To adopt new Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) competencies and skills, effective October 1, 2020, for the following FTCE subject areas: Guidance and Counseling PK–12; Hearing Impaired K–12; Music K–12; School Psychologist PK–12; ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0021Florida Teacher Certification Examinations

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To adopt new Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) competencies and skills, effective October 1, 2020, for the following FTCE subject areas: Guidance and Counseling PK–12; Hearing Impaired K–12; Music K–12; School Psychologist PK–12; Speech-Language Impaired K–12; and Visually Impaired K–12; and to implement siginificant registration fee reductions for the General Knowledge Test and the Professional Education Test, as well as for all Subject Area Examinations. The effect will be changes to the affected FTCE competencies and skills for the affected examinations; and fee modifications to all FTCE examinations.

SUMMARY: Adopt the “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fifth Edition.” The new edition updates the competencies and skills for Guidance and Counseling PK–12, Hearing Impaired K–12, Music K–12, School Psychologist PK–12, Speech-Language Impaired K–12, and Visually Impaired K–12, and will become effective October 1, 2020. This rule is further proposed for amendment to lower the retake registration fees for the General Knowledge Test and the Professional Education Test, as well as lower the first-time and retake registration fees for all Subject Area Examinations.

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: No requirement for SERC was triggered under section 120.541(1), F.S., and no new fees are imposed in the proposed rule. Further, since the rule outlines significant fee reductions, the proposed amendments are unlikely to have any adverse impact or to require legislative ratification.

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: 1012.55(1), 1012.56, 1012.59, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.59, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: March 19, 2019; 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: The Capitol, Room LL03, 400 South Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Phil Canto, Chief, Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment, Office of Assessment, Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement, 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 414, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.0021 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations.

(1) Scope. This rule governs the written examinations for teacher certification. Additional requirements for certification are specified in Chapter 6A-4, F.A.C.

(2) Description of the examinations and competencies to be demonstrated.

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) The following competencies are to be demonstrated by means of the written examinations:

1. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016. Between September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07842), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2020, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fifth Edition,”(DOS Link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2020. These publications may be obtained by contacting the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

2. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016. Between September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07842), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2020, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fifth Edition,” (DOS Link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2020. These publications may be obtained by contacting the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

3. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016. Between September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07842), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2020, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fifth Edition,”(DOS Link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2020. These publications may be obtained by contacting the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(3) No change.

(4) Registration, fees, and refunds.

(a) No change.

(b) Beginning April 22, 2019 September 1, 2009, registration fees shall be as follows:

Examination	Fee
General Knowledge Test, First-Time Registration (Full Battery)	$130.00
General Knowledge Test, Single Subtest Retake Registration	$32.50 150.00
General Knowledge Test, Two Subtests Retake Registration	$65.00
General Knowledge Test, Three Subtests Retake Registration	$97.50
General Knowledge Test, Full Battery Retake Registration	$130.00
Professional Education Test, First-Time Registration	$150.00
Professional Education Test, Retake Registration	$150.00 170.00
Subject Area Examination, First-Time Registration	$150.00 200.00
Subject Area Examination, Retake Registration	$150.00 220.00

(c) Beginning April 22, 2019 July 1, 2013, registration fees for Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 shall be as follows:

Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3	Fee
First-Time Registration (Full Battery)	$150.00 200.00
Single Subtest Retake Registration	$37.50 150.00
Two Subtests Retake Registration	$75.00 200.00
Three Subtests Retake Registration	$112.50 220.00
Full Battery Retake Registration	$150.00 220.00

(d) Beginning April 22, 2019 May 1, 2014, registration fees for Elementary Education K-6 shall be as follows:

Elementary Education K-6	Fee
First-Time Registration (Full Battery)	$150.00 200.00
Single Subtest Retake Registration	$37.50 150.00
Two Subtests Retake Registration	$75.00 200.00
Three Subtests Retake Registration	$112.50 220.00
Full Battery Retake Registration	$150.00 220.00

(e) Beginning April 22, 2019 January 1, 2015, registration fees for English 6-12 and Middle Grades English 5-9 shall be as follows:

First-Time Registration (Full Battery)	$150.00 200.00
Single Section Retake Registration	$75.00 150.00
Full Battery Retake Registration	$150.00 220.00

(f) No change.

(5) through (13) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1012.55(1), 1012.56, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.59 FS. History–New 8-27-80, Amended 1-11-82, 1-6-83, 5-3-83, 10-5-83, 10-15-84, Formerly 6A-4.021, Amended 12-25-86, 4-26-89, 4-16-90, 7-10-90, 4-22-91, 10-3-91, 8-10-92, 11-28-93, 4-12-95, 7-1-96, 9-30-96, 10-1-99, 7-17-00, 7-16-01, 3-24-02, 7-16-02, 3-24-03, 7-21-03, 12-23-03, 7-13-04, 5-24-05, 5-23-06, 5-21-07, 5-19-08, 7-21-08, 7-9-09, 6-22-10, 6-21-11, 11-22-11, 8-23-12, 5-21-13, 10-22-13, 2-25-14, 12-23-14, 7-28-15, 10-26-15, 7-26-16, 2-20-17, 8-20-17, 6-19-18, 11-28-18,______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Juan Copa, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Accountability, Research and Measurement.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 22, 2019

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: February 13, 2019.