The purpose of this rule amendment is to define concordance scores on the Graduate Record Examination as an acceptable alternate assessment to the General Knowledge Test. In addition, the department will be updating rule language to provide greater ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0021Florida Teacher Certification Examinations

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to define concordance scores on the Graduate Record Examination as an acceptable alternate assessment to the General Knowledge Test. In addition, the department will be updating rule language to provide greater specificity in terminology as it relates to effective dates.

SUMMARY: The rule is proposed for amendment to adopt concordance scores for the Graduate Record Examination as a comparable alternative assessment to the General Knowledge Test that may serve as an acceptable means of satisfying the educator certification requirement of demonstrating a mastery of general knowledge. This amendment also defines the Graduate Record Examination scores that are concordant to the passing scores of the General Knowledge Test.

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: 1) no requirement for SERC was triggered under Section 120.541(1), F.S., and; 2) providing concordance scores as an alternative to the General Knowledge Test decreases regulatory costs. The proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification pursuant to Section 120.541(3), F.S.

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: 1012.56(3)(e) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56 FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: September 21, 2015, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: The SEED School of Miami, located at Florida Memorial University, 15800 NW 42nd Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33054

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) through (2)(b) No change.

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

1. Before June 1, 2016 October 1, 2015, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2015. Beginning June 1, 2016, 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. 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. Before June 1, 2016 October 1, 2015, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2015. Beginning June 1, 2016, 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. 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. Before June 1, 2016 October 1, 2015, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2015. Beginning June 1, 2016, 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. 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) 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 register online with submit a completed application to the test administration agency at: http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/postsecondary-assessment/ftce/.

A completed application shall consist of the following:

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. 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/asp/ftce.

(b) through (6) No change.

(7) Scoring the general knowledge subtests.

(a) Effective January 1, 2004, the passing scores for the general knowledge subtests listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200) for multiple-choice sections. The passing score for the Essay subtest shall be a total raw score of at least six (6). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the July 2002 test administration:

SUBTEST	SCORE
General Knowledge Subtest 1: Essay	A total raw score of at least six (6)
General Knowledge Subtest 2: English Language Skills	29 correct items
General Knowledge Subtest 3: Reading	25 correct items
General Knowledge Subtest 4: Mathematics	26 correct items

 

1. General Knowledge Reading Subtest: 25 correct items.

2. General Knowledge English Language Skills Subtest: 29 correct items.

3. General Knowledge Mathematics Subtest: 26 correct items.

4. General Knowledge English Essay Subtest: A total raw score of six (6).

(b) Effective January 1, 2015, the passing scores for the general knowledge subtests listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200) for multiple-choice sections. The passing score for the Essay subtest shall be a total raw score of at least eight (8). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered in May 2014:

SUBTEST	SCORE
General Knowledge Subtest 1: Essay	A total raw score of at least eight (8)
General Knowledge Subtest 2: English Language Skills	27 correct items
General Knowledge Subtest 3: Reading	26 correct items
General Knowledge Subtest 4: Mathematics	31 correct items

1. General Knowledge Essay Subtest: A total raw score of at least eight (8).

2. General Knowledge English Language Skills Subtest: twenty-seven (27) correct items.

3. General Knowledge Reading Subtest: twenty-six (26) correct items.

4. General Knowledge Mathematics Subtest: thirty-one (31) correct items.

(8) Scoring the professional education test.

(a) Effective July 1, 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 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) through (c) No change.

(9) through (h) No change.

(i) For the subject area specialty examinations listed below, a score earned prior to October 1, 1996, shall be considered a passing score and shall be valid for certification in that subject area for a period of two (2) years from the test administration date.:

Effective October 1, 1996, a passing score for these subject area examinations will be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled passing score will be equivalent to the following scores on the April 1995 test administration:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Agriculture 6-12	83 correct items
Industrial Arts-Technology Education 6-12	83 correct items
	[OS5]
Marketing 6-12	72 correct items
Preschool Education Birth – Age 4	81 correct items
	[OS6]

(j) No change.

(k) Effective January 1, 2004, the passing scores for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the July 2002 test administration:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Exceptional Student Education K-12	72 correct items
Kindergarten-Grade Six	138 correct items

(l) No change.

(m) Effective July 1, 2003, the passing scores for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the raw scores on the July 2003 test administration as defined below:

1. Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 Examination. An examination raw score that results in an examinee passing rate of sixty-eight (68) percent, which was the average of the passing rates of teacher candidates who took the Middle Grades English 5-9, Middle Grades General Science 5-9, Middle Grades Mathematics 5-9, and Middle Grades Social Science 5-9 specialty examinations 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 fifty-nine (59%) percent of the items.

2. Physical Education K-12 Examination. An examination raw score that results in an examinee passing rate of seventy-five (75%) percent, which was the average of the passing rates of teacher candidates who took the Physical Education K-8 and Physical Education 6-12 specialty examinations for the first time during the 2001-2002 examination administration year. In the event fewer than fifty (50) examinees are tested in the July 2003 administration, the passing score shall be sixty (60%) percent of the items.

3.(n) After sufficient data have been collected, the Commissioner of Education shall review examinee performance levels for the Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 Examination, and the Physical Education K-12 Examination and determine whether to recommend to the State Board of Education to maintain or change the existing passing scores.

(n)(o)1. Effective July 1, 2004, the passing score for the subject area specialty examination listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the raw score on the July 2004 test administration as defined below.

1.2. Computer Science K-12 Examination. An examination raw score that results in an examinee passing rate of eighty-three (83%) percent, which was the passing rate of teacher candidates who took the Computer Science K-12 specialty examination for the first time during the 2002-2003 examination administration year. In the event that fewer than fifty (50) examinees are tested in the July 2004 administration, the passing score shall be sixty-three (63) percent of the items.

2.(p) After sufficient data have been collected, the Commissioner of Education shall review examinee performance levels for the Computer Science K-12 Examination and determine whether to recommend to the State Board of Education to maintain or change the existing passing scores.

(o)(q) Effective July 1, 2005, the passing scores for the English 6-12 subject area specialty examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the composite score of seventy one (71) on a scale that weights the multiple choice section seventy (70%) percent and the essay section thirty (30) percent on the April 1989 test administration.

(p)(r) Effective January 1, 2012, the passing score for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between March and April 2011:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Educational Media Specialist PK-12	85 correct items
Exceptional Student Education K-12	81 correct items
Social Science 6-12	87 correct items

(q)(s) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Biology 6-12	83 correct items
Chemistry 6-12	71 correct items
Earth-Space Science 6-12	83 correct items
Middle Grades General Science 5-9	84 correct items
Physics 6-12	60 correct items

(r)(t) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between January and March 2012:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Health K-12	83 correct items
Physical Education K-12	85 correct items

(s)(u) Effective March 1, 2014 2012, the passing score for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between May and August 2013:

SUBJECT	SCORE
English for Speakers of Other Languages K-12	81 correct items
Mathematics 6-12	48 correct items
Middle Grades Mathematics 5-9	52 correct items

(t)(v) Effective March 1, 2014, the passing score for the new Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 subtests listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered in July and August 2013:

SUBTEST	SCORE
PK-3 Subtest 1: Developmental Knowledge	38 correct items
PK-3 Subtest 2: Language Arts and Reading	41 correct items
PK-3 Subtest 3: Mathematics	32 correct items
PK-3 Subtest 4: Science	30 correct items

1. Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 Subtest 1: Developmental Knowledge: thirty-eight (38) correct items.

2. Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 Subtest 2: Language Arts and Reading: forty-one (41) correct items.

3. Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 Subtest 3: Mathematics: thirty-two (32) correct items.

4. Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 Subtest 4: Science: thirty (30) correct items.

(u)(w) Effective January 1, 2015, the passing score for the new Elementary Education K-6 subtests listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered in May 2014:

SUBTEST	SCORE
K-6 Subtest 1: Language Arts and Reading	42 correct items
K-6 Subtest 2: Social Science	37 correct items
K-6 Subtest 3: Science	36 correct items
K-6 Subtest 4: Mathematics	35 correct items

1. Elementary Education K-6 Subtest 1: Language Arts and Reading: forty-two (42) correct items.

2. Elementary Education K-6 Subtest 2: Social Science: thirty-seven (37) correct items.

3. Elementary Education K-6 Subtest 3: Science: thirty-six (36) correct items.

4. Elementary Education K-6 Subtest 4: Mathematics: thirty-five (35) correct items.

(v)(x) Effective January 1, 2015, the passing score for the new English 6-12 and Middle Grades English 5-9 multiple-choice sections shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). The passing score for the writing sections shall be a total raw score of at least eight (8). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between March and June 2014:

SUBJECT	SCORE
English 6-12	56 correct items on the multiple-choice section and a total raw score of at least eight (8) on the writing section
Middle Grades English 5-9	58 correct items on the multiple-choice section and a total raw score of at least eight (8) on the writing section

(w)(y) Effective January 1, 2015, the passing score for the subject area specialty examinations listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw scores on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between April and June 2014:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Computer Science K-12	85 correct items
Technology Education 6-12	89 correct items

(x)(z) 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 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.

(10) Score reports for the general knowledge essay, english language skills, reading, and writing, mathematics subtests, professional education test skills, and subject area examinations.

(a) through (e) No change.

(11) Review.

(a) Requests for Verification. An examinee who fails one (1) or more examination(s) within ten (10) scale score points of the passing scale score (200) for failed examinations, including essays, short answer sections, and verbal responses, may file a written request with the test administration agency to verify that the examinations were scored accurately. An examinee may review their failed responses for performance only subtests (i.e., English 6-12 Writing Component, General Knowledge Essay, German K-12 oral interview, Middle Grades English 5-9 Writing Component, Speech 6-12 oral component). The request shall be filed within thirty (30) days of the date the score report was released by the test administration agency. The fee for verification shall be seventy-five ($75.00) dollars. 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) Score Verification Sessions. An examinee who fails one (1) or more examination(s) within ten (10) scale score points of the passing scale score (200) may review only those incorrect test items and/or performance component(s) contained within each examination meeting these criteria and bring to the Florida Department of Education’s attention, via the test administration agency, any scoring errors which may result in a passing score. The procedures for test review are listed below:

1. through 7. No change.

(12) Alternative Assessments: Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Revised General Test.

(a) GRE test administrations conducted on or after July 1, 2015, may be used as an acceptable means of demonstrating a mastery of general knowledge. The GRE scores listed below shall be considered the minimum passing scores that may be used to satisfy the demonstration of mastery of general knowledge requirements. Passing scores are required in each of the general knowledge content areas assessed on the General Knowledge Test, which include writing (essay), English language skills, reading, and mathematics. The table below defines the General Knowledge Test content area subtests and corresponding GRE subtest alternatives, followed by the minimum required passing scores for each of the GRE subtests indicated. A passing score on a GRE subtest in an applicable general knowledge content area, as defined in the table below, will satisfy the requirement of demonstrating a mastery of general knowledge for the applicable general knowledge content area.

GK SUBTEST/GRE SUBTEST	GRE SCORE
GK Writing (Essay) / GRE Analytical Writing	A combined score of 4 out of 6.
GK English Language Skills / GRE Verbal Reasoning	A scaled score of 151.
GK Reading / GRE Verbal Reasoning	A scaled score of 151.
GK Mathematics / GRE Quantitative Reasoning	A scaled score of 147.

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,________.

 

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

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 24, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 14, 2015