F
LORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
M
embers
DR.
AKSHAY DESAI
M
ARK KAPLAN
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
JOHN R. P ET
K
ADG
ATHLEEN SHANAHAN
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
MEM
ORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Dr. Eric J. Smith, Commissioner of Education
DATE:
April 1, 2011
SUBJECT:
2011–2014 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE)
Test Development
The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of test development activities that will occur
beginning in 2011 and continue through 2014 for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
(FTCE), and to ask for your support in this endeavor via the participation of educators from your
school district. The Department will revise educator certification examinations and align them to
the Common Core Standards, where appropriate, in the following subject areas:
•
Mathematics 6–12
•
Middle Grades Mathematics 5–9
•
Prekindergarten/Primary PK–3:
Literacy/Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social
Science
•
Middle Grades English 5–9
•
English 6–12
•
Elementary Education K–6:
Language Arts/Reading, Science and
Technology, Mathematics, and Social Science
•
General Knowledge Test:
English Language Subtest and Mathematics Subtest
In addition, test development activities are scheduled to take place from 2011 to 2012 for the
following two examinations:
•
Professional Education
•
English as a Second Language (ESOL) K–12
325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
April 1, 2011
Page 2
Test development activities require the participation of many educators throughout Florida. We
are seeking knowledgeable educators to serve as test development committee members for the
above subject areas. The following recruitment materials describing the details of committee
participation are available at http://www.floridacertexam.nesinc.com:
•
FTCE Test Development Activities Flyer
•
FTCE Application Form
•
FTCE Nomination Form
I encourage you to distribute these materials to district-level human resource personnel, school
principals, administrators, subject area coordinators, and supervisors who may be able to
nominate exemplary educators to serve on FTCE test development committees. Classroom
teachers currently certified and teaching in the subject area and district coordinators are all
eligible to be nominated for committees. Meetings are generally from one to three days in
Tallahassee, and committee members are typically invited to one or two meetings throughout the
year. Travel expenses are reimbursed, hotel accommodations are provided, and committee
members are eligible for either a substitute reimbursement or a stipend of $250.00 per eight-hour
meeting day.
Thank you for permitting and encouraging your teachers and administrators to participate in
these important committees. Please note that a similar communication is being issued to Florida
deans of colleges and universities.
The Department has contracted with Evaluation Systems group of Pearson to manage committee
recruitment. If you have any questions regarding FTCE committee participation, please contact
Emily Moreau at emily.moreau@pearson.com or (866) 613-3285 (toll free).
ES/KE/ky
CC:
Stuart Greenberg
Frances Haithcock
Kathy Hebda
Sharon Koon
Eileen McDaniel
Lori Rodriguez
Teresa Sweet
Mary Jane Tappen
