To provide detailed requirements of a standard, professional certificate and to implement recent changes by the Florida Legislature to certification requirements for world language and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

6A-4.002General Provisions

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

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To provide detailed requirements of a standard, professional certificate and to implement recent changes by the Florida Legislature to certification requirements for world language and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject coverages.

SUMMARY: Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., -- Adds reference to the Basic Program of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) or earning an acceptable score on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) as acceptable means of satisfying specialization and subject area mastery for a world language; Establishes the acceptable score as two (2) or higher on both the Listening and Reading subtests of the DLPT; Rule 6A-4.004, F.A.C., -- Outlines detailed eligibility and application requirements for the Professional Certificate; Establishes alternative criteria for educators in a science, technology, engineering, or math subject in grades 6-12 to earn a Professional Certificate.

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: These proposed rules are not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S. and are not expected to require legislative ratification. The proposed rule revisions do not impose new costs on any stakeholder.

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, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.10(5)(b), 1012.55, 1012.56, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: November 16, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate, 1500 Masters Blvd., Royal Dublin, Championsgate, Florida 33896.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: David LaJeunesse, Chief of Educator Certification, 325 W. Gaines St, Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.002 General Provisions.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) Examinations. The examinations used for demonstration of mastery of general knowledge, professional education competence, and subject area knowledge shall be aligned with student standards approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to Sections 1012.56(4) and (9)(f), F.S. and Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.

(a) through (d) No change.

(e) Achievement of a passing score of a two (2) or above on the reading subtest and a two (2) or above on the listening subtest of the Defense Language Proficiency TEST (DLPT) shall satisfy subject area specialization requirements and mastery of subject area knowledge in the comparable certification in a world language. Official documentation of successful completion of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI) program as specified in Rule 6A-4.0243, F.A.C., may also be used to satisfy subject area specialization requirements and mastery of subject area knowledge

(f) Effective for tests administered on or after July 1, 2015, achievement of passing scores, as identified by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection 6A-4.0021(12), F.A.C., on test sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test shall satisfy the requirement for mastery of general knowledge as demonstrated on the comparable and relevant subtests of the General Knowledge (GK) Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE), as follows:

1. The Analytical Writing section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test shall be acceptable as equivalent to the General Knowledge (GK) Essay subtest.

2. The Quantitative Reasoning section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test shall be acceptable as equivalent to the General Knowledge (GK) Mathematics subtest.

3. The Verbal Reasoning section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) revised General Test shall be acceptable as equivalent to both the General Knowledge (GK) English Language Skills and the General Knowledge (GK) Reading subtests.

(5) through (6) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.10(5)(b), 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 4-10-64, Amended 4-8-68, 4-11-70, 10-18-71, 3-19-72, 12-18-72, 6-17-73, 4-19-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 6-22-76, 6-27-77, 12-26-77, 4-27-78, 7-1-79, 7-2-79, 6-26-80, 7-28-81, 1-3-82, 5-11-82, 6-22-83, 3-28-84, 1-31-85, 3-13-85, Joint Administrative Objection Filed – See FAR Vol. 12, No. 11, March 14, 1986, Formerly 6A-4.02, Amended 12-25-86, 10-18-88, 10-10-89, 4-15-91, 11-10-92, 5-30-94, 11-13-96, 10-15-01, 12-27-04, 7-27-06, Joint Administrative Procedures Committee objection resolved by Chapter 86-156, Laws of Florida, Florida Administrative Register Vol. 35, No. 27, July 10, 2009, Amended 1-1-14, 12-31-14, 10-26-15, 6-23-16,___.

 

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) No change.

(2) Professional certificate. The professional certificate is the highest type of full-time certificate issued. The professional certificate is issued to an applicant who meets the requirements as specified in Sections 1012.56(1), (2), (3), (5) and (6), F.S. However, if a subject area test has not been developed and the absence of such test prohibits an individual from obtaining a professional certificate or adding a subject to a professional certificate, the employing Florida district superintendent or chief administrative officer of a state supported or nonpublic school may verify the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies.

(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 subparagraphs (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. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional education test; and,

5.Achieves a “summative evaluation rating” of highly effective on the teacher’s most recent annual performance evaluation assessed by an evaluation system approved pursuant to Rule 6A-5.030, F.A.C. The summative evaluation rating must be based in part on teaching a high school course in the same STEM subject area as the teacher’s advanced degree for which student performance is measured by one of the following:

a. A Florida statewide, standardized assessment;

b. An Advanced Placement (AP) examination;

c. An Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) examination; or

d. An International Baccalaureate (IB) examination.

The district shall verify, using the district verification form, “STEM-2016” (DOS link) (effective December 2016), which is herein incorporated by reference and made part of this rule, that its calculation of the highly effective summative evaluation rating is based in part on the performance of students as measured by one of the above specified statewide, standardized or national assessments for a high school course listed in the publication, “Florida STEM Course List,” (DOS link) (effective December 2016), which is herin incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. 

(c) The standard professional certificate may be renewed or extended based on provisions specified in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C.

(3) through (8) 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,_____.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Hershel Lyons, Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: October 12, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 1, 2016