
873 1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
874 subsection (2).
875 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
876 12:
877 a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
878 (h).
879 b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
880 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
881 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
882 advanced degree.
883 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
884 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
885 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
886 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
887 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
888 examination.
889 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
890 education competency examination required by state board rule.
891 3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
892 (h) and completes a professional learning certification program
893 approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) or an
894 educator preparation institute approved by the department
895 pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these
896 programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or
897 her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to
898 take or achieve a passing score on the professional education
899 competency examination in order to be awarded a professional
900 certificate.
901 (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to
902 any applicant who:
903 1. Completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs
904 (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content requirements
905 specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject
906 area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and holds an
907 accredited degree or a degree approved by the Department of
908 Education at the level required for the subject area
909 specialization in state board rule;
910 2. For a subject area specialization for which the state
911 board otherwise requires a bachelor’s degree, documents 48
912 months of active-duty military service with an honorable
913 discharge or a medical separation; completes the requirements
914 outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (d)-(f); completes the
915 subject area content requirements specified in state board rule
916 or demonstrates mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to
917 subsection (5); and documents completion of 60 college credits
918 with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0
919 scale, as provided by one or more accredited institutions of
920 higher learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher
921 learning identified by the Department of Education as having a
922 quality program resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher; or
923 3. Is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation
924 program under s. 1004.04; is actively completing the required
925 program field experience or internship at a public school;
926 completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b),
927 and (d)-(f); completes the subject area content requirements
928 specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject
929 area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5); and documents
930 completion of 60 college credits with a minimum cumulative grade
931 point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as provided by one or more
932 accredited institutions of higher learning or a nonaccredited
933 institution of higher learning identified by the Department of
934 Education as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s
935 degree or higher.
936 (c) The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2-year
937 temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5-year professional
938 certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor’s
939 degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
940 completion of a master’s degree program in speech-language
941 impairment.
942 (d) The department shall issue a temporary apprenticeship
943 certificate to any applicant who:
944 1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and
945 (d)-(f).
946 2. Completes the subject area content requirements
947 specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject
948 area knowledge as provided in subsection (5).
949 (e) A person who is issued a temporary certificate under
950 paragraph (b) must be assigned a teacher mentor for a minimum of
951 2 school years after commencing employment. Each teacher mentor
952 selected by the school district, charter school, or charter
953 management organization must:
954 1. Hold a valid professional certificate issued pursuant to
955 this section;
956 2. Have earned at least 3 years of teaching experience in
957 prekindergarten through grade 12; and
958 3. Have earned an effective or highly effective rating on
959 the prior year’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34.
960 (f)1. A temporary certificate is valid for 5 school fiscal
961 years, is limited to a one-time issuance, and is nonrenewable.
962 2. A temporary apprenticeship certificate issued under
963 paragraph (d) is valid for 5 school years, may be issued only
964 once, and is nonrenewable.
965 (g) A school district or a consortium of school districts
966 may issue temporary certificates based on the requirements in
967 paragraph (b). School districts or a consortium of school
968 districts must report the number of such certificates issued,
969 and any additional information to the department, based on
970 reporting requirements adopted by the State Board of Education.
971
972 At least 1 year before an individual’s department-issued
973 temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
974 electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
975 her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
976 which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
977 completed.
978 (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—
979 (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
980 school district, charter school, and charter management
981 organization may provide a cohesive competency-based
982 professional learning certification program by which
983 instructional staff may satisfy the mastery of professional
984 preparation and education competence requirements specified in
985 subsection (6) and rules of the State Board of Education.
986 Participants must hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A
987 school district, charter school, or charter management
988 organization that implements the program shall provide a
989 competency-based certification program developed by the
990 Department of Education or developed by the district, charter
991 school, or charter management organization and approved by the
992 Department of Education. These entities may collaborate with
993 other supporting agencies or educational entities for
994 implementation. The program shall include the following:
995 1. A teacher mentorship and induction component.
996 a. Each individual selected by the district, charter
997 school, or charter management organization as a mentor:
998 (I) Must hold a valid professional certificate issued
999 pursuant to this section;
1000 (II) Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching
1001 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12;
1002 (III) Must have completed training in clinical supervision
1003 and participate in ongoing mentor training provided through the
1004 coordinated system of professional learning under s. 1012.98(4);
1005 (IV) Must have earned an effective or highly effective
1006 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation; and
1007 (V) May be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
1008 system approved under s. 1012.34.
1009 b. The teacher mentorship and induction component must, at
1010 a minimum, provide routine opportunities for mentoring and
1011 induction activities, including ongoing professional learning as
1012 described in s. 1012.98 targeted to a teacher’s needs,
1013 opportunities for a teacher to observe other teachers, co
1014 teaching experiences, and reflection and follow-up followup
1015 discussions. Professional learning must meet the criteria
1016 established in s. 1012.98(3). Mentorship and induction
1017 activities must be provided for an applicant’s first year in the
1018 program and may be provided until the applicant attains his or
1019 her professional certificate in accordance with this section.
1020 2. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
1021 district’s, charter school’s, or charter management
1022 organization’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
1023 which provides for:
1024 a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
1025 determine an appropriate individualized professional learning
1026 plan.
1027 b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
1028 of the program.
1029 3. Professional education preparation content knowledge,
1030 which must be included in the mentoring and induction activities
1031 under subparagraph 1., that includes, but is not limited to, the
1032 following:
1033 a. The state academic standards provided under s. 1003.41,
1034 including scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
1035 instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading,
1036 content literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject
1037 identified on the temporary certificate. Reading instructional
1038 strategies for foundational skills shall include phonics
1039 instruction for decoding and encoding as the primary
1040 instructional strategy for word reading. Instructional
1041 strategies may not employ the three-cueing system model of
1042 reading or visual memory as a basis for teaching word reading.
1043 Instructional strategies may include visual information and
1044 strategies which improve background and experiential knowledge,
1045 add context, and increase oral language and vocabulary to
1046 support comprehension, but may not be used to teach word
1047 reading.
1048 b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
1049 state board.
1050 4. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
1051 area and professional education competency examination required
1052 by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
1053 must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
1054 5. Beginning with candidates entering a program in the
1055 2022-2023 school year, a candidate for certification in a
1056 coverage area identified pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(g) s.
1057 1012.585(3)(f) must successfully complete all competencies for a
1058 reading endorsement, including completion of the endorsement
1059 practicum.
1060 Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 1012.57, Florida
1061 Statutes, is amended to read:
1062 1012.57 Certification of adjunct educators.—
1063 (4) Each adjunct teaching certificate is valid through the
1064 term of the annual contract between the educator and the school
1065 district or charter school. An additional annual certification
1066 and an additional annual contract may be awarded by the district
1067 or charter school at the district’s or charter school’s
1068 discretion but only if the applicant is rated effective or
1069 highly effective under s. 1012.34 during each year of teaching
1070 under adjunct teaching certification. A school district and
1071 charter school may issue an adjunct teaching certificate for a
1072 part-time or full-time teaching position; however, an adjunct
1073 teaching certificate issued for a full-time teaching position is
1074 valid for no more than 5 years and is nonrenewable.
1075 Section 17. Section 1012.575, Florida Statutes, is amended
1076 to read:
1077 1012.575 Alternative preparation programs for certified
1078 teachers to add additional coverage.—A district school board, or
1079 an organization of private schools, or a consortium of charter
1080 schools with an approved professional learning system as
1081 described in s. 1012.98(7), or the Florida Institute for Charter
1082 School Innovation may design alternative teacher preparation
1083 programs to enable persons already certificated to add an
1084 additional coverage to their certificates. Each alternative
1085 teacher preparation program shall be reviewed and approved by
1086 the Department of Education to ensure assure that persons who
1087 complete the program are competent in the necessary areas of
1088 subject matter specialization. Two or more school districts may
1089 jointly participate in an alternative preparation program for
1090 teachers.
1091 Section 18. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) and paragraph (b)
1092 of subsection (5) of section 1012.585, Florida Statutes, are
1093 amended to read:
1094 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
1095 (2)(a) All professional certificates, except a nonrenewable
1096 professional certificate, are shall be renewable for successive
1097 periods not to exceed 10 5 years after the date of submission of
1098 documentation of completion of the requirements for renewal
1099 provided in subsection (3). Only one renewal may be granted
1100 during each 5-year or 10-year validity period of a professional
1101 certificate.
1102 1. An applicant who is rated highly effective, pursuant to
1103 s. 1012.34, in at least 4 years of the 5-year validity period of
1104 his or her professional certificate is eligible for a
1105 professional certificate valid for 10 years. An applicant must
1106 be issued at least one 5-year professional certificate to be
1107 eligible for a 10-year professional certificate. An applicant
1108 who does not meet the requirement of this subparagraph is
1109 eligible only to renew his or her 5-year professional
1110 certificate.
1111 2. An applicant who is rated effective or highly effective,
1112 pursuant to s. 1012.34, for the entirety of the 10-year validity
1113 period of his or her professional certificate is eligible to
1114 renew a professional certificate valid for 10 years. An
1115 applicant issued a 10-year professional certificate who does not
1116 meet the requirement of this subparagraph is eligible only for
1117 renewal of a professional certificate valid for 5 years.
1118 (b) A teacher with national certification from the National
1119 Board for Professional Teaching Standards is deemed to meet
1120 state renewal requirements for the life of the teacher’s
1121 national certificate in the subject shown on the national
1122 certificate. A complete renewal application and fee shall be
1123 submitted. The Commissioner of Education shall notify teachers
1124 of the renewal application and fee requirements.
1125 (c) If the renewal application form is not received by the
1126 department or by the employing school district before the
1127 expiration of the professional certificate, the application
1128 form, application fee, and a late fee must be submitted before
1129 July 1 of the year following expiration of the certificate in
1130 order to renew the professional certificate.
1131 (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow
1132 a 1-year extension of the validity period of a professional
1133 certificate in the event of serious illness, injury, or other
1134 extraordinary extenuating circumstances of the applicant. The
1135 department shall grant such 1-year extension upon written
1136 request by the applicant or by the district school
1137 superintendent or the governing authority of a university lab
1138 school, state-supported school, or private school that employs
1139 the applicant.
1140 (e) The State Board of Education must adopt rules that
1141 provide a process for transition from a 5-year to a 10-year
1142 professional certificate or for renewal of a 10-year
1143 professional certificate if student performance results are not
1144 available to complete a performance evaluation in time to apply
1145 for or renew the 10-year professional certificate. Such rules
1146 must authorize a school district or the department, as
1147 applicable, to provide an extension to the validity period of
1148 the professional certificate or to convert a 5-year to a 10-year
1149 professional certificate once an evaluation is completed.
1150 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
1151 following requirements must be met:
1152 (a) The applicant must:
1153 1. Earn a minimum of 6 college credits or 120 inservice
1154 points or a combination thereof for a certificate valid for 5
1155 years. The district school board may reduce the requirements by
1156 1 college credit or 20 inservice points for an applicant rated
1157 highly effective, pursuant to s. 1012.34, in at least 3 of the 5
1158 years of the 5-year validity period of his or her initial
1159 professional certificate.
1160 2. Earn a minimum of 9 college credits or 180 inservice
1161 points or a combination thereof for a professional certificate
1162 valid for 10 years. A minimum of 6 college credits or 90
1163 inservice points or a combination thereof must be earned within
1164 the first 5 years of a professional certificate valid for 10
1165 years.
1166 (b) For each area of specialization to be retained on a
1167 certificate, the applicant must earn at least 3 of the required
1168 credit hours or equivalent inservice points in the
1169 specialization area. Education in “clinical educator” training
1170 pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b); participation in mentorship and
1171 induction activities, including as a mentor, pursuant to s.
1172 1012.56(8)(a); and credits or points that provide training in
1173 the area of scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading
1174 literacy grounded in the science of reading, including explicit,
1175 systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction,
1176 developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory
1177 intervention strategies, and computational skills acquisition,
1178 exceptional student education, normal child development, and the
1179 disorders of development may be applied toward any
1180 specialization area. Credits or points that provide training in
1181 the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in
1182 teaching students having limited proficiency in English, or
1183 dropout prevention, or training in areas identified in the
1184 educational goals and performance standards adopted pursuant to
1185 ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be applied toward any
1186 specialization area, except specialization areas identified by
1187 State Board of Education rule that include reading instruction
1188 or intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade
1189 6. Each district school board shall include in its inservice
1190 master plan the ability for teachers to receive inservice points
1191 for supporting students in extracurricular career and technical
1192 education activities, such as career and technical student
1193 organization activities outside of regular school hours and
1194 training related to supervising students participating in a
1195 career and technical student organization. Credits or points
1196 earned through approved summer institutes may be applied toward
1197 the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also
1198 be earned by participation in professional growth components
1199 approved by the State Board of Education and specified pursuant
1200 to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved master plan for
1201 inservice educational training; however, such points may not be
1202 used to satisfy the specialization requirements of this
1203 paragraph.
1204 (c)(b) In lieu of college course credit or inservice
1205 points, the applicant may renew a subject area specialization by
1206 passage of a state board approved Florida-developed subject area
1207 examination or, if a Florida subject area examination has not
1208 been developed, a standardized examination specified in state
1209 board rule.
1210 (d)(c) If an applicant wishes to retain more than two
1211 specialization areas on the certificate, the applicant must
1212 shall be permitted two successive validity periods for renewal
1213 of all specialization areas, but must earn no fewer than 6
1214 college course credit hours or the equivalent inservice points
1215 in any one validity period. If an applicant with an initial
1216 professional certificate qualifies for reduced requirements
1217 under paragraph (a), he or she must earn no fewer than 5 college
1218 course credit hours or 100 inservice points in any one validity
1219 period.
1220 (e)(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
1221 the expanded use of training for renewal of the professional
1222 certificate for educators who are required to complete training
1223 in teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
1224 with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading as
1225 follows:
1226 1. A teacher who holds a professional certificate may use
1227 college credits or inservice points earned through training in
1228 teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
1229 with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading in
1230 excess of 6 semester hours during one certificate-validity
1231 period toward renewal of the professional certificate during the
1232 subsequent validity periods.
1233 2. A teacher who holds a temporary certificate may use
1234 college credits or inservice points earned through training in
1235 teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
1236 with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading toward
1237 renewal of the teacher’s first professional certificate. Such
1238 training must not have been included within the degree program,
1239 and the teacher’s temporary and professional certificates must
1240 be issued for consecutive school years.
1241 (f)(e) Beginning July 1, 2014, an applicant for renewal of
1242 a professional certificate must earn a minimum of one college
1243 credit or the equivalent inservice points in the area of
1244 instruction for teaching students with disabilities. The
1245 requirement in this paragraph may not add to the total hours
1246 required by the department for continuing education or inservice
1247 training.
1248 (g)(f) An applicant for renewal of a professional
1249 certificate in any area of certification identified by State
1250 Board of Education rule that includes reading instruction or
1251 intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade 6,
1252 with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter,
1253 must earn a minimum of 2 college credits or the equivalent
1254 inservice points in evidence-based instruction and interventions
1255 grounded in the science of reading specifically designed for
1256 students with characteristics of dyslexia, including the use of
1257 explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading
1258 instruction, developing phonological and phonemic awareness,
1259 decoding, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.
1260 Such training must be provided by teacher preparation programs
1261 under s. 1004.04 or s. 1004.85 or approved school district
1262 professional development systems under s. 1012.98. The
1263 requirements in this paragraph may not add to the total hours
1264 required by the department for continuing education or inservice
1265 training.
1266 (h)(g) An applicant for renewal of a professional
1267 certificate in educational leadership from a Level I program
1268 under s. 1012.562(2) or Level II program under s. 1012.562(3),
1269 with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2025, or thereafter,
1270 must earn a minimum of 1 college credit or 20 inservice points
1271 in Florida’s educational leadership standards, as established in
1272 rule by the State Board of Education. The requirement in this
1273 paragraph may not add to the total hours required by the
1274 department for continuing education or inservice training.
1275 (i)(h) A teacher may earn inservice points only once during
1276 each 5-year validity period for any mandatory training topic
1277 that is not linked to student learning or professional growth.
1278 (4)(a) When any person who holds a valid temporary
1279 certificate or professional certificate is called into or
1280 volunteers for actual wartime service or required peacetime
1281 military service training, the certificate shall be renewed for
1282 a period of time equal to the time spent in military service if
1283 the person makes proper application and presents substantiating
1284 evidence to the department or the employing school district
1285 regarding such military service.
1286 (b) A teacher who has taught in a private school during the
1287 5-year validity period of his or her professional certificate
1288 and is subsequently reemployed to teach in a school district may
1289 extend the expiration date of the certificate for a duration
1290 equivalent to the number of years taught at a private school, up
1291 to a maximum of 3 years. This extension is granted in order for
1292 the teacher to submit documentation for his or her completion of
1293 the requirements outlined in subsection (3). The teacher must
1294 submit documentation of employment in a school district or in a
1295 private school in a format determined by the department.
1296 (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow
1297 the reinstatement of expired professional certificates. The
1298 department may reinstate an expired professional certificate if
1299 the certificateholder:
1300 (b) Documents completion of 6 college credits during the 5
1301 years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired
1302 certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a
1303 combination thereof, in an area specified in paragraph (3)(b)
1304 (3)(a) to include the credit required under paragraph (3)(f)
1305 (3)(e).
1306
1307 The requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by
1308 subject area examinations or college credits completed for
1309 issuance of the certificate that has expired.
1310 Section 19. Section 1012.72, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1311 Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) and subsection
1312 (7) of section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1313 1012.98 School Community Professional Learning Act.—
1314 (5) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
1315 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
1316 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
1317 responsibilities include the following:
1318 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
1319 learning system as specified in subsection (4). The system shall
1320 be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher-educators of
1321 Florida College System institutions and state universities,
1322 business and community representatives, and local education
1323 foundations, consortia, and professional organizations. The
1324 professional learning system must:
1325 1. Be reviewed and approved by the department for
1326 compliance with s. 1003.42(3) and this section. Effective March
1327 1, 2024, the department shall establish a calendar for the
1328 review and approval of all professional learning systems. A
1329 professional learning system must be reviewed and approved every
1330 5 years. Any substantial revisions to the system must shall be
1331 submitted to the department for review and approval. The
1332 department shall establish a format for the review and approval
1333 of a professional learning system.
1334 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
1335 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
1336 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
1337 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
1338 learning system, shall also review and monitor school discipline
1339 data; school environment surveys; assessments of parental
1340 satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers, managers,
1341 and administrative personnel; and other performance indicators
1342 to identify school and student needs that can be met by improved
1343 professional performance.
1344 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with follow-up
1345 followup support appropriate to accomplish district-level and
1346 school-level improvement goals and standards. The inservice
1347 activities for instructional and school administrative personnel
1348 shall focus on analysis of student achievement data, ongoing
1349 formal and informal assessments of student achievement,
1350 identification and use of enhanced and differentiated
1351 instructional strategies that emphasize rigor, relevance, and
1352 reading in the content areas, enhancement of subject content
1353 expertise, integrated use of classroom technology that enhances
1354 teaching and learning, classroom management, parent involvement,
1355 and school safety.
1356 4. Provide inservice activities and support targeted to the
1357 individual needs of new teachers participating in the
1358 professional learning certification and education competency
1359 program under s. 1012.56(8)(a).
1360 5. Include a professional learning catalog for inservice
1361 activities, pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education,
1362 for all district employees from all fund sources. The catalog
1363 must shall be updated annually by September 1, must be based on
1364 input from teachers and district and school instructional
1365 leaders, and must use the latest available student achievement
1366 data and research to enhance rigor and relevance in the
1367 classroom. Each district inservice catalog must be aligned to
1368 and support the school-based inservice catalog and school
1369 improvement plans pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). Each district
1370 inservice catalog must provide a description of the training
1371 that middle grades instructional personnel and school
1372 administrators receive on the district’s code of student conduct
1373 adopted pursuant to s. 1006.07; integrated digital instruction
1374 and competency-based instruction and CAPE Digital Tool
1375 certificates and CAPE industry certifications; classroom
1376 management; student behavior and interaction; extended learning
1377 opportunities for students; and instructional leadership.
1378 District plans must be approved by the district school board
1379 annually in order to ensure compliance with subsection (1) and
1380 to allow for dissemination of research-based best practices to
1381 other districts. District school boards shall must submit
1382 verification of their approval to the Commissioner of Education
1383 no later than October 1, annually. Each school principal may
1384 establish and maintain an individual professional learning plan
1385 for each instructional employee assigned to the school as a
1386 seamless component to the school improvement plans developed
1387 pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional learning
1388 plan must be related to specific performance data for the
1389 students to whom the teacher is assigned, define the inservice
1390 objectives and specific measurable improvements expected in
1391 student performance as a result of the inservice activity, and
1392 include an evaluation component that determines the
1393 effectiveness of the professional learning plan.
1394 6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
1395 personnel, aligned to the state’s educational leadership
1396 standards, which that address updated skills necessary for
1397 instructional leadership and effective school management
1398 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
1399 7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
1400 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
1401 evaluation of local professional learning programs.
1402 8. Provide for delivery of professional learning by
1403 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
1404 reach more educators at lower costs.
1405 9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality and
1406 effectiveness of professional learning programs in order to
1407 eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
1408 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
1409 activities on the performance of participating educators and
1410 their students’ achievement and behavior.
1411 10. For all grades, emphasize:
1412 a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
1413 instruction.
1414 b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
1415 the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
1416 c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
1417 inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
1418 strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
1419 instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
1420 instruction.
1421
1422 Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 shall must
1423 include in its school improvement plan, required under s.
1424 1001.42(18), a description of the specific strategies used by
1425 the school to implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
1426 11. Provide training to reading coaches, classroom
1427 teachers, and school administrators in effective methods of
1428 identifying characteristics of conditions such as dyslexia and
1429 other causes of diminished phonological processing skills;
1430 incorporating instructional techniques into the general
1431 education setting which are proven to improve reading
1432 performance for all students; and using predictive and other
1433 data to make instructional decisions based on individual student
1434 needs. The training must help teachers integrate phonemic
1435 awareness; phonics, word study, and spelling; reading fluency;
1436 vocabulary, including academic vocabulary; and text
1437 comprehension strategies into an explicit, systematic, and
1438 sequential approach to reading instruction, including
1439 multisensory intervention strategies. Such training for teaching
1440 foundational skills must shall be based on the science of
1441 reading and include phonics instruction for decoding and
1442 encoding as the primary instructional strategy for word reading.
1443 Instructional strategies included in the training may not employ
1444 the three-cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a
1445 basis for teaching word reading. Such instructional strategies
1446 may include visual information and strategies which improve
1447 background and experiential knowledge, add context, and increase
1448 oral language and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may
1449 not be used to teach word reading. Each district must provide
1450 all elementary grades instructional personnel access to training
1451 sufficient to meet the requirements of s. 1012.585(3)(g) s.
1452 1012.585(3)(f).
1453 (7) An organization of private schools or consortium of
1454 charter schools which has no fewer than 10 member schools in
1455 this state, which publishes and files with the Department of
1456 Education copies of its standards, and the member schools of
1457 which comply with the provisions of part II of chapter 1003,
1458 relating to compulsory school attendance;, or a public or
1459 private college or university with a teacher preparation program
1460 approved pursuant to s. 1004.04; or the Florida Institute for
1461 Charter School Innovation, may also develop a professional
1462 learning system that includes a professional learning catalog
1463 for inservice activities. The system and inservice catalog must
1464 be submitted to the commissioner for approval pursuant to state
1465 board rules.
1466 Section 21. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraph
1467 (b) of subsection (5) of section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are
1468 amended to read:
1469 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
1470 teacher preparation programs.—
1471 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
1472 (c) Each candidate must receive instruction and be assessed
1473 on the uniform core curricula in the candidate’s area or areas
1474 of program concentration during course work and field
1475 experiences. Beginning with candidates entering a teacher
1476 preparation program in the 2022-2023 school year, a candidate
1477 for certification in a coverage area identified pursuant to s.
1478 1012.585(3)(g) s. 1012.585(3)(f) must successfully complete all
1479 competencies for a reading endorsement, including completion of
1480 the endorsement practicum through the candidate’s field
1481 experience under subsection (5), in order to graduate from the
1482 program.
1483 (5) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.—All postsecondary
1484 instructors, school district personnel and instructional
1485 personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
1486 through preservice field experience courses and internships
1487 shall meet special requirements. District school boards may pay
1488 student teachers during their internships.
1489 (b)1. All school district personnel and instructional
1490 personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
1491 during field experience courses or internships taking place in
1492 this state in which candidates demonstrate an impact on student
1493 learning growth must have:
1494 a. Evidence of “clinical educator” training;
1495 b. A valid professional certificate issued pursuant to s.
1496 1012.56;
1497 c. At least 3 years of teaching experience in
1498 prekindergarten through grade 12;
1499 d. Earned an effective or highly effective rating on the
1500 prior year’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 or be a
1501 peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation system approved
1502 under s. 1012.34; and
1503 e. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, for all such
1504 personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
1505 during internships in kindergarten through grade 3 or who are
1506 enrolled in a teacher preparation program for a certificate area
1507 identified pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(g) s. 1012.585(3)(f), a
1508 certificate or endorsement in reading.
1509
1510 The State Board of Education shall approve the training
1511 requirements.
1512 2. All instructional personnel who supervise or direct
1513 teacher preparation students during field experience courses or
1514 internships in another state, in which a candidate demonstrates
1515 his or her impact on student learning growth, through a Florida
1516 online or distance program must have received “clinical
1517 educator” training or its equivalent in that state, hold a valid
1518 professional certificate issued by the state in which the field
1519 experience takes place, and have at least 3 years of teaching
1520 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12.
1521 3. All instructional personnel who supervise or direct
1522 teacher preparation students during field experience courses or
1523 internships, in which a candidate demonstrates his or her impact
1524 on student learning growth, on a United States military base in
1525 another country through a Florida online or distance program
1526 must have received “clinical educator” training or its
1527 equivalent, hold a valid professional certificate issued by the
1528 United States Department of Defense or a state or territory of
1529 the United States, and have at least 3 years teaching experience
1530 in prekindergarten through grade 12.
1531 Section 22. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
1532 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1533 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
1534 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
1535 this section may offer competency-based certification programs
1536 specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
1537 degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
1538 educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
1539 preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
1540 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
1541 must implement a program developed by the institute and approved
1542 by the department for this purpose. Approved programs shall be
1543 available for use by other approved educator preparation
1544 institutes.
1545 (b) Each program participant must:
1546 1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
1547 1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
1548 the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
1549 the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
1550 2. Demonstrate competency and participate in field
1551 experiences that are appropriate to his or her educational plan
1552 prepared under paragraph (a). Beginning with candidates entering
1553 an educator preparation institute in the 2022-2023 school year,
1554 a candidate for certification in a coverage area identified
1555 pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(g) s. 1012.585(3)(f) must
1556 successfully complete all competencies for a reading
1557 endorsement, including completion of the endorsement practicum
1558 through the candidate’s field experience, in order to graduate
1559 from the program.
1560 3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
1561 or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
1562 seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
1563 student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
1564 setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving
1565 a passing score on the professional education competency
1566 examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area
1567 examination for the subject area certification which is required
1568 by state board rule.
1569 Section 23. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
1570 1012.586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1571 1012.586 Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate
1572 certificates; reading endorsement pathways.—
1573 (2)
1574 (b) As part of adopting a pathway pursuant to paragraph
1575 (a), the department shall review the competencies for the
1576 reading endorsement and subject area examinations for educator
1577 certificates identified pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(g) s.
1578 1012.585(3)(f) for alignment with evidence-based instructional
1579 and intervention strategies rooted in the science of reading and
1580 identified pursuant to s. 1001.215(7) and recommend changes to
1581 the State Board of Education. Recommended changes must address
1582 identification of the characteristics of conditions such as
1583 dyslexia, implementation of evidence-based classroom instruction
1584 and interventions, including evidence-based reading instruction
1585 and interventions specifically for students with characteristics
1586 of dyslexia, and effective progress monitoring. By July 1, 2023,
1587 each school district reading endorsement add-on program must be
1588 resubmitted for approval by the department consistent with this
1589 paragraph.
1590 Section 24. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.