Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1474
       
       
        
       By Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       8-01283-17                                            20171474__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to teacher certification; amending s.
    3         1012.56, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education
    4         to issue a temporary educator certificate within a
    5         specified period; requiring the department to provide
    6         electronic notice of the issuance of a temporary
    7         certificate to specified entities; requiring the
    8         department to provide the applicant an official
    9         statement of status of eligibility upon issuance of a
   10         temporary certificate; providing content requirements
   11         for the statement of status of eligibility; revising
   12         the criteria instructional personnel must meet to be
   13         issued a professional certificate; providing that an
   14         applicant for professional certification is not
   15         required to take or pass a specified examination under
   16         certain circumstances; authorizing charter schools and
   17         charter management organizations to develop a
   18         professional development certification and education
   19         competency program; revising program requirements;
   20         requiring the department to adopt standards for the
   21         approval of such programs by a specified date;
   22         providing requirements for such standards; requiring
   23         each school district and charter school to submit its
   24         program for approval by a specified date; providing
   25         that certification requirements may not be met in a
   26         program that is not approved by the department after a
   27         specified date; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; revising
   28         college credit and inservice hour requirements for
   29         renewal of a professional certificate to include
   30         participation in specified activities; amending s.
   31         1012.98, F.S.; revising the activities designed to
   32         implement the school community professional
   33         development act to include specified training relating
   34         to a professional development certification and
   35         education competency program; revising requirements
   36         for school district professional development systems;
   37         requiring the department to disseminate professional
   38         development programs that meet specified criteria;
   39         amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; conforming a cross
   40         reference; providing an effective date.
   41          
   42  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   43  
   44         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
   45  1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (d),
   46  subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (7), and paragraph
   47  (a) of subsection (8) are amended, and a new paragraph (c) is
   48  added to subsection (8) of that section, to read:
   49         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
   50         (1) APPLICATION.—Each person seeking certification pursuant
   51  to this chapter shall submit a completed application containing
   52  the applicant’s social security number to the Department of
   53  Education and remit the fee required pursuant to s. 1012.59 and
   54  rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant to the federal
   55  Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
   56  of 1996, each party is required to provide his or her social
   57  security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of
   58  social security numbers obtained through this requirement is
   59  limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D
   60  program of the Social Security Act for child support
   61  enforcement.
   62         (a) Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue
   63  within 90 calendar days after the stamped receipted date of the
   64  completed application:
   65         (a) If the applicant meets the requirements, a professional
   66  certificate to a qualifying applicant covering the
   67  classification, level, and area for which the applicant is
   68  deemed qualified and a document explaining the requirements for
   69  renewal of the professional certificate.;
   70         (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to a
   71  qualifying applicant within 14 calendar days after receipt of a
   72  request from if the applicant meets the requirements and if
   73  requested by an employing school district or an employing
   74  private school with a professional education competence
   75  demonstration program pursuant to paragraphs (6)(f) and (8)(b).
   76  The, a temporary certificate must cover covering the
   77  classification, level, and area for which the applicant is
   78  deemed qualified. The department shall electronically notify the
   79  applicant’s employing school district or employing private
   80  school that the temporary certificate has been issued and
   81  provide the applicant an official statement of status of
   82  eligibility at the time the certificate is issued. and an
   83  official statement of status of eligibility; or
   84         (c) Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue
   85  within 90 calendar days after the stamped receipted date of the
   86  completed application, if an applicant does not meet the
   87  requirements for either certificate, an official statement of
   88  status of eligibility.
   89  
   90  The statement of status of eligibility must be provided
   91  electronically and must advise the applicant of any
   92  qualifications that must be completed to qualify for
   93  certification. Each method by which an applicant can complete
   94  the qualifications for a professional certificate must be
   95  included in the statement of status of eligibility. Each
   96  statement of status of eligibility is valid for 3 years after
   97  its date of issuance, except as provided in paragraph (2)(d).
   98         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
   99         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
  100  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
  101  who fulfills one of the following:
  102         1. Meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2).
  103         2.or, For a professional certificate covering grades 6
  104  through 12, any applicant who:
  105         a.1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
  106         b.2. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
  107  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
  108         c.3. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
  109  advanced degree.
  110         d.4. Is rated highly effective as determined by the
  111  teacher’s performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part
  112  on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
  113  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
  114  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
  115  examination.
  116         e.5. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
  117  education competency examination required by state board rule.
  118         3.Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h) and
  119  completes a professional preparation and education competence
  120  program approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c).
  121  An applicant who completes the program and is rated highly
  122  effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
  123  under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
  124  score on the professional education competency examination in
  125  order to be awarded a professional certificate.
  126  
  127  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
  128  and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
  129  (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
  130  employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
  131  employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
  132  period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
  133  year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
  134  not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
  135  position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
  136  this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
  137  of paragraph (2)(g). The State Board of Education shall adopt
  138  rules to allow the department to extend the validity period of a
  139  temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
  140  professional certificate, not including the requirement in
  141  paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
  142  or injury of the applicant or other extraordinary extenuating
  143  circumstances. The department shall reissue the temporary
  144  certificate for 2 additional years upon approval by the
  145  Commissioner of Education. A written request for reissuance of
  146  the certificate shall be submitted by the district school
  147  superintendent, the governing authority of a university lab
  148  school, the governing authority of a state-supported school, or
  149  the governing authority of a private school.
  150         (8) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND EDUCATION
  151  COMPETENCY PROGRAM.—
  152         (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
  153  school district, charter school, and charter management
  154  organization may provide a cohesive competency-based
  155  professional development certification and education competency
  156  program by which members of a school district’s instructional
  157  staff may satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and
  158  education competence requirements specified in subsection (6)
  159  and rules of the State Board of Education. Participants must
  160  hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A school district,
  161  charter school, or charter management organization that
  162  implements the program shall provide a competency-based
  163  certification program developed by the Department of Education
  164  or developed by the district, charter school, or charter
  165  management organization and approved by the Department of
  166  Education. The program shall include the following:
  167         1. A minimum period of initial preparation before assuming
  168  duties as the teacher of record.
  169         2. An option for collaboration with between school
  170  districts and other supporting agencies or educational entities
  171  for implementation.
  172         3. A teacher mentorship and induction An experienced peer
  173  mentor component.
  174         a. Each individual selected by the district as a peer
  175  mentor:
  176         (I) Must hold a valid professional certificate issued
  177  pursuant to this section;,
  178         (II) Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching
  179  experience in prekindergarten through grade 12;,and
  180         (III) Must have completed specialized training in clinical
  181  supervision and participate in ongoing mentor training provided
  182  through the coordinated system of professional development under
  183  s. 1012.98(3)(e);
  184         (IV)Must have earned an effective or highly effective
  185  rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation under s.
  186  1012.34; and
  187         (V)May or be a peer evaluator under the district’s
  188  evaluation system approved under s. 1012.34.
  189         b.The teacher mentorship and induction component must, at
  190  a minimum, provide weekly opportunities for mentoring and
  191  induction activities, including common planning time, ongoing
  192  professional development targeted to a teacher’s needs,
  193  opportunities for a teacher to observe other teachers, co
  194  teaching experiences, and reflection and followup discussions.
  195  Mentorship and induction activities must be provided for an
  196  applicant’s first year in the program and may be provided until
  197  the applicant attains his or her professional certificate in
  198  accordance with this section. A principal who is rated highly
  199  effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
  200  under s. 1012.34 must be provided flexibility in selecting
  201  professional development activities under this paragraph;
  202  however, the activities must be approved by the department as
  203  part of the district’s, charter school’s, or charter management
  204  organization’s program.
  205         4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
  206  district’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
  207  which provides for:
  208         a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
  209  determine an appropriate individualized professional development
  210  plan.
  211         b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
  212  of the program.
  213         5. Professional education preparation content knowledge,
  214  which must be included in the mentoring and induction activities
  215  under subparagraph 3., that includes, but is not limited to, the
  216  following:
  217         a. The state standards provided under s. 1003.41, including
  218  scientifically based reading instruction, content literacy, and
  219  mathematical practices, for each subject identified on the
  220  temporary certificate.
  221         b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
  222  state board.
  223         c. A variety of data indicators for monitoring student
  224  progress.
  225         d. Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities.
  226         e. Methodologies for teaching students of limited English
  227  proficiency appropriate for each subject area identified on the
  228  temporary certificate.
  229         f. Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role
  230  of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for
  231  students.
  232         6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
  233  area and professional education competency examination required
  234  by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
  235  must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
  236         (c)No later than December 31, 2017, the department shall
  237  adopt standards for the approval of professional development
  238  certification and education competency programs, including
  239  standards for the teacher mentorship and induction component,
  240  under paragraph (a). Standards for the teacher mentorship and
  241  induction component must include program administration and
  242  evaluation; mentor roles, selection, and training; beginning
  243  teacher assessment and professional development; and teacher
  244  content knowledge and practices aligned to the Florida Educator
  245  Accomplished Practices. Each school district or charter school
  246  with a program under this subsection must submit its program,
  247  including the teacher mentorship and induction component, to the
  248  department for approval no later than June 30, 2018. After
  249  December 31, 2018, a teacher may not satisfy requirements for a
  250  professional certificate through a professional development
  251  certification and education competency program under paragraph
  252  (a) unless the program has been approved by the department
  253  pursuant to this paragraph.
  254         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  255  1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  256         1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
  257         (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
  258  following requirements must be met:
  259         (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
  260  or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
  261  of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
  262  must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
  263  inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
  264  “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b);
  265  participation in mentorship and induction activities, including
  266  as a mentor, pursuant to s. 1012.56(8)(a); and credits or points
  267  that provide training in the area of scientifically researched,
  268  knowledge-based reading literacy and computational skills
  269  acquisition, exceptional student education, normal child
  270  development, and the disorders of development may be applied
  271  toward any specialization area. Credits or points that provide
  272  training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and neglect,
  273  strategies in teaching students having limited proficiency in
  274  English, or dropout prevention, or training in areas identified
  275  in the educational goals and performance standards adopted
  276  pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be applied toward
  277  any specialization area. Credits or points earned through
  278  approved summer institutes may be applied toward the fulfillment
  279  of these requirements. Inservice points may also be earned by
  280  participation in professional growth components approved by the
  281  State Board of Education and specified pursuant to s. 1012.98 in
  282  the district’s approved master plan for inservice educational
  283  training, including, but not limited to, serving as a trainer in
  284  an approved teacher training activity, serving on an
  285  instructional materials committee or a state board or commission
  286  that deals with educational issues, or serving on an advisory
  287  council created pursuant to s. 1001.452.
  288         Section 3. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of
  289  section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (b) of
  290  subsection (4) and subsections (10) and (11) of that section are
  291  amended, to read:
  292         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
  293         (3) The activities designed to implement this section must:
  294         (e)Provide training to teacher mentors as part of the
  295  professional development certification and education competency
  296  program under s. 1012.56(8)(a). The training must include
  297  components on teacher development, peer coaching, time
  298  management, and other related topics as determined by the
  299  Department of Education.
  300         (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
  301  Florida College System institutions, and state universities
  302  share the responsibilities described in this section. These
  303  responsibilities include the following:
  304         (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
  305  development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
  306  shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
  307  educators of Florida College System institutions and state
  308  universities, business and community representatives, and local
  309  education foundations, consortia, and professional
  310  organizations. The professional development system must:
  311         1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
  312  to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
  313  for continued approval.
  314         2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
  315  instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
  316  relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
  317  and districts, in developing and refining the professional
  318  development system, shall also review and monitor school
  319  discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
  320  parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
  321  managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
  322  indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
  323  by improved professional performance.
  324         3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
  325  support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
  326  level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
  327  for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
  328  achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
  329  student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
  330  differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
  331  relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
  332  subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
  333  technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
  334  management, parent involvement, and school safety.
  335         4.Provide inservice activities and support targeted to the
  336  individual needs of new teachers participating in the
  337  professional development certification and education competency
  338  program under s. 1012.56(8)(a).
  339         5.4. Include a master plan for inservice activities,
  340  pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
  341  district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
  342  be updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
  343  teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
  344  use the latest available student achievement data and research
  345  to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
  346  inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
  347  inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
  348  1001.42(18). Each district inservice plan must provide a
  349  description of the training that middle grades instructional
  350  personnel and school administrators receive on the district’s
  351  code of student conduct adopted pursuant to s. 1006.07;
  352  integrated digital instruction and competency-based instruction
  353  and CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry
  354  certifications; classroom management; student behavior and
  355  interaction; extended learning opportunities for students; and
  356  instructional leadership. District plans must be approved by the
  357  district school board annually in order to ensure compliance
  358  with subsection (1) and to allow for dissemination of research
  359  based best practices to other districts. District school boards
  360  must submit verification of their approval to the Commissioner
  361  of Education no later than October 1, annually. Each school
  362  principal may establish and maintain an individual professional
  363  development plan for each instructional employee assigned to the
  364  school as a seamless component to the school improvement plans
  365  developed pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional
  366  development plan must be related to specific performance data
  367  for the students to whom the teacher is assigned, define the
  368  inservice objectives and specific measurable improvements
  369  expected in student performance as a result of the inservice
  370  activity, and include an evaluation component that determines
  371  the effectiveness of the professional development plan.
  372         6.5. Include inservice activities for school administrative
  373  personnel that address updated skills necessary for
  374  instructional leadership and effective school management
  375  pursuant to s. 1012.986.
  376         7.6. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
  377  state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
  378  evaluation of local professional development programs.
  379         8.7. Provide for delivery of professional development by
  380  distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
  381  reach more educators at lower costs.
  382         9.8. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
  383  and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
  384  to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
  385  effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
  386  activities on the performance of participating educators and
  387  their students’ achievement and behavior.
  388         10.9. For middle grades, emphasize:
  389         a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
  390  instruction.
  391         b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
  392  the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
  393         c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
  394  inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
  395  strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
  396  instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
  397  instruction.
  398  
  399  Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include
  400  in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a
  401  description of the specific strategies used by the school to
  402  implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
  403         (10) For instructional personnel and administrative
  404  personnel who have been evaluated as less than effective, a
  405  district school board shall require participation in specific
  406  professional development programs as provided in subparagraph
  407  (4)(b)5. (4)(b)4. as part of the improvement prescription.
  408         (11) The department shall disseminate to the school
  409  community proven model professional development programs that
  410  have demonstrated success in increasing rigorous and relevant
  411  content, increasing student achievement and engagement, and
  412  meeting identified student needs, and providing effective
  413  mentorship activities to new teachers and training to teacher
  414  mentors. The methods of dissemination must include a web-based
  415  statewide performance-support system including a database of
  416  exemplary professional development activities, a listing of
  417  available professional development resources, training programs,
  418  and available technical assistance.
  419         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (18) of section
  420  1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  421         1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
  422  district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
  423  powers and perform all duties listed below:
  424         (18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
  425  Maintain a system of school improvement and education
  426  accountability as provided by statute and State Board of
  427  Education rule. This system of school improvement and education
  428  accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented
  429  through, the district’s continuing system of planning and
  430  budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01,
  431  and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education
  432  accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33,
  433  1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following:
  434         (a) School improvement plans.—
  435         1. The district school board shall annually approve and
  436  require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation school
  437  improvement plan for each school in the district. If a school
  438  has a significant gap in achievement on statewide, standardized
  439  assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22 by one or more
  440  student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and
  441  Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s.
  442  6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II); has not significantly increased the
  443  percentage of students passing statewide, standardized
  444  assessments; has not significantly increased the percentage of
  445  students demonstrating Learning Gains, as defined in s. 1008.34
  446  and as calculated under s. 1008.34(3)(b), who passed statewide,
  447  standardized assessments; or has significantly lower graduation
  448  rates for a subgroup when compared to the state’s graduation
  449  rate, that school’s improvement plan shall include strategies
  450  for improving these results. The state board shall adopt rules
  451  establishing thresholds and for determining compliance with this
  452  subparagraph.
  453         2. A school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 shall
  454  include annually in its school improvement plan information and
  455  data on the school’s early warning system required under
  456  paragraph (b), including a list of the early warning indicators
  457  used in the system, the number of students identified by the
  458  system as exhibiting two or more early warning indicators, the
  459  number of students by grade level that exhibit each early
  460  warning indicator, and a description of all intervention
  461  strategies employed by the school to improve the academic
  462  performance of students identified by the early warning system.
  463  In addition, a school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8
  464  shall describe in its school improvement plan the strategies
  465  used by the school to implement the instructional practices for
  466  middle grades emphasized by the district’s professional
  467  development system pursuant to s. 1012.98(4)(b)10. s.
  468  1012.98(4)(b)9.
  469         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.