Florida Senate - 2024                             CS for SB 1372
       
       
        
       By the Appropriations Committee on Education; and Senators
       Ingoglia, Yarborough, and Perry
       
       
       
       
       602-03143-24                                          20241372c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to educator preparation programs;
    3         amending ss. 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56, and 1012.562,
    4         F.S.; prohibiting the courses and curricula of teacher
    5         preparation programs, postsecondary educator
    6         preparation institutes, professional learning
    7         certification programs, and school leader preparation
    8         programs, respectively, from distorting certain events
    9         and including certain curriculum and instruction;
   10         requiring teacher preparation programs, postsecondary
   11         educator preparation institutes, professional learning
   12         certification programs, and school leader preparation
   13         programs to afford candidates certain opportunities;
   14         providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
   19  section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, to read:
   20         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
   21  teacher preparation programs.—
   22         (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
   23         (e)Teacher preparation program courses:
   24         1.May not distort significant historical events or include
   25  a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
   26  violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
   27  racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
   28  institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
   29  social, political, and economic inequities.
   30         2.Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
   31  critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
   32  instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
   33         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
   34  1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   35         1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
   36         (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
   37  approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
   38  approval from the Department of Education to create educator
   39  preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
   40  of the following:
   41         1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in
   42  improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or
   43  recertification requirements.
   44         2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
   45  teachers in performing their duties.
   46         3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
   47  education and training requirements.
   48         4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
   49  certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
   50  increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a
   51  baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not
   52  education majors.
   53         5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and
   54  full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
   55  1012.39(1)(c).
   56         6.a.Instruction that does not distort significant
   57  historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that
   58  teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on
   59  theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege
   60  are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
   61  created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
   62         b.Courses and instruction within the educator preparation
   63  institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think
   64  critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
   65  instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
   66         Section 3. Present paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of
   67  section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
   68  (c), a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, and
   69  paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of that section is amended, to
   70  read:
   71         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
   72         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
   73         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
   74  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
   75  who fulfills one of the following:
   76         1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
   77  subsection (2).
   78         2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
   79  12:
   80         a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
   81  (h).
   82         b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
   83  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
   84         c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
   85  advanced degree.
   86         d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
   87  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
   88  student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
   89  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
   90  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
   91  examination.
   92         e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
   93  education competency examination required by state board rule.
   94         3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
   95  (h) and completes a professional learning certification program
   96  approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c) (8)(b)
   97  or an educator preparation institute approved by the department
   98  pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these
   99  programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or
  100  her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to
  101  take or achieve a passing score on the professional education
  102  competency examination in order to be awarded a professional
  103  certificate.
  104  
  105  At least 1 year before an individual’s temporary certificate is
  106  set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the
  107  individual of the date on which his or her certificate will
  108  expire and provide a list of each method by which the
  109  qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed.
  110         (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—
  111         (b) Professional learning certification program courses:
  112         1.May not distort significant historical events or include
  113  curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
  114  violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
  115  racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
  116  institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
  117  social, political, and economic inequities.
  118         2.Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
  119  critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
  120  instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
  121         Section 4. Present subsection (4) of section 1012.562,
  122  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
  123  subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
  124         1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of school
  125  leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education shall
  126  establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level II
  127  school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring
  128  school leaders to obtain their certificate in educational
  129  leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs
  130  must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership
  131  standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals
  132  employed by public schools, including charter schools and
  133  virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification
  134  in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing
  135  individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs
  136  build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as
  137  a school principal.
  138         (4) PROHIBITION; REQUIREMENT.—
  139         (a) A school leader preparation program may not distort
  140  significant historical events or include curriculum or
  141  instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05,
  142  or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
  143  oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
  144  the United States and were created to maintain social,
  145  political, and economic inequities.
  146         (b) A school leader preparation program must afford
  147  candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program
  148  content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching
  149  development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts.
  150         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.