1. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
JIM WARFORD
Chancellor
K-12 Public Schools
 
 
S
  
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
 
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
 
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
 
 
M
embers
 
 
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
 
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
 
JULIA L. JOHNSON
 
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
  
 
LINDA K. TAYLOR
 
 
JOHN L. WINN
Commissioner of Education
 
  
 
 
 
Memorandum
 
 
TO:
School District Superintendents
School District Certification Officers
 
FROM:
Jim Warford
 
DATE:
October 1, 2004
 
SUBJECT:
Special Educator Certification Provisions for School Districts Impacted by
Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne
 
 
The employees of the Department of Education continue to share in the concerns of educators
and extend our deepest sympathies to the individuals that have experienced devastating losses as
a result of the hurricanes. Our priority is to provide support and assistance necessary to school
systems to get all schools and programs fully operational as soon as possible.
 
We realize that there may be special situations relating to educator certification for which there is
authority granted to the Commissioner in Section 1012.56(14), Florida Statutes, to make
decisions under extenuating circumstance not provided for in law or rule. Additionally, the
certification statutes already provide for certificate extensions under special circumstances for
Temporary or Professional Certificates. Section 1012.24, Florida Statutes, also provides
authority to school boards for the employment and compensation of instructional personnel
during specific emergencies. The following flexibility options are offered to school districts that
may have employees who because of these unforeseen circumstances are unable to complete
certification requirements by their specified time lines.
 
If you need clarification or questions answered, please contact Beverly Gregory, Chief, Educator
Certification, at 850/245-0431.
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0420 • www.fldoe.org
 

 
Memorandum
October 1, 2004
Page Two
 
 
Employment and Compensation of Instructional Personnel During Specific Emergencies:
Pursuant to Section 1012.24, Florida Statutes, upon recommendation of the superintendent, a
district school board may declare that an emergency exists in that there are not sufficient
numbers of teachers who are certified to continue school operations. The school board may then
employ, contract, and compensate for instructional services to a person deemed qualified by
school board regulations. Such persons shall not be required to have a state certificate.
 
Time Extension for General Knowledge Examination Passing Score:
Pursuant to Section 1012.56(14), Florida Statutes, the Commissioner is authorizing a district
school board, as recommended by the superintendent, to grant to an employee who has been
extremely impacted by the hurricane and who is required to pass the certification General
Knowledge Examination within the first year of employment in order to continue teaching, an
additional one-year extension to the individual’s time line to earn the passing examination score.
Documentation of the time extension shall be placed in the personnel file indicating the extended
date for compliance under these extraordinary circumstances.
 
Temporary Waivers of Completion of Inservice/College Credit for Out-of-Field
Requirements:
Pursuant to Section 1012.56(14), Florida Statutes, the Commissioner is authorizing a district
school board, as recommended by the superintendent, to grant to an employee who has been
extremely impacted by the hurricane and who is required to earn inservice or college credit
pursuant to Rule 6A-1.0503, FAC for continued authorization to teach, a waiver of the 6
semester hours or 120 inservice points for teaching in 2004-2005 and if necessary for
reappointment for 2005-2006 school years. Documentation of the waiver and time extension
shall be placed in the personnel file indicating the school board approved waiver for compliance
under these extraordinary circumstances.
 
Extensions to Temporary and Professional Certificates:
The appropriate attached form is provided to simplify the process to request extensions to a
Temporary or Professional Certificate as authorized by Sections 1012.56 and 1012.585, Florida
Statutes. Because of the very unfortunate circumstances that may have resulted in financial
hardship, the $56 fee usually required for processing these certificate extensions will be waived
pursuant to the authority in Section 1012.56(14), Florida Statutes.
 
Issuance of a Duplicate Certificate:
The appropriate attached form may also be used to request issuance by the Bureau of Educator
Certification of a duplicate certificate to replace a certificate that was lost or destroyed as a result
of a hurricane. Because of the very unfortunate circumstances that may have resulted in
financial hardship, the $20 fee usually required for issuing a duplicate certificate will be waived
pursuant to the authority in Section 1012.56(14), Florida Statutes.
 
 
 
 
  

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