The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt changes to the competencies and skills passing scores for selected subject area examinations, effective October 1, 2009. Additionally, revisions to the registration form and to the examination fee ...

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-4.0021: Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt changes to the competencies and skills passing scores for selected subject area examinations, effective October 1, 2009. Additionally, revisions to the registration form and to the examination fee structure are proposed. The effect of these changes will be updated competencies and skills for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations and a fee structure more aligned with the real cost of the examinations.
SUMMARY: The proposed amendment will adopt the new edition of the Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fourteenth Edition, the revised registration form, the revised fee structure, and new passing scores for selected subject area examinations.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: None.
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.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1012.56(9), 1012.59(1) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56, 1012.59 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: May 19, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Hillsborough Community College, Dale Mabry Campus, Student Center, Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Florida
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Dr. Michael Jones, Chief, Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment, Office of Assessment, Accountability, Research, and Measurement, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400; [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) The Florida Teacher Certification Examinations shall be developed by the Commissioner of Education.

(b) The written examinations shall include subtests of reading, writing, mathematics, professional skills, and subject area specialty. These examinations may contain multiple-choice questions and questions requiring the examinee to write an answer or demonstrate a proficiency.

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

1. Before October 1, 2009 2008, the general knowledge competencies and skills as contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Thirteenth Twelfth Edition.” Beginning with the October 1, 2009 2008, test administration, the general knowledge competencies and skills as contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fourteenth Thirteenth Edition.” Copies of these publications may be obtained from Florida Teacher Examinations, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, at a price to be established by the Commissioner not to exceed actual cost.

2. Before October 1, 2009 2008, the professional education test competencies and skills contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Thirteenth Twelfth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning October 1, 2009 2008, the professional education test competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fourteenth Thirteenth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained as described in subparagraph (2)(c)1. of this rule, and

3. Before October 1, 2009 2008, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Thirteenth Twelfth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning October 1, 2009 2008, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fourteenth Thirteenth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained as described in subparagraph (2)(c)1. of this rule.

(d) Before July 1, 2002, the College Level Academic Skills Test or the Praxis I: Academic Skills Assessment as described in subsection (13) of this rule shall be used to demonstrate mastery of general knowledge for an individual who holds a bachelor’s or higher degree as specified in Rules 6A-4.004, 6A-4.050, and 6A-4.066, F.A.C.

(3) No change.

(4) Registration, late registration and refunds.

(a) Registration for the examinations shall be for the initial examinations or for one (1) or more examinations not previously passed. To register to take the examinations, an applicant shall submit a completed application which shall be received by the test administration agency at least fifty (50) days preceding the examination date.

1. A completed application shall consist of the following:

a. A completed application Form CG-20-04, Registration Application: Certification Examinations for Florida Educators, which includes the applicant’s signature. Form CG-20-04 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective September 1, 2009 August 1, 2008. This form may be obtained without cost from the Bureau of Educator Certification, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or may be submitted online via the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations/Florida Educational Leadership Examination Program Web site at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/apply.asp.

b. Before January 1, 2009, a twenty-five (25) dollar fee for each registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, each registration for the professional skills examination, and each registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test. Beginning January 1, 2009, a fifty (50) dollar fee for each first-time registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, each first-time registration for the professional education test skills examination, and each first-time registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test. A fee of one hundred (100) dollars for each retake registration for a subject area specialty examination, the professional education test skills examination, or the general knowledge test, effective January 1, 2009. Beginning September 1, 2009, a one-hundred (100) dollar fee for each first-time or retake registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test, each first-time or retake registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, and a one-hundred (100) dollar fee for each first-time or retake registration for the professional education test.

c. A charge of one hundred (100) dollars in addition to the fees described in sub-subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)1.b., F.A.C., for certification applicants taking a supplemental examination.

2. An incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant. Applications which are completed and resubmitted to the test administration agency after the fifty (50) day deadline shall be acceptable only if the applicant complies with requirements specified in paragraph 6A-4.0021(4)(b), F.A.C.

(b) Late registration for the examinations shall be for the initial examinations or for one (1) or more examinations not previously passed. An applicant who did not submit a completed application to the test administration agency within the fifty (50) day deadline may register for the examinations by completing the requirements listed in subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)1., F.A.C., and submitting a fifteen (15) dollar late charge for each registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination; each registration for the professional education test examination; and each registration for the general knowledge examination or any combination of the general knowledge subtests. All items shall be received by the test administration agency at least thirty (30) days preceding the examination date. Late registrations shall be accepted on a space available basis.

(c) Refunds. Fees shall be refunded provided written requests for refunds are received by the test administration agency at least thirty (30) days preceding the examination date. Failure to appear for or to complete an examination shall result in forfeiture of fees.

(5) through (7) No change.

(8) Scoring the professional education test skills examination.

(a) Effective July 2003, the passing score for the professional education test shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to an examination raw score that results in an examinee passing rate of ninety-one (91) percent, which was the passing rate of teacher candidates who took the Professional Education Test examination for the first time during the 2001-2002 examination administration year. In the event that fewer than fifty (50) examinees are tested in the July 2003 administration, the passing score shall be sixty (60) percent of the items.

(b) Effective July 1, 2005, the passing score for the professional education test shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled passing score will be equivalent to eighty (80) correct items on the July and October 2003 test administrations.

(9) Scoring of the subject area specialty examinations.

(a) through (q) No change.

(r) The Commissioner of Education shall review the passing score for each of the General Knowledge Subtests, each of the subject area specialty examinations, and the Professional Education Test Examination not less than once every five (5) years and determine whether to recommend to the State Board of Education to maintain or change the existing passing scores.

(s) Effective October 1, 2009, the passing scores for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200):

1. Elementary Education K-6 Examination. In addition to the scaled score of at least two hundred (200), examinees must pass each of the five (5) sections of the examination: Language Arts and Reading; Social Science; Music, Visual Arts, Physical Education, and Health; Science and Technology; and Mathematics. The passing score for each section shall be a scaled score of at least sixty-four (64).

2. Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (MGIC) 5-9 Examination. In addition to the scaled score of at least two hundred (200), examinees must pass each of the four (4) sections of the MGIC: English, General Science, Mathematics, and Social Science. The passing score for each section shall be a scaled score of at least sixty-four (64).

(10) through (11) No change.

(12) Review.

(a) Requests for Manual Scoring and Verification. An examinee who fails one (1) or more examination(s) may file a written request with the test administration agency for manual scoring of the multiple-choice sections of the examination(s) failed. A written request may also be made to verify the scores for computer-based tests and performance components of failed examinations, including essays, short-answer sections, and verbal responses, to ensure that the scores assigned were recorded accurately. The request shall be filed within thirty (30) days of the date the score report was mailed by the test administration agency. The fee for manual scoring, verification, or both, of one (1) or more examinations shall be twenty-five (25) dollars that amount necessary for the test administration agency to perform the service as agreed in the contract between the agency and the Florida Department of Education. The test administration agency shall notify the examinee of the results of the request within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request and fee.

(b) No change.

(13) through (15) No change.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 1012.55(1), 1012.56, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 1012.56 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, ________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Jeff Sellers, Interim Deputy Commissioner for Accountability, Research, and Measurement
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Eric J. Smith, Commissioner of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 14, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: March 6, 2009