Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1372
By Senator Ingoglia
11-01127A-24 20241372__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to educator preparation programs;
3 amending ss. 1004.04, 1004.85, and 1012.562, F.S.;
4 prohibiting the courses and curriculum of teacher
5 preparation programs, postsecondary educator
6 preparation institutes, and school leader preparation
7 programs from distorting certain events and including
8 certain curriculum and instruction; requiring teacher
9 preparation programs, postsecondary educator
10 preparation institutes, and school leader preparation
11 programs to afford candidates certain opportunities;
12 providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
17 section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, to read:
18 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
19 teacher preparation programs.—
20 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
21 (e) Teacher preparation program courses:
22 1. May not distort significant historical events or include
23 a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
24 violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
25 racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
26 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
27 social, political, and economic inequities.
28 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
29 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
30 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
31 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
32 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
33 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
34 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
35 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
36 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
37 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
38 of the following:
39 1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in
40 improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or
41 recertification requirements.
42 2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
43 teachers in performing their duties.
44 3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
45 education and training requirements.
46 4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
47 certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
48 increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a
49 baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not
50 education majors.
51 5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and
52 full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
53 1012.39(1)(c).
54 6.a. Instruction that does not distort significant
55 historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that
56 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on
57 theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege
58 are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
59 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
60 b. Courses and instruction within the educator preparation
61 institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think
62 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
63 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
64 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 1012.562, Florida
65 Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (4), and a new subsection
66 (3) is added to that section, to read:
67 1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of school
68 leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education shall
69 establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level II
70 school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring
71 school leaders to obtain their certificate in educational
72 leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs
73 must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership
74 standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals
75 employed by public schools, including charter schools and
76 virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification
77 in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing
78 individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs
79 build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as
80 a school principal.
81 (3)(a) School leader preparation programs may not distort
82 significant historical events or include curriculum or
83 instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05,
84 or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
85 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
86 the United States and were created to maintain social,
87 political, and economic inequities.
88 (b) School leader preparation programs must afford
89 candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program
90 content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching
91 development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts.
92 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.