To align provisions with statutory changes from the 2023 legislative session found in House Bill 1035 by creating certification processes to implement a teacher apprenticeship certification.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

6A-4.0012Application Information

6A-4.004Florida Educator's Certificates with Academic, Administrative, Degreed Career and Technical, and Specialty Class Coverages

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To align provisions with statutory changes from the 2023 legislative session found in House Bill 1035 by creating certification processes to implement a teacher apprenticeship certification.

SUMMARY: The amendments create a new five-year temporary teacher apprenticeship certificate and the corresponding application. Three existing applications are revised to update terminology.

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: The proposed rule amendment is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth or business competitiveness, or increase regulatory costs or any other factor set forth in s. 120.541(2), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. This is based upon the nature of the proposed changes, which create a new temporary certificate type.

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, 1012.55, 1012.555, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.31, 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.555, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59, 1012.798, F.S.

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

DATE AND TIME: October 18, 2023, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Caribe Royale Orlando, 8101 World Center Drive, Grand Sierra Ballroom D, Orlando, FL 32821.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Michelle L. Gaines, Bureau Chief, Educator Certification, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-4.0012 Application Information.

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

(a) A completed Form CG-10, Educator Certification Application and a nonrefundable application fee. Form CG-10, Educator Certification Application, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08784), effective November 2023 2017, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be submitted online via the Department of Education, Educator Certification website at http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/on-line-application-status-lookup-site.stml, or may be retrieved from the website and submitted via postal delivery to the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, Room 201, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. The nonrefundable application fee is prescribed below:

1. through 9. No change.

(b) A completed Form CG-10R Renewal or Reinstatement Application and a nonrefundable application fee. Form CG-10R, Renewal or Reinstatement Application (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08784), effective November 2023 2017, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be submitted online via the Department of Education, Educator Certification website at http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/on-line-application-status-lookup-site.stml, or may be retrieved from the website and submitted via postal delivery to the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, Room 201, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. The nonrefundable application fee is prescribed below:

1. through 3. No change.

(c) No change.

(d) A completed Temporary Teacher Internship Certificate Application and a nonrefundable application fee of $75.00 per subject, effective September 2023, Temporary Teacher Internship Application Form CG-10TI, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15908), effective September 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be submitted online via the Department of Education Educator Certification website at http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/on-line-application-status-lookup-site.stml, or may be retrieved from the website and submitted via postal delivery to the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, Room 201, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

(e) A completed Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Certificate Application and a nonrefundable application fee of $75.00 per subject, Temporary Apprenticeship Certificate Application Form CG-10A, (DOS link), effective November 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. The form may be submitted online via the Department of Education Educator Certification website at http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/on-line-application-status-lookup-site.stml, or may be retrieved from the website and submitted via postal delivery to the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Educator Certification, Room 201, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(2) through (4) No change.

(5) District application process. Form CG-10D, Online Educator Certification Application – District Version, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08785), effective November 2023 2017, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Each district school board office shall process requests prescribed in paragraphs (a)-(e), submitted via Form CG-10D, Online Educator Certification Application-District Version for the issuance of certificates for employees of the school district via the Department of Education, Educator Certification web-based system at https://webnetwork.fldoe.org/ as follows:

(a) through (e) No change.

(6) through (7) No change.

(8) Military Fee Waivers.

(a) An individual is eligible for  a waiver from the Ddepartment for the application fees prescribed in subparagraph (1)(a)1., 2., or 3. of this rule if he or she:

1. through 3. No change.

(b) through (d) no change.

(e) All documents submitted to verify eligibility for military fee waiver will be retained in the certification record maintained by the Ddepartment and will not be returned to the applicant. Approval for military fee waivers remain valid for five (5) years from the date issued unless a document used to verify eligibility indicates an earlier expiration date or end dateof its validity and in that case, validity of the military fee waiver expires when the verifying document expires.  In no case, shall a person use or attempt to use a fee waiver if the person does not meet the eligibility criteria set for the in Section 1012.59(3), F.S.

(9) Retired First Responder Fee Waivers. professional certificate (INITIAL) – $75.00 per subject;

(a) An individual is eligible for a retired first responder fee waiver from the Ddepartment for the application fees prescribed in subparagraph (1)(a)1.,2., or 3. And fees under (1)(b) and (d) of this rule if he or she:

1. through 3. No change.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) All documents submitted to verify eligibility for first responder fee waivers will be retained in the certification record maintained by the Department and will not be returned to the applicant. Approval for first responder fee waivers remain valid for five (5) years from the date issued unless a document used to verify eligibility indicates an earlier expiration date or end date of its validity and in that case, validity of the fee waiver expires when the verifying document expires. In no case shall a person use or attempt to use a fee waiver if the person does not meet the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 1012.59(3), F.S., and this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 1012.31, 1012.32, 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, 10-21-09, 12-31-14, 11-21-17, 11-28-18, 9-20-22, 9-26-23,

 

6A-4.004 Florida Educator’s Certificates with Academic, Administrative, Degreed Career and Technical, and Specialty Class Coverages.

A Florida educator’s certificate is issued to an applicant with academic, administrative, degreed career and technical, and specialty class coverages as specified below.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) Temporary teacher apprenticeship certificate. The five-year nonrenewable temporary teacher apprenticeship certificate may be issued to an applicant who does not qualify for the professional certificate but meets the following requirements:

(a) Meets the requirements of Section 1012.56(2)(a), (b), (d), (e), and (f), F.S.;

(b) Has satisfied specialization requirements;

(c) Holds an associate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in that degree program as determined by a participating employer in accordance with Rule 6A-5.067, F.A.C.;

(d) Must be selected by a participating employer to participate in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program in accordance with Rule 6A-5.067, F.A.C.;

(e) Must have been accepted by the Florida postsecondary institution offering related instruction for the participating employer’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program, as verified by a participating employer in accordance with Rule 6A-5.067, F.A.C.;

(f)  Must be appointed by the district school board or charter school governing board or designee as an education paraprofessional and must be paid in accordance with Section 446.032, F.S. Verification of employment must be submitted by a Florida district superintendent or designee, or charter school governing board member or designee; and

(g) Satisfies the fingerprint requirement per sub-subparagraph (1)(a)3.a., of this rule.

(5) (4) Professional certificate.

(a) through (c) No change.

(6) (5) Nonrenewable certificates covering speech-language impaired.

(a) through (b) No change.

(7) (6)Certificates covering only athletic coaching (Grades K-12).

(a) through (c) No change.

(8) (7) Special temporary certificate covering only educational leadership.

(a) through (c) No change.

(9) (8) Restricted professional certificate.

(a) through (b) No change.

(10) (9) Addition of subjects to a professional certificate. A subject may be added to a valid renewable professional certificate when an applicant meets the following requirements:

(a) through (b) No change.

(11) (10) Addition of endorsements. An endorsement may be added to a valid five-year nonrenewable temporary or renewable professional certificate when an applicant meets the following requirements:

(a) through (b) No change.

(12) (11) Expired certificates.

(a) through (d) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 4-20-64, Amended 4-8-68, 7-7-68, 4-11-69, 4-11-70, 9-17-72, 8-17-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 11-9-76, 7-1-79, 8-27-80, 1-3-82, 4-26-84, 11-18-84, 6-18-85, Formerly 6A-4.04, Amended 12-25-86, 10-18-88, 9-12-89, 12-4-89, 4-15-91, 10-10-91, 5-3-94, 10-15-01, 12-27-04, 11-26-08, 3-5-14, 12-20-16, 8-21-18, 3-17-20, 9-20-22, 6-27-23, 9-26-23,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Michelle L. Gaines, Bureau Chief, Educator Certification.

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 22, 2023

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 28, 2023