To revise the requirements for teacher preparation programs to align with changes made during the 2023 legislation session including House Bills 1537 and 7039, and to make additional changes to ensure we maintain high quality ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-5.066Approval of Teacher Preparation Programs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To revise the requirements for teacher preparation programs to align with changes made during the 2023 legislation session including House Bills 1537 and 7039, and to make additional changes to ensure we maintain high quality educator preparation for Florida’s teachers.

SUMMARY: Proposed changes include modifying “development” to “learning” throughout the rule; revising the Uniform Core Curriculum (UCC) to reflect what is required for each type of teacher preparation program; clarifying the instructional reading strategies to be aligned with House Bill 7039; requiring program use of state adopted instructional materials; removing the requirement of completer and employer surveys for educator preparation institutes; adding an institutional final score and revising the Candidate Readiness metric in Annual Program Performance Report.

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: Based upon agency experience with approval of these programs, the adverse criteria regulatory cost, if any, will not exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and is not expected 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: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.34, 1012.56, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56, F.S.

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

DATE AND TIME: August 23, 2023, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Collier County School Board Office 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples, FL 34109.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kelley Duda, Senior Program Director, Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, and Retention, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-5.066 Approval of Teacher Preparation Programs.

This rule sets forth the requirements and implementation of the approval process for each type of teacher preparation program offered by a Florida provider as set forth in Sections 1004.04, 1004.85, and 1012.56(8), F.S.

(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply.

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) “Annual Program Performance Report” or “APPR” means the yearly public report card issued by the Florida Department of Education (Department) for a state-approved teacher preparation program that includes results of outcome-based performance metrics specified in subsection (6) of this rule. Sections 1004.04(4)(a), 1004.85(4)(b), and 1012.56(8)(d)2., F.S.

(d) through (u) No change.

(v) “Professional education competency program” or “PEC program” means a program under Section 1012.56(9)(8), F.S., in which instructional personnel with a valid temporary certificate employed by a school district, or private school, or state-supported public school with a state-approved program, may demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and education competence through classroom application of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and instructional performance.

(w) No change.

(x) “Professional learning development certification program” or “PLCP PDCP” means a program in which a school district, charter school or charter management organization may provide instruction for members of its instructional staff who are non-education baccalaureate or higher degree holders under Section 1012.56(8), F.S., and results in qualification for an initial Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

(y) through (ff) No change.

(gg) “Uniform Core Curricula” means the following for all state-approved teacher preparation programs must provide evidence of candidates completing training noted in corresponding Sections 1004.04(2), 1004.85(3), and 1012.56(8), F.S., in addition to ,except as noted:

1. The standards contained in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.

2. State content standards as prescribed in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.

1. 3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading instructional strategies that is grounded in the science of reading. The primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three-cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for teaching word reading. These strategies appropriate to the candidate’s teacher preparation program area are as follows:

a. through c. No change.

4. Content literacy and mathematical practices.

2. 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English language learners so that candidates are prepared to provide instruction in the English language to limited English proficient students to develop the student’s mastery of the four (4) language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

a. No change.

b. ITP candidates in teacher preparation programs not included in sub-subparagraph (1)(gg)2.(ii)5.a. of this rule, shall have completed a college or university level 3-credit hour overview or survey course which addresses at an awareness level the areas specified in Rule 6A-4.02451, F.A.C., Performance Standards, Skills, and Competencies for the Endorsement in English for Speakers of Other Languages.

6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students with disabilities so that candidates are prepared to apply specialized instructional techniques, strategies, and materials for differentiating, accommodating, and modifying assessments, instruction, and materials for students with disabilities.

7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student needs to include methods for differentiating the content, process, learning environment, and product of lessons being taught for a diverse array of learners from a variety of backgrounds and with a wide range of abilities.

8. Strategies and practices to support evidence-based content aligned to state standards and grading practices.

9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge the referral of such student to a mental health professional for support.

10. Strategies to support the use of technology in education and distance learning.

(hh) No change.

(2) Standards for approval of teacher preparation programs.

(a) The following standards must be met for a provider to receive initial and continued approval of a teacher preparation program:

1. through 3. No change.

4. The program ensures that candidates and completers are prepared to instruct prekindergarten through grade 12 (p-12) students to meet high standards for academic achievement including:;

a. The use of high-quality instructional materials as defined by the curricular materials on the Commissioner of Education’s state-adopted list of materials for any adoption cycle as found at www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/instructional-materials/; and

b. Candidates in a state-approved teacher preparation program shall utilize the materials on lesson preparation and implementation to positively impact student outcomes.

5. through 6. No change.

(3) No change.

(4) Reporting requirements for state-approved teacher preparation programs.

(a) State-approved teacher preparation programs shall report the following data to the Department:

1. No change.

2. All state-approved teacher preparation programs referenced in Sections 1004.04 and 1004.85, F.S., must annually report via the Department’s eIPEP platform results of employer and completer satisfaction surveys measuring the preparation of completers for the realities of the classroom and the responsiveness of the program to local school districts.

3. All PLCP PDCP programs approved per Section 1012.56(8), F.S., must annually report via the Department’s eIPEP platform located at https://www.florida-eipep.org/ program performance management data based on information provided by the program on the Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards Form IAS-2023.

(5) Requirements and processes for continued approval of teacher preparation programs.

(a) Continued approval entails requirements that are scored and requirements that are not scored. The requirements for continued approval that are not scored are as follows:

1. through 3. No change.

4. Based upon the information provided on Continued Approval Form CA-2023, the provider demonstrates that it meets the following requirements:

a. through b. No change.

c. The provider only endorses program candidates as completers if the individual has demonstrated positive impact on student learning growth in their certification subject area and satisfied passed all portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations;

d. through f. No change.

g. A provider with an educator preparation institute uses results of employer and program completers’ satisfaction surveys designed to measure the sufficient preparation of program completers and measuring the institution’s responsiveness to local school districts, to drive programmatic improvement;

g. h. A provider with a state-approved initial teacher preparation program uses the results of employer and program completers’ satisfaction surveys designed to measure the sufficient preparation of program completers and measuring the institution’s responsiveness to local school districts, to drive programmatic improvement; and

h. i. Any state-approved teacher preparation program approved per Section 1012.56(8), F.S., uses program performance management data to drive programmatic improvements based on information provided by the program on the Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards Form IAS-2023.

(b) No change.

(6) Annual Program Performance Report (APPR).

(a) The Department shall annually issue an APPR. The APPR is composed of Candidate Readiness, Workforce Contribution, Impact on Student Learning, and Annual Evaluations. Performance metrics not applicable to a program shall not be rated. ITPs will receive annual APPR summative rating scores, known as Initial Teacher Preparation Summative APPR, averaged across all of the provider’s state-approved initial teacher preparation programs. The rating score is then weighted by the total number of completers used in the annual calculation of the APPR summative rating. The Initial Preparation Summative APPR ranges between 1.0 and 4.0.

(b) No change.

(c) Each performance metric appropriate for a program shall receive a performance level score ranging from one (1) to four (4) that is based on the performance level target points established as follows:

Performance Metrics	Level 4 Performance Target (4 points)	Level 3 Performance Target (3 points)	Level 2 Performance Target (2 points)	Level 1 Performance Target (1 point)
Candidate Readiness based on passage rates on educator certification examinations, as applicable, under Section 1012.56, F.S.	Program completer pass rates on Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) without subtests are at or above 9085% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program completer pass rates on FTCE without subtests are at or above 8075% and less than 9085% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program completer pass rates on FTCE without subtests are at or above 65% and less than 8075% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 2, 3, or 4.
	Program completer pass rates on FTCE with subtests are at or above 7570% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program completer pass rates on FTCE with subtests are at or above 6560% and less than 7570% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program completer pass rates on FTCE with subtests are at or above 50% and less than 6560% on first and second attempts. If a program has multiple FTCE, the performance level is averaged.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 2, 3, or 4.
Workforce Contribution Rate	Workforce contribution rate is at or above 90% following the first year of completion with a .5-point value for out-of-state employment, a 1.0-point value for in-state employment, and 1.5-point value for completers of High Demand Teacher Needs certification areas employed in-state.	Workforce contribution rate is 89% to 60% following the first year of completion with a .5-point value for out-of-state employment, a 1.0-point value for in-state employment, and 1.5-point value for completers of High Demand Teacher Needs certification areas employed in-state.	Workforce contribution rate is 59% to 30%  following the first year of completion with a .5-point value for out-of-state employment, a 1.0-point value for in-state employment, and 1.5-point value for completers of High Demand Teacher Needs certification areas employed in-state.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 2, 3, or 4.
Impact on Student Learning	The average student learning growth score among students taught by program completers (Value-Added Model [VAM] score) is rated as highly effective as described in Rule 6A-5.0411, F.A.C.	Program did not meet criteria for level 4 or level 1.	Not calculated.	The average student learning growth score among students taught by program completers (VAM score) is rated as unsatisfactory as described in Rule 6A-5.0411, F.A.C.
Results of program completers’ annual evaluations as specified in Section 1012.34, F.S.	At least 50 percent of the program’s completers received a highly effective rating and 100 percent of the program’s completers received either highly effective or effective ratings, and no completers were rated unsatisfactory.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 4, but at least 90 percent of the program’s completers received either highly effective or effective ratings.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 3, but at least 70 percent of the program’s completers received a highly effective or effective ratings.	Program did not meet criteria for Level 2, 3, or 4.

(d) through (f) No change.

(7) through (8) No change.

(9) Continued Approval Summative Score and Ratings.

(a) The Department shall determine the Continued Approval Summative Score for all programs based on the following components:

1. No change.

2. Continued Approval Site Visit Rating: The average of all scores issued for each review area as specified in paragraph (7)(e)(d). The continued approval site visit rating ranges between 1.0 and 4.0.

3. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

(10) through (11) No change.

(12) The following forms are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

(a) Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards, Form IAS-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15444) effective September June 2023.

(b) Florida Department of Education Continued Approval, Form CA-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15445) effective September June 2023.

(c) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56 FS. History–New 7-2-98, Amended 8-7-00, 3-19-06, 2-17-15, 1-1-18, 4-30-18, 10-24-19, 11-23-21, 6-27-23,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Kelley Duda, Senior Program Director, Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, and Retention.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 27, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 22, 2023