The purpose of the revisions to the specified Educator Certification rules is to be consistent with recent changes by the Florida Legislature and propose changes to streamline regulatory implementation. The effect of these changes is outlined in the ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

6A-4.002General Provisions

6A-4.003Degrees, Programs, and Credits

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the revisions to the specified Educator Certification rules is to be consistent with recent changes by the Florida Legislature and propose changes to streamline regulatory implementation. The effect of these changes is outlined in the summary that follows.
SUMMARY: Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., provides the requirements and implementation of general provisions of qualification for a Florida Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., include: Adding acceptance of recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college credit used for educator certification purposes; clarifying teaching college courses for academic remediation as unacceptable for college teaching experience; and clarifying the use of one (1) year of teaching experience to satisfy a single course requirement in professional preparation. Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C., provides the requirements and implementation of degrees, programs, and credits acceptable and associated documentation required to qualify for a Florida Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C., include: Updating the official names of the regional accrediting associations; specifying an official transcript for documentation of degrees and credits from institutions within the United States or its territories; specifying an original credential evaluation report by an approved provider for documentation of degrees and credits from institutions outside the United States; specifying acceptance of college course credits recommended on an official transcript from the American Council on Education (ACE); and revising criteria for the Department’s approval of an education credential evaluation agency.

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: Enactment of Chapter 2013-185, Laws of Florida, authorizes the acceptance of college course credits recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for the purposes of educator certification. This change will economically benefit the regulated entities (applicants for educator certification) by increasing the range of college credits, to include corporate training, industry certification programs, and military service training or experience recommended by ACE, acceptable to satisfy specific educator certification requirements. There is no added regulatory cost associated with this change. Courses for academic remediation are not generally awarded postsecondary credit toward degree or program completion. Therefore, excluding the teaching of such remedial courses from acceptable teaching experience for educator certification simply clarifies existing practice and will not add to the cost of compliance. Specifying that one year of teaching experience may be used to satisfy three semester hours of college credit in a single course simply clarifies existing practice and will not add to the cost of compliance. In addition, the number of applicants to whom these teaching experience provisions would apply is unknown, but would not be expected to meet any threshold requiring a SERC or legislative ratification. Nearly 5,000 individuals with foreign academic training are evaluated for educator certification in Florida each year. Applicants with foreign academic training must presently employ the services of an education credential evaluator agency approved by the Department to provide an original credential evaluation report along with original or officially authenticated documents of their academic training. Specifying an original credential evaluation report as the acceptable document required for applicants with foreign training reduces their documentation burden, thereby decreasing their cost of compliance. In addition, acceptance of documentation provided by education credential evaluator agencies with membership in the specified national associations immediately expands the list of approved agencies, thus increasing options for applicants with foreign training that might be more beneficial due to competitive pricing schedules, proximity of location, or other important factors. Finally, revision of the criteria for the Department’s approval of an education credential evaluation agency enhances compliance with industry accepted standards and will not add to the cost of compliance.

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, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.585, 1012.59 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: September 17, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Forest Hill Community High School, 6901 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: David C. LaJeunesse, Chief, Educator Certification, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 201, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0400, [phone], [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.002 General Provisions.

(1) through (3) No change.

(3) College credit. College credit used for educator certification purposes shall be undergraduate or graduate credit earned at an accredited or approved institution or recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) as specified in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C. All college credit shall be computed by semester hours. One (1) quarter hour of college credit shall equal two-thirds (2/3) of one (1) semester hour. Community and junior college credit used for educator certification purposes shall parallel those of the first and second years of course work at an accredited or approved institution and shall be comparable to courses offered at Florida community and junior colleges which have been approved by the Florida Department of Education.

(4) Waiver of college credit.

(a) Course exemption. Exemption from a college course as verified in writing by the institution of higher education shall be accepted the same as credit earned in that course to meet a specific course requirement for certification.

(b) College teaching experience. Teaching a college credit course, excluding courses for academic remediation, at an accredited or approved institution or an accredited community or junior college as described in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C., shall be accepted the same as credit earned in that course to meet a specific course requirement for certification. A written statement from the registrar or other official designated by the president verifying the college teaching experience shall be filed with the Bureau of Educator Certification, Florida Department of Education.

(5) Teaching experience.

(a) Definition of teaching experience. Teaching experience as used in Florida State Board of Education rules for educator certification purposes shall be defined as full-time teaching, administrative, or supervisory service.

1. Teaching experience used for academic, administrative, vocational, and specialty class subjects shall be gained in a public or state supported elementary or secondary school; or in a prekindergarten (ages three [3] and four [4]) school as defined in Section 1003.01(2), F.S.; or in a birth through age two (2) school which is a public or state supported school or is a contractor for a public school system. However, teaching experience in a nonpublic school shall be acceptable provided the applicant held a valid full-time teaching certificate issued by the state department of education in the state where the teaching experience was acquired.

2. Teaching experience used for vocational class subjects shall be gained in an elementary or secondary school as specified in subparagraph (5)(a)1. of this rule, in a public or state supported vocational or technical school, or in an accredited community or junior college as described in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C.

(b) Utilization of teaching experience. A year of full-time teaching experience may be accepted in lieu of three (3) semester hours of college credit. A maximum of three (3) years of teaching experience may be used in lieu of nine (9) semester hours of college credit. Not more than one (1) year of teaching experience may be used in lieu of three (3) semester hours of college credit toward satisfying a single course requirement requrements in professional preparation. Not more than two (2) years of teaching experience may be used in lieu of six (6) semester hours of college credit toward satisfying requirements in a specialization area. When teaching experience is used to satisfy a course requirement in a specialization area or to satisfy a subject special methods course requirement in professional preparation, the teaching experience shall be comparable to the course requirement acquired in the subject or field and at the appropriate instructional level to which it is applied.

(c) through (6) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–Amended 4-10-64, 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_________.

 

6A-4.003 Degrees, Programs, and Credits.

Degrees, programs, and credits shall be determined acceptable for educator certification purposes based on the following:

(1) Accredited institutions. Degrees and credits awarded by an institution of higher learning accredited by one (1) of the accrediting associations listed below shall be acceptable for educator certification purposes, as documented on the institution’s official transcript.

(a) Regional accrediting associations. The regional accrediting associations are as follows:

1. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,

2. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools,

3. The New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and Colleges,

4. The North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools,

5. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Association of Secondary and Higher Schools, and

6. The Western Association of Colleges and Schools and Colleges.

(b) Accrediting agencies approved by the United States Department of Education.

(2) Non-accredited approved institutions. A non-accredited approved institution of higher learning shall be identified as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s or higher degree by one (1) of the following criteria:

(a) The institution is accepted for certification purposes by the state department of education where the institution is located,

(b) The institution holds a certificate of exemption pursuant to Section 1005.06, F.S.,

(c) The institution is a newly created Florida public college or university that offers a bachelor’s or higher degree program,

(d) The institution is located outside the United States and awards a degree that is the equivalent to a bachelor’s or higher degree awarded by an accredited or approved institution in the United States. Isolated credit will be acceptable for certification purposes provided the credit is the equivalent of college credit earned in the United States, or

(e) The degree from the institution was accepted by an accredited or approved institution either in transfer or as a basis for admission into the graduate program which resulted in the conferral of a higher degree.

Documentation of degrees and credits from institutions within the United States or its territories shall be an official transcript. Documentation of degrees and credits from institutions outside the United States shall be an original credential evaluation report prepared by an accredited institution as specified in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of this rule, or by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Department as specified in subsection (6) of this rule. An original credential evaluation report must include a summary of the equivalent United States postsecondary degree level and academic program awarded and, upon request, must also include a detailed breakdown of all courses into descriptive titles with equivalent United States postsecondary semester hours and grades.

An applicant who holds a valid standard educator’s certificate issued by a state other than Florida which may be used to satisfy the eligibility requirements for a professional certificate as described in Sections 1012.56(1) and (2), F.S., or to demonstrate mastery of subject matter knowledge as in Section 1012.56(5), F.S., is considered to have met the requirements of this rule.

(3) Highest acceptable degree level of training.

(a) The highest degree which has been awarded by an accredited or approved institution as described in subsections (1) and (2), of this rule, shall be recognized for certification. The degree level shall be determined by the criteria listed below.

1. Bachelor’s degree. An earned bachelor’s degree, such as the bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, or bachelor of education degree which normally required four (4) years of higher education; or a foreign degree that required sixteen (16) years of combined pre-university and university education; or a foreign degree that has been evaluated by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Department as specified in subsection (6) of this rule Department approved nationally recognized education credential evaluation agency or an accredited or approved institution as the equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an institution as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this rule shall be recognized as the bachelor’s degree level of training.

2. Master’s degree. An earned master’s degree or an earned advanced bachelor’s degree of a professional nature, such as library science, in combination with an earned four-year bachelor’s degree; or a post-bachelor’s foreign degree that required at least five (5) years of higher education; or a foreign post-bachelor’s degree that has been evaluated by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Department as specified in subsection (6) of this rule Department approved nationally recognized education credential evaluation agency or an accredited or approved institution as the equivalent to a master’s degree from an institution as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this rule shall be recognized as the master’s degree level of training.

3. Specialist in education degree. An earned sixth-year post-master’s level degree in education, such as specialist in education degree shall be recognized as the specialist’s degree level of training.

4. Doctor’s degree. An earned academic or professional doctor’s degree, or an earned Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or higher law degree granted by an institution of higher learning in the United States, or a foreign doctor’s degree that required at least seven (7) years of higher education, or a foreign doctor’s degree that has been evaluated by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Department as specified in subsection (6) of this rule Department approved nationally recognized education credential evaluation agency or an accredited or approved institution as the equivalent to a doctor’s degree from an institution as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this rule, shall be recognized as the doctor’s degree level of training.

(b) A certificate, diploma, or other award shall not be recognized as an earned degree.

(4) Accreditation and acceptance of teacher education programs for specific certification purposes.

(a) Teacher education programs approved by the Florida Department of Education. A teacher education program approved by the Florida Department of Education shall fulfill the general and professional preparation requirements and the specialization requirements in the major subject of the approved program, as documented by the program completion statement on the institution’s official transcript. The teacher education program shall have been approved at the time the program was completed.

(b) Inservice components in a Florida District Inservice Plan. A core of inservice components prescribed for a specific endorsement and approved by the district school board in the master inservice plan shall satisfy the specialization requirements for the designated endorsement. Successful completion of the components in the approved master inservice plan shall be verified by the Florida district superintendent.

(c) Teacher education programs in states other than Florida. A teacher education program at the bachelor’s or higher degree level shall fulfill the general and professional preparation requirements and the specialization requirements for an academic class subject or a degreed vocational class subject in accordance with the following provisions:

1. The teacher education program shall have been granted by an accredited or a Department approved institution; and

2. The major subject of the approved program shall be in a subject in which Florida offers certification; and

3. The instructional level of the major subject of the approved program shall be comparable to or broader than the instructional level at which Florida offers certification in the subject; and

4. When a master’s or higher degree is required for Florida certification in a subject, the program must have been completed at the same or higher degree level.

Documentation of teacher education programs from institutions within the United States or its territories shall be an official transcript. Documentation of teacher education programs from institutions outside the United States shall be an original credential evaluation report prepared by an accredited institution as specified in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of this rule, or by a credential evaluation agency approved by the Department as specified in subsection (6) of this rule. An original credential evaluation report must include a summary of the equivalent United States postsecondary degree level and academic program awarded and, upon request, must also include a detailed breakdown of all courses into descriptive titles with equivalent United States postsecondary semester hours and grades.

(5) American Council on Education college course credits. College course credits recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) shall be acceptable for educator certification purposes as documented on an official ACE transcript.

(65) The Department shall may not approve an education credential evaluation agency that holds current membership in good standing with a nationally recognized association of credential evaluation services that have published standards for the evaluation of foreign credentials, admission standards for membership, an enforced code of ethics or good practice, and affiliations to national or international higher education associations, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE); or an agency that provides evidence of its compliance with all of the following does not:

(a) Employs evaluation staff that have recent, substantive experience in the United States evaluating in foreign credentials evaluation work covering all levels of education and verifies verify that staff receive on-going training and professional development in credential evaluation methods and procedures.

(b) Provides verification that the agency has developed and employs reliable documents procedures for accurately identifying the authenticity of foreign educational credentials and establishing the recognition or accreditation of academic institutions.

(c) Makes available to the public, clear and precise requirements for an evaluation, including required documentation, policies and schedule of fees, and an estimate of the time typically required to complete an evaluation.

(d) Uses Maintain a current reference library of professionally accepted resources and reference and materials pertinent to the evaluation of foreign credentials that includes standard references in the field and identifies bibliographic listing.

(e) Uses reliable translation services for accurately translating educational credentials from their original languages into English.

(f) Prepares evaluation reports based on documentation necessary to perform an accurate evaluation complete, and specifically identifies identified documentation used to prepare the evaluation report, including the type of each authenticated document, the name and location of the institution, the name of the program, diploma, degree, major field of study, year(s) of completion, and the equivalency to earned accredited postsecondary college credit in the United States.

(g) Provides a list of three or more references with contact information for the agency’s affiliation with national or international higher education associations, such as state departments of education, professional education organizations, or accredited postsecondary institutions.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–Amended 4-20-64, 3-26-66, 4-8-68, 7-7-68, 4-11-70, 1-17-72, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 6-22-76, 11-9-76, 10-12-77, 7-1-79, 1-3-82, 4-30-85, Formerly 6A-4.03, Amended 12-25-86, 9-12-89, 4-15-91, 11-25-97, 10-15-01, 3-22-05,_________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Kathy Hebda, Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 12, 2013

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 3, 2013