Senate Bill sb1032c1

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    Florida Senate - 2003            CS for SB's 1032, 2418 & 2496

    By the Committee on Education; and Senators Lynn and Atwater





    304-2300-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to educational leadership;

  3         creating the BEST Florida Teaching Act of 2003;

  4         creating s. 1000.041, F.S.; providing

  5         legislative purposes and guiding principles of

  6         the act; amending s. 1001.33, F.S.; requiring

  7         cooperation to apply such guiding principles;

  8         amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring school

  9         district support of authority; amending ss.

10         1001.51 and 1001.54, F.S.; requiring

11         cooperation and support of district school

12         superintendents and school principals; amending

13         s. 1002.20, F.S.; providing student rights with

14         respect to classroom orderliness; amending s.

15         1002.42, F.S.; correcting a cross-reference;

16         amending s. 1003.04, F.S.; requiring specified

17         student conduct; requiring parental cooperation

18         with school authority; amending s. 1003.31,

19         F.S.; requiring support of the authority of

20         teachers and bus drivers; amending s. 1003.32,

21         F.S.; revising provisions relating to teacher

22         authority and responsibility for control of

23         students; designating a school placement review

24         committee to determine placement for disruptive

25         students; requiring reports; requiring

26         Commissioner of Education review of success in

27         achieving orderly classrooms and use of

28         enforcement actions; requiring reporting of

29         knowledge or suspicion of crimes of violence on

30         school property and providing immunity;

31         amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; revising provisions

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 1         relating to state approval of teacher

 2         preparation programs; expanding State Board of

 3         Education rules establishing core curricula;

 4         requiring teacher preparation programs to

 5         incorporate certain instruction; providing for

 6         guarantee; providing for additional teacher

 7         training under certain circumstances;

 8         authorizing pay for student teacher

 9         internships; authorizing additional standards

10         for program approval and certification;

11         deleting the requirement that pilot programs be

12         established at the University of Central

13         Florida, the University of North Florida, and

14         the University of South Florida; allowing pilot

15         programs to be established as authorized by the

16         Commissioner of Education at colleges and

17         universities with state-approved teacher

18         education programs; providing priority

19         consideration for participation in teacher

20         education pilot programs; authorizing the

21         Commissioner of Education to waive rules for

22         the state-approval of teacher preparation

23         programs to allow institutional flexibility;

24         amending ss. 1006.08 and 1006.09, F.S.;

25         requiring district school superintendent and

26         school principal support relating to student

27         discipline; amending s. 1009.59, F.S.; renaming

28         and revising eligibility criteria and loan

29         reimbursement of the Critical Teacher Shortage

30         Student Loan Forgiveness Program; amending s.

31         1012.05, F.S.; requiring the Department of

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 1         Education to provide for one-stop shopping for

 2         teacher career information and on-line support;

 3         authorizing use of funds to recruit and prepare

 4         teachers; providing requirements for the

 5         Department of Education with respect to the

 6         retention of qualified teachers; requiring the

 7         department to develop a long-range plan for

 8         educator recruitment and retention; specifying

 9         the contents of the plan; requiring school

10         districts to consider implementing specified

11         elements of the long-range plan; requiring the

12         department to report annually to the

13         Legislature on the implementation of programs

14         contained in the long-range plan; creating s.

15         1012.231, F.S.; requiring the State Board of

16         Education to convene a statewide council

17         related to a plan for a differentiated pay

18         model for classroom teachers; providing for

19         membership on the council; requiring

20         recommendations to the Legislature and the

21         Governor; requiring district school board plans

22         for compensation of beginning classroom

23         teachers; providing a performance pay framework

24         for differentiated teacher salaries; providing

25         requirements and incentives relating to teacher

26         assignments; amending s. 1012.27, F.S.;

27         providing duties of district school

28         superintendents; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;

29         revising the time period for which an official

30         statement of status of eligibility for

31         certification is valid; revising requirements

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 1         for mastery of general knowledge, mastery of

 2         subject area knowledge, and mastery of

 3         professional preparation and education

 4         competence; revising provisions relating to

 5         temporary certificates; amending s. 1012.57,

 6         F.S.; requiring district school boards to adopt

 7         rules to allow for the issuance of adjunct

 8         teaching certificates; revising provisions

 9         relating to determination of expertise in the

10         subject area to be taught; amending s.

11         1012.585, F.S.; revising certain requirements

12         for renewal of professional certificates;

13         correcting a cross-reference; creating s.

14         1012.586, F.S.; authorizing school districts to

15         process certain applications via website;

16         providing for a fee and the uses thereof;

17         amending s. 1012.73, F.S.; providing that

18         teacher career development does not require

19         graduation from a teacher preparation program;

20         amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; revising provisions

21         relating to the School Community Professional

22         Development Act; deleting provisions relating

23         to recruitment, preparation, and professional

24         development of school administrative personnel;

25         creating s. 1012.987, F.S.; authorizing a

26         principal leadership designation and incentives

27         therefor; requiring a system for recruitment,

28         preparation, and education leadership

29         development of school administrative personnel;

30         creating s. 1012.561, F.S.; creating the "Fast

31         Track" Educator Certification Program;

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 1         providing assistance for certain professionals

 2         and others to become teachers; authorizing

 3         community college and other approved teacher

 4         preparation programs to offer the program;

 5         requiring instruction for mastery of

 6         competencies; providing program approval

 7         requirements; establishing requirements for

 8         program participants and completers; providing

 9         eligibility for state and federal funding;

10         requiring the Commissioner of Education to

11         develop mentoring programs to recommend to the

12         Legislature; requiring the commissioner to

13         consult with others in preparing the

14         recommendations; providing an effective date.

15  

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17  

18         Section 1.  This act shall be known by the popular name

19  "The BEST Florida Teaching Act of 2003."

20         Section 2.  Section 1000.041, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         1000.041  Better Educated Students and Teachers (BEST)

23  Florida Teaching Act of 2003; legislative purposes; guiding

24  principles.--The legislative purposes and guiding principles

25  of the BEST Florida Teaching Act of 2003 are:

26         (1)  Teachers lead, students learn.

27         (2)  Teachers maintain orderly, disciplined classrooms

28  conducive to student learning.

29         (3)  Teachers are trained, recruited, well compensated,

30  and retained for quality.

31  

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 1         (4)  Teachers are well rewarded for their students'

 2  high performance.

 3         (5)  Teachers are most effective when served by

 4  exemplary school administrators.

 5  

 6  Each teacher preparation program, each postsecondary

 7  educational institution providing dual enrollment or other

 8  acceleration programs, each district school board, and each

 9  district and school-based administrator fully supports and

10  cooperates in the accomplishment of these purposes and guiding

11  principles.

12         Section 3.  Section 1001.33, Florida Statutes, is

13  amended to read:

14         1001.33  Schools under control of district school board

15  and district school superintendent.--

16         (1)  Except as otherwise provided by law, all public

17  schools conducted within the district shall be under the

18  direction and control of the district school board with the

19  district school superintendent as executive officer.

20         (2)  Each district school board, each district school

21  superintendent, and each district and school-based

22  administrator shall cooperate to apply the following guiding

23  principles of the Better Educated Students and Teachers (BEST)

24  Florida Teaching Act of 2003:

25         (a)  Teachers lead, students learn.

26         (b)  Teachers maintain orderly, disciplined classrooms

27  conducive to student learning.

28         (c)  Teachers are trained, recruited, well compensated,

29  and retained for quality.

30         (d)  Teachers are well rewarded for their students'

31  high performance.

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 1         (e)  Teachers are most effective when served by

 2  exemplary school administrators.

 3         Section 4.  Subsections (5) and (6) of section 1001.42,

 4  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

 5         1001.42  Powers and duties of district school

 6  board.--The district school board, acting as a board, shall

 7  exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:

 8         (5)  PERSONNEL.--

 9         (a)  Designate positions to be filled, prescribe

10  qualifications for those positions, and provide for the

11  appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and

12  dismissal of employees, subject to the requirements of chapter

13  1012.

14         (b)  Notwithstanding s. 1012.55 or any other provision

15  of law or rule to the contrary, the district school board may,

16  consistent with adopted district school board policy relating

17  to alternative certification for school principals, appoint

18  persons to the position of school principal who do not hold

19  educator certification.

20         (c)  Fully support and cooperate in the application of

21  the guiding principles of the Better Educated Students and

22  Teachers (BEST) Florida Teaching Act of 2003, pursuant to s.

23  1000.041.

24         (6)  STUDENT CHILD WELFARE.--

25         (a)  In accordance with the provisions of chapters 1003

26  and 1006, provide for the proper accounting for all students

27  children of school age, for the attendance and control of

28  students at school, and for proper attention to health,

29  safety, and other matters relating to the welfare of students

30  children.

31  

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 1         (b)  In accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.31

 2  and 1003.32, fully support the authority of each teacher and

 3  school bus driver to remove disobedient, disrespectful,

 4  violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from

 5  the classroom and the school bus.

 6         Section 5.  Subsection (23) of section 1001.51, Florida

 7  Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (25), and new

 8  subsections (23) and (24) are added to that section to read:

 9         1001.51  Duties and responsibilities of district school

10  superintendent.--The district school superintendent shall

11  exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below and

12  elsewhere in the law, provided that, in so doing, he or she

13  shall advise and counsel with the district school board. The

14  district school superintendent shall perform all tasks

15  necessary to make sound recommendations, nominations,

16  proposals, and reports required by law to be acted upon by the

17  district school board. All such recommendations, nominations,

18  proposals, and reports by the district school superintendent

19  shall be either recorded in the minutes or shall be made in

20  writing, noted in the minutes, and filed in the public records

21  of the district school board. It shall be presumed that, in

22  the absence of the record required in this section, the

23  recommendations, nominations, and proposals required of the

24  district school superintendent were not contrary to the action

25  taken by the district school board in such matters.

26         (23)  QUALITY TEACHERS.--Fully support and cooperate in

27  the application of the guiding principles of the Better

28  Educated Students and Teachers (BEST) Florida Teaching Act of

29  2003, pursuant to s. 1000.041.

30         (24)  ORDERLY CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL BUSES.--Fully

31  support the authority of each teacher and school bus driver to

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 1  remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,

 2  uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and

 3  the school bus.

 4         Section 6.  Subsection (1) of section 1001.54, Florida

 5  Statutes, is amended to read:

 6         1001.54  Duties of school principals.--

 7         (1)(a)  A district school board shall employ, through

 8  written contract, public school principals.

 9         (b)  The school principal has authority over school

10  district personnel in accordance with s. 1012.28.

11         (c)  The school principal shall fully support and

12  cooperate in the application of the guiding principles of the

13  Better Educated Students and Teachers (BEST) Florida Teaching

14  Act of 2003, pursuant to s. 1000.041.

15         (d)  The school principal shall fully support the

16  authority of each teacher and school bus driver to remove

17  disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable,

18  or disruptive students from the classroom and the school bus.

19         Section 7.  Subsection (22) is added to section

20  1002.20, Florida Statutes, to read:

21         1002.20  K-12 student and parent rights.--K-12 students

22  and their parents are afforded numerous statutory rights

23  including, but not limited to, the following:

24         (22)  ORDERLY, DISCIPLINED CLASSROOMS.--Public school

25  students shall be in orderly, disciplined classrooms conducive

26  to learning without the distraction caused by disobedient,

27  disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive

28  students, in accordance with s. 1003.32.

29         Section 8.  Subsection (13) of section 1002.42, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

31         1002.42  Private schools.--

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 1         (13)  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.--An organization

 2  of private schools that has no fewer than 10 member schools in

 3  this state may develop a professional development system to be

 4  filed with the Department of Education in accordance with the

 5  provisions of s. 1012.98(6)(7).

 6         Section 9.  Section 1003.04, Florida Statutes, is

 7  amended to read:

 8         1003.04  Student conduct and parental involvement

 9  goals.--

10         (1)  It is the goal of the Legislature and each

11  district school board that Each public K-12 student must

12  remain in attendance throughout the school year, unless

13  excused by the school for illness or other good cause, and

14  must comply fully with the school's code of conduct.

15         (2)  The parent of each public K-12 student must

16  cooperate with the authority of the student's school board,

17  superintendent, principal, teachers, and school bus drivers to

18  remove the student from the classroom or the school bus

19  pursuant to ss. 1003.31 and 1003.32 if the student is

20  disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable,

21  or disruptive.

22         (3)(2)  It is the goal of the Legislature and each

23  district school board that the parent of each public K-12

24  student comply with the school's reasonable and

25  time-acceptable parental involvement requests.

26         Section 10.  Subsection (1) of section 1003.31, Florida

27  Statutes, is amended to read:

28         1003.31  Students subject to control of school.--

29         (1)  Subject to law and rules of the State Board of

30  Education and of the district school board, each student

31  enrolled in a school shall:

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 1         (a)  During the time she or he is being transported to

 2  or from school at public expense;

 3         (b)  During the time she or he is attending school;

 4         (c)  During the time she or he is on the school

 5  premises participating with authorization in a

 6  school-sponsored activity; and

 7         (d)  During a reasonable time before and after the

 8  student is on the premises for attendance at school or for

 9  authorized participation in a school-sponsored activity, and

10  only when on the premises,

11  

12  be under the control and direction of the principal or teacher

13  in charge of the school, and under the immediate control and

14  direction of the teacher or other member of the instructional

15  staff or of the bus driver to whom such responsibility may be

16  assigned by the principal. However, the State Board of

17  Education or the district school board may, by rules, subject

18  each student to the control and direction of the principal or

19  teacher in charge of the school during the time she or he is

20  otherwise en route to or from school or is presumed by law to

21  be attending school. Each district school board, each district

22  school superintendent, and each school principal shall fully

23  support the authority of teachers and school bus drivers to

24  remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,

25  uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and

26  the school bus.

27         Section 11.  Section 1003.32, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         1003.32  Authority of teacher; responsibility for

30  control of students; district school board and principal

31  duties.--Subject to law and to the rules of the district

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 1  school board, each teacher or other member of the staff of any

 2  school shall have such authority for the control and

 3  discipline of students as may be assigned to him or her by the

 4  principal or the principal' s designated representative and

 5  shall keep good order in the classroom and in other places in

 6  which he or she is assigned to be in charge of students.

 7         (1)  In accordance with this section and within the

 8  framework of the district school board's code of student

 9  conduct, teachers and other instructional personnel shall have

10  the authority to undertake any of the following actions in

11  managing student behavior and ensuring the safety of all

12  students in their classes and school and their opportunity to

13  learn in an orderly and disciplined classroom:

14         (a)  Establish classroom rules of conduct.

15         (b)  Establish and implement consequences, designed to

16  change behavior, for infractions of classroom rules.

17         (c)  Have disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,

18  uncontrollable, or disruptive students temporarily or

19  permanently removed from the classroom for behavior management

20  intervention.

21         (d)  Have violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or

22  disruptive students directed for information or assistance

23  from appropriate school or district school board personnel.

24         (e)  Assist in enforcing school rules on school

25  property, during school-sponsored transportation, and during

26  school-sponsored activities.

27         (f)  Request and receive information as to the

28  disposition of any referrals to the administration for

29  violation of classroom or school rules.

30  

31  

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 1         (g)  Request and receive immediate assistance in

 2  classroom management if a student becomes uncontrollable or in

 3  case of emergency.

 4         (h)  Request and receive training and other assistance

 5  to improve skills in classroom management, violence

 6  prevention, conflict resolution, and related areas.

 7         (i)  Press charges if a crime has been committed

 8  against the teacher or other instructional personnel on school

 9  property, during school-sponsored transportation, or during

10  school-sponsored activities.

11         (j)  Use reasonable force, according to standards

12  adopted by the State Board of Education, to protect himself or

13  herself or others from injury.

14         (k)  Use corporal punishment according to school board

15  policy and at least the following procedures, if a teacher

16  feels that corporal punishment is necessary:

17         1.  The use of corporal punishment shall be approved in

18  principle by the principal before it is used, but approval is

19  not necessary for each specific instance in which it is used.

20  The principal shall prepare guidelines for administering such

21  punishment which identify the types of punishable offenses,

22  the conditions under which the punishment shall be

23  administered, and the specific personnel on the school staff

24  authorized to administer the punishment.

25         2.  A teacher or principal may administer corporal

26  punishment only in the presence of another adult who is

27  informed beforehand, and in the student's presence, of the

28  reason for the punishment.

29         3.  A teacher or principal who has administered

30  punishment shall, upon request, provide the student's parent

31  

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 1  with a written explanation of the reason for the punishment

 2  and the name of the other adult who was present.

 3         (2)  Teachers and other instructional personnel shall:

 4         (a)  Set and enforce reasonable classroom rules that

 5  treat all students equitably.

 6         (b)  Seek professional development to improve classroom

 7  management skills when data show that they are not effective

 8  in handling minor classroom disruptions.

 9         (c)  Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom with

10  a positive and effective learning environment that maximizes

11  learning and minimizes disruption.

12         (d)  Work with parents and other school personnel to

13  solve discipline problems in their classrooms.

14         (3)  A teacher may send a student to the principal's

15  office to maintain effective discipline in the classroom and

16  may recommend an appropriate consequence consistent with the

17  student code of conduct under s. 1006.07. The principal shall

18  respond by employing the teacher's recommended consequence or

19  a more serious disciplinary action if the student's history of

20  disruptive behavior warrants it. If the principal determines

21  that a lesser disciplinary action is appropriate, the

22  principal shall consult with the teacher prior to taking

23  disciplinary action appropriate discipline-management

24  techniques consistent with the student code of conduct under

25  s. 1006.07.

26         (4)  A teacher may remove from class a student whose

27  behavior the teacher determines interferes with the teacher's

28  ability to communicate effectively with the students in the

29  class or with the ability of the student's classmates to

30  learn. Each district school board, each district school

31  superintendent, and each school principal shall support the

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 1  authority of teachers to remove disobedient, violent, abusive,

 2  uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom.

 3         (5)  If a teacher removes a student from class under

 4  subsection (4), the principal may place the student in another

 5  appropriate classroom, in in-school suspension, or in a

 6  dropout prevention and academic intervention program as

 7  provided by s. 1003.53; or the principal may recommend the

 8  student for out-of-school suspension or expulsion, as

 9  appropriate. The student may be prohibited from attending or

10  participating in school-sponsored or school-related

11  activities. The principal may not return the student to that

12  teacher's class without the teacher's consent unless the

13  committee established under subsection (6) determines that

14  such placement is the best or only available alternative. The

15  teacher and the placement review committee must render

16  decisions within 5 days of the removal of the student from the

17  classroom.

18         (6)(a)  Each school shall establish a placement review

19  committee to determine placement of a student when a teacher

20  withholds consent to the return of a student to the teacher's

21  class.

22         (b)  The principal must report on a quarterly basis to

23  the district school superintendent and district school board

24  each incidence of a teacher's withholding consent for a

25  removed student to return to the teacher's class and the

26  disposition of the incident, and the superintendent must

27  annually report these data to the department.

28         (c)  The Commissioner of Education shall annually

29  review each school district's compliance with this section,

30  and success in achieving orderly classrooms, and shall use all

31  appropriate enforcement actions up to and including the

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 1  withholding of disbursements from the Educational Enhancement

 2  Trust Fund until full compliance is verified.

 3         (d)  Placement review committee membership must include

 4  at least the following:

 5         1.(a)  Two teachers, one selected by the school's

 6  faculty and one selected by the teacher who has removed the

 7  student.

 8         2.(b)  One member from the school's staff who is

 9  selected by the principal.

10  

11  The teacher who withheld consent to readmitting the student

12  may not serve on the committee. The teacher and the placement

13  review committee must render decisions within 5 days after the

14  removal of the student from the classroom. If the placement

15  review committee's decision is contrary to the decision of the

16  teacher to withhold consent to the return of the removed

17  student to the teacher's class, the teacher may appeal the

18  committee's decision to the district school superintendent.

19         (7)  Any teacher who removes 25 percent of his or her

20  total class enrollment shall be required to complete

21  professional development to improve classroom management

22  skills.

23         (8)  Each teacher or other member of the staff of any

24  school who knows or has reason to suspect that any person has

25  committed, or has made a credible threat to commit, a crime of

26  violence on school property shall report such knowledge or

27  suspicion in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.13.

28  Each district school superintendent and each school principal

29  shall fully support good-faith reporting in accordance with

30  the provisions of this subsection and s. 1006.13. Any person

31  who makes a report required by this subsection in good faith

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 1  shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for making

 2  the report.

 3         (9)(8)  When knowledgeable of the likely risk of

 4  physical violence in the schools, the district school board

 5  shall take reasonable steps to ensure that teachers, other

 6  school staff, and students are not at undue risk of violence

 7  or harm.

 8         Section 12.  Section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is

 9  amended to read:

10         1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for

11  teacher preparation programs.--

12         (1)  INTENT.--

13         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that skilled teachers

14  make an important contribution to a system that allows

15  students to obtain a high-quality education.

16         (b)  The intent of the Legislature is to require the

17  State Board of Education to attain establish a system for

18  development and approval of teacher preparation programs that

19  allows will free postsecondary teacher preparation

20  institutions to employ varied and innovative teacher

21  preparation techniques while being held accountable for

22  producing graduates with the competencies and skills necessary

23  to achieve the state education goals; help the state's diverse

24  student population, including students who have substandard

25  reading and computational skills and students with limited

26  English proficiency, meet high standards for academic

27  achievement; maintain safe, secure classroom learning

28  environments; and sustain the state system of school

29  improvement and education accountability established pursuant

30  to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345.

31         (2)  UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA.--

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 1         (a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules

 2  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 that establish uniform

 3  core curricula for each state-approved teacher preparation

 4  program.

 5         (b)  The rules to establish uniform core curricula for

 6  each state-approved teacher preparation program must include,

 7  but are not limited to, a State Board of Education identified

 8  foundation in scientifically researched, knowledge-based

 9  reading literacy and computational skills acquisition;

10  classroom management; school safety; professional ethics;

11  educational law; human development and learning; and

12  understanding of the Sunshine State Standards content measured

13  by state achievement tests, reading and interpretation of

14  data, and use of data to improve student achievement.

15         (c)  These rules shall not require an additional period

16  of time-to-degree but may be phased in to enable teacher

17  preparation programs to supplant state board identified

18  pedagogy courses with the courses identified pursuant to

19  paragraph (b).

20         (3)(2)  DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.--A

21  system developed by the Department of Education in

22  collaboration with postsecondary educational institutions

23  shall assist departments and colleges of education in the

24  restructuring of their programs in accordance with this

25  section to meet the need for producing quality teachers now

26  and in the future.

27         (a)  The system must be designed to assist teacher

28  educators in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and

29  evaluating programs that meet state-adopted standards. These

30  standards shall emphasize quality indicators drawn from

31  research, professional literature, recognized guidelines,

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 1  Florida essential teaching competencies and

 2  educator-accomplished practices, effective classroom

 3  practices, and the outcomes of the state system of school

 4  improvement and education accountability, as well as

 5  performance measures.

 6         (b)  Departments and colleges of education shall

 7  emphasize the state system of school improvement and education

 8  accountability concepts and standards, including Sunshine

 9  State Standards.

10         (c)  State-approved teacher preparation programs must

11  incorporate:

12         1.  Appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages

13  instruction so that program graduates will have completed the

14  requirements for teaching limited English proficient students

15  in Florida public schools.

16         2.  Scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading

17  literacy and computational skills instruction so that program

18  graduates will be able to provide the necessary academic

19  foundations for their students at whatever grade levels they

20  choose to teach.

21         (4)(3)  INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.--

22         (a)  A program approval process based on standards

23  adopted pursuant to subsections subsection (2) and (3) must be

24  established for postsecondary teacher preparation programs,

25  phased in according to timelines determined by the Department

26  of Education, and fully implemented for all teacher

27  preparation programs in the state. Each program shall be

28  approved by the department, consistent with the intent set

29  forth in subsection (1) and based primarily upon significant,

30  objective, and quantifiable graduate performance measures.

31  

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 1         (b)  Each teacher preparation program approved by the

 2  Department of Education, as provided for by this section,

 3  shall require students to meet the following as prerequisites

 4  for admission into the program:

 5         1.  Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0

 6  scale for the general education component of undergraduate

 7  studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate

 8  degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0

 9  scale from any college or university accredited by a regional

10  accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education

11  rule or otherwise approved pursuant to State Board of

12  Education rule.

13         2.  Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including

14  the ability to read, write, and compute, by passing the

15  College Level Academic Skills Test, a corresponding component

16  of the National Teachers Examination series, or a similar test

17  pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.

18  

19  Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions

20  requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.

21  Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students

22  admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate

23  competencies to successfully meet requirements for

24  certification.

25         (5)(4)  CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Notwithstanding

26  subsection (4) (3), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher

27  preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program

28  approval shall result in loss of program approval. The

29  Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments

30  and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for

31  

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 1  continued program approval that document the continuous

 2  improvement of program processes and graduates' performance.

 3         (a)  Continued approval of specific teacher preparation

 4  programs at each public and nonpublic postsecondary

 5  educational institution within the state is contingent upon

 6  the passing of the written examination required by s. 1012.56

 7  by at least 90 percent of the graduates of the program who

 8  take the examination. On request of an institution, the

 9  Department of Education shall provide an analysis of the

10  performance of the graduates of such institution with respect

11  to the competencies assessed by the examination required by s.

12  1012.56.

13         (b)  Additional criteria for continued program approval

14  for public institutions may be approved by the State Board of

15  Education. Such criteria must emphasize instruction in

16  classroom management and must provide for the evaluation of

17  the teacher candidates' performance in this area. The criteria

18  shall also require instruction in working with underachieving

19  students. Program evaluation procedures must include, but are

20  not limited to, program graduates' satisfaction with

21  instruction and the program's responsiveness to local school

22  districts. Additional criteria for continued program approval

23  for nonpublic institutions shall be developed in the same

24  manner as for public institutions; however, such criteria must

25  be based upon significant, objective, and quantifiable

26  graduate performance measures. Responsibility for collecting

27  data on outcome measures through survey instruments and other

28  appropriate means shall be shared by the postsecondary

29  educational institutions and the Department of Education. By

30  January 1 of each year, the Department of Education shall

31  report this information for each postsecondary educational

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 1  institution that has state-approved programs of teacher

 2  education to the Governor, the State Board of Education, the

 3  Commissioner of Education, the President of the Senate, the

 4  Speaker of the House of Representatives, all Florida

 5  postsecondary teacher preparation programs, and interested

 6  members of the public. This report must analyze the data and

 7  make recommendations for improving teacher preparation

 8  programs in the state.

 9         (c)  Continued approval for a teacher preparation

10  program is contingent upon the results of annual reviews of

11  the program conducted by the postsecondary educational

12  institution, using procedures and criteria outlined in an

13  institutional program evaluation plan approved by the

14  Department of Education. This plan must incorporate the

15  criteria established in paragraphs (a) and (b) and include

16  provisions for involving primary stakeholders, such as program

17  graduates, district school personnel, classroom teachers,

18  principals, community agencies, and business representatives

19  in the evaluation process. Upon request by an institution, the

20  department shall provide assistance in developing, enhancing,

21  or reviewing the institutional program evaluation plan and

22  training evaluation team members.

23         (d)  Continued approval for a teacher preparation

24  program is contingent upon standards being in place that are

25  designed to adequately prepare elementary, middle, and high

26  school teachers to instruct their students in reading and

27  higher-level mathematics concepts and in the use of technology

28  at the appropriate grade level.

29         (e)  Continued approval of teacher preparation programs

30  is contingent upon compliance with the student admission

31  requirements of subsection (4) (3) and upon the receipt of at

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 1  least a satisfactory rating from public schools and private

 2  schools that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher

 3  preparation program shall guarantee the high quality of its

 4  graduates during the first 2 years immediately following

 5  graduation from the program or following initial

 6  certification, whichever occurs first. Any educator in a

 7  Florida school who fails to demonstrate the essential skills

 8  specified in subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional

 9  training by the teacher preparation program at no expense to

10  the educator or the employer. Such training must consist of an

11  individualized plan agreed upon by the school district and the

12  postsecondary educational institution that includes specific

13  learning outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution

14  assumes no responsibility for the educator's employment

15  contract with the employer. Employer satisfaction shall be

16  determined by an annually administered survey instrument

17  approved by the Department of Education that, at a minimum,

18  must include employer satisfaction of the graduates' ability

19  to do the following:

20         1.  Write and speak in a logical and understandable

21  style with appropriate grammar.

22         2.  Recognize signs of students' difficulty with the

23  reading and computational process and apply appropriate

24  measures to improve students' reading and computational

25  performance.

26         3.  Use and integrate appropriate technology in

27  teaching and learning processes.

28         4.  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Sunshine

29  State Standards.

30         5.  Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom

31  conducive to student learning.

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 1         (f)1.  Each Florida public and private institution that

 2  offers a state-approved teacher preparation program must

 3  annually report information regarding these programs to the

 4  state and the general public. This information shall be

 5  reported in a uniform and comprehensible manner that is

 6  consistent with definitions and methods approved by the

 7  Commissioner of the National Center for Educational Statistics

 8  and that is approved by the State Board of Education. This

 9  information must include, at a minimum:

10         a.  The percent of graduates obtaining full-time

11  teaching employment within the first year of graduation.

12         b.  The average length of stay of graduates in their

13  full-time teaching positions.

14         c.  Satisfaction ratings required in paragraph (e).

15         2.  Each public and private institution offering

16  training for school readiness related professions, including

17  training in the fields of child care and early childhood

18  education, whether offering technical credit, associate in

19  applied science degree programs, associate in science degree

20  programs, or associate in arts degree programs, shall annually

21  report information regarding these programs to the state and

22  the general public in a uniform and comprehensible manner that

23  conforms with definitions and methods approved by the State

24  Board of Education. This information must include, at a

25  minimum:

26         a.  Average length of stay of graduates in their

27  positions.

28         b.  Satisfaction ratings of graduates' employers.

29  

30  This information shall be reported through publications,

31  including college and university catalogs and promotional

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 1  materials sent to potential applicants, secondary school

 2  guidance counselors, and prospective employers of the

 3  institution's program graduates.

 4         (6)(5)  PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--All postsecondary

 5  instructors, school district personnel and instructional

 6  personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel

 7  through preservice field experience courses and internships

 8  shall meet special requirements. District school boards are

 9  authorized to pay student teachers during their internships.

10         (a)  All instructors in postsecondary teacher

11  preparation programs who instruct or supervise preservice

12  field experience courses or internships shall have at least

13  one of the following: specialized training in clinical

14  supervision; a valid professional teaching certificate

15  pursuant to ss. 1012.56 and 1012.585; or at least 3 years of

16  successful teaching experience in prekindergarten through

17  grade 12.

18         (b)  All school district personnel and instructional

19  personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students

20  during field experience courses or internships must have

21  evidence of "clinical educator" training and must successfully

22  demonstrate effective classroom management strategies that

23  consistently result in improved student performance. The State

24  Board of Education shall approve the training requirements.

25         (c)  Preservice field experience programs must provide

26  specific guidance and demonstration of effective classroom

27  management strategies, strategies for incorporating technology

28  into classroom instruction, and ways to link instructional

29  plans to the Sunshine State Standards, as appropriate. The

30  length of structured field experiences may be extended to

31  

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 1  ensure that candidates achieve the competencies needed to meet

 2  certification requirements.

 3         (d)  Postsecondary teacher preparation programs in

 4  cooperation with district school boards and approved private

 5  school associations shall select the school sites for

 6  preservice field experience activities. These sites must

 7  represent the full spectrum of school communities, including,

 8  but not limited to, schools located in urban settings. In

 9  order to be selected, school sites must demonstrate commitment

10  to the education of public school students and to the

11  preparation of future teachers.

12         (7)(6)  STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.--The State Board of

13  Education shall approve standards of excellence for teacher

14  preparation. These standards must exceed the requirements for

15  program approval pursuant to subsection (4) (3) and must

16  incorporate state and national recommendations for exemplary

17  teacher preparation programs.

18         (8)(7)  NATIONAL BOARD STANDARDS.--The State Board of

19  Education shall review standards and recommendations developed

20  by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and

21  may incorporate those parts deemed appropriate into criteria

22  for continued state program approval, standards of excellence,

23  and requirements for inservice education.

24         (9)(8)  COMMUNITY COLLEGES.--To the extent practical,

25  postsecondary educational institutions offering teacher

26  preparation programs shall establish articulation agreements

27  on a core of liberal arts courses and introductory

28  professional courses with field experience components which

29  shall be offered at community colleges.

30         (10)(9)  PRETEACHER AND TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT

31  PROGRAMS.--State universities and community colleges may

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 1  establish preteacher education and teacher education pilot

 2  programs to encourage promising minority students to prepare

 3  for a career in education. These pilot programs shall be

 4  designed to recruit and provide additional academic, clinical,

 5  and counseling support for students whom the institution

 6  judges to be potentially successful teacher education

 7  candidates, but who may not meet teacher education program

 8  admission standards. Priority consideration shall be given to

 9  those pilot programs that are jointly submitted by community

10  colleges and state universities.

11         (a)  These pilot programs shall be approved by the

12  State Board of Education and shall be designed to provide help

13  and support for program participants during the preteacher

14  education period of general academic preparation at a

15  community college or state university and during professional

16  preparation in a state-approved teacher education program.

17  Emphasis shall be placed on development of the basic skills

18  needed by successful teachers.

19         (b)  State universities and community colleges may

20  admit into the pilot program those incoming students who

21  demonstrate an interest in teaching as a career, but who may

22  not meet the requirements for entrance into an approved

23  teacher education program.

24         1.  Flexibility may be given to colleges of education

25  to develop and market innovative teacher training programs

26  directed at specific target groups such as graduates from the

27  colleges of arts and sciences, employed education

28  paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, early federal

29  retirees, and nontraditional college students. Programs must

30  be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval.

31  

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 1         2.  Academically successful graduates in the fields of

 2  liberal arts and science may be encouraged to embark upon a

 3  career in education.

 4         3.  Models may be developed to provide a positive

 5  initial experience in teaching in order to encourage

 6  retention. Priority should be given to models that encourage

 7  minority graduates.

 8         (c)  In order to be certified, a graduate from a pilot

 9  program shall meet all requirements for teacher certification

10  specified by s. 1012.56. Should a graduate of a pilot program

11  not meet the requirements of s. 1012.56, that person shall not

12  be included in the calculations required by paragraph

13  (5)(4)(a) and State Board of Education rules for continued

14  program approval, or in the statutes used by the State Board

15  of Education in deciding which teacher education programs to

16  approve.

17         (d)  Institutions participating in the pilot program

18  shall submit an annual report evaluating the success of the

19  program to the Commissioner of Education by March 1 of each

20  year. The report shall include, at a minimum, contain, but

21  shall not be limited to: the number of pilot program

22  participants, including the number participating in general

23  education and the number admitted to approved teacher

24  education programs, the number of pilot program graduates, and

25  the number of pilot program graduates who met the requirements

26  of s. 1012.56. The commissioner shall consider the number of

27  participants recruited, the number of graduates, and the

28  number of graduates successfully meeting the requirements of

29  s. 1012.56 reported by each institution, and shall make an

30  annual recommendation to the State Board of Education

31  

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 1  regarding the institution's continued participation in the

 2  pilot program.

 3         (11)(10)  TEACHER EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAMS FOR

 4  HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS.--Pilot teacher preparation programs

 5  may shall be established with the authorization of the

 6  Commissioner of Education at colleges and universities with

 7  state-approved teacher education programs at the University of

 8  Central Florida, the University of North Florida, and the

 9  University of South Florida. These programs shall include a

10  year-long paid teaching assignment and competency-based

11  learning experiences and shall be designed to encourage

12  high-achieving students, as identified by the institution, to

13  pursue a career in education. Priority consideration shall be

14  given to students obtaining academic degrees in mathematics,

15  science, engineering, reading, or identified critical shortage

16  areas. Students chosen to participate in the pilot programs

17  shall agree to teach for at least 1 year after they receive

18  their degrees. Criteria for identifying high-achieving

19  students shall be developed by the institution and shall

20  include, at a minimum, requirements that the student have a

21  3.3 grade point average or above and that the student has

22  demonstrated mastery of general knowledge pursuant to s.

23  1012.56. The year-long paid teaching assignment shall begin

24  after completion of the equivalent of 3 years of the state

25  university teacher preparation program.

26         (a)  Each pilot program shall be designed to include:

27         1.  A year-long paid teaching assignment at a

28  low-performing specified school site during the fourth year of

29  the state university teacher preparation program, which

30  includes intense supervision by a support team trained in

31  clinical education. The support team shall include a state

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 1  university supervisor and experienced school-based mentors. A

 2  mentor teacher shall be assigned to each fourth year employed

 3  teacher to implement an individualized learning plan. This

 4  mentor teacher will be considered an adjunct professor for

 5  purposes of this program and may receive credit for time spent

 6  as a mentor teacher in the program. The mentor teacher must

 7  have a master's degree or above, a minimum of 3 years of

 8  teaching experience, and clinical education training or

 9  certification by the National Board for of Professional

10  Teaching Standards. Experiences and instruction may be

11  delivered by other mentors, assigned teachers, professors,

12  individualized learning, and demonstrations. Students in this

13  paid teaching assignment shall assume full responsibility of

14  all teaching duties.

15         2.  Professional education curriculum requirements that

16  address the educator-accomplished practices and other

17  competencies specified in state board rule.

18         3.  A modified instructional delivery system that

19  provides onsite training during the paid teaching assignment

20  in the professional education areas and competencies specified

21  in this subsection. The institutions participating in this

22  pilot program shall be given a waiver to provide a modified

23  instructional delivery system meeting criteria that allows

24  earned credit through nontraditional approaches. The modified

25  system may provide for an initial evaluation of the

26  candidate's competencies to determine an appropriate

27  individualized professional development plan and may provide

28  for earned credit by:

29         a.  Internet learning and competency acquisition.

30         b.  Learning acquired by observing demonstrations and

31  being observed in application.

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 1         c.  Independent study or instruction by mentor teachers

 2  or adjunct teachers.

 3         4.  Satisfactory demonstration of the

 4  educator-accomplished practices and content area competencies

 5  for program completion.

 6         5.  For program completion, required achievement of

 7  passing scores on all tests required for certification by

 8  State Board of Education rules.

 9         (b)  Beginning in July 2003, each institution

10  participating in the pilot program shall submit to the

11  Commissioner of Education an annual report evaluating the

12  effectiveness of the program. The report shall include, but

13  shall not be limited to, the number of students selected for

14  the pilot program, the number of students successfully

15  completing the pilot program, the number of program

16  participants who passed all required examinations, the number

17  of program participants who successfully demonstrated all

18  required competencies, and a followup study to determine the

19  number of pilot program completers who were employed in a

20  teaching position and employers' satisfaction with the

21  performance of pilot program completers.

22         (c)  This subsection shall be implemented to the extent

23  specifically funded in the General Appropriations Act.

24         (12)(11)  RULES.--The State Board of Education shall

25  adopt necessary rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to

26  implement this section. The Commissioner of Education may

27  waive the rules for state approval of teacher preparation

28  programs in order to allow institutions to employ varied and

29  innovative techniques while being held accountable for

30  producing graduates with competencies and skills equal to or

31  superior to those required in this section.

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 1         Section 13.  Subsection (1) of section 1006.08, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         1006.08  District school superintendent duties relating

 4  to student discipline and school safety.--

 5         (1)  The district school superintendent shall recommend

 6  plans to the district school board for the proper accounting

 7  for all students of school age, for the attendance and control

 8  of students at school, and for the proper attention to health,

 9  safety, and other matters which will best promote the welfare

10  of students. Each district school superintendent shall fully

11  support the authority of his or her principals, teachers, and

12  school bus drivers to remove disobedient, disrespectful,

13  violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from

14  the classroom and the school bus. When the district school

15  superintendent makes a recommendation for expulsion to the

16  district school board, he or she shall give written notice to

17  the student and the student' s parent of the recommendation,

18  setting forth the charges against the student and advising the

19  student and his or her parent of the student's right to due

20  process as prescribed by ss. 120.569 and 120.57(2). When

21  district school board action on a recommendation for the

22  expulsion of a student is pending, the district school

23  superintendent may extend the suspension assigned by the

24  principal beyond 10 school days if such suspension period

25  expires before the next regular or special meeting of the

26  district school board.

27         Section 14.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

28  1006.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         1006.09  Duties of school principal relating to student

30  discipline and school safety.--

31  

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 1         (1)(a)  Subject to law and to the rules of the State

 2  Board of Education and the district school board, the

 3  principal in charge of the school or the principal's designee

 4  shall develop policies for delegating to any teacher or other

 5  member of the instructional staff or to any bus driver

 6  transporting students of the school responsibility for the

 7  control and direction of students. Each school principal shall

 8  fully support the authority of his or her teachers and school

 9  bus drivers to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent,

10  abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the

11  classroom and the school bus. The principal or the principal's

12  designee must give full consideration to shall consider the

13  recommendation for discipline made by a teacher, other member

14  of the instructional staff, or a bus driver when making a

15  decision regarding student referral for discipline.

16         Section 15.  Section 1009.59, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         1009.59  Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan

19  Reimbursement Forgiveness Program.--

20         (1)  The Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan

21  Reimbursement Forgiveness Program is established to encourage

22  qualified personnel with undergraduate or graduate degrees in

23  mathematics, science, engineering, reading, or State Board of

24  Education designated critical teacher shortage areas to seek

25  employment as teachers in Florida's publicly funded schools in

26  subject areas in which critical teacher shortages exist, as

27  identified annually by the State Board of Education. The

28  primary purpose function of the program is to enhance the

29  quality of Florida's teacher workforce by making make

30  repayments toward loans received by the selected students from

31  federal programs or commercial lending institutions for the

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 1  support of postsecondary education study. Repayments are

 2  intended to be made to qualified applicants with undergraduate

 3  or graduate degrees in mathematics, science, engineering,

 4  reading, or State Board of Education designated critical

 5  teacher shortage areas who begin teaching for the first time

 6  in designated subject areas, and who apply during their first

 7  full year of teaching in a publicly funded school in Florida

 8  as certified teachers in these subject areas. Repayment shall

 9  be prorated if a teacher teaches at least 90 days during the

10  first year of teaching.

11         (2)  From the funds available, the Department of

12  Education may make loan principal repayments on behalf of

13  persons with degrees in mathematics, science, engineering,

14  reading, or state board designated critical teacher shortage

15  areas who are certified to teach in Florida public schools.

16  The repayments may be made as follows:

17         (a)  Up to $1,500 the first year the person is employed

18  as a teacher in a publicly funded school in Florida $2,500 a

19  year for up to 4 years on behalf of selected graduates of

20  state-approved undergraduate postsecondary teacher preparation

21  programs, persons certified to teach pursuant to any

22  applicable teacher certification requirements, or selected

23  teacher preparation graduates from any state participating in

24  the Interstate Agreement on the Qualification of Educational

25  Personnel.

26         (b)  Up to $2,500 for the second year the person is

27  employed as a teacher in a publicly funded school in Florida

28  $5,000 a year for up to 2 years on behalf of selected

29  graduates of state-approved graduate postsecondary teacher

30  preparation programs, persons with graduate degrees certified

31  to teach pursuant to any applicable teacher certification

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 1  requirements, or selected teacher preparation graduates from

 2  any state participating in the Interstate Agreement on the

 3  Qualification of Educational Personnel.

 4         (c)  Up to $3,500 for the third year the person is

 5  employed as a teacher in a publicly funded school in Florida.

 6         (d)  Up to $4,500 for the fourth year and each

 7  subsequent year, up to a maximum of 10 years, the person is

 8  employed as a teacher in a publicly funded school in Florida.

 9         (e)(c)  All repayments shall be contingent on continued

10  proof of satisfactory employment in a teacher position the

11  designated subject areas in a publicly funded school in this

12  state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan or

13  the applicant. The state shall not bear responsibility for the

14  collection of any interest charges or other remaining balance.

15  In the event that designated critical teacher shortage subject

16  areas are changed by the State Board of Education, A teacher

17  shall continue to be eligible for loan reimbursement in

18  accordance with paragraphs (a)-(d) for up to the maximum of 10

19  years if forgiveness as long as he or she continues to teach

20  in a subject area or in a critical shortage area pursuant to

21  this section at a publicly funded school in Florida in the

22  subject area for which the original loan repayment was made

23  and otherwise meets all conditions of eligibility.

24         (3)  Students receiving a state scholarship loan or a

25  fellowship loan are not eligible to participate in the

26  Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Reimbursement

27  Forgiveness Program.

28         (4)  The Department of Education must advertise the

29  availability of this program and must advise school districts,

30  postsecondary educational institutions, and the public of the

31  criteria and application procedures.

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 1         (5)(4)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules

 2  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary for the

 3  administration of this program.

 4         (6)(5)  This section shall be implemented only to the

 5  extent as specifically funded and authorized by law.

 6         Section 16.  Section 1012.05, Florida Statutes, is

 7  amended to read:

 8         1012.05  Teacher recruitment and retention.--

 9         (1)  The Department of Education, in cooperation with

10  teacher organizations, district personnel offices, and

11  schools, colleges, and departments of all education in public

12  and nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions, shall

13  concentrate on the recruitment and retention of qualified

14  teachers.

15         (2)  The Department of Education shall:

16         (a)  Develop and implement a system for posting

17  teaching vacancies and establish a database of teacher

18  applicants that is accessible within and outside the state.

19         (b)  Advertise in major newspapers, national

20  professional publications, and other professional publications

21  and in public and nonpublic postsecondary educational

22  institutions schools of education.

23         (c)  Utilize state and nationwide toll-free numbers.

24         (d)  Conduct periodic communications with district

25  personnel directors regarding applicants.

26         (e)  Provide district access to the applicant database

27  by computer or telephone.

28         (f)  Develop and distribute promotional materials

29  related to teaching as a profession and as a career.

30         (g)  Publish and distribute information pertaining to

31  employment opportunities, application procedures, all routes

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 1  toward teacher certification, in Florida, and teacher

 2  salaries.

 3         (h)  Provide information related to certification

 4  procedures.

 5         (i)  Develop and sponsor the Florida Future Educator of

 6  America Program throughout the state.

 7         (j)  Develop, in consultation with school district

 8  staff including, but not limited to, district school

 9  superintendents, district school board members, and district

10  human resources personnel, a long-range plan for educator

11  recruitment and retention.

12         (j)(k)  Identify best practices for retaining

13  high-quality teachers.

14         (k)(l)  Develop, in consultation with Workforce

15  Florida, Inc., and the Agency for Workforce Innovation,

16  created pursuant to ss. 445.004 and 20.50, respectively, a

17  plan for accessing and identifying available resources in the

18  state's workforce system for the purpose of enhancing teacher

19  recruitment and retention.

20         (l)  Develop and implement a First Response Center to

21  provide educator candidates one-stop shopping for information

22  on teaching careers in Florida and establish the Teacher

23  Lifeline Network to provide on-line support to beginning

24  teachers.

25         (3)  The Department of Education, in cooperation with

26  district personnel offices, shall sponsor a job fair in a

27  central part of the state to match in-state educators and

28  potential educators and out-of-state educators and potential

29  educators with teaching opportunities in this state.

30         (4)  Subject to proviso in the General Appropriations

31  Act, the Commissioner of Education may use funds appropriated

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 1  by the Legislature and funds from federal grants and other

 2  sources to provide incentives for teacher recruitment and

 3  preparation programs. The purpose of the use of such funds is

 4  to recruit and prepare individuals who do not graduate from

 5  state-approved teacher preparation programs to teach in a

 6  Florida public school. The commissioner may contract with

 7  entities other than, and including, approved teacher

 8  preparation programs to provide intensive teacher training

 9  leading to passage of the required certification exams for the

10  desired subject area or coverage. The commissioner shall

11  survey school districts to evaluate the effectiveness of such

12  programs.

13         (5)  The Department of Education shall develop, in

14  consultation with school district staff, including, but not

15  limited to, district school superintendents, district school

16  board members, and district human resources personnel, a

17  long-range plan for educator recruitment and retention. The

18  plan must address the areas of critical teacher shortage for

19  each year.

20         (a)  The plan must include a model comprehensive

21  induction program and a model peer mentoring program for new

22  teachers employed in the state or district for the first time

23  and teachers certified under s. 1012.56(7)(a) and s.

24  1012.57(1). The purpose of the program is to provide an

25  orientation to professional responsibilities and the support

26  activities required to enable the teachers to successfully

27  demonstrate the competencies required by this section.

28         1.  The components of the induction program must

29  include:

30         a.  Preservice activities;

31  

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 1         b.  Regular meetings between the new teacher and the

 2  peer mentor;

 3         c.  Partnerships with teacher preparation programs; and

 4         d.  Partnerships with other schools within the

 5  district.

 6         2.  The induction program for a teacher's first year in

 7  the district may include:

 8         a.  A reduced teaching load;

 9         b.  A limitation on the teacher's initial assignments

10  to the field in which the teacher is certified.

11         3.  The plan for the mentoring program must include:

12         a.  Training for the peer mentor;

13         b.  Training for the school principal on managing

14  successful teacher retention efforts and on providing support

15  for the new teacher and peer mentor;

16         c.  Assigning a trained mentor within the school to

17  each new teacher; and

18         d.  Providing opportunities to collaborate with the

19  mentor and other teachers through scheduling and structural

20  changes, including a common planning time, in order to build

21  collegial relationships and promote instructional excellence.

22         (b)  Each school district shall consider implementing

23  the model induction program and the model peer mentoring

24  program contained in the long-range plan.

25         (c)  The Department of Education shall annually report

26  to the Legislature on the number of districts implementing the

27  model induction program and the model peer mentoring program,

28  the retention rates for first-year teachers, and the impact of

29  the model induction program and the model peer mentoring

30  program on the long-range plan for educator recruitment and

31  retention.

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 1         Section 17.  Section 1012.231, Florida Statutes, is

 2  created to read:

 3         1012.231  Teacher compensation; assignment of

 4  teachers.--The State Board of Education shall convene a

 5  statewide advisory council of teachers and education

 6  stakeholders to develop a long-range plan to implement a

 7  differentiated pay model for teachers in the 2005-2006

 8  academic year, based on the differentiated classroom teacher

 9  categories in subsection (2). The advisory council shall

10  consist of 15 members: the Commissioner of Education; six

11  members appointed by the Governor; four members appointed by

12  the President of the Senate; and four members appointed by the

13  Speaker of the House of Representatives. The members of the

14  advisory council must consist of representatives from across

15  the state and must include beginning and experienced teachers.

16  The Commissioner of Education shall serve as the chair for the

17  council. The State Board of Education shall submit the

18  council's findings and recommendations to the Governor, the

19  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

20  Representatives by January 15, 2004.

21         (1)  STARTING SALARY.--Beginning with the 2003-2004

22  academic year, each district school board shall develop, and

23  shall present to the State Board of Education by September 1,

24  2004, a plan for compensation of beginning classroom teachers,

25  pursuant to legislative appropriations. The plan shall provide

26  for phased-in incremental implementation that maintains

27  separation between years of service for each differentiated

28  classroom teacher category as required pursuant to subsection

29  (2).

30  

31  

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 1         (2)  PERFORMANCE PAY FRAMEWORK.--For purposes of

 2  developing differentiated salary levels, the following policy

 3  framework designates categories of classroom teachers:

 4         (a)  Associate Teacher.--Classroom teachers who have

 5  not yet fully validated all essential teaching competencies,

 6  including the educator-accomplished practices as established

 7  in State Board of Education rule, or who have not qualified

 8  through reciprocal certification options identified in s.

 9  1012.56(4).

10         (b)  Teacher.--Classroom teachers who have fully

11  validated all essential teaching competencies, including the

12  educator-accomplished practices as established in State Board

13  of Education rule, or who have qualified through reciprocal

14  certification options identified in s. 1012.56(4).

15         (c)  Senior Teacher.--Classroom teachers who have

16  demonstrated outstanding performance as evidenced by improved

17  student achievement and who are responsible for leading others

18  in the school as department chair, lead teacher, grade-level

19  leader, intern coordinator, or professional development

20  coordinator. Senior teachers must serve as faculty for

21  professional development activities as determined by the State

22  Board of Education.

23         (d)  Mentor Teacher.--Classroom teachers who have

24  demonstrated sustained outstanding performance as evidenced by

25  improved student achievement and other factors as defined by

26  the State Board of Education and who serve as regular mentors

27  to other teachers who are either not performing satisfactorily

28  or who strive to become more proficient. Mentor teachers must

29  serve as faculty-based professional development coordinators

30  and regularly demonstrate and share their expertise with other

31  teachers in order to remain mentor teachers.

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 1         (3)  TEACHER ASSIGNMENT.--School districts may not

 2  assign a higher percentage of first-time teachers, temporarily

 3  certified teachers, teachers in need of improvement, or

 4  out-of-field teachers to schools with above the school

 5  district average of minority and economically disadvantaged

 6  students or schools that are graded "D" or "F" District school

 7  boards are authorized to provide salary incentives to meet

 8  this requirement.

 9         Section 18.  Section 1012.27, Florida Statutes, is

10  amended to read:

11         1012.27  Public school personnel; powers and duties of

12  district school superintendent.--The district school

13  superintendent is shall be responsible, as required herein,

14  for directing the work of the personnel, subject to the

15  requirements of this chapter, and in addition the district

16  school superintendent shall perform have the following duties:

17         (1)  POSITIONS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND NOMINATIONS.--

18         (a)  Recommend to the district school board duties and

19  responsibilities which need to be performed and positions

20  which need to be filled to make possible the development of an

21  adequate school program in the district.

22         (b)  Recommend minimum qualifications of personnel for

23  these various positions, and nominate in writing persons to

24  fill such positions.

25  

26  The district school superintendent's recommendations for

27  filling instructional positions at the school level must

28  consider nominations received from school principals of the

29  respective schools. Before transferring a teacher who holds a

30  professional teaching certificate from one school to another,

31  the district school superintendent shall consult with the

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 1  principal of the receiving school and allow the principal to

 2  review the teacher's records and interview the teacher. If, in

 3  the judgment of the principal, students would not benefit from

 4  the placement, an alternative placement may be sought.

 5         (2)  COMPENSATION AND SALARY SCHEDULES.--Prepare and

 6  recommend to the district school board for adoption a salary

 7  schedule or salary schedules. The district school

 8  superintendent must recommend a salary schedule for

 9  instructional personnel which bases a portion of each

10  employee's compensation on performance demonstrated under s.

11  1012.34. In developing the recommended salary schedule, the

12  district school superintendent shall include input from

13  parents, teachers, and representatives of the business

14  community.

15         (3)  CONTRACTS AND TERMS OF SERVICE.--Recommend to the

16  district school board terms for contracting with employees and

17  prepare such contracts as are approved.

18         (4)  TRANSFER.--Recommend employees for transfer and

19  transfer any employee during any emergency and report the

20  transfer to the district school board at its next regular

21  meeting.

22         (5)  SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL.--Suspend members of the

23  instructional staff and other school employees during

24  emergencies for a period extending to and including the day of

25  the next regular or special meeting of the district school

26  board and notify the district school board immediately of such

27  suspension. When authorized to do so, serve notice on the

28  suspended member of the instructional staff of charges made

29  against him or her and of the date of hearing. Recommend

30  employees for dismissal under the terms prescribed herein.

31  

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 1         (6)  DIRECT WORK OF EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISE

 2  INSTRUCTION.--Direct or arrange for the proper direction and

 3  improvement, under rules of the district school board, of the

 4  work of all members of the instructional staff and other

 5  employees of the district school system, supervise or arrange

 6  under rules of the district school board for the supervision

 7  of instruction in the district, and take such steps as are

 8  necessary to bring about continuous improvement.

 9         Section 19.  Subsections (1) through (6) of section

10  1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

11         1012.56  Educator certification requirements.--

12         (1)  APPLICATION.--Each person seeking certification

13  pursuant to this chapter shall submit a completed application

14  containing the applicant's social security number to the

15  Department of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to

16  s. 1012.59 and rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant

17  to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

18  Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is required to provide

19  his or her social security number in accordance with this

20  section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained

21  through this requirement is shall be limited to the purpose of

22  administration of the Title IV-D program of the Social

23  Security Act for child support enforcement. Pursuant to s.

24  120.60, the department shall issue within 90 calendar days

25  after the stamped receipted date of the completed application:

26         (a)  A certificate covering the classification, level,

27  and area for which the applicant is deemed qualified; or

28         (b)  An official statement of status of eligibility.

29  The statement of status of eligibility must advise the

30  applicant of any qualifications that must be completed to

31  qualify for certification. Each statement of status of

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 1  eligibility is valid for 3 2 years after its date of issuance,

 2  except as provided in paragraph (2)(d). A statement of status

 3  of eligibility may be reissued for one additional 2-year

 4  period if application is made while the initial statement of

 5  status of eligibility is valid or within 1 year after the

 6  initial statement expires, and if the certification subject

 7  area is authorized to be issued by the state board at the time

 8  the application requesting a reissued statement of status of

 9  eligibility is received.

10         (2)  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.--To be eligible to seek

11  certification pursuant to this chapter, a person must:

12         (a)  Be at least 18 years of age.

13         (b)  File a written statement, under oath, that the

14  applicant subscribes to and will uphold the principles

15  incorporated in the Constitution of the United States and the

16  Constitution of the State of Florida.

17         (c)  Document receipt of a bachelor's or higher degree

18  from an accredited institution of higher learning, or a

19  nonaccredited institution of higher learning that the

20  Department of Education has identified as having a quality

21  program resulting in a bachelor's degree, or higher. Each

22  applicant seeking initial certification must have attained at

23  least a 2.5 overall grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the

24  applicant's major field of study. The applicant may document

25  the required education by submitting official transcripts from

26  institutions of higher education or by authorizing the direct

27  submission of such official transcripts through established

28  electronic network systems. The bachelor's or higher degree

29  may not be required in areas approved in rule by the State

30  Board of Education as nondegreed areas.

31  

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 1         (d)  Submit to a fingerprint check from the Department

 2  of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

 3  pursuant to s. 1012.32. If the fingerprint reports indicate a

 4  criminal history or if the applicant acknowledges a criminal

 5  history, the applicant's records shall be referred to the

 6  Bureau of Educator Standards for review and determination of

 7  eligibility for certification. If the applicant fails to

 8  provide the necessary documentation requested by the Bureau of

 9  Educator Standards within 90 days after the date of the

10  receipt of the certified mail request, the statement of

11  eligibility and pending application shall become invalid.

12         (e)  Be of good moral character.

13         (f)  Be competent and capable of performing the duties,

14  functions, and responsibilities of an educator.

15         (g)  Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, pursuant

16  to subsection (3).

17         (h)  Demonstrate mastery of subject area knowledge,

18  pursuant to subsection (4).

19         (i)  Demonstrate mastery of professional preparation

20  and education competence, pursuant to subsection (5).

21         (3)  MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable means of

22  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:

23         (a)  Achievement of passing scores on basic skills

24  examination required by state board rule;

25         (b)  Achievement of passing scores on the College Level

26  Academic Skills Test earned prior to July 1, 2002;

27         (c)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

28  another state that requires an examination of mastery of

29  general knowledge;

30  

31  

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 1         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

 2  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

 3  Board for Professional Teaching Standards; or

 4         (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful

 5  teaching in a community college, state university, or private

 6  college or university that awards an associate or higher

 7  degree and is an accredited institution or an institution of

 8  higher education identified by the Department of Education as

 9  having a quality program. A valid standard teaching

10  certificate issued by another state and documentation of 2

11  years of continuous successful full-time teaching or

12  administrative experience during the 5-year period immediately

13  preceding the date of application for certification.

14         (4)  MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable

15  means of demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:

16         (a)  Achievement of passing scores on subject area

17  examinations required by state board rule;

18         (b)  Completion of the subject area specialization

19  requirements specified in state board rule and verification of

20  the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies by

21  the district school superintendent of the employing school

22  district or chief administrative officer of the employing

23  state-supported or private school for a subject area for which

24  a subject area examination has not been developed and required

25  by state board rule;

26         (c)  Completion of the graduate level subject area

27  specialization requirements specified in state board rule for

28  a subject coverage requiring a master's or higher degree and

29  achievement of a passing score on the subject area examination

30  specified in state board rule;

31  

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 1         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

 2  another state that requires an examination of mastery of

 3  subject area knowledge; or

 4         (e)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

 5  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

 6  Board for Professional Teaching Standards.; or

 7         (f)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

 8  another state and documentation of 2 years of continuous

 9  successful full-time teaching or administrative experience

10  during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of

11  application for certification.

12         (5)  MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION

13  COMPETENCE.--Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of

14  professional preparation and education competence are:

15         (a)  Completion of an approved teacher preparation

16  program at a postsecondary educational institution within this

17  state and achievement of a passing score on the professional

18  education competency examination required by state board rule;

19         (b)  Completion of a teacher preparation program at a

20  postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and

21  achievement of a passing score on the professional education

22  competency examination required by state board rule;

23         (c)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

24  another state that requires an examination of mastery of

25  professional education competence;

26         (d)  A valid standard teaching certificate issued by

27  another state and valid certificate issued by the National

28  Board for Professional Teaching Standards;

29         (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful

30  teaching in a community college, state university, or private

31  college or university that awards an associate or higher

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 1  degree and is an accredited institution or an institution of

 2  higher education identified by the Department of Education as

 3  having a quality program A valid standard teaching certificate

 4  issued by another state and documentation of 2 years of

 5  continuous successful full-time teaching or administrative

 6  experience during the 5-year period immediately preceding the

 7  date of application for certification;

 8         (f)  Completion of professional preparation courses as

 9  specified in state board rule, successful completion of a

10  professional education competence demonstration program

11  pursuant to paragraph (7)(b), and achievement of a passing

12  score on the professional education competency examination

13  required by state board rule; or

14         (g)  Successful completion of a professional

15  preparation alternative certification and education competency

16  program, outlined in paragraph (7)(a).

17  

18  Rules of the State Board of Education governing mastery of

19  professional preparation and education competence shall be

20  revised as necessary in accordance with s. 1004.04(2).

21         (6)  TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.--

22         (a)  The Department of Education shall issue a

23  professional certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to

24  any applicant who meets all the requirements outlined in

25  subsection (2).

26         (b)  The department shall issue a temporary certificate

27  to any applicant who completes the requirements outlined in

28  paragraphs (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content

29  requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates

30  mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (4)

31  and holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the

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 1  Department of Education at the level required for the subject

 2  area specialization in state board rule.

 3         (c)  The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2-year

 4  temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5-year professional

 5  certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor's

 6  degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for

 7  completion of a master's degree program in speech-language

 8  impairment.

 9  

10  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years

11  and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph

12  (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of

13  employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who

14  are employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year

15  time period may continue to be employed through the end of the

16  school year in which they have been contracted. A school

17  district shall not employ, or continue the employment of, an

18  individual in a position for which a temporary certificate is

19  required beyond this time period if the individual has not met

20  the requirement of paragraph (2)(g). The State Board of

21  Education shall adopt rules to allow the department to extend

22  the validity period of a temporary certificate for 2 years

23  when the requirements for the professional certificate, not

24  including the requirement in paragraph (2)(g), were not

25  completed due to the serious illness or injury of the

26  applicant or other extraordinary extenuating circumstances.

27  Based on emergency need, the department shall reissue the

28  temporary certificate for 2 additional years upon approval by

29  the Commissioner of Education. A written request for such

30  reissuance must first of the certificate shall be submitted,

31  stating the basis for the emergency need, by the district

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 1  school superintendent, the governing authority of a university

 2  lab school, the governing authority of a state-supported

 3  school, or the governing authority of a private school.

 4         Section 20.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida

 5  Statutes, is amended to read:

 6         1012.57  Certification of adjunct educators.--

 7         (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32,

 8  1012.55, and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to

 9  the contrary, district school boards shall adopt rules to

10  allow for the issuance of may issue an adjunct teaching

11  certificate to any applicant who fulfills the requirements of

12  s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and who has expertise in the subject area

13  to be taught. An applicant shall be considered to have

14  expertise in the subject area to be taught if the applicant

15  has at least a major minor in the subject area or demonstrates

16  sufficient subject area mastery through passage of a subject

17  area test as determined by district school board policy. The

18  adjunct teaching certificate shall be used for part-time

19  teaching positions. The intent of this provision is to allow

20  school districts to tap the wealth of talent and expertise

21  represented in Florida's citizens who may wish to teach

22  part-time in a Florida public school by permitting school

23  districts to issue adjunct certificates to qualified

24  applicants. Adjunct certificateholders should be used as a

25  strategy to reduce the teacher shortage; thus, adjunct

26  certificateholders should supplement a school's instructional

27  staff, not supplant it. Each school principal shall assign an

28  experienced peer mentor to assist the adjunct teaching

29  certificateholder during the certificateholder's first year of

30  teaching, and an adjunct certificateholder may participate in

31  a district's new teacher training program. District school

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 1  boards shall provide the adjunct teaching certificateholder an

 2  orientation in classroom management prior to assigning the

 3  certificateholder to a school. Each adjunct teaching

 4  certificate is valid for 5 school years and is renewable if:

 5         (a)  The applicant completes a minimum of 60 inservice

 6  points or 3 semester hours of college credit. The earned

 7  credits must include instruction in classroom management,

 8  district school board procedures, school culture, and other

 9  activities that enhance the professional teaching skills of

10  the certificateholder.

11         (b)  The applicant has received satisfactory

12  performance evaluations during each year of teaching under

13  adjunct teaching certification.

14         Section 21.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1),

15  subsection (2), and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section

16  1012.585, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

17         1012.585  Process for renewal of professional

18  certificates.--

19         (1)(a)  District school boards in this state shall

20  renew state-issued professional certificates as follows:

21         1.  Each district school board shall renew state-issued

22  professional certificates for individuals who hold a

23  state-issued professional certificate by this state and are

24  employed by that district pursuant to criteria established in

25  subsections (2), (3), and (4) and rules of the State Board of

26  Education.

27         2.  The employing school district may charge the

28  individual an application fee not to exceed the amount charged

29  by the Department of Education for such services, including

30  associated late renewal fees. Each district school board shall

31  transmit monthly to the department a fee in an amount

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 1  established by the State Board of Education for each renewed

 2  certificate. The fee shall not exceed the actual cost for

 3  maintenance and operation of the statewide certification

 4  database and for the actual costs incurred in printing and

 5  mailing such renewed certificates. As defined in current rules

 6  of the state board, the department shall contribute a portion

 7  of such fee for purposes of funding the Educator Recovery

 8  Network established in s. 1012.798. The department shall

 9  deposit all funds into the Educational Certification Trust

10  Fund for use as specified in s. 1012.59.

11         (2)(a)  All professional certificates, except a

12  nonrenewable professional certificate, shall be renewable for

13  successive periods not to exceed 5 years after the date of

14  submission of documentation of completion of the requirements

15  for renewal provided in subsection (3). Only one renewal may

16  be granted during each 5-year validity period of a

17  professional certificate.

18         (b)  A teacher with national certification from the

19  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is deemed

20  to meet state renewal requirements for the life of the

21  teacher's national certificate in the subject shown on the

22  national certificate. A complete renewal application and fee

23  shall be submitted.

24         (c)  If the renewal application form is not received by

25  the department or by the employing school district before the

26  expiration of the professional certificate, the application

27  form, application fee, and a late fee must be submitted before

28  July 1 of the year following expiration of the certificate in

29  order to renew the professional certificate.

30         (d)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to

31  allow a 1-year extension of the validity period of a

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 1  professional certificate in the event of serious illness,

 2  injury, or other extraordinary extenuating circumstances of

 3  the applicant. The department shall grant such 1-year

 4  extension upon written request by the applicant or by the

 5  district school superintendent or the governing authority of a

 6  university lab school, state-supported school, or private

 7  school that employs the applicant.

 8         (3)  For the renewal of a professional certificate, the

 9  following requirements must be met:

10         (a)  The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college

11  credits or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For

12  each area of specialization to be retained on a certificate,

13  the applicant must earn at least 3 of the required credit

14  hours or equivalent inservice points in the specialization

15  area. Education in "clinical educator" training pursuant to s.

16  1004.04(6)(b) 1004.04(5)(b) and credits or points that provide

17  training in the area of exceptional student education, normal

18  child development, and the disorders of development may be

19  applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points that

20  provide training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and

21  neglect, strategies in teaching students having limited

22  proficiency in English, or dropout prevention, or training in

23  areas identified in the educational goals and performance

24  standards adopted pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1001.23 may

25  be applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points

26  earned through approved summer institutes may be applied

27  toward the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points

28  may also be earned by participation in professional growth

29  components approved by the State Board of Education and

30  specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in the district's approved

31  master plan for inservice educational training, including, but

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 1  not limited to, serving as a trainer in an approved teacher

 2  training activity, serving on an instructional materials

 3  committee or a state board or commission that deals with

 4  educational issues, or serving on an advisory council created

 5  pursuant to s. 1001.452.

 6         Section 22.  Section 1012.586, Florida Statutes, is

 7  created to read:

 8         1012.586  Additions or changes to certificates;

 9  duplicate certificates.--A school district may process via a

10  Department of Education website certificates for the following

11  applications of public school employees:

12         (1)  Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a

13  valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of

14  the appropriate subject area testing requirements of s.

15  1012.56(4)(a) or the completion of the requirements of an

16  approved school district program or the inservice components

17  for an endorsement.

18         (2)  A reissued certificate to reflect a name change.

19         (3)  A duplicate certificate to replace a lost or

20  damaged certificate.

21  

22  The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee

23  not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of

24  Education for such services. Each district school board shall

25  retain a portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the

26  State Board of Education. The portion sent to the department

27  shall be used for maintenance of the technology system, the

28  web application, and posting and mailing of the certificate.

29         Section 23.  Subsection (3) of section 1012.73, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

31         1012.73  Florida Mentor Teacher School Pilot Program.--

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 1         (3)  The five teacher career development positions and

 2  minimum requirements are:

 3         (a)  Education paraprofessional learning guide.--An

 4  education paraprofessional learning guide must hold an

 5  associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution

 6  and must demonstrate appropriate writing, speaking, and

 7  computation skills.

 8         (b)  Associate teacher.--An associate teacher must hold

 9  a bachelor's degree from a postsecondary educational

10  institution and a valid Florida teaching certificate as

11  provided by s. 1012.56.

12         (c)  Teacher.--A teacher must hold a bachelor's degree

13  or higher from a postsecondary educational institution and a

14  valid Florida teaching certificate, have a minimum of 3 years'

15  full-time teaching experience, document satisfactory teaching

16  performance, and document evidence of positive student

17  learning gains, when data become available.

18         (d)  Lead teacher.--A lead teacher must hold a

19  bachelor's degree or higher from a postsecondary educational

20  institution and a valid Florida professional teaching

21  certificate, have a minimum of 3 years' full-time teaching

22  experience, document exemplary teaching performance, and

23  document evidence of significant positive student learning

24  gains, when data become available. A lead teacher shall

25  provide intensive support for associate teachers and teachers.

26         (e)  Mentor teacher.--A mentor teacher must:

27         1.  Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a

28  postsecondary educational institution and a valid Florida

29  professional teaching certificate.

30         2.  Have a minimum of 5 years' full-time teaching

31  experience.

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 1         3.  Document exemplary teaching performance.

 2         4.  Document evidence of significant positive student

 3  learning gains, when data become available.

 4         5.  Hold a valid National Board for Professional

 5  Teaching Standards certificate; have been selected as a

 6  school, district, or state teacher of the year; or hold an

 7  equivalent status as determined by the commissioner.

 8         6.  Demonstrate expertise as a staff developer.

 9  

10  Teacher career development does not require graduation from a

11  teacher preparation program.

12         Section 24.  Subsection (2), paragraph (b) of

13  subsection (3), and subsections (5) through (10) of section

14  1012.98, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         1012.98  School Community Professional Development

16  Act.--

17         (2)  The school community includes students and

18  parents, administrative personnel, managers, instructional

19  personnel, support personnel, members of district school

20  boards, members of school advisory councils, parents, business

21  partners, and personnel that provide health and social

22  services to students school children. School districts may

23  identify and include additional members of the school

24  community in the professional development activities required

25  by this section.

26         (3)  The activities designed to implement this section

27  must:

28         (b)  Assist the school community in providing

29  stimulating, scientifically research-based educational

30  activities that encourage and motivate students to achieve at

31  the highest levels and to become active learners.

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 1         (5)(a)  The Department of Education shall provide a

 2  system for the recruitment, preparation, and professional

 3  development of school administrative personnel. This system

 4  shall:

 5         1.  Identify the knowledge, competencies, and skills

 6  necessary for effective school management and instructional

 7  leadership that align with student performance standards and

 8  accountability measures.

 9         2.  Include performance evaluation methods.

10         3.  Provide for alternate means for preparation of

11  school administrative personnel which may include programs

12  designed by school districts and postsecondary educational

13  institutions pursuant to guidelines developed by the

14  commissioner. Such preparation programs shall be approved by

15  the Department of Education.

16         4.  Provide for the hiring of qualified out-of-state

17  school administrative personnel.

18         5.  Provide advanced educational opportunities for

19  school-based instructional leaders.

20         (b)  The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a task

21  force that includes a district school superintendent, a

22  district school board member, a principal, an assistant

23  principal, a teacher, a dean of a college of education, and

24  parents. The task force shall convene periodically to provide

25  recommendations to the department in the areas of recruitment,

26  certification, preparation, professional development, and

27  evaluation of school administrators.

28         (5)(6)  Each district school board shall provide

29  funding for the professional development system as required by

30  s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act, and shall

31  direct expenditures from other funding sources to strengthen

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 1  the system and make it uniform and coherent. A school district

 2  may coordinate its professional development program with that

 3  of another district, with an educational consortium, or with a

 4  community college or university, especially in preparing and

 5  educating personnel. Each district school board shall make

 6  available inservice activities to instructional personnel of

 7  nonpublic schools in the district and the state certified

 8  teachers who are not employed by the district school board on

 9  a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per all

10  participants.

11         (6)(7)  An organization of private schools which has no

12  fewer than 10 member schools in this state, which publishes

13  and files with the Department of Education copies of its

14  standards, and the member schools of which comply with the

15  provisions of part II of chapter 1003, relating to compulsory

16  school attendance, may also develop a professional development

17  system that includes a master plan for inservice activities.

18  The system and inservice plan must be submitted to the

19  commissioner for approval pursuant to rules of the State Board

20  of Education.

21         (7)(8)  The Department of Education shall design

22  methods by which the state and district school boards may

23  evaluate and improve the professional development system. The

24  evaluation must include an annual assessment of data that

25  indicate progress or lack of progress of all students. If the

26  review of the data indicates progress, the department shall

27  identify the best practices that contributed to the progress.

28  If the review of the data indicates a lack of progress, the

29  department shall investigate the causes of the lack of

30  progress, provide technical assistance, and require the school

31  district to employ a different approach to professional

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 1  development. The department shall report annually to the State

 2  Board of Education and the Legislature any school district

 3  that, in the determination of the department, has failed to

 4  provide an adequate professional development system. This

 5  report must include the results of the department's

 6  investigation and of any intervention provided.

 7         (8)(9)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules

 8  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this

 9  section.

10         (9)(10)  This section does not limit or discourage a

11  district school board from contracting with independent

12  entities for professional development services and inservice

13  education if the district school board can demonstrate to the

14  Commissioner of Education believes that, through such a

15  contract, a better product can be acquired or its goals for

16  education improvement can be better met.

17         (10)(11)  For teachers, managers, and administrative

18  personnel who have been evaluated as less than satisfactory, a

19  district school board shall require participation in specific

20  professional development programs as part of the improvement

21  prescription.

22         Section 25.  Section 1012.987, Florida Statutes, is

23  created to read:

24         1012.987  Education leadership development.--

25         (1)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules

26  through which school principals may earn a principal

27  leadership designation based on teacher retention, overall

28  student performance, and school grade. The State Board of

29  Education must designate incentives available to personnel who

30  earn a principal leadership designation including, but not

31  limited to, merit pay, expanded discretionary spending

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 1  flexibility, relaxed regulation or reporting requirements,

 2  additional professional development resources, and public

 3  recognition.

 4         (2)(a)  The Department of Education shall provide a

 5  system for the recruitment, preparation, and education

 6  leadership development of school administrative personnel.

 7  This system shall be based on standards adopted by the State

 8  Board of Education that include, but are not limited to:

 9         1.  Improved student achievement.

10         2.  Increased emphasis on reading using the latest

11  scientific knowledge-based research in reading and the

12  administrator's role as a successful school leader in reading

13  reform efforts.

14         3.  Instructional leadership.

15         4.  Data analysis.

16         5.  School safety.

17         6.  Community and family involvement.

18         7.  Operational management.

19         8.  School finance.

20         (b)  Each education leadership development program must

21  provide all program participants full information on not less

22  than an annual basis to update the participants on the status

23  of, and rationale for changes to, state and federal law and

24  funding policies.

25         (c)  Education leadership development programs must be

26  consistent with standards adopted by the State Board of

27  Education and must be approved by the department.

28         (d)  Alternative education leadership development

29  programs that meet the standards of, and are approved by, the

30  Department of Education may be offered by a school district or

31  postsecondary educational institution.

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 1         (e)  The Commissioner of Education may conduct K-20

 2  education leadership institutes for the purpose of

 3  communicating the state's education priorities, best

 4  practices, and other related research and facilitating the

 5  formation of a K-20 partnership.

 6         Section 26.  Section 1012.561, Florida Statutes, is

 7  created to read:

 8         1012.561 "Fast Track" Educator Certification Program.--

 9         (1)  The "Fast Track" Educator Certification Program is

10  created as an accelerated educator preparation and

11  certification program for midcareer professionals, dislocated

12  professionals, and other baccalaureate degreeholders who want

13  to become teachers in this state. Institutions providing

14  teacher preparation programs approved pursuant to s. 1004.04

15  and public community colleges may provide these "Fast Track"

16  programs. Provider programs must be approved by the

17  Commissioner of Education, who shall ensure that the provider:

18         (a)  Collaborates with other institutions, agencies,

19  and organizations.

20         (b)  Provides instruction in professional knowledge and

21  subject matter content, where appropriate, which meets

22  educator-accomplished practices and competencies, content, and

23  professional competency testing requirements and meets

24  competencies associated with teaching reading.

25         (c)  Ensures that each participant fully demonstrates

26  the ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is

27  certified prior to completion of the program.

28         (d)  Addresses performance evaluations that measure the

29  effectiveness of the program, including the pass rates of

30  participants taking the professional preparation examination.

31  

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 1         (2)  Program participants must meet state temporary

 2  certification requirements through:

 3         (a)  Obtaining a temporary certificate pursuant to s.

 4  1012.56(6); or

 5         (b)  Being eligible to obtain a temporary certificate,

 6  including meeting the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f);

 7  however, a participant with an overall 2.5 grade point average

 8  on a 4.0 scale in his or her baccalaureate or higher degree

 9  may meet the grade point average requirements in

10  1012.56(2)(c).

11         (3)  Providers are eligible for funding from federal

12  and state funds. Educators who complete a community college

13  program shall be included in performance-based funding

14  allocations.

15         Section 27.  The Commissioner of Education shall

16  develop a high quality, standards-driven mentoring program for

17  recommendation to the Legislature for the 2004-2005 academic

18  year. In developing the program, the commissioner must consult

19  with members of the teaching profession, including teachers

20  certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching

21  Standards.

22         Section 28.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

23  law.

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                  Senate Bills 1032, 2418, 2496

 3                                 

 4  The committee substitute specifies the contents of long-range
    plans for teacher recruitment and retention developed by the
 5  Department of Education.

 6  The committee substitute provides an additional means for
    demonstrating mastery of general knowledge and educator
 7  competence through documented successful teaching experience
    at a community college, state university, or private college
 8  or university. The committee substitute provides that an
    acceptable means of demonstrating general and subject area
 9  knowledge and professional competence for educator
    certification is:
10  
    Holding a valid standard teaching certificate from another
11  state; or

12  Holding a valid certificate from the National Board for
    Professional Teaching Standards.
13  
    The committee substitute deletes the changes to the Dale
14  Hickam Excellent Teaching Program and deletes provisions that:

15  reference the American Board for Certification of Teacher
    Excellence (ABCTE) certification;
16  
    require district school boards to provide OPS personnel for
17  paperwork reduction assistance to classroom teachers;

18  create the Teaching Fellows Program and a categorical fund;

19  provide for a salary schedule for teachers;

20  establish the minimum beginning salary as the statewide
    minimum  that it is not subject to collective bargaining;
21  
    require pilot teacher education programs at UCF, UNF, and USF;
22  
    authorize the request of resignations of certain school
23  principals and teachers; and

24  prohibit school boards from signing a collective bargaining
    agreement that fails to provide sufficient incentives.
25  
    The committee substitute also:
26  
    includes a career ladder policy framework;
27  
    provides for the Commissioner of Education to convene a
28  statewide advisory council of teachers and other stakeholders
    to develop a plan for implementing a differentiated pay model;
29  
    creates a Fast Track educator certification program for
30  mid-career professionals and others;

31  requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a high
    quality, standards-driven mentoring program for recommendation
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 1  to the Legislature for the 2004-2005 academic year;

 2  allows pilot programs at colleges and universities with
    state-approved teacher education programs, as authorized by
 3  the Commissioner of Education; and

 4  authorizes the Commissioner of Education to waive rules for
    state approval of teacher preparation programs to allow for
 5  institutional flexibility and accountability.

 6   

 7  

 8  

 9  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

18  

19  

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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