Attachment III

Florida Department of Education

Endorsement in Pre-kindergarten Disabilities

Training in early childhood development, developmentally appropriate practices, and specialized

instructional interventions and strategies is of critical importance for teachers of young children

with disabilities. Therefore, beginning July 1, 2011, the following changes will be made in the

certification requirements for the course titles identified below.

Pre-kindergarten Disabilities: Age Birth – 2 (Course Number 7650030)

Teachers certified in any exceptional education field, primary education, early childhood education,

and pre-k/primary education will be required to obtain the prekindergarten disabilities endorsement

as described in Rule 6A-4.01792,

AC), entitled “Specialization

Requirements for the Pre-kindergarten Disabilities Endorsement-Academic Class.” This

requirement

will not apply

to teachers certified in preschool education (birth through age four) or

pre-kindergarten/primary (age three through grade three).

Pre-kindergarten Disabilites: Age 3-5 (Course Number 7650130)

Teachers certified in any exceptional education field, primary education, and early childhood

education will be required to obtain the specialization requirement for the pre-kindergarten

disabilities endorsement as described in Rule 6A-4.01792, FAC. This requirement

will not apply

to teachers certified in preschool education (birth through age four) and/or pre-k/primary education

(age three through grade three).

Districts are also reminded that they may wish to encourage teachers who have experience and staff

development related to young children with disabilities to take the Florida teacher certification

exam in either the pre-k/primary education or preschool education as an alternative to obtaining the

endorsement.

Additionally, teachers who are not currently endorsed will have the opportunity to participate in

district add-on programs or obtain college credit in the appropriate coursework. A number of

colleges and universities are developing endorsement programs for implementation in the near

future or have expanded existing course offerings that satisfy the requirements established in State

Board Rule. The Department of Education will be collaborating with the University of Central

Florida on the development of a district model endorsement program. This work will be initiated

through the Professional Development Partnership project and will begin during the coming project

year.

Lastly, the Florida Course Code Directory provides considerable flexibility when pre-kindergarten

disabilities classes are “blended” with other early childhood programs such as district-operated

Head Start, the Voluntary Universal Pre-kindergarten Education (VPK) Program, Title I preschool

classes, and/or school readiness classes, or when such settings serve as the inclusive placement for a

preschool child with a disability. While this flexibility is anticipated to continue for the foreseeable

future, these options will periodically be re-examined. Districts will be provided notice well in

advance of any proposed changes to this current flexibility.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Cathy Bishop, Program Specialist, Florida

Department of Education, by telephone at (850) 245-0478 or by electronic mail at

cathy.bishop@fldoe.org.