Florida Senate - 2021                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 934
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì751078<Î751078                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/09/2021           .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————




       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
       Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (Wright) recommended
       the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
    6  (b) of subsection (3) of section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are
    7  amended to read:
    8         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
    9  teacher preparation programs.—
   10         (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
   11         (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
   12  state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
   13  not limited to, the following:
   14         1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
   15  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
   16         2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
   17  curricula and instruction.
   18         3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
   19  instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
   20  all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
   21  approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
   22  fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
   23  strategies.
   24         4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
   25         5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
   26  language learners.
   27         6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
   28  with disabilities.
   29         7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
   30  needs.
   31         8. The use of character-based classroom management.
   32         9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of
   33  students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
   34  the referral of such students to a mental health professional
   35  for support.
   36         10. Strategies to support the use of technology in
   37  education and distance learning.
   38         (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
   39         (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
   40  Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
   41  require students to meet, at a minimum, the following
   42  requirements as prerequisites for admission into the program:
   43         1. For admission into the program, have a grade point
   44  average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the general education
   45  component of undergraduate studies or have completed the
   46  requirements for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade
   47  point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from any college or
   48  university accredited by a regional accrediting association as
   49  defined by State Board of Education rule or any college or
   50  university otherwise approved pursuant to State Board of
   51  Education rule.
   52         2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
   53  entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
   54  and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
   55  Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the
   56  time of graduation or, for a graduate level program, obtain a
   57  baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited or
   58  approved pursuant to the rules of the State Board of Education.
   59  
   60  Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
   61  requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
   62  Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
   63  admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
   64  competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
   65  and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
   66  status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
   67         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
   68  (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of section 1004.85, Florida
   69  Statutes, are amended to read:
   70         1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
   71         (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
   72  approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
   73  approval from the Department of Education to create educator
   74  preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
   75  of the following:
   76         1. Professional development instruction to assist teachers
   77  in improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification
   78  or recertification requirements.
   79         2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
   80  teachers in performing their duties.
   81         3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
   82  education and training requirements.
   83         4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
   84  certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
   85  increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
   86  who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
   87  not education majors.
   88         5. Instruction and professional development for part-time
   89  and full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
   90  1012.39(1)(c).
   91         (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
   92  this section may offer competency-based certification programs
   93  specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
   94  degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
   95  educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
   96  preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
   97  certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
   98  must implement a program previously approved by the Department
   99  of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
  100  institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
  101  Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
  102  educator preparation institutes.
  103         (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
  104  the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
  105  pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
  106  statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
  107  department shall approve a certification program if the
  108  institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
  109  implement a competency-based program that includes each of the
  110  following:
  111         1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
  112  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
  113         b. The use of state-adopted student content standards to
  114  guide curriculum and instruction.
  115         c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
  116  instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
  117  all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
  118  approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
  119  fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
  120  strategies.
  121         d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
  122         e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
  123  language learners.
  124         f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
  125  disabilities.
  126         g. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
  127  needs.
  128         h. The use of character-based classroom management.
  129         i.Strategies appropriate for the early identification of
  130  students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
  131  the referral of such students to a mental health professional
  132  for support.
  133         j. Strategies to support the use of technology in education
  134  and distance learning.
  135         2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
  136  certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
  137  teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
  138  certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
  139  competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
  140         3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
  141  subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
  142  population of students in a variety of challenging environments,
  143  including, but not limited to, high-poverty schools, urban
  144  schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified
  145  educators.
  146         4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
  147  procedures required for participants who complete the program to
  148  meet any requirements related to the background screening
  149  pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
  150  certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
  151         (b) Each program participant must:
  152         1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
  153  1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
  154  the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
  155  the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
  156         2. Participate in coursework and field experiences that are
  157  appropriate to his or her educational plan prepared under
  158  paragraph (a).
  159         3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
  160  or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
  161  seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
  162  student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
  163  setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving
  164  a passing score on the professional education competency
  165  examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area
  166  examination for the subject area certification which is required
  167  by state board rule.
  168         Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  169  1012.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  170         1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
  171  adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
  172  career specialists; students performing clinical field
  173  experience.—
  174         (1) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.56, and
  175  1012.57, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
  176  each district school board shall establish the minimal
  177  qualifications for:
  178         (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
  179  programs. Qualifications shall be established for nondegreed
  180  teachers of career and technical education courses for program
  181  clusters that are recognized in the state and are based
  182  primarily on successful occupational experience rather than
  183  academic training. The qualifications for such teachers shall
  184  require:
  185         1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same
  186  manner as required by s. 1012.32. Faculty employed solely to
  187  conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
  188  requirement.
  189         2. Documentation of education and successful occupational
  190  experience including documentation of:
  191         a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
  192         b. Completion of 6 years of full-time successful
  193  occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
  194  experience in the teaching specialization area. The district
  195  school board may establish alternative qualifications for
  196  teachers with an industry certification in the career area in
  197  which they teach.
  198         c. Completion of career education training conducted
  199  through the local school district inservice master plan or
  200  through an educator preparation institute approved by the State
  201  Board of Education pursuant to s. 1004.85.
  202         d. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
  203  education training in teaching methods, course construction,
  204  lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
  205  students. This training may be completed through coursework from
  206  an accredited or approved institution or an approved district
  207  teacher education program.
  208         e. Demonstration of successful teaching performance.
  209         f. Documentation of industry certification when state or
  210  national industry certifications are available and applicable.
  211         Section 4. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
  212  (7) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  213         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  214         (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  215  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
  216         (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
  217  examination required by state board rule;
  218         (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  219  certificate issued by another state;
  220         (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  221  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  222  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  223  Education;
  224         (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
  225  or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
  226  state university, or private college or university that awards
  227  an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
  228  or an institution of higher education identified by the
  229  Department of Education as having a quality program; or
  230         (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
  231  board rule, on national or international examinations that test
  232  comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
  233  writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
  234  limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
  235  reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination. Passing
  236  scores identified in state board rule must be at approximately
  237  the same level of rigor as is required to pass the general
  238  knowledge examinations; or
  239         (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
  240  from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
  241  the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
  242  program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher.
  243  
  244  A school district that employs an individual who does not
  245  achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
  246  examination must provide information regarding the availability
  247  of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
  248  assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
  249  must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
  250  information guides, school district test preparation resources,
  251  and preparation courses offered by state universities and
  252  Florida College System institutions.
  253         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
  254         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
  255  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
  256  who fulfills one of the following:
  257         1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
  258  subsection (2).
  259         2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
  260  12:
  261         a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
  262  (h).
  263         b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
  264  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
  265         c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
  266  advanced degree.
  267         d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
  268  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
  269  student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
  270  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
  271  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
  272  examination.
  273         e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
  274  education competency examination required by state board rule.
  275         3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
  276  (h) and completes a professional preparation and education
  277  competence program approved by the department pursuant to
  278  paragraph (8)(c) or an educator preparation institute approved
  279  by the department pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who
  280  completes one of these programs the program and is rated highly
  281  effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
  282  under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
  283  score on the professional education competency examination in
  284  order to be awarded a professional certificate.
  285  
  286  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
  287  and is nonrenewable. At least 1 year before an individual’s
  288  temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
  289  electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
  290  her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
  291  which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
  292  completed. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
  293  allow the department to extend the validity period of a
  294  temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
  295  professional certificate were not completed due to the serious
  296  illness or injury of the applicant, the military service of an
  297  applicant’s spouse, other extraordinary extenuating
  298  circumstances, or if the certificateholder is rated highly
  299  effective in the immediate prior year’s performance evaluation
  300  pursuant to s. 1012.34 or has completed a 2-year mentorship
  301  program pursuant to s. 1012.56(8). The department shall extend
  302  the temporary certificate upon approval by the Commissioner of
  303  Education. A written request for extension of the certificate
  304  shall be submitted by the district school superintendent, the
  305  governing authority of a university lab school, the governing
  306  authority of a state-supported school, or the governing
  307  authority of a private school.
  308         Section 5. Section 1012.575, Florida Statutes, is amended
  309  to read:
  310         1012.575 Alternative preparation programs for certified
  311  teachers to add additional coverage.—A district school board, or
  312  an organization of private schools or a consortium of charter
  313  schools with an approved professional development system as
  314  described in s. 1012.98(6), may design alternative teacher
  315  preparation programs to enable persons already certificated to
  316  add an additional coverage to their certificates. Each
  317  alternative teacher preparation program shall be reviewed and
  318  approved by the Department of Education to assure that persons
  319  who complete the program are competent in the necessary areas of
  320  subject matter specialization. Two or more school districts may
  321  jointly participate in an alternative preparation program for
  322  teachers.
  323         Section 6. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1012.986,
  324  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  325         1012.986 William Cecil Golden Professional Development
  326  Program for School Leaders.—
  327         (1) There is established the William Cecil Golden
  328  Professional Development Program for School Leaders to provide
  329  high-quality high standards and sustained support for
  330  educational principals as instructional leaders. For purposes of
  331  this section, “educational leader” means teacher leaders,
  332  assistant principals, principals, or school district leaders.
  333  The program shall consist of a collaborative network of school
  334  districts, state-approved educational leadership programs,
  335  regional consortia, charter management organizations, and state
  336  and national professional leadership organizations to respond to
  337  educational instructional leadership needs throughout the state.
  338  The network shall support the human-resource development needs
  339  of educational leaders principals, principal leadership teams,
  340  and candidates for principal leadership positions using the
  341  framework of leadership standards adopted by the State Board of
  342  Education, the Southern Regional Education Board, and the
  343  National Staff Development Council. The goal of the network
  344  leadership program is to:
  345         (a) Provide resources to support and enhance the roles of
  346  educational leaders principal’s role as the instructional
  347  leader.
  348         (b) Maintain a clearinghouse and disseminate data-supported
  349  information related to the continued enhancement of enhanced
  350  student achievement and learning, civic education, coaching and
  351  mentoring, mental health awareness, technology in education,
  352  distance learning, and school safety, based on educational
  353  research and best practices.
  354         (c) Build the capacity to Increase the quality and capacity
  355  of educational leadership development programs for preservice
  356  education for aspiring principals and inservice professional
  357  development for principals and principal leadership teams.
  358         (d) Support evidence-based leadership best teaching and
  359  research-based instructional practices through dissemination and
  360  modeling at the preservice and inservice levels for educational
  361  leaders both teachers and principals.
  362         (2) The Department of Education shall coordinate through
  363  the network identified in subsection (1) to offer the program
  364  components through multiple delivery systems, including:
  365         (a) Approved school district training programs.
  366         (b) Interactive technology-based instruction.
  367         (c) Regional consortium service organizations pursuant to
  368  s. 1001.451.
  369         (d) State, regional, university, or local educational
  370  leadership academies.
  371         (e) Educational leadership coaching and mentoring.
  372         Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
  373  
  374  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  375  And the title is amended as follows:
  376         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  377  and insert:
  378                        A bill to be entitled                      
  379         An act relating to education; amending s. 1004.04,
  380         F.S.; requiring additional specified strategies to be
  381         included in rules establishing uniform core curricula
  382         for each state-approved teacher preparation program;
  383         requiring that certain teacher preparation programs
  384         require students to demonstrate mastery of general
  385         knowledge by passing the General Knowledge Test of the
  386         Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the time
  387         of graduation; deleting a provision authorizing a
  388         teacher preparation program to waive certain
  389         admissions requirements for up to 10 percent of
  390         admitted students; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.;
  391         expanding the instruction that an educator preparation
  392         institute may provide to include instruction and
  393         professional development for part-time and full-time
  394         nondegreed teachers of career programs; requiring the
  395         Department of Education to approve a certification
  396         program if an institute provides evidence of its
  397         capacity to implement a competency-based program that
  398         includes specified strategies; amending s. 1012.39,
  399         F.S.; revising the minimum qualifications for part
  400         time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
  401         programs; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising the
  402         acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of general
  403         knowledge to include documentation of receipt of a
  404         master’s or higher degree from certain postsecondary
  405         institutions; revising the criteria for the Department
  406         of Education to issue a professional certificate;
  407         amending s. 1012.575, F.S.; authorizing an
  408         organization of private schools or a consortium of
  409         charter schools with an approved professional
  410         development system to design alternative teacher
  411         preparation programs; amending s. 1012.986, F.S.;
  412         defining the term “educational leader”; providing that
  413         the William Cecil Golden Professional Development
  414         Program for School Leaders must consist of a network
  415         of specified entities; revising the goals of the
  416         program; requiring the department to offer program
  417         components through university or educational
  418         leadership academies and through educational
  419         leadership coaching and mentoring; making technical
  420         changes; providing an effective date.