Florida Senate - 2014                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 950
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì328710|Î328710                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/04/2014           .                                
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       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
    6  1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
    8  teacher preparation programs.—
    9         (5) PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.—All postsecondary
   10  instructors, school district personnel and instructional
   11  personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel
   12  through preservice field experience courses and internships
   13  shall meet special requirements. District school boards may pay
   14  student teachers during their internships.
   15         (b)1. All school district personnel and instructional
   16  personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students
   17  during field experience courses or internships taking place in
   18  this state in which candidates demonstrate an impact on student
   19  learning growth must have evidence of “clinical educator”
   20  training, a valid professional certificate issued pursuant to s.
   21  1012.56, and at least 3 years of teaching experience in
   22  prekindergarten through grade 12 and must have earned an
   23  effective or highly effective rating on the prior year’s
   24  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator
   25  under the district’s evaluation system approved under s.
   26  1012.34. The State Board of Education shall approve the training
   27  requirements.
   28         2. All instructional personnel who supervise or direct
   29  teacher preparation students during field experience courses or
   30  internships in another state in which candidates demonstrate
   31  impact on student learning growth, through a Florida online or
   32  distance program, must have received “clinical educator”
   33  training or its equivalent in that state, hold a valid
   34  professional certificate issued by the state in which the field
   35  experience takes place, and have at least 3 years of teaching
   36  experience in prekindergarten through grade 12.
   37         3. All instructional personnel who supervise or direct
   38  teacher preparation students during field experience courses or
   39  internships in which candidates demonstrate impact on student
   40  learning growth, on a United States military base in another
   41  country through a Florida online or distance program, must have
   42  received “clinical educator” training or its equivalent, hold a
   43  valid professional certificate issued by the United States
   44  Department of Defense or a state or territory of the United
   45  States, and have at least 3 years of teaching experience in
   46  prekindergarten through grade 12.
   47         Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 1012.2315, Florida
   48  Statutes, is amended to read:
   49         1012.2315 Assignment of teachers.—
   50         (2) ASSIGNMENT TO SCHOOLS GRADED “D” or “F”.—
   51         (a)A school district districts may not assign a higher
   52  percentage than the school district average of temporarily
   53  certified teachers, teachers in need of improvement, or out-of
   54  field teachers to schools graded “D” or “F” pursuant to s.
   55  1008.34.
   56         (b) Beginning July 1, 2014, a school district may assign an
   57  individual newly hired as instructional personnel to a school
   58  that has earned a grade of “F” in the previous year or any
   59  combination of three consecutive grades of “D” or “F” in the
   60  previous 3 years pursuant to s. 1008.34 if the individual:
   61         1. Has received an effective rating or highly effective
   62  rating in the immediate prior year’s performance evaluation
   63  pursuant s. 1012.34;
   64         2. Is enrolled in a professional education training program
   65  provided by Teach for America, holds a certificate issued
   66  pursuant to s. 1012.56, and holds a probationary contract
   67  pursuant to s. 1012.335(2)(a); or
   68         3. Holds a probationary contract pursuant to s.
   69  1012.335(2)(a), holds a certificate issued pursuant to s.
   70  1012.56, and has successful teaching experience and if, in the
   71  judgment of the school principal, students would benefit from
   72  the placement of that individual.
   73  
   74  Each school district shall annually certify to the Commissioner
   75  of Education that the requirements in this subsection have this
   76  requirement has been met. If the commissioner determines that a
   77  school district is not in compliance with this subsection, the
   78  State Board of Education shall be notified and shall take action
   79  pursuant to s. 1008.32 in the next regularly scheduled meeting
   80  to require compliance.
   81         Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 1012.27, Florida
   82  Statutes, is amended to read:
   83         1012.27 Public school personnel; powers and duties of
   84  district school superintendent.—The district school
   85  superintendent is responsible for directing the work of the
   86  personnel, subject to the requirements of this chapter, and in
   87  addition the district school superintendent shall perform the
   88  following:
   89         (1) POSITIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND NOMINATIONS.—
   90         (a) Recommend to the district school board duties and
   91  responsibilities which need to be performed and positions which
   92  need to be filled to make possible the development of an
   93  adequate school program in the district.
   94         (b) Recommend minimum qualifications of personnel for these
   95  various positions, and nominate in writing persons to fill such
   96  positions.
   97         (c) 
   98  
   99  The district school superintendent’s recommendations for filling
  100  instructional positions at the school level must Consider
  101  nominations received from school principals of the respective
  102  schools for filling instructional positions at the school level.
  103         (d) Comply with s. 1012.2315(2)(b) for the assignment of
  104  newly hired individuals to schools described in s.
  105  1012.2315(2)(b).
  106  
  107  Before transferring a teacher who holds a professional teaching
  108  certificate from one school to another under this subsection,
  109  the district school superintendent shall consult with the
  110  principal of the receiving school and allow the principal to
  111  review the teacher’s records, including student performance
  112  demonstrated under s. 1012.34, and interview the teacher. If, in
  113  the judgment of the principal, students would not benefit from
  114  the placement, an alternative placement may be sought. A
  115  principal may refuse the placement in accordance with s.
  116  1012.28(6).
  117         Section 4. Subsections (3), (5), and (6) and paragraphs (a)
  118  and (b) of subsection (8) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes,
  119  are amended to read:
  120         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  121         (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  122  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
  123         (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
  124  basic skills examination required by state board rule;
  125         (b) Achievement of passing scores on the College Level
  126  Academic Skills Test earned prior to July 1, 2002;
  127         (b)(c)Documentation of a valid professional standard
  128  teaching certificate issued by another state;
  129         (c)(d)Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  130  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  131  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  132  Education; or
  133         (d)(e) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full
  134  time teaching in a Florida College System institution, state
  135  university, or private college or university that awards an
  136  associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or
  137  an institution of higher education identified by the Department
  138  of Education as having a quality program; or
  139         (e) Effective July 1, 2015, achievement of passing scores,
  140  identified in state board rule, on national or international
  141  examinations that test comparable content and relevant standards
  142  in the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning
  143  skills, including, but not limited to, the verbal, analytical
  144  writing, and quantitative reasoning portions of the Graduate
  145  Record Examination. Passing scores identified in state board
  146  rule must be at approximately the same level of rigor as is
  147  required to pass the general knowledge examinations.
  148         (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  149  demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
  150         (a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for
  151  which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
  152  achievement of a passing score scores on the Florida-developed
  153  subject area examination specified in examinations required by
  154  state board rule, which may include, but need not be limited to,
  155  world languages in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German,
  156  Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese,
  157  Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish;
  158         (b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
  159  examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
  160  score on a standardized examination specified in state board
  161  rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
  162  oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations Completion
  163  of a bachelor’s degree or higher and verification of the
  164  attainment of an oral proficiency interview score above the
  165  intermediate level and a written proficiency score above the
  166  intermediate level on a test administered by the American
  167  Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages for which there is
  168  no Florida-developed examination;
  169         (c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
  170  examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
  171  has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
  172  subject area specialization requirements specified in state
  173  board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
  174  subject matter competencies by the district school
  175  superintendent of the employing school district or chief
  176  administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
  177  private school for a subject area for which a subject area
  178  examination has not been developed and required by state board
  179  rule;
  180         (d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
  181  completion of the subject area specialization requirements
  182  specified in state board rule for a subject coverage requiring a
  183  master’s or higher degree and achievement of a passing score on
  184  the Florida-developed subject area examination or a standardized
  185  examination specified in state board rule;
  186         (e) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  187  certificate issued by another state; or
  188         (f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  189  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  190  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  191  Education.
  192  
  193  School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for those
  194  middle grades school teachers holding only a K-6 teaching
  195  certificate to obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades
  196  through postsecondary coursework or district add-on
  197  certification.
  198         (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
  199  COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
  200  professional preparation and education competence are:
  201         (a) Successful completion of an approved teacher
  202  preparation program at a postsecondary educational institution
  203  within this state and achievement of a passing score on the
  204  professional education competency examination required by state
  205  board rule;
  206         (b) Successful completion of a teacher preparation program
  207  at a postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and
  208  achievement of a passing score on the professional education
  209  competency examination required by state board rule;
  210         (c) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  211  certificate issued by another state;
  212         (d) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  213  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  214  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  215  Education;
  216         (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
  217  teaching in a Florida College System institution, state
  218  university, or private college or university that awards an
  219  associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution or
  220  an institution of higher education identified by the Department
  221  of Education as having a quality program and achievement of a
  222  passing score on the professional education competency
  223  examination required by state board rule;
  224         (f) Successful completion of professional preparation
  225  courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion
  226  of a professional preparation and education competence
  227  demonstration program pursuant to paragraph (8)(b), and
  228  achievement of a passing score on the professional education
  229  competency examination required by state board rule;
  230         (g) Successful completion of a professional development
  231  preparation alternative certification and education competency
  232  program, outlined in paragraph (8)(a); or
  233         (h) Successful completion of a competency-based an
  234  alternative certification program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and
  235  achievement of a passing score on the professional education
  236  competency examination required by state board rule of the State
  237  Board of Education.
  238  
  239  The State Board of Education may adopt rules to approve specific
  240  teacher preparation programs that are not identified in this
  241  subsection which may be used to meet requirements for mastery of
  242  professional preparation and education competence.
  243         (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION
  244  COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
  245         (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
  246  school district may provide a cohesive competency-based
  247  professional development certification and education competency
  248  program by which members of a school district’s instructional
  249  staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
  250  education competence requirements specified in this subsection
  251  (6) and state board rules of the State Board of Education.
  252  Participants must hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A
  253  school district that implements the program shall provide a
  254  competency-based certification program developed by the
  255  Department of Education or developed by the district and
  256  approved by the Department of Education. The program shall
  257  include the following components:
  258         1. A minimum period of initial preparation before assuming
  259  duties as the teacher of record.
  260         2. An option for collaboration between school districts and
  261  other supporting agencies or educational entities for
  262  implementation.
  263         3. An experienced peer-mentor component peer mentors. Each
  264  individual selected by the district as a peer mentor must hold a
  265  valid professional certificate issued pursuant to this section,
  266  must have earned at least 3 years of teaching experience in
  267  prekindergarten through grade 12, and must have earned an
  268  effective or highly effective rating on the prior year’s
  269  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 or be a peer evaluator
  270  under the district’s evaluation system approved under s.
  271  1012.34.
  272         4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
  273  district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
  274  which provides for:
  275         a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
  276  determine an appropriate individualized professional development
  277  plan.
  278         b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
  279  of the program.
  280         5. Professional education preparation content knowledge
  281  that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
  282         a. The state state-adopted student content standards
  283  provided in s. 1003.41, including scientifically based reading
  284  instruction, content literacy, and mathematical practices, for
  285  each subject identified on the temporary certificate.
  286         b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
  287  state board.
  288         c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
  289  progress.
  290         d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities.
  291         e. Methodologies for teaching students of limited English
  292  proficiency English language learners appropriate for each
  293  subject area identified on the temporary certificate.
  294         f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
  295  of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
  296  students.
  297         6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
  298  area and professional education competency examination required
  299  by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
  300  must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
  301         (b)1. Each school district must and a state supported
  302  public school or a private school may develop and maintain a
  303  system by which members of the instructional staff may
  304  demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and education
  305  competence as required by law. Each program must be based on
  306  classroom application of the Florida Educator Accomplished
  307  Practices and instructional performance and, for public schools,
  308  must be aligned with the district’s evaluation system approved
  309  under s. 1012.34.
  310         2. The Commissioner of Education shall determine the
  311  continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph,
  312  based upon the department’s review of performance data. The
  313  department shall review the performance data as a part of the
  314  periodic review of each school district’s professional
  315  development system required under s. 1012.98.
  316         Section 5. Subsection (17) of section 1012.56, Florida
  317  Statutes, is repealed.
  318         Section 6. Subsections (3) and (5) of section 1012.585,
  319  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  320         1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
  321         (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
  322  following requirements must be met:
  323         (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
  324  or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
  325  of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
  326  must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
  327  inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
  328  “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b) and
  329  credits or points that provide training in the area of
  330  scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy and
  331  computational skills acquisition, exceptional student education,
  332  normal child development, and the disorders of development may
  333  be applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points
  334  that provide training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse
  335  and neglect, strategies in teaching students having limited
  336  proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or training in
  337  areas identified in the educational goals and performance
  338  standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be
  339  applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points earned
  340  through approved summer institutes may be applied toward the
  341  fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also be
  342  earned by participation in professional growth components
  343  approved by the State Board of Education and specified pursuant
  344  to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved master plan for
  345  inservice educational training, including, but not limited to,
  346  serving as a trainer in an approved teacher training activity,
  347  serving on an instructional materials committee or a state board
  348  or commission that deals with educational issues, or serving on
  349  an advisory council created pursuant to s. 1001.452.
  350         (b) In lieu of college course credit or inservice points,
  351  the applicant may renew a subject area specialization area by
  352  passage of a state board approved Florida-developed subject area
  353  examination or, if a Florida subject area examination has not
  354  been developed, a standardized examination specified in state
  355  board rule test.
  356         (c) If an applicant wishes to retain more than two
  357  specialization areas on the certificate, the applicant shall be
  358  permitted two successive validity periods for renewal of all
  359  specialization areas, but must earn no fewer than 6 college
  360  course credit hours or the equivalent in any one validity
  361  period.
  362         (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the
  363  expanded use of training for renewal of the professional
  364  certificate for educators who are required to complete training
  365  in teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  366  with disabilities and training in the teaching of reading as
  367  follows:
  368         1. A teacher who holds a professional certificate may use
  369  college credits or inservice points earned through training in
  370  teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  371  with disabilities completed in English-for-Speakers-of-Other
  372  Languages training and training in the teaching of reading in
  373  excess of 6 semester hours during one certificate-validity
  374  period toward renewal of the professional certificate during the
  375  subsequent validity periods.
  376         2. A teacher who holds a temporary certificate may use
  377  college credits or inservice points earned through training in
  378  teaching students of limited English proficiency or students
  379  with disabilities completed in English-for-Speakers-of-Other
  380  Languages training and training in the teaching of reading
  381  toward renewal of the teacher’s first professional certificate.
  382  Such training must not have been included within the degree
  383  program, and the teacher’s temporary and professional
  384  certificates must be issued for consecutive school years.
  385         (e) Beginning July 1, 2014, an applicant for renewal of a
  386  professional certificate must earn a minimum of one college
  387  credit or the equivalent inservice points in the area of
  388  instruction for teaching students with disabilities. The
  389  requirement in this paragraph may not add to the total hours
  390  required by the department for continuing education or inservice
  391  training.
  392         (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow
  393  the reinstatement of expired professional certificates. The
  394  department may reinstate an expired professional certificate if
  395  the certificateholder:
  396         (a) Submits an application for reinstatement of the expired
  397  certificate.
  398         (b) Documents completion of 6 college credits during the 5
  399  years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired
  400  certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a
  401  combination thereof, in an area specified in paragraph (3)(a) to
  402  include the credit required under paragraph (3)(e).
  403         (c) During the 5 years immediately preceding reinstatement
  404  of the certificate, achieves a passing score on the Florida
  405  developed subject area examination or, if a Florida subject area
  406  examination has not been developed, a standardized examination
  407  specified in state board rule test for each subject to be shown
  408  on the reinstated certificate.
  409  
  410  The requirements of this subsection may not be satisfied by
  411  subject area examinations tests or college credits completed for
  412  issuance of the certificate that has expired.
  413         Section 7. Subsection (6) of section 1012.98, Florida
  414  Statutes, is amended to read:
  415         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
  416         (6) An organization of private schools or consortium of
  417  charter schools which has no fewer than 10 member schools in
  418  this state, which publishes and files with the Department of
  419  Education copies of its standards, and the member schools of
  420  which comply with the provisions of part II of chapter 1003,
  421  relating to compulsory school attendance, may also develop a
  422  professional development system that includes a master plan for
  423  inservice activities. The system and inservice plan must be
  424  submitted to the commissioner for approval pursuant to state
  425  board rules of the State Board of Education.
  426         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.
  427  
  428  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  429  And the title is amended as follows:
  430         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  431  and insert:
  432                        A bill to be entitled                      
  433         An act relating to educator certification; amending s.
  434         1004.04, F.S.; providing requirements for certain
  435         instructional personnel who supervise or direct
  436         preservice field experience courses or internships;
  437         amending s. 1012.2315, F.S.; authorizing a school
  438         district to assign to a school that has earned failing
  439         grades certain newly hired instructional personnel;
  440         amending s. 1012.27, F.S.; revising the powers of a
  441         district school superintendent to include filling
  442         instructional positions and assigning newly hired
  443         instructional personnel; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
  444         deleting an obsolete provision; revising acceptable
  445         means of demonstrating mastery of general knowledge,
  446         subject area knowledge, and professional preparation
  447         and education competence; authorizing the State Board
  448         of Education to adopt rules; revising components of a
  449         competency-based professional development
  450         certification and education competency program;
  451         repealing s. 1012.56(17), F.S., relating to a study to
  452         compare the performance of certain certificateholders;
  453         amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; revising certain
  454         requirements for the renewal or reinstatement of a
  455         professional certificate; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.;
  456         authorizing a consortium of certain charter schools to
  457         develop a professional development system; providing
  458         an effective date.