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-4.0012Application Information

6A-4.002General Provisions

6A-4.0051Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate

6A-4.006General and Professional Preparation

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-4.0012, F.A.C., provides the application information, relevant requirements and implementation provisions for completing the application process to apply for a Florida Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.0012, F.A.C., include: clarifying the web-based application system as the primary method to apply for a Florida Educator’s Certificate; adopting new paper-based application forms; and clarifying the responsibilities of school district employers related to processing requests for certificate issuance. Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., provides the requirements and implementation of general provisions to qualify for a Florida Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., include: clarifying the acceptable documentation required for use of certificates from other states or national organizations to satisfy Florida certification eligibility requirements; codifying the Educator Certification electronic database as the custodial source for official certificate records; clarifying the college teaching experience requirements related to mastery of general knowledge and mastery of professional preparation and education competence; and adopting clarifying language related to examinations acceptable for demonstration of mastery of general knowledge, professional education competence, and subject area knowledge; Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., provides the requirements and implementation of provisions for renewal or reinstatement of a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., adopt special certificate renewal provisions for training in the instruction of students with disabilities. Rule 6A-4.006, F.A.C., provides the requirements and implementation for general and professional preparation documentation necessary to establish eligibility for a Florida Educator’s Certificate. Proposed changes to Rule 6A-4.006, F.A.C., adopt revisions to the professional preparation courses required for demonstration of mastery of professional preparation.

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 revised rules continue to require an appropriate fee to accompany any application for educator certification. However, the amount of the required application processing fee remains unchanged and no additional regulatory costs are anticipated from the proposed changes. Minimal operational or compliance monitoring costs may be incurred by the agency or by other impacted entities, but these aggregate costs are not anticipated to reach the threshold to necessitate 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, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.585, 1012.586, 1012.59 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56, 1012.585 FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: November 18, 2014, 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: Seminole State College, Heathrow Campus, 1055 AAA Drive, Heathrow, FL 32746

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: David LaJeunesse, Chief, Bureau of Educator Certification, 325 W. Gaines St., Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [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, (insert link) effective December 2014 October 2009, 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, or may be retrieved obtained without cost from the website and submitted via postal delivery to 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,

2. Request for a temporary certificate – $75.00,

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

4. Request for a valid certificate printed solely to reflect a change in name change only – $20.00,

5. Request for a duplicate printing of a valid certificate – $20.00,

6. Request for deletion of a /subject from a valid certificate 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 (insert link) effective December 2014 October 2009, 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, or may be retrieved obtained without cost from the website and submitted via postal delivery to a district school board office or to 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. 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) No change.

(3) Completed applications.

(a) A completed application shall consist of the completed web-based or hardcopy application form, nonrefundable application fee, official documentation of academic preparation as specified in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C. 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) through (4) No change.

(5) District application process. Form CG-10RD, Application for Renewal of a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate – District Version, (insert link) effective December 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Form CG-10D, Application for a Florida Educator’s Certificate – District Version, (insert link) effective Decemember 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Each district school board office shall process requests for the issuance of issue certificates for employees of the school district via the Department of Education, Educator Certification web-based system as follows:

(a) An application for renewal of a professional certificate. School district employees shall submit a completed application, Form CG-10RD, and the nonrefundable application fee prescribed in paragraph (1)(b) of this rule, to their employing district school board office.

(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. School district employees shall submit a completed application, Form CG-10D, and the nonrefundable application fee prescribed in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule, to their employing district school board office.

(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. School district employees shall submit a completed application, Form CG-10D, and the nonrefundable application fee prescribed in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule, to their employing district school board office.

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

(e) An application for a duplicate printing of a valid certificate. School district employees shall submit a completed application, Form CG-10D, and the nonrefundable application fee prescribed in paragraph (1)(a) of this rule, to their employing district school board office.

(6) The employing school district shall remit on a monthly basis to the Department of Education thirty (30) dollars of each seventy-five (75) dollar fee and seven (7) dollars of each twenty (20) dollar fee collected for processing application requests for the issuance of certificates for costs to maintain the Department of Education, Educator Certification electronic database technology system, web-based application processing systems, and the official personnel records printing and mailing of persons to whom certificates are issued.

(7) The employing school district is responsible for retention of all documentation of each application request it processes for the issuance of a certificate for any individual employed by the school district and maintaining custody of the documentation as records in the employee personnel file. The documentation shall include, but need not be limited to, the employee’s completed application request form and documentation of academic preparation, professional development training, or other evidence establishing the successful completion of applicable educator certification eligibility requirements. Upon request or as required by law, the documentation of educator certification application requests incorporated in the employee personnel file shall be made available to authorized Department of Education personnel in the course of conducting an investigation of any legally sufficient complaint filed against such employee.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.586, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 943.0585, 943.059, 1012.31, 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, 10-21-09,__________.

 

6A-4.002 General Provisions.

(1) Educator’s certificates.

(a) through (h) No change.

(i) Certificates from other states. Certificates from other states shall not be valid for teaching in Florida.

1. Certificates from other states used to document eligibility for a Florida certificate shall:

a. Be the valid standard educator’s certificate issued by that state which is comparable to a Florida Professional Certificate,

b. Be issued in a subject comparable to a Florida certification subject, and

c. Require the same or higher level of training required for certification in that subject in Florida.

2. Official documentation of another state’s certificate or license shall be a legible copy photocopy of the front and back of the original certificate or license, or a printed copy of an official record of the certificate or license provided by the issuing authority, and must include:

a. A certificate or license title that clearly designates the stage or level for which the educator qualifies,

b. The subject area/s and endorsement/s for which the educator qualifies,

c. The ages and/or instructional grade levels of students for which the educator qualifies to teach each subject or endorsement,

d. The date(s) that the certificate or license is valid, and,

e. The name of the educator and an educator identification number or other unique identifier for validation of the certificate or license against official records maintained by the issuing authority.

(j) Certificates from national certification organizations. Certificates issued by national certification organizations shall not be valid for teaching in Florida.

1. Certificates issued by national certification organizations approved in Florida Statute or by the State Board of Education to document eligibility for a Florida certificate shall:

a. Be the valid standard educator’s certificate issued by the national certification organization,

b.1. Be issued in a subject comparable to a Florida certification subject,

c.2. Require the same or higher degree level of training required for certification in that subject in Florida, and

2.3. Official documentation of the national certificate shall be a legible copy photocopy of the front and back of the original certificate or a printed copy of an official record of the certificate or license provided by the issuing authority, and must include:

a. A certificate or license title that clearly designates the stage or level for which the educator qualifies,

b. The subject area/s and endorsement/s for which the educator qualifies,

c. The ages and/or instructional grade levels of students for which the educator qualifies to teach each subject or endorsement,

d. The date(s) that the certificate or license is valid, and,

e. The name of the educator and an educator identification number or other unique identifier for validation of the certificate or license against official records maintained by the issuing authority.

(k) No change.

(l) The electronic database maintained by the Bureau of Educator Certification serves as the custodial source for official Department of Education records of each person to whom a Florida Educator’s Certificate is issued. Educator Certification notifies an educator by electronic mail upon issuance of a certificate and provides the educator secure access to review and retrieve a printable copy of his/her currently valid certificate(s) via the Educator Certification website. Authorized Florida school employers are provided secure, online access to verify an educator’s certification information for employment screening before hiring instructional personnel and school administrators. The bureau provides online access via the Educator Certification website for the inspection of public records of educators to whom a currently valid certificate is issued.

(m) A valid standard certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), as documented according to subparagraph (1)(j)2. of this rule, is acceptable to demonstrate mastery of general knowledge and mastery of subject area knowledge in the comparable Florida subject(s). An acceptable ABCTE certificate also satisfies the requirements for completion of professional preparation courses and achievement of a passing score on the professional education competency examination. An ABCTE certificate is not acceptable to meet the requirement for completion of a professional education competence demonstration program pursuant to Section 1012.56(8)(b), F.S.

(2) 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 state, 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.

(c) Teaching faculty. Documentation of college teaching experience related to mastery of general knowledge and mastery of professional preparation and education competence shall be an official letter from the registrar or dean from the accredited or approved institution verifying the dates of employment, and the prefix, number, and credit hours of the courses taught. The college teaching experience must have:

1. Been earned in at least two (2) separate college or university terms,

2. Resulted in earned college-level credit for the students in at least one (1) course each term, and

3. Been earned while a member of the teaching faculty at the accredited or approved institution as a:

a. Full-time member of the teaching faculty of a college (Section 1012.82, F.S.), or a full-time equivalent teaching faculty member at a university (Section 1012.945, F.S.), or

b. Part-time member of the teaching faculty with total college teaching experience equivalent to at least two (2) semesters of full-time experience.

(d) A college course for which multiple semester hour credits are earned may be used to satisfy more than one (1) subject specialization or professional preparation credit requirement. The number of specific credit requirements satisfied shall not be greater than the total number of semester hour credits earned for the college course.

(4) Examinations. The examinations used for demonstration of mastery of general knowledge, professional education competence, and subject area knowledge shall be aligned with student standards approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 1012.56(4) & (9)(f), F.S.

(a) To align with current student standards and, therefore, be acceptable to satisfy educator certification requirements, a passing score on an examination identified in state board rule must have been earned during the ten (10) years immediately preceding application and qualification for a certificate, unless otherwise stipulated in relevant statute or rule.

(b) The State Board of Education will identify a passing score, by amendment to this rule, on an appropriate national or international examination to satisfy mastery of general knowledge or, for a subject for which a Florida subject area examination has not already been developed or approved, mastery of subject area knowledge. The Department will coordinate a comprehensive study to determine if the exam assesses comparable content and relevant standards to the approved Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) competencies and skills or, for subject area knowledge, the approved specialization requirements for the subject area. The study must also recommend a passing score at approximately the same level of rigor to establish an examinee’s competence to become an effective professional educator in the assessed content area.

(c) The verification of the attainment of essential subject matter competencies is not acceptable for demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge whenever a Florida subject area examination has been developed or a national or international examination has been approved by the State Board of Education. Achievement of a passing score is required on the examination as identified in state board rule to satisfy mastery of subject area knowledge unless this requirement is satisfied by another acceptable means provided in Section 1012.56(5), F.S.

(d) Achievement of a score above the Intermediate level on the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) or the Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc), and a score above the Intermediate level on the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) on an examination administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) shall satisfy subject area specialization requirements and mastery of subject area knowledge in the comparable certification in a world language for which a Florida subject area examination has not been developed.

(5) through (6) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.10(5)(b), 1001.10(6), 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–New 4-10-64, Amended 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 1-1-14,

 

6A-4.0051 Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.

A professional certificate is renewed or reinstated and certification coverages retained on the certificate in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) through (4) No change.

(5) Special provisions for teachers of limited English proficient students, teachers of students with disabilities and teachers of reading.

(a) An educator who holds a professional certificate may use college credits or inservice points completed in English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages training, training in the instruction of students with disabilities, and the teaching of reading in excess of six (6) semester hours during one certificate-validity period toward renewal of the professional certificate during the subsequent validity periods.

(b) An educator who holds a temporary certificate may use college credits or inservice points completed in English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages training, training in the instruction of students with disabilities, and the teaching of reading toward renewal of the educator’s first professional certificate. Such training must not have been included within the degree program, and the educator’s temporary and professional certificates must be issued for consecutive school years.

(c) These provisions supersede the requirements in paragraph (3)(a) of this rule for the individuals noted in paragraphs (5)(a) and (b) of this rule.

(6) through (7) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.585 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.585 FS. History–New 12-25-86, Amended 4-23-91, 2-12-92, 10-15-01, 12-27-04, 2-25-14,_________.

 

6A-4.006 General and Professional Preparation.

(1) General preparation. A bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or approved institution as described in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C., shall be considered to have met the general preparation course requirements.

(2) Professional preparation.

(a) For applications received before January 1, 2016, Courses for the professional preparation and education competence requirement pursuant to the college course certification option in Section 1012.56(6)(f), F.S., are fifteen (15) semester hours with credit in the following professional education areas:

1. Classroom management including safe learning environments,

2. Human development and learning,

3. Educational assessment to include the content measured by state achievement tests and the interpretation and utilization of data to improve student achievement,

4. Effective instructional strategies including the needs of diverse learners,

5. For the middle (grades 5-9) and secondary (grades 6-12) level subject coverages and the K-12 level subject coverages: art, music, dance, computer science, health, foreign languages, and humanities, curriculum and special methods of teaching the subject, and

6. For middle (grades 5-9) and secondary (grades 6-12) level subject coverages, foundations of research-based practices in teaching reading-competency two of the State Board approved reading endorsement competencies.

(b) For applications received beginning January 1, 2016, professional preparation courses pursuant to Section 1012.56(6)(f), F.S., are a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours with credit in the following professional education areas:

1. Classroom management with a focus on creating safe learning environments in which effective teaching and learning can take place by promoting a physically, emotionally, socially and academically secure climate for students,

2. Child and adolescent development including theories and principles of learning,

3. Educational assessment practices that include analysis and application of data from statewide standardized assessments and other multiple sources to improve instruction and learning,

4. Effective instructional techniques, strategies, and materials to meet the needs of diverse learners, including students with disabilities,

5. For certificate subject coverages classified by rule as academic or degreed vocational, applications of research-based instructional practices in reading, and,

6. Instructional strategies for teaching students of limited English proficiency including instruction in the English language and development of the student’s mastery of the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

(c)(b) Practical experience in teaching. Practical experience in teaching may be satisfied by one of the following methods:

1. One year of full-time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school as specified in Rule 6A-4.002, F.A.C., or

2. Six semester hours earned in a college student teaching or supervised internship in which the candidate demonstrates his or her ability to positively impact student learning growth with a diverse population of students completed in an elementary or secondary school.

(c) Additional requirements in teaching reading and professional education for grades kindergarten through grade six and for exceptional education students are included in the separate certification subject specialization State Board Rules.

(d) All the professional education requirements for preschool and prekindergarten – grade three subject coverages in lieu of the requirements in paragraph (2)(a) of this rule are included in the separate certification subject specialization State Board Rules.

(d)(e) The requirements of paragraph (2)(a) or (2)(b) of this rule are not applicable and shall not be required for school social worker or speech-language impaired certification.

(3) Professional preparation for agriculture (grades 6-12).

(a) Courses for professional preparation and education competence requirement pursuant to the college course certification option in Section 1012.56(6)(f), F.S., for agriculture are fifteen (15) semester hours with credit in the following professional agricultural education areas:

1. Curriculum development and educational assessment in agriculture,

2. Instructional strategies of teaching agriculture,

3. Program planning in agricultural education,

4. An agriscience teacher induction course which includes:

a. Basic principles and philosophy of agricultural education, and

b. Strategies for classroom management.

(b) The practical teaching experience requirement may be satisfied as specified in paragraph (2)(b) of this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History-New 4-20-64, Amended 4-8-68, 7-7-68, 4-11-69, 6-17-73, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 10-12-76, 7-1-79, 11-5-84, Formerly 6A-4.06, Amended 9-12-89, 5-30-94, 7-17-00, 10-15-01, 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__________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Brian Dassler, Deputy Chancellor, Educator Quality

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: October 13, 2014

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 30, 2014