To update provisions in the rule due to statutory changes, rule changes and for clarity. Proposed changes include: modification of processes and requirements for initial and continued program approval of teacher preparation ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-5.066Approval of Teacher Preparation Programs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update provisions in the rule due to statutory changes, rule changes and for clarity. Proposed changes include: modification of processes and requirements for initial and continued program approval of teacher preparation programs to include revising student admission requirements, modifying the Uniform Core Curricula, and adding clarifying definitions.

SUMMARY: Proposed changes include adding definitions that will provide clarity for preparation programs that align to the initial and continued approval process; removal of the ten percent waiver for initial teacher preparation programs (ITP); adding the reading endorsement for candidates entering a teacher preparation program in the 2022-2023 academic year in certain coverage areas; changing the Uniform Core Curriculum by adding strategies appropriate for the early identification of students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and strategies to support the use of technology in education and distance learning; and striking weak and adding needs improvement to the continued approval rubric to align the continued approval rating terms with other commonly used systems for clarity purposes.

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, 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1004.04, 1004.85, 1012.56, 1012.585(3)(f), F.S.

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

DATE AND TIME: October 20, 2021, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Caribe Royale Orlando, 8101 World Center Drive, Sierra Ballroom A & B, Orlando, FL 32821.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Abbey Stewart, Bureau Chief, Educator Recruitment, [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), Florida Statutes.

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

(a) through (m) No change.

(n) “High-performing schools” mean schools with a school grade of A or B.

(o) “Improving schools” mean schools that have improved a letter grade from the previous year.

(p)(n) “In-field teacher” means an instructional employee assigned duties in a classroom teaching subject matter or providing direct support in the learning process of students in the area in which the instructional personnel is trained and certified.

(q)(o) “Initial approval” means that a new teacher preparation program has been granted the authority to operate for a seven-year period.

(r)(p) “Initial teacher preparation programs” or “ITPs” mean all programs offered by Florida postsecondary institutions that prepare instructional personnel under Section 1004.04, F.S., and result in qualification for an initial Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

(s)(q) “Instructional position” means any full-time or part-time position held by a K-12 staff member whose function includes the provision of direct instructional services to students or provides direct support in the learning process of students as prescribed in Section 1012.01(2)(a)-(d), F.S., but not including substitute teachers.

(t)(r) “Low-Performing Institutions” means an institution who is identified as low-performing by having an average summative annual APPR rating that is at or below a 1.79. This rating is based upon an average of all APPR scores within the continued approval period and across the provider’s state approved teacher preparation programs and excludes years where the APPR was calculated per paragraph (6)(e) of this rule.

(u)(s) “Professional education competency program” or “PEC program” means a program under Section 1012.56(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.

(v)(t) “Performance of Prekindergarten-12 students on statewide assessments using results of student learning growth formula per Section 1012.34, F.S.,” means that the score is based on the performance of P-12 students assigned to in-field program completers from the previous three-year period who received a student learning growth score from the most recent academic year for which results are available.

(w)(u) “Placement rate” means the number of program completers reported annually by each program to the Department who are identified by the Department’s Staff Information System, as prescribed in Section 1008.385(2), F.S., as employed in a full-time or part-time instructional position in a Florida public school district in either the first or second academic year subsequent to program completion. Program completers employed in a private or out-of-state P-12 school their first or second year following program completion are also included in the calculation if data are reported by the program and have been verified. If a program provides documentation of a program completer’s employment as a school administrator as defined in Section 1012.01(3)(c), F.S., in a private or out-of-state school, or a program completer’s death or disability, the number of program completers included in the calculation will be adjusted.

(x)(v) “Production of program completers in statewide critical teacher shortage areas per Rule 6A-20.0131, F.A.C., in accordance with Section 1012.07, F.S.,” means a bonus score is awarded when the number of program completers in specified critical teacher shortage areas increases from the most recent year compared to the number of program completers from the previous academic year.

(y)(w) “Professional development certification program” or “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.

(z)(x) “Program candidate” means an individual who has been admitted into and is currently enrolled in, but has not yet completed a teacher preparation program that prepares instructional personnel to meet the qualifications for a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

(aa)(y) “Program completer” means an individual who has satisfied all teacher preparation program requirements and who meets the qualifications for the Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

(bb)(z) “Program completer in need of remediation” means an individual who is employed in an instructional position in a Florida public school during the first two (2) years immediately following completion of the program or following initial certification, whichever occurs first, and who earns an evaluation result of developing or unsatisfactory on the school district’s evaluation system implemented under Section 1012.34, F.S.

(cc)(aa) “Provider” means a Florida postsecondary institution, private provider, school district, charter school, or charter management organization.

(dd)(bb) “Reading endorsement competencies” mean those standards described in Rule 6A-4.0163, F.A.C., which is incorporated herein by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04962).

(ee)(cc) “Results of program completers’ annual evaluations as specified in Section 1012.34, F.S.,” mean that scores are based on program completers from the previous three-year period who received an annual evaluation rating from the most recent academic year.

(ff)(dd) “Retention rate” means the average number of years that program completers are employed in a full-time or part-time instructional position in a Florida public school district at any point each year in a five-year period following initial employment in either of the two (2) subsequent academic years following program completion. Program completers employed in a private or out-of-state P-12 school their first or second year following program completion are also included in the calculation if data are reported by the program and have been verified. If a program provides documentation of a program completer’s employment as a school administrator as defined in Section 1012.01(3)(c), F.S., in a private or out-of-state school, or a program completer’s death or disability, the number of program completers included in the calculation will be adjusted.

(gg)(ee) “Student performance by subgroup” means the performance of students in P-12 who are assigned to in-field program completers aggregated by student subgroup, as referenced in Sections 1004.04(4)(a)3.d., 1004.85(4)(b)4. and 1012.56(8)(d)2.c., F.S., as a measure of how well the teacher preparation program prepares instructional personnel to work with a diverse population of students in a variety of settings in Florida public schools. The score is based on in-field program completers from the previous three-year period who received a student learning growth score from the most recent academic year.

(hh)(ff) “Teacher preparation program” means a state-approved course of study, the completion of which signifies that the candidate has met all training and assessment requirements for initial certification to provide direct instructional services to P-12 students.

(gg) “Ten (10) percent waiver” means that an initial teacher preparation program (ITP) may annually waive admission requirements specified in Section 1004.04(3)(b)1.-2., F.S., for up to ten (10%) percent of the students admitted in the academic year.

(ii)(hh) “Two-year guarantee” means that an initial teacher preparation program (ITP) must provide assurance of the high quality of its program completers during the first two (2) years immediately following completion of the program or following the initial certification of the program completer, whichever occurs first, as specified in Section 1004.04(4)(d), F.S.

(jj)(ii) “Uniform Core Curricula” means the following for all state-approved teacher preparation programs, except as noted:

1. through 3. No change.

a. Candidates in prekindergarten-primary (age 3-Grade 3), elementary (K-6), and exceptional student education (K-12) certification programs shall be prepared in reading endorsement competencies one (1) through four (4). Candidates entering a teacher preparation program in the 2022-2023 academic year in a coverage area specified in Section 1012.585(3)(f), F.S., and identified in State Board Rule 6A-4.0051(7), F.A.C., shall be prepared in reading endorsement competencies one (1) through five (5).

b. Candidates in middle grades (5-9), secondary (6-12), and elementary and secondary coverage (K-12) certification programs shall be prepared in reading endorsement competencies one (1) and two (2). Candidates entering a teacher preparation program in the 2022-2023 academic year in a coverage area specified in Section 1012.585(3)(f), F.S., and identified in State Board Rule 6A-4.0051(7), F.A.C., shall be prepared in reading endorsement competencies one (1) through five (5).

c. ITP candidates in reading (K-12) certification programs shall be prepared in reading endorsement competencies one (1) through five (5).

4. through 8. No change.

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.

(2) No change.

(3) Processes for initial approval of teacher preparation programs.

(a) No change.

(b) A provider shall submit an application by January 15, April 15, July 15, or October 15, using the Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards, Form IAS-20212019.

(c) The Department shall conduct a review of the application submitted to the Department and notify the provider in writing of the following:

1. through 3. No Change.

a. An approval notice shall provide the program with an initial approval period of seven (7) years.

b. A denial notice shall identify the reason(s) for the denial and the deficiencies. A program that receives a denial may reapply for initial approval in accordance with this subsection.

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

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

1. through 3. No change.

4. All 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-20212019.

(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 2. No change.

3. A provider has submitted the Florida Department of Education Continued Approval, Form CA-20212019, during the last year of approval and at least sixty (60) days before a site visit; and,

4. Based upon the information provided on Continued Approval Form CA-20212019, the provider demonstrates that it meets the following requirements:

a. through h. No change.

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-20212019.

(b) The requirements for continued approval that are scored are the Annual Program Performance Report (APPR), Continued Approval Site Visit and Evidence of Programmatic Improvement.

(6) No change.

(7) Continued Approval Site Visit.

(a) No change.

(b) Each approved program provider identified either as a low-performing program as defined in paragraph (1)(r) of this rule for two (2) consecutive years or as at-risk of low-performing for three (3) consecutive years as defined in paragraph (1)(d) of this rule shall receive a site visit using the Florida Site Visit Framework, Form FSVF-20212018, create an evidence-based improvement plan and submit annual evidence via the eIPEP platform in order to maintain state approval.

(c) through (d) No change.

(e) During the site visit, using the Florida Site Visit Framework, Form FSVF-20212018, the program will be reviewed and scored to determine the extent to which the program:

1. Ensures that candidates and completers are prepared to instruct prekindergarten through grade 12 (p-12) students to meet high standards for academic achievement. (Review Area 2 on Form FSVF-20212018)

2. Ensures high-quality field and clinical experiences, including feedback and support for each program candidate, and provides candidates with opportunities to demonstrate the ability to positively impact student learning growth. (Review Area 3 on Form FSVF-20212018)

3. Supports continuous improvement that is sustained and evidence-based and that evaluates the effectiveness of its candidates and completers. (Review Area 4 on Form FSVF-20212018)

(f) Each of the three site visit review areas found in subparagraphs (7)(d)1., 2. and 3., shall be scored. A score of one (1) indicates the review area is inadequate, a score of two (2) indicates the area is needs improvement weak, a score of three (3) indicates the area is good, a score of four (4) indicates the area is strong.

(g) Prior to issuance of a final site visit report by the Department, a preliminary site visit report shall be provided to the provider in order to afford the provider the opportunity to provide clarifying information.

(8) 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-20212019 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11174) effective November 2021 October 2019.

(b) Florida Department of Education Continued Approval, Form CA-20212019 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11175) effective November 2021 October 2019.

(c) Florida Site Visit Framework, Form FSVF-20212018, effective November 2021 April 2018, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09268).

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 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,

 

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Abbey Stewart, Bureau Chief, Department of Education.

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 17, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 2, 2021