FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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    Dr. Eric J. Smith
    Commissioner of Education
    STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Chairman
    Members
    PETER BOULWARE
    AKSHAY DESAI
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    JOHN R. PADGET
    KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
    M E M O R A N D U M
    TO:
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    School District Superintendents, Florida College and University Presidents, and
    Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF)
    FROM:
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    Jeff Sellers, Acting Deputy Commissioner
    Accountability, Research, and Measurement
    DATE:
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    July 23, 2009
    SUBJECT:
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    FTCE Fee Increase
    During the 2009 Florida Legislative session, general revenue funds were not appropriated by
    the legislature for developing and administering postsecondary examinations. This has
    necessitated an increase in fees for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE).
    Historically, testing fees for the FTCE have been the lowest in the nation. The Florida
    Department of Education (the Department) regrets the need for fee increases, but the cost of
    developing and administering the examinations is much higher than the cost previously reflected
    by the fees, and necessitated the fee increase. Unfortunately during the current economic
    crisis, the State legislature was unable to appropriate any General Revenue funds for the FTCE
    program; as a result the fee increase will help fund the continued development and
    administration of high-quality tests while providing an unparalleled level of customer service and
    convenience. The Department is currently working with the FTCE contractor (Evaluation
    Systems of Pearson) to identify project costs that can be reduced and is researching ways to
    ultimately reduce examinee testing fees.
    Title I-A funds (available only to Title I schools for the purposes of recruiting highly qualified
    teachers) and Title II-A funds (available districtwide) may assist teachers with test fees,
    preparation programs, stipends, substitute teachers, and other assistance that may be needed.
    However, the use of these funds is based on a district needs assessment and the direction of
    the school board for the activities to be conducted with these funds.
    The Department has received inquiries from school districts regarding how the notification
    process for the fee increase was accomplished. The following describes the process.
    JEFF SELLERS
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    ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
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    ACCOUNTABILITY, RESEARCH, AND MEASUREMENT
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    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 814 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0437 • www.fldoe.org
    School District Superintendents, et al.
    July 23, 2009
    Page 2
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    The first notice of rule development for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
    fee structure [Rule 6A-4.0021, Florida Administrative Code (FAC)] was advertised in the
    March 6, 2009, in the
    Florida Administrative Weekly
    (Vol. 35/09). The full text of the rule
    was provided in the April 24, 2009, (Vol. 35/16) edition.
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    There were further changes to Rule 6A-4.0021, FAC, at the State Board of Education
    meeting on May 19, 2009. The series of changes relating to the fees happened very
    quickly late in the session. Rule 6A-4.0021, FAC, with the final information, was made
    public at the State Board of Education meeting, and the changes were posted to the
    Florida Administrative Weekly
    on May 29, 2009 (Vol. 35/21).
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    The Department placed a fee increase announcement on the Department’s Web site at
    http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/ftcefees.asp, which is also linked on the FTCE program
    Web site as referenced below.
    Registration for June, July, and August test dates remains open. Registration for test dates of
    September 1, 2009, and later will not open until August 1, 2009 to allow time for programming
    the new FTCE fee structure.
    The FTCE program Web site home page, located at www.fl.nesinc.com, includes an “Important
    Announcements” section on the right side. For convenience, direct links to the registration-
    related announcements are listed below:
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    Registration Unavailable for September to December Test Dates
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    (http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_ann_regunavailable.asp)
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    FTCE Fees Impacting September and Later Test Dates
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    (http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_ann_testfees.asp)
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    FELE Updates & CBT Availability (http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_ann_feleupdates.asp)
    Please contact the FTCE customer service center at (413) 256-2893 if you have further
    questions regarding registration. Representatives are available to answer your questions from 7
    a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
    Thank you for your patience as we continue the fee reduction research process and strive to
    provide a high quality testing program.
    JS/cso
    cc:
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    Deans and Directors of Colleges of Education
    Judith
    Bilsky
    John Delaney
    Beverly Gregory
    Frances Haithcock
    Kathryn
    Hebda
    Willis N. Holcombe

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