To amend provisions relating to the issuance, extension and revocation of Florida Educator’s Certificates. The effect will be updated processing requirements for educator certificates to be consistent with current practice and recent changes enacted ...

 

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 amend provisions relating to the issuance, extension and revocation of Florida Educator’s Certificates. The effect will be updated processing requirements for educator certificates to be consistent with current practice and recent changes enacted by the Florida Legislature.

SUMMARY: This amendment specifies options for satisfying the general knowledge requirement; clarifies language relating to expired Temporary Certificates; adopts legislative changes relating to the extensions of Temporary Certificates; revises the approved Florida STEM Course List; clarifies language relating to the special certificates covering Speech Language impaired and certificates covering Athletic Coaching; and adopts legislative changes relating to the Special Temporary Certificate in Educational Leadership.

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 is 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 is not expected to require legislative ratification. The proposed amendment does not impose any 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: 1012.55, 1012.56, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: July 18, 2018, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, Congressional Room, 1500 Masters Blvd., 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-4.004 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. Satisfies the fingerprint requirement as follows:

a. Submits the original fingerprint reports which have been processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as specified below:

(I) Original fingerprint reports shall be provided by the employing district, state supported school, or nonpublic school. A name and description search shall be acceptable in lieu of a technical fingerprint search after two (2) sets of fingerprints are declared illegible by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the Federal Bureau of Investigation or when an individual is unable to provide fingerprints because of a physical disability; and,

(II) Fingerprints shall have been submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation within the twelve month period immediately preceding the beginning validity date of the certificate which is issued, or

b. Holds a Florida educator’s certificate which has not expired for more than one (1) school fiscal year from the date the application for a certificate is received by the Bureau of Educator Certification.

(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 s. 1012.56(7), F.S., by one of the following options per s. 1012.56(3), F.S.:

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

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

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

4. A valid standard certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence per Rule 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 Rule 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 Rule 6A-4.0021(12)(a), F.A.C.   

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

1. Hheld a temporary certificate which has expired for more than one (1) school fiscal year, but did not hold a temporary certificate for the school year immediately preceding the school fiscal year for which the certificate is requested

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

3. Mmeets all requirements specified in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule.

(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;

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

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:

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

b. Two (2) additional years based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate the 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

c. One (1) additional year based on evidence that during the validity of the temporary certificate the employee earned a rating of effective or highly effective on the most recent calculation of the teacher’s performance 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.

(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. 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” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07645) (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,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07646) (effective August 2018 December 2016), which is herein incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Both incorporated documents may be obtained without cost from the Bureau of Educator Certification, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

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

(3) Nonrenewable certificates covering speech-language impaired.

(a) A One 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. Submits fingerprint reports as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)3., of this rule; and,

4. Holds a bachelor’s degree in speech-language impairment from an accredited or approved institution as specified in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C.

(b) A One 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 Section 1012.56(3), F.S.,

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

4. Submits verification of acceptance and enrollment into a graduate degree program in speech-language impaired at an accredited or approved institution as prescribed in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C. Verification of admission to the program shall be an official transcript or a letter from an official of the college or university.

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

(a) A certificate valid for three (3) school fiscal years reflecting only athletic coaching may be issued to an applicant who does not meet the requirements specified in paragraph (4)(b) of this rule. The certificate may 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.; and,

2. Submits fingerprint reports as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)3., of this rule.

(b) A certificate valid for five (5) school fiscal years reflecting only athletic coaching may be issued to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

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

2. Satisfies specialization requirements as specified in subsections 6A-4.0282(2) and (3), F.A.C.; and,

3. Submits fingerprint reports as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)3., of this rule.

(c) An applicant who does not meet requirements in either paragraph (4)(a) or paragraph (4)(b) of this rule for a certificate covering only athletic coaching will be issued an official letter, valid for one (1) year after receipt of the completed application, advising the applicant of any requirements that must be completed to qualify for a certificate covering only athletic coaching.

(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. Completes the application requirements as specified in Rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C.,

2. Submits official documentation of a bachelor’s degree granted from an accredited or approved institution as specified in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C.,

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

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

b. Was honorably discharged or retired from the United States Armed Forces with at least three (3) years served as a commissioned officer, as a warrant officer, or as a noncommissioned officer at the following rank or higher: Army sergeant, Air Force staff sergeant, Marine corporal or Navy petty officer,

4. Earns a passing score on the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE), as specified in Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., administered on or after January 1, 2014,

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

6. Submits fingerprint reports as specified in subparagraph (1)(a)3., of this rule.

(b) A person operating under a special temporary certificate covering educational leadership must be under the mentorship of a school administrator with Florida certification in an administrative class coverage as specified in Rules 6A-4.008, 6A-4.0082, 6A-4.0083, 6A-4.0085, or 6A-4.044, F.A.C. under the Florida School Leaders Certification program as specified in Rule 6A-4.0081, F.A.C. A request for issuance of the special temporary certificate covering educational leadership shall be submitted to the Department on which the employer must attest to provide a state-certified school administrator, designated as the applicant’s mentor during the term of the special temporary certificate.

(c) An applicant who holds a special temporary certificate covering only educational leadership, or held the same which has expired, may be issued a professional certificate provided all requirements for the professional certificate in effect at the time the application is filed have been completed, as specified in subsection (2) of this rule, which includes satisfying the specialization requirements for Educational Leadership as specified in Rule 6A-4.0082, F.A.C. An applicant issued the temporary certificate based on verified service as a military officer as specified in sub-subparagraph (5)(a)3.b. of this rule shall be issued a professional certificate covering school principal upon submission of verification approved by the school district superintendent that the applicant successfully completed the district school principal certification program approved pursuant to Rule 6A-5.081, F.A.C.

(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) Demonstrates mastery of the subject matter as specified in Section 1012.56(5), F.S., for each subject to be added to a professional certificate.

(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) Satisfies the specialization requirements specified in the rules of the Florida State Board of Education for each endorsement to be added to the certificate.

(8) Expired certificates.

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) An applicant whose professional certificate has been expired may reinstate the professional certificate if requirements are completed as specified in subsection 6A-4.0051(7), F.A.C.

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,___.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Hershel Lyons, Chancellor, Division of Public Schools.

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 19, 2018

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: May 14, 2018.