To adopt new Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) competencies and skills, effective September 1, 2017, for Exceptional Student Education K–12 and to adopt new passing scores effective September 1, 2016, for the following examinations: ...

 

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 September 1, 2017, for Exceptional Student Education K–12 and to adopt new passing scores effective September 1, 2016, for the following examinations: Business Education 6–12 and Spanish K–12. 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-Third 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. The proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification pursuant to s. 120.541(3), F.S.

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: June 22, 2016, 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Boulevard, SC 127, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

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. Before September 1, 2017 June 1, 2016, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016 October 2015. Beginning September 1, 2017 June 1, 2016, the general knowledge competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third 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 September 1, 2017 June 2016. 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. Before September 1, 2017 June 2016, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016 October 2015. Beginning September 1, 2017 June 2016, the professional education competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third 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 September 1, 2017 June 2016. 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. Before September 1, 2017 June 2016, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Second Edition Twenty-First Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05515 http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04781), which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule effective June 1, 2016 October 2015. Beginning September 1, 2017 June 2016, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Twenty-Third 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 September 1, 2017 June 2016. 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) through (w) No change.

(x) Effective September 1, 2016, the passing score for the subject area specialty examination listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following raw score on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between January and March 2016:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Business Education 6-12	81 correct items

(y) Effective September 1, 2016, the passing score for the subject area specialty examination listed below shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to the following composite score on the test forms used for standard setting and administered between January and March 2016:

SUBJECT	SCORE
Spanish K-12	93 on a scale that weights the multiple choice sixty (60) percent, the speaking section twenty-five (25) percent, and the writing section fifteen (15) percent.

 

(z)(x) 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) 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,______.

 

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: June 2, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: March 25, 2016