The purpose of the rule amendment is to propose an increase in the basic certification application fee from the current fee of $56 approved in 1994 to $75 effective January 1, 2008. The effect will be a rule that provides adequate funding for timely ...

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-4.0012: Application Information
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to propose an increase in the basic certification application fee from the current fee of $56 approved in 1994 to $75 effective January 1, 2008. The effect will be a rule that provides adequate funding for timely comprehensive services such as maintaining an adequate number of responsive telephone assistants in a call center and conducting investigations of criminal history records or allegations of misconduct relating to certification applicants and certificate holders. Certification is self-supporting totally by applicant fee payments for services deposited into the Educational Certification and Service Trust Fund.
SUMMARY: The rule amendment is proposed to increase the certification application fee to an amount to provide adequate funding for timely and comprehensive certification and related services.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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: 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 943.059, 1012.32, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.569 FS.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Beverly Gregory, Chief, Bureau of Educator Certification, Department of Education, Room 201, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0400; [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-4.0012 Application Information.

(1) Application process. To apply for a Florida Educator’s Certificate, an individual shall submit to the Bureau of Educator Certification the following:

(a) A completed Form CG-10 and a nonrefundable application fee. Form CG-10, Application for Florida Educator’s Certificate, effective January 1, 2008 December 2004, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be obtained without cost from the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 or may be submitted online via the Department of Education, Educator Certification website. The nonrefundable application fee is prescribed below:

1. Request for a professional certificate – $75.00 56.00,

2. Request for a temporary certificate – $75.00 56.00,

3. Request for an addition of a coverage or endorsement to a valid certificate – $75.00 56.00,

4. Request for a name change only – $20.00,

5. Request for a duplicate certificate/subject deletion – $20.00; or

(b) A completed Form CG-10R and a nonrefundable application fee. Form CG-10R, Application for Renewal or Reinstatement of a Professional Florida Educator’s Certificate effective January 1, 2008 December 2004, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be obtained without cost from the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 or may be submitted online via the Department of Education, Educator Certification website. The nonrefundable application fee is $75.00 56.00. An application for renewal of a professional certificate that is received by the Bureau of Educator Certification or by a district school board office after the expiration of the professional certificate as specified in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., shall be submitted with a $30.00 late fee in addition to the nonrefundable application fee.

(2) College transcripts. Each college transcript filed for certification purposes shall bear the seal of the institution and the signature of the registrar or other official designated by the president of the institution and shall include descriptive titles, credits, and grades for all courses listed. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States shall include an English translation. Transcripts shall not be returned after the application has been processed and the applicant has been advised regarding eligibility for certification.

(3) Completed applications.

(a) A completed application shall consist of the completed application form, fee, official transcripts, and other documents required by rule or law to process the application. The applicant shall be advised of additional information that is required to complete the application.

(b) If the information required to complete the application has not been received in the Bureau of Educator Certification, Florida Department of Education, or in the district school board office within twelve (12) months from the date of receipt of the application, the application shall expire and the fee shall be forfeited.

(4) Funding for the recovery network program for educators. Two (2) dollars of each seventy-five (75) fifty-six (56) dollar certification fee shall be designated to fund the recovery network program for educators.

(5) Each district school board office shall issue certificates for employees of the school district as follows:

(a) An application for renewal of a professional certificate,

(b) An application for an addition of a subject to a valid professional certificate based upon a passing score earned after July 1, 2002, on the bachelor’s degree level Florida subject area test,

(c) An application for an addition of an endorsement area to a valid certificate based on the completion of approved inservice core components or a district add-on endorsement program,

(d) An application for a certificate issued solely to reflect a change in name, and

(e) An application for a duplicate of a valid certificate.

(6) The employing school district shall remit on a monthly basis to the Department of Education thirty (30) twenty (20) dollars of each seventy-five (75) fifty six (56) dollar fee and seven (7) dollars of each twenty (20) dollar fee collected for the issuance of certificates for costs to maintain the technology system, web-based application, and the printing and mailing of certificates.

(7) This rule shall become effective January 1, 2008.

Specific Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 943.0585, 943.059, 1012.32, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59, 1012.798 FS. History–New 7-6-82, Amended 9-27-83, Formerly 6A-4.012, Amended 12-25-86, 10-26-88, 5-2-90, 4-24-91, 7-7-92, 5-3-94, 7-18-95, 9-17-01, 11-25-03, 12-27-04, 1-1-08.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Deputy Chancellor Educator Quality, Department of Education
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Cheri Yecke, Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 4, 2007
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: October 20, 2006