The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt new competencies and skills for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12, Mathematics 6-12, Middle Grades Mathematics 5-9, and Professional Education examinations, effective January 1, ...

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6A-4.0021: Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt new competencies and skills for the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12, Mathematics 6-12, Middle Grades Mathematics 5-9, and Professional Education examinations, effective January 1, 2013 and new passing score requirements for the Educational Media Specialist PK-12, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12, and Social Science 6-12 examinations, effective January 1, 2012. The effect of these changes will be updated competencies and skills for the FTCE and modification of existing passing score requirements for the affected subject area examinations.
SUMMARY: The rule is proposed for amendment to adopt the new edition of the Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Seventeenth Edition, and new passing score requirements for three subject area examinations.
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.
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(9) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: October 18, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: Miami Edison Senior High School, 6161 N.W. 5th Ct., Miami, Florida
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 January 1, 2012, the general knowledge competencies and skills as contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fifteenth Edition.” Beginning with the January 1, 2012, test administration, the general knowledge competencies and skills as contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Sixteenth Edition.” Beginning with the January 1, 2013, test administration, the general knowledge competencies and skills as contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Seventeenth Edition,” http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00587, which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained from the Department’s web site at http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/.

2. Before January 1, 2012, the professional education test competencies and skills contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fifteenth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2012, the professional education test competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Sixteenth Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00247) January 2012 which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2013, the professional education test competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Seventeenth Edition,” which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained as described in subparagraph (2)(c)1. of this rule, and

3. Before January 1, 2012, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fifteenth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2012, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Sixteenth Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00247) which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2013, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Seventeenth Edition,” which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained as described in subparagraph (2)(c)1. of this rule.

(3) through (9)(q) No change.

(r) Effective January 1, 2012, the passing score for the Educational Media Specialist PK-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-five (85) correct items on the March 2011 and April 2011 test administrations.

(s) Effective January 1, 2012, the passing score for the Exceptional Student Education K-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-one (81) correct items on the April 2011 test administration.

(t) Effective January 1, 2012, the passing score for the Social Science 6-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-seven (87) correct items on the March 2011 test administration.

(u)(r) 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 (11) 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,_________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Kris Ellington, Deputy Commissioner, Accountability, Research, and Measurement
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Mr. Gerard Robinson, Commissioner, Department of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 6, 2011
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: July 15, 2011