To adopt new Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) competencies and skills, effective October 1, 2017, for Art K–12; adopt new passing scores effective March 1, 2017, for the following examinations: Preschool Education (Birth–Age 4) and ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-4.0021Florida Teacher Certification Examinations

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To adopt new Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) competencies and skills, effective October 1, 2017, for Art K–12; adopt new passing scores effective March 1, 2017, for the following examinations: Preschool Education (Birth–Age 4) and Reading K–12; and update rule language to align with current practice. The effect will be changes to the affected FTCE competencies and skills; and new passing score requirements for the affected examinations.

SUMMARY: The rule is proposed for amendment to adopt the “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition.” In addition, new passing score requirements for two (2) FTCE subject area examinations will be adopted.

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) no new fees are imposed in the proposed rule. Although an indeterminate increase in the number of examinees who are required to retake the examination(s) is predicted, the expected number of examinees and the resulting fees for the examinations will not approach the threshold for 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: 1012.56, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: January 18, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Martin County School Board Office, 500 E. Ocean Blvd. Stuart, FL 34994.

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) Scope. This rule governs the written examinations for teacher certification. Additional requirements for certification are specified in Chapter 6A-4, F.A.C.

(2) Description of the examinations and competencies to be demonstrated.

(a) The Florida Teacher Certification Examinations shall be developed by the Commissioner of Education.

(b) The written examinations shall include subtests of English language skills, reading, writing, mathematics, professional skills, and subject area specialty. These examinations may contain multiple-choice questions and questions requiring the examinee to write an answer or demonstrate a proficiency.

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

1. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017 Before September 1, 2017, 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. Between Beginning September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(DOS link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. 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. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017 Before September 1, 2017, 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. Between Beginning September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(DOS link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. 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. Between June 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017 Before September 1, 2017, 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. Between Beginning September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07092), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective September 1, 2017. Beginning October 1, 2017, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Fourth Edition,”(DOS link), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective October 1, 2017. 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) through (8) No change.

(9) Scoring of the subject area specialty examinations.

(a) The Commissioner of Education shall recommend to the Florida State Board of Education for its approval a passing score or scores required for each subject area specialty examination. Such required scores shall take effect when designated by the State Board.

(b) through (v) No change.

(w) 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
Engineering and Technology Education 6-12	89 correct items

 

(x) through (y) No change.

(z) Effective March 1, 2017, 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 July 2016:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Preschool Education (Birth–Age 4)	85 correct items
Reading K–12	85 correct items

(aa)(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 mathematics subtests, professional education test, and subject area examinations.

(a) A properly authenticated score report is defined as the original score report issued directly by the test administration agency without any qualification, reservation, or irregularity.

(b) The examinee shall be sent an authenticated score reports as described in paragraph 6A-4.0021(10)(a), F.A.C. In addition, a copy of the score report may be issued by the test administration agency without a fee to one (1) Florida institution (i.e., college, university, or professional district certification program college or university and to one (1) Florida school district provided the examinee identifies the recipient or recipients of the score report at the time of registration.

(c) through (e) No change.

(11) through (12) No change.

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, 10-26-15, 7-26-16,______.

 

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: December 16, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 2, 2016