To update language to reflect legislative changes to the General Knowledge requirement and employment; eliminate language relating to expired Temporary Certificates; adopt legislative changes relating to the extensions of Temporary Certificates; and ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.004Florida Educator’s Certificates with Academic, Administrative, Degreed Career and Technical, and Specialty Class Coverages

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update language to reflect legislative changes to the General Knowledge requirement and employment; eliminate language relating to expired Temporary Certificates; adopt legislative changes relating to the extensions of Temporary Certificates; and adopt provisions relating to a Restricted Professional Certificate for student services personnel. The effect will be updated processing requirements for the issuance of educator certificates to be consistent with recent changes enacted by the Florida Legislature (SB 7070) and updates made to the Florida Course Code Directory.

SUMMARY: This rulemaking eliminates the requirement for educators working under a Temporary Certificate to demonstrate Mastery of General Knowledge during their first year of employment, eliminates the requirement to demonstrate Mastery of General Knowledge to reapply for certification after a Temporary Certificate has expired, and updates the requirements for extensions to the validity period of Temporary Certificates. The rulemaking will also create a new Restricted Professional Certificate for educators who serve in capacities other than classroom teachers.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The proposed rule amendment is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth or business competitiveness, or increase regulatory costs or any other factor set forth in s. 120.541(2), F.S. and is not expected to require legislative ratification. This is based upon the nature of the proposed changes, which modifies the requirements for demonstrating Mastery of General Knowledge and extensions to Temporary Certificates, and creates a new class of certificate for educators who serve in capacities other that classroom teachers.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.55, 1012.56, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: February 12, 2020, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 1703/07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Daniel Moore, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Educator Certification, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.004 Florida Educator’s Certificates with Academic, Administrative, Degreed Career and Technical, and Specialty Class Coverages.

A Florida educator’s certificate is issued to an applicant with academic, administrative, degreed career and technical, and specialty class coverages as specified below.

(1) Temporary certificate.

(a) The three-year nonrenewable temporary certificate may be issued to an applicant who does not qualify for the professional certificate but meets the following requirements:

1. Holds a valid Official Statement of Status of Eligibility as specified in section 1012.56(1), F.S., which reflects that the applicant has satisfied specialization requirements for the subject requested;,

2. Obtains full-time employment in a position for which a Florida educators’ certificate is required in a Florida public, state supported, or a nonpublic school which has a Department of Education approved system for documenting the demonstration of required professional education competence. Verification of employment shall be submitted by a Florida district superintendent or designee or the chief administrative officer; and,

3. No change.

(b) Mastery of General Knowledge. An applicant shall demonstrate mastery of general knowledge within one (1) calendar year of employment under the temporary certificate pursuant to section 1012.56(7), F.S., by one of the following options per section 1012.56(3), F.S.:

1. Passing scores on all subtests of the FTCE General Knowledge Test per subsection 6A-4.0021(7), F.A.C.;

2. A valid, standard certificate issued by another state per paragraph 6A-4.002(1)(i), F.A.C.;

3. A valid, standard certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards per paragraph 6A-4.002(1)(j), F.A.C.;

4. A valid standard certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence per paragraph 6A-4.002(1)(m), F.A.C.;

5. Two semesters of successful full-time or part-time teaching at an accredited post-secondary instituition per paragraph 6A-4.002(3)(c), F.A.C.; or

6. Passing scores on the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination per paragraph 6A-4.0021(12)(a), F.A.C.

(b)(c) Expired temporary certificates. A new three-year nonrenewable temporary certificate may be issued to an applicant who satisfies all the following:

1. Held a temporary certificate which has expired for more than one (1) school fiscal year;, and

2. Demonstrates mastery of general knowledge by one of the options specified in paragraph (1)(b) of this rule, on or before June 30, 2019, and

2.3. Meets all requirements specified in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule.

(c)(d) Extensions to temporary certificates. When an individual has not met requirements for the professional certificate the Commissioner shall grant a one-time extension to the validity of the temporary certificate based upon the following criteria:

1. The individual must submit a completed CG-10 application and fee per rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C., before the temporary certificate is expired for more than one (1) school fiscal year; and

2. The individual must have demonstrated mastery of general knowledge by one of the options specified in paragraph (1)(b) of this rule; and

2.3. The district school superintendent or governing authority of a university lab school, state-supported school, or private school must submit a request on behalf of the individual written on official letterhead, addressed to the Commissioner of Education and delivered to the Bureau of Educator Certification, Room 201, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, requesting extension of the temporary certificate for two (2) additional years based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate:

a. Two (2) additional years based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate Tthe employee experienced serious illness or, serious injury, or other extenuating circumstances resulting in unexpected hardship that prevented the employee from satisfying all requirements for the professional certificate;

b. The employee experienced extenuating circumstances resulting in unexpected hardship that prevented the employee from satisfying all requirements for the professional certificate;

c.b. Two (2) additional years based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate Tthe employee’s spouse served on active duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces or a related reserve component resulting in unexpected hardship that prevented the employee from satisfying all requirements for the professional certificate; or

d.c. One (1) additional year based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate Tthe employee earned a summative rating of effective or highly effective as specified in rule 6A-5.030, F.A.C., on the immediate prior year's most recent calculation of the teacher’s performance evaluation pursuant to section 1012.34, F.S., of students criteria pursuant to section 1012.34(3), F.S., based solely on the department’s approved formula for calculating student learning growth for courses associated with statewide, standardized assessments as specified in rule 6A-5.0411, F.A.C.; or

e. The employee successfully completed a two-year mentorship program approved by the Department of Education per section 1012.56(8), F.S. 

(2) Professional certificate.

(a) The professional certificate is the standard, renewable type of certificate issued by the Department of Education to an applicant who meets the following eligibility requirements:

1. Completes the application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.; and,

2. Satisifes all eligibility criteria specified in section 1012.56(2), F.S.

(b) A standard, renewable professional certificate covering a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) subject in grades 6 though 12 may be issued to an applicant who meets the following eligibility requirements:

1. Completes the application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.;,

2. Satisifes the eligibility criteria specified in paragraphs (a) through (h) of section 1012.56(2), F.S.;,

3. Holds a master’s or higher degree in a STEM area from an acceptable institution as defined in rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C.;,

4. through 5. No change.

(c) No change.

(3) Nonrenewable certificates covering speech-language impaired.

(a) A nonrenewable temporary certificate valid for two (2) school fiscal years shall be issued one (1) time to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

1. Completes the application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.;,

2. Obtains full-time employment as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)2. of this rule;,

3. through 4. No change.

(b) A nonrenewable professional certificate valid for five (5) school fiscal years shall be issued one (1) time to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

1. Meets requirements for a temporary certificate covering speech-language impaired as specified in paragraph (3)(a) of this rule;

2. Demonstrates mastery of general knowledge by one of the options specified in paragraph (1)(b) of this rule;,

3. Demonstrates mastery of professional preparation and education competence by one of the options specified in section 1012.56(6), F.S.; and

4. No change.

(4) Certificates covering only athletic coaching (Grades K-12).

(a) through (c) No change.

(5) Special temporary certificate covering only educational leadership.

(a) A special temporary certificate valid for three (3) school fiscal years reflecting educational leadership may be issued to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

1. though 2. No change.

3. Submits verification approved by the school district superintendent, chief administrative officer, or authorized designee that the applicant:

a. Has at least three (3) years of successful employment experience in a full-time executive management or leadership position;, or

b. No change.

4. through 6. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

(6) Restricted professional certificate.

(a) A restricted professional certificate is a renewable type of certificate valid for five (5) school years issued by the Department of Education to an applicant who meets the following eligibility requirements:

1. Completes the application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.; and

2. Satisifes all eligibility criteria specified in section 1012.56(2), F.S., except for mastery of general knowledge per section 1012.56(3), F.S.

3. A restricted professional certificate is only available to instructional personnel who are not classroom teachers, as defined in section 1012.01(2), F.S., in the following subject areas:

a. Educational Media Specialist;

b. School Counseling;

c. School Psychologist;

d. School Social Work; or

e. Speech-Language Impaired.

(b) An applicant who meets these requirements must only be assigned to non-classroom instructional positions for which they are certified.  

(7)(6) Addition of subjects to a professional certificate. A subject may be added to a valid renewable professional certificate when an applicant meets the following requirements:

(a) Completes application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.; and,

(b) No change.

(8)(7) Addition of endorsements. An endorsement may be added to a valid three-year nonrenewable temporary or renewable professional certificate when an applicant meets the following requirements:

(a) Completes the application requirements as specified in rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.; and,

(b) No change.

(9)(8) Expired certificates.

(a) through (d) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 4-20-64, Amended 4-8-68, 7-7-68, 4-11-69, 4-11-70, 9-17-72, 8-17-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 11-9-76, 7-1-79, 8-27-80, 1-3-82, 4-26-84, 11-18-84, 6-18-85, Formerly 6A-4.04, Amended 12-25-86, 10-18-88, 9-12-89, 12-4-89, 4-15-91, 10-10-91, 5-3-94, 10-15-01, 12-27-04, 11-26-08, 3-5-14, 12-20-16, 8-21-18,______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Daniel Moore, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Educator Certification, [e-mail].

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: 01/17/2020

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 11, 2019