Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1578
       
       
        
       By Senator Jones
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00743A-22                                          20221578__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to instructional personnel; amending
    3         s. 1012.01, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
    4         “instructional personnel” to include specified
    5         prekindergarten instructors; providing an effective
    6         date.
    7          
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 1012.01, Florida
   11  Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         1012.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the following
   13  terms have the following meanings:
   14         (2) INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL.—“Instructional personnel”
   15  means certified prekindergarten staff members funded in the
   16  Florida Education Finance Program and any K-12 staff member
   17  whose function includes the provision of direct instructional
   18  services to students. Instructional personnel also includes K-12
   19  personnel whose functions provide direct support in the learning
   20  process of students. Included in the classification of
   21  instructional personnel are the following prekindergarten
   22  through grade 12 K-12 personnel:
   23         (a) Classroom teachers.—Classroom teachers are staff
   24  members assigned the professional activity of instructing
   25  students in courses in classroom situations, including basic
   26  instruction, exceptional student education, career education,
   27  and adult education, including substitute teachers. Included in
   28  this classification are prekindergarten instructors funded in
   29  the Florida Education Finance Program who hold an educator
   30  certificate in Prekindergarten/Primary Education, Preschool
   31  Education, Early Childhood Education, or any exceptional student
   32  education area with the Prekindergarten Disabilities
   33  endorsement.
   34         (b) Student personnel services.—Student personnel services
   35  include staff members responsible for: advising students with
   36  regard to their abilities and aptitudes, educational and
   37  occupational opportunities, and personal and social adjustments;
   38  providing placement services; performing educational
   39  evaluations; and similar functions. Included in this
   40  classification are certified school counselors, social workers,
   41  career specialists, and school psychologists.
   42         (c) Librarians/media specialists.—Librarians/media
   43  specialists are staff members responsible for providing school
   44  library media services. These employees are responsible for
   45  evaluating, selecting, organizing, and managing media and
   46  technology resources, equipment, and related systems;
   47  facilitating access to information resources beyond the school;
   48  working with teachers to make resources available in the
   49  instructional programs; assisting teachers and students in media
   50  productions; and instructing students in the location and use of
   51  information resources.
   52         (d) Other instructional staff.—Other instructional staff
   53  are staff members who are part of the instructional staff but
   54  are not classified in one of the categories specified in
   55  paragraphs (a)-(c). Included in this classification are primary
   56  specialists, learning resource specialists, instructional
   57  trainers, adjunct educators certified pursuant to s. 1012.57,
   58  and similar positions.
   59         (e) Education paraprofessionals.—Education
   60  paraprofessionals are individuals who are under the direct
   61  supervision of an instructional staff member, aiding the
   62  instructional process. Included in this classification are
   63  classroom paraprofessionals in regular instruction, exceptional
   64  education paraprofessionals, career education paraprofessionals,
   65  adult education paraprofessionals, library paraprofessionals,
   66  physical education and playground paraprofessionals, and other
   67  school-level paraprofessionals.
   68         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.