325 West Gaines Street
i
Room 203
i
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
i
(850) 487-3663
i
FAX (850) 488-3352
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
D
AVID
C
.
A
SHBURN
C
HARLIE
C
RIST
D
IRECTOR
Commissioner
D
IVISION OF
P
ROFESSIONAL
E
DUCATORS
Contact Person:
Name: Beverly Gregory
Phone: 850/488-2317
Fax: 850/488-3352
Email: edcert.doe.state.fl.us
DPE: 02-16
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
School District Superintendents
District Certification Contacts
Nonpublic School Certification Contacts
FROM:
David C. Ashburn
DATE:
May 28, 2002
SUBJECT:
Educator Certification Legislative Changes
There is good news at last. Senate Bill 20, the school code rewrite bill implementing a K-20
seamless education system, was passed during the second Legislative Special Session in 2002
and now has been signed by the Governor. There are several important changes in the laws
governing educator certification that address district personnel issues. This memorandum
provides information related to these issues of immediate concern for certification advisement
and policy implementation for the certification changes that are effective July 1, 2002.
Also, please note that the rewrite of the school code assigns new numbers for all sections of the
school code. Thus, to help in locating and understanding the changes, the previous numerical
statute citation will be shown for the new citations included in this document. Please do not
hesitate to contact staff in the Bureau of Educator Certification if additional assistance is needed.
325 West Gaines Street
i
Room 203
i
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
i
(850) 487-3663
i
FAX (850) 488-3352
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
School Code Rewrite Changes Effective July 1, 2002
Section 1012.56 Educator certification requirements (was Section 231.17)
Subsection (1) Application
A statement of status of eligibility may be reissued for one additional 2-year period if
application is made while the initial statement is valid or within one year after the initial
statement expires,
only if the subject area is an area that is authorized by the State
Board.
Since there is a new certification structure being established, there are
certification areas that are being eliminated and will not be issued after a specified date.
For instance, after July 1, 2002, a statement of status of eligibility may not be reissued for
Elementary Education (grades 1-6) nor for the exceptional categorical areas of
Emotionally Handicapped, Mentally Handicapped, Specific Learning Disabilities,
Physically Impaired, or Varying Exceptionalities.
Subsection (4)
Mastery of Subject Area Knowledge
Beginning July 1, 2002, a certification subject that requires a master’s or higher degree
pursuant to State Board Rule requires completion of the subject area specialization
requirements in the subject area rule and a passing score on the subject area test to satisfy
the subject area requirements for a Professional Certificate. The subject areas affected by
this change are:
Ø
Guidance and Counseling
Ø
Educational Leadership
Ø
School Psychologist
Ø
Reading
Ø
Administration of Adult Education ( no subject test available)
Ø
Speech-Language Impaired
Ø
Local Director of Vocational Education (no subject test available)
All other certification subjects available for certification on July 1, 2002, that require a
bachelor’s or higher degree and for which there is a subject area test may present either
documentation of completion of the specialization requirements for the subject area or a
passing score on the subject area examination to satisfy subject requirements for issuance
of a Temporary Certificate. Thus, a passing score on the subject area examination
satisfies the subject area requirements for issuance of the Temporary Certificate and also
the subject area mastery for a Professional Certificate.
Reminders:
Ø
The option to pass a subject area examination does not apply to endorsements
since an endorsement does not require a subject area examination.
Ø
To use the option of presenting a passing score on the subject area examination to
establish eligibility for a Temporary Certificate or to add a subject to a valid
Professional Certificate, the applicant must submit an application for the subject
325 West Gaines Street
i
Room 203
i
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
i
(850) 487-3663
i
FAX (850) 488-3352
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
July 1, 2002, or later and earn a passing score on the appropriate subject area
examination after July 1, 2002.
Subsection (5) Mastery of Professional Preparation and Educator Competence
The professional preparation course-count
option
is retained. Mastery of the professional
preparation requirement for the Professional Certificate by completion of the twenty
semester hours college credit also requires completion of the two years practical teaching
experience, verification of completion of the Professional Education Competence (PEC)
demonstration, and a passing score on the Professional Education subtest.
Subsection (7) Professional Preparation Alternative Certification and Education
Competency Program
Flexibility is provided for alternative certification programs. Authorization is granted that
a school district may choose to implement the state-developed alternative certification
model or a district-developed alternative certification program that has been approved by
the Department of Education.
Summary of General, Professional, and Subject Requirements
Effective July 1, 2002
Mastery of General Knowledge for the Professional Certificate.
Acceptable means of
demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
1.
Achievement of passing scores on the new Florida General Knowledge Examination required
by State Board rule,
2.
Achievement of passing scores on the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST)
earned
prior to July 1, 2002,
3.
A valid standard teaching certificate issued by another state that requires an examination of
mastery of general knowledge (July 1, 2002, see Bureau of Educator Certification home page
“testing” for a list of states),
4.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and a valid certificate issued by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or
5.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and documentation of 2 years of
continuous successful teaching or administrative experience earned during the 5-year period
immediately preceding the date of application for certification.
Mastery of Subject Area Knowledge for the Professional Certificate.
Acceptable means of
demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
1.
Achievement of a passing score on a subject area examination required by the State Board,
2.
Completion of the subject area specialization requirements in State Board rule and
verification of subject area competence by the superintendent or chief executive officer of a
state-supported or nonpublic school for a subject area for which there is no subject area
examination,
325 West Gaines Street
i
Room 203
i
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
i
(850) 487-3663
i
FAX (850) 488-3352
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
3.
Completion of the subject area specialization requirements in State Board rule for an area
requiring a master’s or higher degree and achievement of a passing score on the
corresponding subject area test,
4.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state that requires an examination of mastery of
subject area knowledge (July 1, 2002, see Bureau of Educator Certification home page
“testing” for a list of states),
5.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and a valid certificate issued by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, or
6.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and documentation of 2 years of
continuous successful teaching or administrative experience earned during the 5-year period
immediately preceding the date of application for certification.
Mastery of Professional Preparation and Education Competence for the Professional
Certificate.
Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of professional preparation and
education competence are:
1.
Completion of a Florida teacher preparation program approved by the Department of
Education and achievement of a passing score on the professional education examination
required by State Board rule,
2.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state that requires an examination of mastery of
professional education competence (July 1, 2002, see Bureau of Educator Certification home
page “testing” for a list of states),
3.
Completion of a teacher preparation program outside Florida and achievement of a passing
score on the professional education examination required by State Board rule,
4.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and a valid certificate issued by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards,
5.
A valid standard certificate issued by another state and documentation of 2 years of
continuous successful teaching or administrative experience earned during the 5-year period
immediately preceding the date of application for certification,
6.
Completion of the Florida alternative certification program or an alternative certification
program developed by a Florida school district and approved by the Department of
Education, or
7.
Completion of the twenty semester hours in professional preparation in State Board rule,
practical teaching experience requirement, verification of the professional education
competence demonstration, and achievement of a passing score on the professional education
examination required by State Board rule.
325 West Gaines Street
i
Room 203
i
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
i
(850) 487-3663
i
FAX (850) 488-3352
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
Fingerprinting Procedures
Public School Districts
It is exciting that school districts will be processing live-scan fingerprints on site within the
district beginning July 2002. It is our understanding that the district will receive the electronic
fingerprint report from law enforcement agencies within a few days rather than weeks. Public
school districts are to continue the present policy of submitting to the Bureau of Educator
Certification the printed hard copy fingerprint report in conjunction with the CT-110 form with
the superintendent’s signature requesting issuance of the certificate and a complete CG-10
application and fee (if not already on file).
Nonpublic Schools
The procedures for nonpublic schools do not change. The nonpublic school organization must
submit to the Bureau of Educator Certification for each individual a package that includes: a
complete CG-10 application and fee (if not already on file), the fingerprint card, a $45
fingerprint processing fee, and a CT-111 form with the chief administrative officer’s signature
requesting issuance of the certificate.
School Code Rewrite Changes Effective January 7, 2003
Section 1001.42 Powers and duties of the district school board (was Section 230. 23)
Subsection (5) Personnel
School boards are authorized to hire school principals without educator certification
consistent with the school board’s written policy related to alternative “certification.”
The district is authorized to establish alternative requirements that may include training
and professional development for employment of principals who do not hold an educator
certificate issued by the Department of Education pursuant to Section 1012.56, F.S.
Section 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates (was Section 231.24)
Subsection (5) Reinstatement of an Expired Certificate
The process for reinstatement of an expired Professional Certificate is modified. There is
no longer a five-year time limitation for submission of an application for reinstatement of
an expired certificate. An individual who has held a Florida Professional Certificate and
allowed the certificate to expire may submit an application for reinstatement at any time
following the expiration. The requirements to reinstate the certificate are not changed.
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