FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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BETTY COXE
CHARLIE CRIST
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
Commissioner
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Interested Parties
FROM:
Betty Coxe
DATE:
April 12, 2002
SUBJECT:
Workshops on New Educator Certification Examinations
The Department of Education is pleased to announce four regional briefing meetings concerning
passing scores for several new educator certification examinations.
The Department’s purpose
is to provide information and seek additional input from all interested parties relative to the
recommended passing scores for these new tests.
The new tests are: (1) a comprehensive Exceptional Student Education (ESE) subject area exam
for grades K-12, (2) a Kindergarten – Grade 6 (K-6) subject area exam, and (3) the new General
Knowledge test.
The ESE exam replaces five categorical exceptional education exams
including Emotionally Handicapped, Mentally Handicapped, Specific Learning Disabilities,
Varying Exceptionalities, and Physically Impaired; the K-6 exam replaces the Elementary
Education 1-6 and the Primary Education K-3 exams; and the General Knowledge test replaces
the CLAST, effective July 1, 2002.
We are nearing the initial implementation phase of the major recommendations in “The Review
of Educator Certification Report” of January 2000. The Legislative directives that implemented
the Report were enacted in Spring 2000 and include streamlining the certification structure and
processes and reducing the number of subject coverages.
In January 2002, the State Board of
Education adopted the competencies and skills for the two new subject area exams and the
general knowledge test and, in March, approved the subject specialization requirements for the
ESE and K-6 certification coverages.
The next step is for the Board to establish transitional
passing scores for these three new examinations.
PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
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http:/www.firn.edu/doe
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An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
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MEMORANDUM
April 12, 2002
Page Two
The Department expresses appreciation and sincere thanks to the many individuals throughout
the state who participated in the various test development, validation, and standard setting
activities for the implementation of these new examinations. All of this work was necessary to
achieve the State’s goals of having a streamlined certification model and rigorous certification
examinations aligned to the Sunshine State Standards for students.
The briefing meetings have been scheduled for the times and locations shown below.
Please
share this information with relevant individuals.
April 17, 2002
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
April 18, 2002
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
April 18, 2002
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
April 18, 2002
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Room 1703 Turlington Building
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325 West Gaines Street
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Tallahassee, FL
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Board Room
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Duval County School Board
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1701 Prudential Drive
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Jacksonville, FL
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Cafeteria
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Palm Beach County School District
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3300 Forest Hill Blvd.
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West Palm Beach, FL
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Room B-213
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Pinellas County School Board
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Administration Building
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301 - 4
th Street, SW
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Largo, FL
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If you are unable to attend, please send your written comments to:
Dr. Ken Loewe
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Florida Dept. of Education
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414 Turlington Building
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325 W. Gaines Street
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Tallahassee, FL 32399
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fax = (850) 487-8431
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The Bureau of Educator Certification will be distributing technical assistance papers soon.
Thank you for your interest and assistance.
PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
€
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
€
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
€
