Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1537 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/06/2023

                       
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 1 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
A bill to be entitled 1 
An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.42, 2 
F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; amending s. 3 
1003.4282, F.S.; revising a graduation requirement for 4 
certain students; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; revising 5 
the core curricula for certain teacher preparati on 6 
programs; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; revising 7 
terminology; deleting a requirement that certain 8 
certification programs be previously approved by the 9 
Department of Education; revising requirements for 10 
certain competency-based programs; revising 11 
requirements for certain teacher preparation field 12 
experience; revising requirements for participants in 13 
certain teacher preparation programs; requiring the 14 
State Board of Education to adopt specified rules 15 
relating to the continued approval of certain teacher 16 
preparation programs rather than by a determination of 17 
the Commissioner of Education; amending s. 1008.34, 18 
F.S.; revising the calculation of school grades for 19 
certain schools; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising 20 
requirements for the calculation of additional fu ll-21 
time equivalent membership for certain funding through 22 
the Florida Education Finance Program; revising school 23 
eligibility requirements for the turnaround school 24 
supplemental services allocation; providing that 25     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 2 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
certain allocation amounts be based on a sp ecified 26 
membership survey; amending s. 1012.34, F.S.; 27 
providing school administrators are not precluded from 28 
taking specified actions; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; 29 
revising requirements for a person seeking an educator 30 
certification; revising criteria for th e award of a 31 
temporary certificate; revising the validity period 32 
for certain temporary certificates; deleting 33 
provisions relating to the department's ability to 34 
extend the validity period of certain temporary 35 
certificates; revising the requirements for the 36 
approval and administration of such programs; 37 
establishing professional education competency 38 
programs; requiring school districts to develop and 39 
maintain such a program; authorizing private schools 40 
and state-supported schools to develop and maintain 41 
such a program; amending ss. 1012.57 and 1012.575, 42 
F.S.; conforming cross -references; amending s. 43 
1012.585, F.S.; requiring certain applicants for the 44 
renewal of a professional certificate to earn 45 
specified college credit or inservice points; 46 
providing requirements for such credit or points; 47 
amending s. 1012.586, F.S.; conforming a cross -48 
reference; amending s. 1012.71, F.S.; revising the 49 
funding calculation for the Florida Teachers Classroom 50     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 3 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Supply Assistance Program; deleting a requirement that 51 
school districts provide contributions for the 52 
program; requiring the Department of Education to 53 
administer a competitive procurement for the purchase 54 
of materials and supplies through the program; 55 
providing school district requirements; deleting 56 
requirements for the dist ribution of funds to 57 
classroom teachers through the program; deleting a 58 
requirement that classroom teachers sign a specified 59 
statement; revising requirements for unused program 60 
funds; deleting provisions authorizing department and 61 
district school boards to enter into specified 62 
partnerships; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.; defining the 63 
term "professional learning"; prohibiting specified 64 
meetings from being considered professional learning 65 
and eligible for inservice points; providing and 66 
revising requirements for certain professional 67 
learning activities; revising department and school 68 
district duties relating to such activities; providing 69 
requirements for entities contracted with to provide 70 
professional learning services and inservice education 71 
for school districts ; amending s. 1012.986, F.S.; 72 
renaming the " William Cecil Golden Professional 73 
Development Program for School Leaders" as the 74 
"William Cecil Golden Professional Learning Program 75     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 4 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
for School Leaders"; revising the goal of the program; 76 
providing a directive t o the Division of Law Revision; 77 
providing effective dates. 78 
 79 
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 80 
 81 
 Section 1.  Subsection (13) of section 1002.42, Florida 82 
Statutes, is amended to read: 83 
 1002.42  Private schools. — 84 
 (13)  PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM.—An 85 
organization of private schools that has no fewer than 10 member 86 
schools in this state may develop a professional learning 87 
development system to be filed with the Department of Education 88 
in accordance with s. 1012.98(7) the provisions of s. 89 
1012.98(6). 90 
 Section 2.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section 91 
1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 92 
 1003.4282  Requirements for a standard high school 93 
diploma.— 94 
 (3)  STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSM ENT 95 
REQUIREMENTS.— 96 
 (e)  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and 97 
debate, or, for students entering grade 9 in the 2023 -2024 98 
school year, career education practical arts.—The practical arts 99 
course must incorporate artistic content and techniques o f 100     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 5 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
creativity, interpretation, and imagination . Eligible career 101 
education practical arts courses are identified in the Course 102 
Code Directory. 103 
 Section 3.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 104 
1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 105 
 1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for 106 
teacher preparation programs. — 107 
 (2)  UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT. — 108 
 (b)  The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each 109 
state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but ar e 110 
not limited to, the following: 111 
 1.  Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida 112 
Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas. 113 
 2.  The use of state -adopted content standards to guide 114 
curricula and instruction. 115 
 3.  Scientifically researched and evidence -based reading 116 
instructional strategies that improve reading performance for 117 
all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential 118 
approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, 119 
fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention 120 
strategies. 121 
 4.  Content literacy and mathematics practices. 122 
 5.  Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English 123 
language learners. 124 
 6.  Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students 125     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 6 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
with disabilities. 126 
 7.  Strategies to differentiate instruction based on 127 
student needs. 128 
 8.  Strategies and practices to support evidence -based 129 
content aligned to state standards and grading practices. 130 
 9.  Strategies appropriate for the early identification of 131 
a student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge 132 
and the referral of such student to a mental health professional 133 
for support. 134 
 10.  Strategies to support the use of technology in 135 
education and distance learning. 136 
 11.  Strategies and practices to support effectiv e, 137 
research-based assessment and grading practices aligned to the 138 
state's academic standards. 139 
 Section 4.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and subsections 140 
(3), (4), and (5) of section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are 141 
amended to read: 142 
 1004.85  Postsecondar y educator preparation institutes. — 143 
 (2)(a)  Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or 144 
approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek 145 
approval from the Department of Education to create educator 146 
preparation institutes for the purpo se of providing any or all 147 
of the following: 148 
 1.  Professional learning development instruction to assist 149 
teachers in improving classroom instruction and in meeting 150     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 7 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
certification or recertification requirements. 151 
 2.  Instruction to assist potential and exi sting substitute 152 
teachers in performing their duties. 153 
 3.  Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting 154 
education and training requirements. 155 
 4.  Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become 156 
certified teachers as provided in this section in order to 157 
increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals 158 
who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were 159 
not education majors. 160 
 5.  Instruction and professional learning development for 161 
part-time and full-time nondegreed teach ers of career programs 162 
under s. 1012.39(1)(c). 163 
 (3)  Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to 164 
this section may offer competency -based certification programs 165 
specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate 166 
degree holders to enable pro gram participants to meet the 167 
educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator 168 
preparation institute choosing to offer a competency -based 169 
certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section 170 
must implement a program previously approved by the Department 171 
of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the 172 
institute and approved by the department for this purpose. 173 
Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved 174 
educator preparation institutes. 175     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 8 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 (a)  Within 90 days after receipt of a request for 176 
approval, the Department of Education shall approve a 177 
preparation program pursuant to the requirements of this 178 
subsection or issue a statement of the deficiencies in the 179 
request for approval. The department shall approve a 180 
certification program if the institute provides evidence of the 181 
institute's capacity to implement a competency -based program 182 
that instructs and assesses each candidate in includes each of 183 
the following: 184 
 1.a.  Participant instruction and assessment in The Florida 185 
Educator Accomplished Practices approved by the state board 186 
across content areas . 187 
 b.  The state academic use of state-adopted student content 188 
standards provided under s. 1003.41, including scientifically 189 
based reading instruction, content litera cy, and mathematical 190 
practices, for each subject identified on the statement of 191 
status of eligibility or the temporary certificate to guide 192 
curriculum and instruction . 193 
 c.  Scientifically researched and evidence -based reading 194 
instructional strategies that improve reading performance for 195 
all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential 196 
approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, 197 
fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention 198 
strategies. 199 
 d.  Content literacy and mathematical practices. 200     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 9 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 e.  Strategies appropriate for instruction of English 201 
language learners. 202 
 f.  Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with 203 
disabilities. 204 
 g.  Strategies to differentiate instruction based on 205 
student needs. 206 
 h.  Strategies and practices to support evidence -based 207 
content aligned to state standards and grading practices. 208 
 i.  Strategies appropriate for the early identification of 209 
a student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge 210 
and the referral of such student to a mental health professional 211 
for support. 212 
 j.  Strategies to support the use of technology in 213 
education and distance learning. 214 
 2.  An educational plan for each participant to meet 215 
certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to 216 
teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking 217 
certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her 218 
competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1. 219 
 3.  Field experiences appropriate to the certification 220 
subject area specified in the educa tional plan with a diverse 221 
population of students in a variety of challenging environments, 222 
including, but not limited to, high -poverty schools, urban 223 
schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified 224 
educators. The state board shall determine in rule the amount of 225     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 10 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
field experience necessary to serve as the teacher of record, 226 
beginning with candidates entering a program in the 2023 -2024 227 
school year. 228 
 4.  A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and 229 
procedures required for participant s who complete the program to 230 
meet any requirements related to the background screening 231 
pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary 232 
certification pursuant to s. 1012.56. 233 
 (b)  Each program participant must: 234 
 1.  Meet certification require ments pursuant to s. 235 
1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in 236 
the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet 237 
the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a) -(f). 238 
 2.  Demonstrate competency and participate in coursework 239 
and field experiences that are appropriate to his or her 240 
educational plan prepared under paragraph (a). Beginning with 241 
candidates entering an educator preparation institute in the 242 
2022-2023 school year, a candidate for certification in a 243 
coverage area identif ied pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must 244 
successfully complete all competencies for a reading 245 
endorsement, including completion of the endorsement practicum 246 
through the candidate's field experience, in order to graduate 247 
from the program. 248 
 3.  Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his 249 
or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is 250     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 11 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on 251 
student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12 252 
setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving 253 
a passing score on the professional education competency 254 
examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area 255 
examination for the subject area certification which is required 256 
by state board rule. 257 
 (c)  Upon completion of all requirements for a 258 
certification program approved pursuant to this subsection, a 259 
participant shall receive a credential from the sponsoring 260 
institution signifying that the participant has completed a 261 
state-approved competency-based certification program in the 262 
certification subject area specified in the educational plan. A 263 
participant is eligible for educator certification through the 264 
Department of Education upon satisfaction of all requirements 265 
for certification set forth in s. 1012.56(2). 266 
 (4)  The state board shall adopt rules for the continued 267 
approval of each program approved pursuant to this section . 268 
shall be determined by the Commissioner of Education based upon 269 
a periodic review of the following areas: 270 
 (a)  Candidate readiness based on passage rates on educator 271 
certification examinations under s. 1012.56, as applicable. 272 
 (b)  Evidence of performance in each of the following 273 
areas: 274 
 1.  Performance of students in prekindergarten through 275     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 12 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
grade 12 who are assigned to in -field program completers on 276 
statewide assessments using the results of the student learning 277 
growth formula adopted under s. 1012.34. 278 
 2.  Results of program completers' annual evaluations in 279 
accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34. 280 
 3.  Workforce contribution s, including placement of program 281 
completers in instructional positions in Florida public and 282 
private schools, with additional weight given to production of 283 
program completers in statewide critical teacher shortage areas 284 
as identified in s. 1012.07. 285 
 (5)  Each institute approved pursuant to this section shall 286 
submit to the Department of Education annual performance 287 
evaluations that measure the effectiveness of the programs , 288 
including the pass rates of participants on all examinations 289 
required for teacher ce rtification, employment rates, 290 
longitudinal retention rates, and satisfaction surveys of 291 
employers and program completers. The satisfaction surveys must 292 
be designed to measure the sufficient preparation of the 293 
educator for the realities of the classroom an d the institute's 294 
responsiveness to local school districts. These evaluations 295 
shall be used by the Department of Education for purposes of 296 
continued approval of an educator preparation institute's 297 
certification program . 298 
 Section 5.  Paragraph (b) of subs ection (3) of section 299 
1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 300     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 13 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 1008.34  School grading system; school report cards; 301 
district grade.— 302 
 (3)  DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES. — 303 
 (b)1.  Beginning with the 2014 -2015 school year, A school's 304 
grade shall be based on the following components, each worth 100 305 
points: 306 
 a.  The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 307 
standardized assessments in English Language Arts under s. 308 
1008.22(3). 309 
 b.  The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 310 
standardized assessments in mathematics under s. 1008.22(3). 311 
 c.  The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 312 
standardized assessments in science under s. 1008.22(3). 313 
 d.  The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 314 
standardized assessments in social studies under s. 1008.22(3). 315 
 e.  The percentage of eligible students who make Learning 316 
Gains in English Language Arts as measured by statewide, 317 
standardized assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 318 
 f.  The percentage of eligible students who make Learning 319 
Gains in mathematics as measured by statewide, standardized 320 
assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 321 
 g.  The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25 322 
percent in English Language Arts, as identified by prior year 323 
performance on statewide, standardized assessments, who make 324 
Learning Gains as measured by statewide, standardized English 325     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 14 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Language Arts assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 326 
 h.  The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25 327 
percent in mathematics, as iden tified by prior year performance 328 
on statewide, standardized assessments, who make Learning Gains 329 
as measured by statewide, standardized Mathematics assessments 330 
administered under s. 1008.22(3). 331 
 i.  For schools comprised of middle grades 6 through 8 or 332 
grades 7 and 8, the percentage of eligible students passing high 333 
school level statewide, standardized end -of-course assessments 334 
or attaining national industry certifications identified in the 335 
CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to state board 336 
rule. 337 
 j.  Beginning in the 2023 -2024 school year, for schools 338 
comprised of grade levels that include grade 3, the percentage 339 
of eligible students who score an achievement level 3 or higher 340 
on the grade 3 statewide, standardized English Language Arts 341 
assessment administered under s. 1008.22(3). 342 
 343 
In calculating Learning Gains for the components listed in sub -344 
subparagraphs e.-h., the State Board of Education shall require 345 
that learning growth toward achievement levels 3, 4, and 5 is 346 
demonstrated by stude nts who scored below each of those levels 347 
in the prior year. In calculating the components in sub -348 
subparagraphs a.-d., the state board shall include the 349 
performance of English language learners only if they have been 350     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 15 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
enrolled in a school in the United Stat es for more than 2 years. 351 
 2.  For a school comprised of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or 352 
grades 10, 11, and 12, the school's grade shall also be based on 353 
the following components, each worth 100 points: 354 
 a.  The 4-year high school graduation rate of the schoo l as 355 
defined by state board rule. 356 
 b.  The percentage of students who were eligible to earn 357 
college and career credit through College Board Advanced 358 
Placement examinations, International Baccalaureate 359 
examinations, dual enrollment courses, including career dual 360 
enrollment courses resulting in the completion of 300 or more 361 
clock hours during high school which are approved by the state 362 
board as meeting the requirements of s. 1007.271, or Advanced 363 
International Certificate of Education examinations; who, at an y 364 
time during high school, earned national industry certification 365 
identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, 366 
pursuant to rules adopted by the state board; or, beginning with 367 
the 2022-2023 school year, who earned an Armed Services 368 
Qualification Test score that falls within Category II or higher 369 
on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and earned a 370 
minimum of two credits in Junior Reserve Officers' Training 371 
Corps courses from the same branch of the United States Armed 372 
Forces. 373 
 Section 6.  Paragraph (o) of subsection (1) and subsection 374 
(17) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 375     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 16 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 1011.62  Funds for operation of schools. —If the annual 376 
allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each 377 
district for operation of schools is not determined in the 378 
annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing 379 
the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as 380 
follows: 381 
 (1)  COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR 382 
OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in 383 
determining the annual allocation to each district for 384 
operation: 385 
 (o)  Calculation of additional full -time equivalent 386 
membership based on successful completion of a career -themed 387 
course pursuant to ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and 100 3.493, or 388 
courses with embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE 389 
Digital Tool certificates, and issuance of industry 390 
certification identified on the CAPE Industry Certification 391 
Funding List pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of 392 
Education or CAPE Digital Tool certificates pursuant to s. 393 
1003.4203.— 394 
 1.a.  A value of 0.025 full -time equivalent student 395 
membership shall be calculated for CAPE Digital Tool 396 
certificates earned by students in elementary and middle school 397 
grades. 398 
 b.  A value of 0.1 o r 0.2 full-time equivalent student 399 
membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a 400     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 17 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded 401 
CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry 402 
certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry 403 
Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the 404 
State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full -time equivalent 405 
membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a 406 
CAPE industry certification that has a statewi de articulation 407 
agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of 408 
Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not 409 
articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall 410 
assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each 411 
certification. Middle grades students who earn additional FTE 412 
membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate pursuant to sub -413 
subparagraph a. may not use the previously funded examination to 414 
satisfy the requirements for earning an industry certification 415 
under this sub-subparagraph. Additional FTE membership for an 416 
elementary or middle grades student may not exceed 0.1 for 417 
certificates or certifications earned within the same fiscal 418 
year. The State Board of Education shall include the assigned 419 
values on the CAPE Ind ustry Certification Funding List under 420 
rules adopted by the state board. Such value shall be added to 421 
the total full-time equivalent student membership for grades 6 422 
through 12 in the subsequent year. CAPE industry certifications 423 
earned through dual enrollm ent must be reported and funded 424 
pursuant to s. 1011.80. However, if a student earns a 425     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 18 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
certification through a dual enrollment course and the 426 
certification is not a fundable certification on the 427 
postsecondary certification funding list, or the dual enrollme nt 428 
certification is earned as a result of an agreement between a 429 
school district and a nonpublic postsecondary institution, the 430 
bonus value shall be funded in the same manner as other nondual 431 
enrollment course industry certifications. In such cases, the 432 
school district may provide for an agreement between the high 433 
school and the technical center, or the school district and the 434 
postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement for 435 
equitable distribution of the bonus funds. 436 
 c.  A value of 0.3 full -time equivalent student membership 437 
shall be calculated for student completion of the courses and 438 
the embedded certifications identified on the CAPE Industry 439 
Certification Funding List and approved by the commissioner 440 
pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(a) and 1008.44. 441 
 d.  A value of 0.5 full -time equivalent student membership 442 
shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry 443 
Certifications that articulate for 15 to 29 college credit 444 
hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership shall be 445 
calculated for CAPE Ac celeration Industry Certifications that 446 
articulate for 30 or more college credit hours pursuant to CAPE 447 
Acceleration Industry Certifications approved by the 448 
commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(b) and 1008.44. 449 
 2.  Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the 450     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 19 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
funds provided for CAPE industry certification, in accordance 451 
with this paragraph, to the program that generated the funds. 452 
This allocation may not be used to supplant funds provided for 453 
basic operation of the program. 454 
 3.  For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013 -455 
2014 school year and in subsequent years, the school district 456 
shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct 457 
instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry 458 
certification that qualified for additi onal full-time equivalent 459 
membership under subparagraph 1.: 460 
 a.  A bonus of $25 for each student taught by a teacher who 461 
provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a 462 
CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification 463 
Funding List with a weight of 0.1. 464 
 b.  A bonus of $50 for each student taught by a teacher who 465 
provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a 466 
CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification 467 
Funding List with a weight of 0.2. 468 
 c.  A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who 469 
provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a 470 
CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification 471 
Funding List with a weight of 0.3. 472 
 d.  A bonus of $100 for each studen t taught by a teacher 473 
who provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment 474 
of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry 475     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 20 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Certification Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0. 476 
 477 
Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provide d to 478 
teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which 479 
the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the 480 
calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the 481 
associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE 482 
Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the 483 
certification is earned by the student. Any bonus awarded to a 484 
teacher pursuant to this paragraph is in addition to any regular 485 
wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to 486 
receive. A bonus may not be awarded to a teacher who fails to 487 
maintain the security of any CAPE industry certification 488 
examination or who otherwise violates the security or 489 
administration protocol of any assessment instrument that may 490 
result in a bonus being awarded to the teacher under this 491 
paragraph. 492 
 (17)  TURNAROUND SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES ALLOCATION. —493 
The turnaround school supplemental services allocation is 494 
created to provide district-managed turnaround schools, as 495 
identified in s. 1008.33, s. 1008.33(4)(a), sc hools that earn 496 
three consecutive grades below a "C," as identified in s. 497 
1008.33(4)(b)3., and schools that implemented a turnaround plan 498 
and exited turnaround status by earning a school grade of have 499 
improved to a "C" or higher and are no longer in turnar ound 500     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 21 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
status, as identified in s. 1008.33(4)(c), with funds to offer 501 
services designed to improve the overall academic and community 502 
welfare of the schools' students and their families. 503 
 (a)1.  Services funded by the allocation may include, but 504 
are not limited to, tutorial and after -school programs, student 505 
counseling, nutrition education, parental counseling, and an 506 
extended school day and school year. In addition, services may 507 
include models that develop a culture that encourages students 508 
to complete high school and to attend college or career 509 
training, set high academic expectations, and inspire character 510 
development. 511 
 2.  A school district may enter into a formal agreement 512 
with a nonprofit organization that has tax -exempt status under 513 
s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to implement an 514 
integrated student support service model that provides students 515 
and families with access to wrap -around services, including, but 516 
not limited to, health services, after -school programs, drug 517 
prevention programs, college and career readiness programs, and 518 
food and clothing banks. 519 
 (b)  Before distribution of the allocation, the school 520 
district shall develop and submit a plan for implementation to 521 
its school board for approval no later than August 1 of each 522 
fiscal year. 523 
 (c)  At a minimum, the plan required under paragraph (b) 524 
must: 525     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 22 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 1.  Establish comprehensive support services that develop 526 
family and community partnerships; 527 
 2.  Establish clearly defined and measurable high academic 528 
and character standards; 529 
 3.  Increase parental involvement and engagement in the 530 
child's education; 531 
 4.  Describe how instructional personnel will be 532 
identified, recruited, retained, and rewarded; 533 
 5.  Provide professional learning development that focuses 534 
on academic rigor, direct instruction , and creating high 535 
academic and character standards; 536 
 6.  Provide focused instruction to improve student academic 537 
proficiency, which may include additional instruction time 538 
beyond the normal school day or school year; and 539 
 7.  Include a strategy for conti nuing to provide services 540 
after the school is no longer in turnaround status by virtue of 541 
achieving a grade of "C" or higher. 542 
 (d)  Each school district shall submit its approved plans 543 
to the commissioner by September 1 of each fiscal year. 544 
 (e)  Subject to legislative appropriation, each school 545 
district's allocation must be based on the unweighted FTE 546 
student enrollment at the eligible schools and a per -FTE funding 547 
amount of $500 or as provided in the General Appropriations Act. 548 
The supplement provided in the General Appropriations Act shall 549 
be based on the most recent school grades and shall serve as a 550     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 23 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
proxy for the official calculation. Once school grades are 551 
available for the school year immediately preceding the fiscal 552 
year coinciding with the appropria tion, the supplement shall be 553 
recalculated for the official participating schools as part of 554 
the subsequent FEFP calculation. The commissioner may prepare a 555 
preliminary calculation so that districts may proceed with 556 
timely planning and use of the funds. If the calculated funds 557 
for the statewide allocation exceed the funds appropriated, the 558 
allocation of funds to each school district must be prorated 559 
based on each school district's share of the total unweighted 560 
FTE student enrollment for the eligible schools . The final 561 
amount allocated for each school district shall be based on 562 
actual student membership from the October FTE survey. 563 
 (f)  Subject to legislative appropriation, each school 564 
shall remain eligible for the allocation for a maximum of 4 565 
continuous fiscal years while implementing a turnaround option 566 
pursuant to s. 1008.33(4). In addition, a school that improves 567 
to a grade of "C" or higher shall remain eligible to receive the 568 
allocation for a maximum of 2 continuous fiscal years after 569 
exiting turnaround status. 570 
 Section 7.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 571 
1012.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 572 
 1012.34  Personnel evaluation procedures and criteria. — 573 
 (3)  EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA. —Instructional 574 
personnel and school administ rator performance evaluations must 575     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 24 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
be based upon the performance of students assigned to their 576 
classrooms or schools, as provided in this section. Pursuant to 577 
this section, a school district's performance evaluation system 578 
is not limited to basing unsatisf actory performance of 579 
instructional personnel and school administrators solely upon 580 
student performance, but may include other criteria to evaluate 581 
instructional personnel and school administrators' performance, 582 
or any combination of student performance an d other criteria. 583 
Evaluation procedures and criteria must comply with, but are not 584 
limited to, the following: 585 
 (a)  A performance evaluation must be conducted for each 586 
employee at least once a year, except that a classroom teacher, 587 
as defined in s. 1012.01 (2)(a), excluding substitute teachers, 588 
who is newly hired by the district school board must be observed 589 
and evaluated at least twice in the first year of teaching in 590 
the school district. The performance evaluation must be based 591 
upon sound educational princ iples and contemporary research in 592 
effective educational practices. The evaluation criteria must 593 
include: 594 
 1.  Performance of students. —At least one-third of a 595 
performance evaluation must be based upon data and indicators of 596 
student performance, as determi ned by each school district. This 597 
portion of the evaluation must include growth or achievement 598 
data of the teacher's students or, for a school administrator, 599 
the students attending the school over the course of at least 3 600     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 25 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
years. If less than 3 years of dat a are available, the years for 601 
which data are available must be used. The proportion of growth 602 
or achievement data may be determined by instructional 603 
assignment. 604 
 2.  Instructional practice. —For instructional personnel, at 605 
least one-third of the performanc e evaluation must be based upon 606 
instructional practice. Evaluation criteria used when annually 607 
observing classroom teachers, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), 608 
excluding substitute teachers, must include indicators based 609 
upon each of the Florida Educator Acco mplished Practices adopted 610 
by the State Board of Education. For instructional personnel who 611 
are not classroom teachers, evaluation criteria must be based 612 
upon indicators of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices 613 
and may include specific job expectatio ns related to student 614 
support. This section does not preclude a school administrator 615 
from visiting and observing classroom teachers throughout the 616 
school year for purposes of providing mentorship, training, 617 
instructional feedback, or professional learning. 618 
 3.  Instructional leadership. —For school administrators, at 619 
least one-third of the performance evaluation must be based on 620 
instructional leadership. Evaluation criteria for instructional 621 
leadership must include indicators based upon each of the 622 
leadership standards adopted by the State Board of Education 623 
under s. 1012.986, including performance measures related to the 624 
effectiveness of classroom teachers in the school, the 625     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 26 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
administrator's appropriate use of evaluation criteria and 626 
procedures, recruitment a nd retention of effective and highly 627 
effective classroom teachers, improvement in the percentage of 628 
instructional personnel evaluated at the highly effective or 629 
effective level, and other leadership practices that result in 630 
student learning growth. The sys tem may include a means to give 631 
parents and instructional personnel an opportunity to provide 632 
input into the administrator's performance evaluation. 633 
 4.  Other indicators of performance. —For instructional 634 
personnel and school administrators, the remainder of a 635 
performance evaluation may include, but is not limited to, 636 
professional and job responsibilities as recommended by the 637 
State Board of Education or identified by the district school 638 
board and, for instructional personnel, peer reviews, 639 
objectively reliable survey information from students and 640 
parents based on teaching practices that are consistently 641 
associated with higher student achievement, and other valid and 642 
reliable measures of instructional practice. 643 
 Section 8.  Subsections (9) through (16) of section 644 
1012.56, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (10) 645 
through (17), respectively, subsection (1), paragraphs (d), (g), 646 
and (i) of subsection (2) and subsections (6), (7), and (8) are 647 
amended, and a new subsection (9) is added to that sectio n, to 648 
read: 649 
 1012.56  Educator certification requirements. — 650     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 27 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 (1)  APPLICATION.—Each person seeking certification 651 
pursuant to this chapter shall submit a completed application 652 
containing the applicant's social security number to the 653 
Department of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to 654 
s. 1012.59 and rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant 655 
to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 656 
Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is required to provide 657 
his or her social security numbe r in accordance with this 658 
section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through 659 
this requirement is limited to the purpose of administration of 660 
the Title IV-D program of the Social Security Act for child 661 
support enforcement. 662 
 (a)  Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue 663 
within 90 calendar days after receipt of the completed 664 
application a professional certificate to a qualifying applicant 665 
covering the classification, level, and area for which the 666 
applicant is deemed qualified and a docume nt explaining the 667 
requirements for renewal of the professional certificate. 668 
 (b)  The department shall issue a temporary certificate to 669 
a qualifying applicant within 14 calendar days after receipt of 670 
a request from an employer with a professional education 671 
competence demonstration program pursuant to paragraph 672 
paragraphs (6)(f) and subsection (9) (8)(b). The temporary 673 
certificate must cover the classification, level, and area for 674 
which the applicant is deemed qualified. The department shall 675     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 28 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
electronically notify the applicant's employer that the 676 
temporary certificate has been issued and provide the applicant 677 
an official statement of status of eligibility at the time the 678 
certificate is issued. 679 
 (c)  Pursuant to s. 120.60, the department shall issue 680 
within 90 calendar days after receipt of the completed 681 
application, if an applicant does not meet the requirements for 682 
either certificate, an official statement of status of 683 
eligibility. 684 
 685 
The statement of status of eligibility must be provided 686 
electronically and mus t advise the applicant of any 687 
qualifications that must be completed to qualify for 688 
certification. Each method by which an applicant can complete 689 
the qualifications for a professional certificate must be 690 
included in the statement of status of eligibility. E ach 691 
statement of status of eligibility is valid for 5 3 years after 692 
its date of issuance, except as provided in paragraph (2)(d). 693 
 (2)  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. —To be eligible to seek 694 
certification, a person must: 695 
 (d)  Submit to background screening in accor dance with 696 
subsection (11) (10). If the background screening indicates a 697 
criminal history or if the applicant acknowledges a criminal 698 
history, the applicant's records shall be referred to the 699 
investigative section in the Department of Education for review 700     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 29 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
and determination of eligibility for certification. If the 701 
applicant fails to provide the necessary documentation requested 702 
by the department within 90 days after the date of the receipt 703 
of the certified mail request, the statement of eligibility and 704 
pending application shall become invalid. 705 
 (g)  Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge , pursuant to 706 
subsection (3), if the person serves as a classroom teacher 707 
pursuant to s. 1012.01(2)(a) . 708 
 (i)  Demonstrate mastery of professional preparation and 709 
education competence, pursuant to subsection (6) , if the person 710 
serves as a classroom teacher or school administrator as 711 
classified in s. 1012.01(2)(a) and (3)(c), respectively . 712 
 (6)  MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION 713 
COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of d emonstrating mastery of 714 
professional preparation and education competence are: 715 
 (a)  Successful completion of an approved teacher 716 
preparation program at a postsecondary educational institution 717 
within this state and achievement of a passing score on the 718 
professional education competency examination required by state 719 
board rule; 720 
 (b)  Successful completion of a teacher preparation program 721 
at a postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and 722 
achievement of a passing score on the professional educa tion 723 
competency examination required by state board rule; 724 
 (c)  Documentation of a valid professional standard 725     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 30 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
teaching certificate issued by another state; 726 
 (d)  Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the 727 
National Board for Professional Teaching S tandards or a national 728 
educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of 729 
Education; 730 
 (e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful, full -731 
time or part-time teaching in a Florida College System 732 
institution, state university, or private college or university 733 
that awards an associate or higher degree and is an accredited 734 
institution or an institution of higher education identified by 735 
the Department of Education as having a quality program and 736 
achievement of a passing score on the professional educ ation 737 
competency examination required by state board rule; 738 
 (f)  Successful completion of professional preparation 739 
courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion 740 
of a professional preparation and education competence program 741 
pursuant to subsection (9) paragraph (8)(b), and achievement of 742 
a passing score on the professional education competency 743 
examination required by state board rule; 744 
 (g)  Successful completion of a professional learning 745 
development certification and education competency program, 746 
outlined in subsection (8) paragraph (8)(a); or 747 
 (h)  Successful completion of a competency -based 748 
certification program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and achievement of 749 
a passing score on the professional education competency 750     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 31 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
examination required by rul e of the State Board of Education. 751 
 752 
The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this 753 
subsection by December 31, 2014 , including rules to approve 754 
specific teacher preparation programs that are not identified in 755 
this subsection which may be u sed to meet requirements for 756 
mastery of professional preparation and education competence. 757 
 (7)  TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION. — 758 
 (a)  The Department of Education shall issue a professional 759 
certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 760 
who fulfills one of the following: 761 
 1.  Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in 762 
subsection (2). 763 
 2.  For a professional certificate covering grades 6 764 
through 12: 765 
 a.  Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) -766 
(h). 767 
 b.  Holds a master's or higher degree in the area of 768 
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 769 
 c.  Teaches a high school course in the subject of the 770 
advanced degree. 771 
 d.  Is rated highly effective as determined by the 772 
teacher's performance evaluation under s. 101 2.34, based in part 773 
on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized 774 
assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International 775     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 32 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate 776 
examination. 777 
 e.  Achieves a passing score on the Flori da professional 778 
education competency examination required by state board rule. 779 
 3.  Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) -780 
(h) and completes a professional learning certification 781 
preparation and education competence program approved by the 782 
department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) (8)(c) or an educator 783 
preparation institute approved by the department pursuant to s. 784 
1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these programs and is 785 
rated highly effective as determined by his or her performance 786 
evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a 787 
passing score on the professional education competency 788 
examination in order to be awarded a professional certificate. 789 
 (b)  The department shall issue a temporary certificate to 790 
any applicant who: 791 
 1.  Completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs 792 
(2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content requirements 793 
specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject 794 
area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and holds an 795 
accredited degree or a degree approved by the Department of 796 
Education at the level required for the subject area 797 
specialization in state board rule; or 798 
 2.  For a subject area specialization for which the state 799 
board otherwise requires a bachelor's degree, documents 48 800     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 33 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
months of active-duty military service with an honorable 801 
discharge or a medical separation; completes the requirements 802 
outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (d) -(f); completes the 803 
subject area content requirements specified in state board rule 804 
or demonstrates mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to 805 
subsection (5); and documents completion of 60 college credits 806 
with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 807 
scale, as provided by one or more accredited institutions of 808 
higher learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher 809 
learning identified by the Department of Education as having a 810 
quality program resulting in a bachelor's degree or higher ; or. 811 
 3.  Is enrolled in a state -approved teacher preparation 812 
program under s. 1004.04; is acti vely completing the required 813 
program field experience or internship at a public school; 814 
completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), 815 
(d), (e), and (f); and documents completion of 60 college 816 
credits with a minimum cumulative grade point a verage of 2.5 on 817 
a 4.0 scale, as provided by one or more accredited institutions 818 
of higher learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher 819 
learning identified by the Department of Education as having a 820 
quality program resulting in a bachelor's degree or higher. 821 
 (c)  The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2 -year 822 
temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5 -year professional 823 
certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor's 824 
degree in the area of speech -language impairment to allow for 825     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 34 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
completion of a master's degree program in speech -language 826 
impairment. 827 
 (d)  A person who is issued a temporary certificate under 828 
subparagraph (b)2. must be assigned a teacher mentor for a 829 
minimum of 2 school years after commencing employment. Each 830 
teacher mentor selected by the school district, charter school, 831 
or charter management organization must: 832 
 1.  Hold a valid professional certificate issued pursuant 833 
to this section; 834 
 2.  Have earned at least 3 years of teaching experience in 835 
prekindergarten through grad e 12; and 836 
 3.  Have earned an effective or highly effective rating on 837 
the prior year's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34. 838 
 (e)(e)1. A temporary certificate issued under subparagraph 839 
(b)1. is valid for 3 school fiscal years and is nonrenewable. 840 
 2.  A temporary certificate issued under subparagraph (b)2. 841 
is valid for 5 school fiscal years, is limited to a one -time 842 
issuance, and is nonrenewable. 843 
 844 
At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 845 
set to expire, the department shall electro nically notify the 846 
individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 847 
expire and provide a list of each method by which the 848 
qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 849 
The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow the 850     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 35 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
department to extend the validity period of a temporary 851 
certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the 852 
professional certificate were not completed due to the serious 853 
illness or injury of the applicant, the military service of an 854 
applicant's spouse, other extraordinary extenuating 855 
circumstances, or if the certificateholder is rated highly 856 
effective in the immediate prior year's performance evaluation 857 
pursuant to s. 1012.34 or has completed a 2 -year mentorship 858 
program pursuant to subsection (8). The d epartment shall extend 859 
the temporary certificate upon approval by the Commissioner of 860 
Education. A written request for extension of the certificate 861 
shall be submitted by the district school superintendent, the 862 
governing authority of a university lab school , the governing 863 
authority of a state -supported school, or the governing 864 
authority of a private school. 865 
 (8)  PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION AND 866 
EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.— 867 
 (a)  The Department of Education shall develop and each 868 
school district, charter school, and charter management 869 
organization may provide a cohesive competency -based 870 
professional learning development certification and education 871 
competency program by which instructional staff may satisfy the 872 
mastery of professional prep aration and education competence 873 
requirements specified in subsection (6) and rules of the State 874 
Board of Education. Participants must hold a state -issued 875     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 36 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
temporary certificate. A school district, charter school, or 876 
charter management organization that imp lements the program 877 
shall provide a competency -based certification program developed 878 
by the Department of Education or developed by the district, 879 
charter school, or charter management organization and approved 880 
by the Department of Education. These entities may collaborate 881 
with other supporting agencies or educational entities for 882 
implementation. The program shall include the following: 883 
 1.  A minimum period of initial preparation before assuming 884 
duties as the teacher of record. 885 
 2.  An option for collaborat ion with other supporting 886 
agencies or educational entities for implementation. 887 
 1.3. A teacher mentorship and induction component. 888 
 a.  Each individual selected by the district , charter 889 
school, or charter management organization as a mentor: 890 
 (I)  Must hold a valid professional certificate issued 891 
pursuant to this section; 892 
 (II)  Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching 893 
experience in prekindergarten through grade 12; 894 
 (III)  Must have completed specialized training in clinical 895 
supervision and participa te in ongoing mentor training provided 896 
through the coordinated system of professional learning 897 
development under s. 1012.98(4) s. 1012.98(3)(e); 898 
 (IV)  Must have earned an effective or highly effective 899 
rating on the prior year's performance evaluation under s. 900     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 37 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
1012.34; and 901 
 (V)  May be a peer evaluator under the district's 902 
evaluation system approved under s. 1012.34. 903 
 b.  The teacher mentorship and induction component must, at 904 
a minimum, provide routine weekly opportunities for mentoring 905 
and induction activities, including common planning time, 906 
ongoing professional learning as described in s. 1012.98 907 
development targeted to a teacher's needs, opportunities for a 908 
teacher to observe other teachers, co -teaching experiences, and 909 
reflection and followup discussio ns. Professional learning must 910 
meet the criteria established in s. 1012.98(3). Mentorship and 911 
induction activities must be provided for an applicant's first 912 
year in the program and may be provided until the applicant 913 
attains his or her professional certifi cate in accordance with 914 
this section. A principal who is rated highly effective as 915 
determined by his or her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 916 
must be provided flexibility in selecting professional 917 
development activities under this paragraph; however, the 918 
activities must be approved by the department as part of the 919 
district's, charter school's, or charter management 920 
organization's program. 921 
 2.4. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the 922 
district's, charter school's, or charter management 923 
organization's system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34 924 
which provides for: 925     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 38 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 a.  An initial evaluation of each educator's competencies 926 
to determine an appropriate individualized professional learning 927 
development plan. 928 
 b.  A summative evaluation to a ssure successful completion 929 
of the program. 930 
 3.5. Professional education preparation content knowledge, 931 
which must be included in the mentoring and induction activities 932 
under subparagraph 1. 3., that includes, but is not limited to, 933 
the following: 934 
 a.  The state academic standards provided under s. 1003.41, 935 
including scientifically based reading instruction, content 936 
literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject 937 
identified on the temporary certificate. 938 
 b.  The educator-accomplished practices approved by the 939 
state board. 940 
 c.  A variety of data indicators for monitoring student 941 
progress. 942 
 d.  Methodologies for teaching students with disabilities. 943 
 e.  Methodologies for teaching students of limited English 944 
proficiency appropriate for each subjec t area identified on the 945 
temporary certificate. 946 
 f.  Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the role 947 
of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment for 948 
students. 949 
 4.6. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject 950     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 39 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
area and professional education competency examination required 951 
by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge 952 
must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3). 953 
 5.7. Beginning with candidates entering a program in the 954 
2022-2023 school year, a candidate for certification in a 955 
coverage area identified pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must 956 
successfully complete all competencies for a reading 957 
endorsement, including completion of the endorsement practicum 958 
through the candidate's demonstration of mastery of prof essional 959 
preparation and education competence under paragraph (b) . 960 
 (b)1.  Each school district must and a private school or 961 
state-supported public school, including a charter school, may 962 
develop and maintain a system by which members of the 963 
instructional staff may demonstrate mastery of professional 964 
preparation and education competence as required by law. Each 965 
program must be based on classroom application of the Florida 966 
Educator Accomplished Practices and instructional performance 967 
and, for public schools, must be aligned with the district's or 968 
state-supported public school's evaluation system established 969 
under s. 1012.34, as applicable. 970 
 2.  The Commissioner of Education shall determine the 971 
continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph, 972 
based upon the department's review of performance data. The 973 
department shall review the performance data as a part of the 974 
periodic review of each school district's professional 975     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 40 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
development system required under s. 1012.98. 976 
 (b)(c)  No later than December 31, 2017, The department 977 
State Board of Education shall adopt rules standards for the 978 
approval and continued approval of professional learning 979 
development certification and education competency programs 980 
aligned to, including standards for the teacher mentorship and 981 
induction component, under paragraph (a). Standards for the 982 
teacher mentorship and induction component must include program 983 
administration and evaluation; mentor roles, selection, and 984 
training; beginning teacher assessment and professional 985 
development; and teacher content knowledge and practices aligned 986 
to the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices. Each school 987 
district or charter school with a program under this subsection 988 
must submit its program, including the teacher mentorship and 989 
induction component, to the department for approval no later 990 
than June 30, 2018. After December 31, 2018, A teacher may not 991 
satisfy requirements for a professional certificate through a 992 
professional learning development certification and education 993 
competency program under paragraph (a) unless the program has 994 
been approved by the department pursuant to this paragraph. 995 
 (9)  PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COMPET ENCY PROGRAM.— 996 
 (a)  Each school district must and a private school or 997 
state-supported public school, including a charter school, may 998 
develop and maintain a system by which members of the 999 
instructional staff may demonstrate mastery of professional 1000     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 41 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
preparation and education competence as required by law. Each 1001 
program must be based on classroom application of the Florida 1002 
Educator Accomplished Practices and instructional performance 1003 
and, for public schools, must be aligned with the district's or 1004 
state-supported public school's evaluation system established 1005 
under s. 1012.34, as applicable. 1006 
 (b)  The Commissioner of Education shall determine the 1007 
continued approval of programs implemented under this paragraph, 1008 
based upon the department's review of performance data . The 1009 
department shall review the performance data as a part of the 1010 
periodic review of each school district's professional learning 1011 
system required under s. 1012.98. 1012 
 (d)  The Commissioner of Education shall determine the 1013 
continued approval of programs imp lemented under paragraph (a) 1014 
based upon the department's periodic review of the following: 1015 
 1.  Evidence that the requirements in paragraph (a) are 1016 
consistently met; and 1017 
 2.  Evidence of performance in each of the following areas: 1018 
 a.  Rate of retention fo r employed program completers in 1019 
instructional positions in Florida public schools. 1020 
 b.  Performance of students in prekindergarten through 1021 
grade 12 who are assigned to in -field program completers on 1022 
statewide assessments using the results of the student l earning 1023 
growth formula adopted under s. 1012.34. 1024 
 c.  Performance of students in prekindergarten through 1025     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 42 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
grade 12 who are assigned to in -field program completers 1026 
aggregated by student subgroups, as defined in the federal 1027 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s. 1028 
6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II), as a measure of how well the program 1029 
prepares teachers to work with a variety of students in Florida 1030 
public schools. 1031 
 d.  Results of program completers' annual evaluations in 1032 
accordance with the timeline as se t forth in s. 1012.34. 1033 
 e.  Production of program completers in statewide critical 1034 
teacher shortage areas as defined in s. 1012.07. 1035 
 Section 9.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida 1036 
Statutes, is amended to read: 1037 
 1012.57  Certification of adjunct e ducators.— 1038 
 (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32, 1039 
1012.55, and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to 1040 
the contrary, district school boards shall adopt rules to allow 1041 
for the issuance of an adjunct teaching certificate to any 1042 
applicant who fulfills the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) 1043 
and (11) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and (10) and who has expertise in 1044 
the subject area to be taught. An applicant shall be considered 1045 
to have expertise in the subject area to be taught if the 1046 
applicant demonstrates sufficient subject area mastery through 1047 
passage of a subject area test. 1048 
 Section 10.  Section 1012.575, Florida Statutes, is amended 1049 
to read: 1050     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 43 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 1012.575  Alternative preparation programs for certified 1051 
teachers to add additional coverage. —A district school board, or 1052 
an organization of private schools or a consortium of charter 1053 
schools with an approved professional learning development 1054 
system as described in s. 1012.98(7) s. 1012.98(6), may design 1055 
alternative teacher preparation programs to enable persons 1056 
already certificated to add an additional coverage to their 1057 
certificates. Each alternative teacher preparation program shall 1058 
be reviewed and approved by the Department of Education to 1059 
assure that persons who complete the program are competent in 1060 
the necessary areas of subject matter specialization. Two or 1061 
more school districts may jointly participate in an alternative 1062 
preparation program for teachers. 1063 
 Section 11.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section 1064 
1012.585, Florida Statutes, is redesign ated as paragraph (h) and 1065 
a new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection to read: 1066 
 1012.585  Process for renewal of professional 1067 
certificates.— 1068 
 (3)  For the renewal of a professional certificate, the 1069 
following requirements must be met: 1070 
 (g)  An applicant for renewal of a professional certificate 1071 
in educational leadership from a Level I program under s. 1072 
1012.562(2) or Level II program under s. 1012.562(3), with a 1073 
beginning validity date of July 1, 2025, or thereafter, must 1074 
earn a minimum of 1 college credi t or 20 inservice points in 1075     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 44 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Florida's educational leadership standards, as established in 1076 
rule by the State Board of Education. The requirement in this 1077 
paragraph may not add to the total hours required by the 1078 
department for continuing education or inservic e training. 1079 
 Section 12.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 1080 
1012.586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1081 
 1012.586  Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate 1082 
certificates; reading endorsement pathways. — 1083 
 (1)  A school district may proce ss via a Department of 1084 
Education website certificates for the following applications of 1085 
public school employees: 1086 
 (a)  Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a 1087 
valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of the 1088 
appropriate subject ar ea testing requirements of s. 1089 
1012.56(5)(a) or the completion of the requirements of an 1090 
approved school district program or the inservice components for 1091 
an endorsement. 1092 
 1.  To reduce duplication, the department may recommend the 1093 
consolidation of endorseme nt areas and requirements to the State 1094 
Board of Education. 1095 
 2.  At least once every 5 years, the department shall 1096 
conduct a review of existing subject coverage or endorsement 1097 
requirements in the elementary, reading, and exceptional student 1098 
educational areas. The review must include reciprocity 1099 
requirements for out -of-state certificates and requirements for 1100     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 45 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
demonstrating competency in the reading instruction professional 1101 
learning development topics listed in s. 1012.98(5)(b)11 s. 1102 
1012.98(4)(b)11. The review must also consider the award of an 1103 
endorsement to an individual who holds a certificate issued by 1104 
an internationally recognized organization that establishes 1105 
standards for providing evidence -based interventions to 1106 
struggling readers or who completes a post secondary program that 1107 
is accredited by such organization. Any such certificate or 1108 
program must require an individual who completes the certificate 1109 
or program to demonstrate competence in reading intervention 1110 
strategies through clinical experience. At the conclusion of 1111 
each review, the department shall recommend to the state board 1112 
changes to the subject coverage or endorsement requirements 1113 
based upon any identified instruction or intervention strategies 1114 
proven to improve student reading performance. This su bparagraph 1115 
does not authorize the state board to establish any new 1116 
certification subject coverage. 1117 
 1118 
The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee 1119 
not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of Education 1120 
for such services. Each district school board shall retain a 1121 
portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the State Board of 1122 
Education. The portion sent to the department shall be used for 1123 
maintenance of the technology system, the web application, and 1124 
posting and mailing of the certificate. 1125     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 46 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 Section 13.  Effective upon this act becoming law, section 1126 
1012.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1127 
 1012.71  The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance 1128 
Program.— 1129 
 (1)  For purposes of the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply 1130 
Assistance Program, the term "classroom teacher" means a 1131 
certified teacher employed by a public school district or a 1132 
public charter school in that district on or before September 1 1133 
of each year whose full -time or job-share responsibility is the 1134 
classroom instruction of students in prekindergarten through 1135 
grade 12, including full -time media specialists and certified 1136 
school counselors serving students in prekindergarten through 1137 
grade 12, who are funded through the Florida Education Finance 1138 
Program. A "job-share" classroom teacher is one of two teachers 1139 
whose combined full-time equivalent employment for the same 1140 
teaching assignment equals one full -time classroom teacher. 1141 
 (2)  The Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act, 1142 
shall determine funding for the Florid a Teachers Classroom 1143 
Supply Assistance Program. The funds appropriated are for 1144 
classroom teachers to purchase, on behalf of the school district 1145 
or charter school, classroom materials and supplies for the 1146 
public school students assigned to them and may not be used to 1147 
purchase equipment. The funds appropriated shall be used to 1148 
supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to 1149 
classroom teachers. From the funds appropriated for the Florida 1150     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 47 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program, the Commission er 1151 
of Education shall calculate an amount for each school district 1152 
based upon each school district's proportionate share of the 1153 
state's total unweighted FTE student enrollment and shall 1154 
disburse the funds to the school districts by July 15. 1155 
 (3)  From the funds allocated to each school district and 1156 
any funds received from local contributions for the Florida 1157 
Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program, the district 1158 
school board shall calculate an identical amount for each 1159 
classroom teacher who is estimated to be employed by the school 1160 
district or a charter school in the district on September 1 of 1161 
each year, which is that teacher's proportionate share of the 1162 
total amount allocated to the district from state funds and 1163 
funds received from local contributions . A job-share classroom 1164 
teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount provided to a 1165 
full-time classroom teacher. 1166 
 (4)  The department shall administer a competitive 1167 
procurement through which classroom teachers may purchase 1168 
classroom materials and supplie s. By September 1 of each year, 1169 
each school district shall submit to the department: 1170 
 (a)  The identical amount per classroom teacher calculated 1171 
in subsection (3), including the proportionate share of the 1172 
identical amount if such classroom teacher is a job -share 1173 
classroom teacher. 1174 
 (b)  The name of each eligible classroom teacher. 1175     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 48 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 (c)  The name and master school identification number of 1176 
the school in which the classroom teacher is assigned. 1177 
 (d)  Any other information necessary for administration of 1178 
the program as determined by the department For a classroom 1179 
teacher determined eligible on July 1, the district school board 1180 
and each charter school board may provide the teacher with his 1181 
or her total proportionate share by August 1 based on the 1182 
estimate of the number of teachers who will be employed on 1183 
September 1. For a classroom teacher determined eligible after 1184 
July 1, the district school board and each charter school board 1185 
shall provide the teacher with his or her total proportionate 1186 
share by September 30. T he proportionate share may be provided 1187 
by any means determined appropriate by the district school board 1188 
or charter school board, including, but not limited to, direct 1189 
deposit, check, debit card, or purchasing card. If a debit card 1190 
is used, an identifier mu st be placed on the front of the debit 1191 
card which clearly indicates that the card has been issued for 1192 
the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program. 1193 
Expenditures under the program are not subject to state or local 1194 
competitive bidding requirement s. Funds received by a classroom 1195 
teacher do not affect wages, hours, or terms and conditions of 1196 
employment and, therefore, are not subject to collective 1197 
bargaining. Any classroom teacher may decline receipt of or 1198 
return the funds without explanation or cau se. 1199 
 (5)(4) Each classroom teacher must sign a statement 1200     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 49 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
acknowledging receipt of the funds, keep receipts for no less 1201 
than 4 years to show that funds expended meet the requirements 1202 
of this section, and return any unused funds to the district 1203 
school board at the end of the regular school year . Any unused 1204 
funds that are returned to the district school board shall be 1205 
deposited into the school advisory council account of the school 1206 
at which the classroom teacher returning the funds was employed 1207 
when the funds were made available to the classroom teacher. If 1208 
a school does not have a school advisory council, the funds 1209 
shall be expended for classroom materials and supplies as 1210 
determined by the principal that teacher received the funds or 1211 
deposited into the Florid a Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance 1212 
Program account of the school district in which a charter school 1213 
is sponsored, as applicable . 1214 
 (5)  The statement must be signed and dated by each 1215 
classroom teacher before receipt of the Florida Teachers 1216 
Classroom Supply Assistance Program funds and shall include the 1217 
wording: "I, ...(name of teacher)..., am employed by the 1218 
....County District School Board or by the ....Charter School as 1219 
a full-time classroom teacher. I acknowledge that Florida 1220 
Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program funds are 1221 
appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of 1222 
purchasing classroom materials and supplies to be used in the 1223 
instruction of students assigned to me. In accepting custody of 1224 
these funds, I agree to keep the receipts fo r all expenditures 1225     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 50 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
for no less than 4 years. I understand that if I do not keep the 1226 
receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any 1227 
federal taxes due on these funds. I also agree to return any 1228 
unexpended funds to the district school board at the end of the 1229 
regular school year for deposit into the school advisory council 1230 
account of the school where I was employed at the time I 1231 
received the funds or for deposit into the Florida Teachers 1232 
Classroom Supply Assistance Program account of the school 1233 
district in which the charter school is sponsored, as 1234 
applicable." 1235 
 (6)  The Department of Education and district school boards 1236 
may, and are encouraged to, enter into public -private 1237 
partnerships in order to increase the total amount of Florida 1238 
Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Programs funds available to 1239 
classroom teachers. 1240 
 Section 14.  Section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended 1241 
to read: 1242 
 1012.98  School Community Professional Learning Development 1243 
Act.— 1244 
 (1)  The Department of Education, public postsec ondary 1245 
educational institutions, public school districts, public 1246 
schools, state education foundations, consortia, and 1247 
professional organizations in this state shall work 1248 
collaboratively to establish a coordinated system of 1249 
professional learning. For the pu rposes of this section, the 1250     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 51 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
term "professional learning" means learning that is aligned to 1251 
the state's standards for effective professional learning, 1252 
educator practices, and leadership practices; incorporates 1253 
active learning; is collaborative; provides mod els; and is 1254 
sustained and continuous development. The purpose of the 1255 
professional learning development system is to increase student 1256 
achievement, enhance classroom instructional strategies that 1257 
promote rigor and relevance throughout the curriculum, and 1258 
prepare students for continuing education and the workforce. The 1259 
system of professional learning development must align to the 1260 
standards adopted by the state . Routine informational meetings 1261 
may not be considered professional learning and are not eligible 1262 
for inservice points and support the framework for standards 1263 
adopted by the National Staff Development Council .  1264 
 (2)  The school community includes students and parents, 1265 
administrative personnel, managers, instructional personnel, 1266 
support personnel, members o f district school boards, members of 1267 
school advisory councils, business partners, and personnel that 1268 
provide health and social services to students. 1269 
 (3)  Professional learning activities linked to student 1270 
learning and professional growth for instructional and 1271 
administrative staff meet the following criteria: 1272 
 (a)  For instructional personnel, utilize materials aligned 1273 
to the state's academic standards. 1274 
 (b)  For school administrators, utilize materials aligned 1275     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 52 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
to the state's educational leadership standard s. 1276 
 (c)  Have clear, defined, and measurable outcomes for both 1277 
individual inservice activities and multiple day sessions. 1278 
 (d)  Employ multiple measurement tools for data on teacher 1279 
growth, participants' use of new knowledge and skills, student 1280 
learning outcomes, instructional growth outcomes, and leadership 1281 
growth outcomes, as applicable. 1282 
 (e)  Utilize active learning and engage participants 1283 
directly in designing and trying out strategies, providing 1284 
participants with the opportunity to engage in authentic 1285 
teaching and leadership experiences. 1286 
 (f)  Utilize artifacts, interactive activities, and other 1287 
strategies to provide deeply embedded and highly contextualized 1288 
professional learning. 1289 
 (g)  Create opportunities for collaboration. 1290 
 (h)  Utilize coaching and expert support to involve the 1291 
sharing of expertise about content and evidence -based practices, 1292 
focused directly on instructional personnel and school 1293 
administrator needs. 1294 
 (i)  Provide opportunities for instructional personnel and 1295 
school administrators to think about, receive input on, and make 1296 
changes to practice by facilitating reflection and providing 1297 
feedback. 1298 
 (j)  Provide sustained duration with followup for 1299 
instructional personnel and school administrators to have 1300     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 53 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
adequate time to learn, practice, im plement, and reflect upon 1301 
new strategies that facilitate changes in practice. 1302 
 (4)(3) The activities designed to implement this section 1303 
must: 1304 
 (a)  Support and increase the success of educators through 1305 
collaboratively developed school improvement plans that focus 1306 
on: 1307 
 1.  Enhanced and differentiated instructional strategies to 1308 
engage students in a rigorous and relevant curriculum based on 1309 
state and local educational standards, goals, and initiatives; 1310 
 2.  Increased opportunities to provide meaningful 1311 
relationships between teachers and all students; and 1312 
 3.  Increased opportunities for professional collaboration 1313 
among and between teachers, certified school counselors, 1314 
instructional leaders, postsecondary educators engaged in 1315 
preservice training for new tea chers, and the workforce 1316 
community. 1317 
 (b)  Assist the school community in providing stimulating, 1318 
scientific research-based educational activities that encourage 1319 
and motivate students to achieve at the highest levels and to 1320 
participate as active learners and that prepare students for 1321 
success at subsequent educational levels and the workforce. 1322 
 (c)  Provide continuous support for all education 1323 
professionals as well as temporary intervention for education 1324 
professionals who need improvement in knowledge, skills, and 1325     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 54 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
performance. 1326 
 (d)  Provide middle grades instructional personnel and 1327 
school administrators with the knowledge, skills, and best 1328 
practices necessary to support excellence in classroom 1329 
instruction and educational leadership. 1330 
 (e)  Provide training to te acher mentors as part of the 1331 
professional learning development certification program under s. 1332 
1012.56(8) and the professional education competency program 1333 
under s. 1012.56(9) s. 1012.56(8)(a). The training must include 1334 
components on teacher development, pe er coaching, time 1335 
management, and other related topics as determined by the 1336 
Department of Education. 1337 
 (5)(4) The Department of Education, school districts, 1338 
schools, Florida College System institutions, and state 1339 
universities share the responsibilities des cribed in this 1340 
section. These responsibilities include the following: 1341 
 (a)1.  The department shall create a high -quality 1342 
professional learning marketplace list that acts as guide and 1343 
tool for teachers, schools, school administrators, and districts 1344 
across the state to identify high -quality professional learning 1345 
provider programs and resources that meet the criteria described 1346 
in subsection (3) and have demonstrated success in meeting 1347 
identified student needs. 1348 
 2. The department shall disseminate to the schoo l 1349 
community, through a centralized professional learning webpage, 1350     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 55 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
the marketplace list under subparagraph 1 research-based 1351 
professional development methods and programs that have 1352 
demonstrated success in meeting identified student needs . The 1353 
Commissioner of Education shall use data on student achievement 1354 
to identify student needs. The methods of dissemination must 1355 
include a web-based statewide performance support system, 1356 
including a database of exemplary professional development 1357 
activities, a listing of avai lable professional development 1358 
resources, training programs, and available assistance. 1359 
 2.  The web-based statewide performance support system 1360 
established pursuant to subparagraph 1. must include for middle 1361 
grades, subject to appropriation, materials relat ed to classroom 1362 
instruction, including integrated digital instruction and 1363 
competency-based instruction; CAPE Digital Tool certificates and 1364 
CAPE industry certifications; classroom management; student 1365 
behavior and interaction; extended learning opportunities for 1366 
students; and instructional leadership. 1367 
 (b)  Each school district shall develop a professional 1368 
learning development system as specified in subsection (4) (3). 1369 
The system shall be developed in consultation with teachers, 1370 
teacher-educators of Florida C ollege System institutions and 1371 
state universities, business and community representatives, and 1372 
local education foundations, consortia, and professional 1373 
organizations. The professional learning development system 1374 
must: 1375     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 56 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 1.  Be reviewed and approved by the d epartment for 1376 
compliance with s. 1003.42(3) and this section. Effective March 1377 
1, 2024, the department shall establish a calendar for the 1378 
review and approval of all professional learning systems. A 1379 
professional learning system must be reviewed and approved every 1380 
5 years. Any All substantial revisions to the system shall be 1381 
submitted to the department for review and for continued 1382 
approval. The department shall establish a format for the review 1383 
and approval of a professional learning system. 1384 
 2.  Be based on analyses of student achievement data and 1385 
instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous, 1386 
relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools 1387 
and districts, in developing and refining the professional 1388 
learning development system, shall also review and monitor 1389 
school discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments 1390 
of parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of 1391 
teachers, managers, and administrative personnel; and other 1392 
performance indicators to identify school and studen t needs that 1393 
can be met by improved professional performance. 1394 
 3.  Provide inservice activities coupled with followup 1395 
support appropriate to accomplish district -level and school-1396 
level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities 1397 
for instructional and school administrative personnel shall 1398 
focus on analysis of student achievement data, ongoing formal 1399 
and informal assessments of student achievement, identification 1400     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 57 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
and use of enhanced and differentiated instructional strategies 1401 
that emphasize rigor , relevance, and reading in the content 1402 
areas, enhancement of subject content expertise, integrated use 1403 
of classroom technology that enhances teaching and learning, 1404 
classroom management, parent involvement, and school safety. 1405 
 4.  Provide inservice activit ies and support targeted to 1406 
the individual needs of new teachers participating in the 1407 
professional learning development certification and education 1408 
competency program under s. 1012.56(8)(a). 1409 
 5.  Include a professional learning catalog master plan for 1410 
inservice activities, pursuant to rules of the State Board of 1411 
Education, for all district employees from all fund sources. The 1412 
catalog master plan shall be updated annually by September 1, 1413 
must be based on input from teachers and district and school 1414 
instructional leaders, and must use the latest available student 1415 
achievement data and research to enhance rigor and relevance in 1416 
the classroom. Each district inservice catalog plan must be 1417 
aligned to and support the school -based inservice catalog plans 1418 
and school improvement plans pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). Each 1419 
district inservice catalog plan must provide a description of 1420 
the training that middle grades instructional personnel and 1421 
school administrators receive on the district's code of student 1422 
conduct adopted pursuant to s. 1006.07; integrated digital 1423 
instruction and competency -based instruction and CAPE Digital 1424 
Tool certificates and CAPE industry certifications; classroom 1425     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 58 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
management; student behavior and interaction; extended learning 1426 
opportunities for students; and instructional leadership. 1427 
District plans must be approved by the district school board 1428 
annually in order to ensure compliance with subsection (1) and 1429 
to allow for dissemination of research -based best practices to 1430 
other districts. District s chool boards must submit verification 1431 
of their approval to the Commissioner of Education no later than 1432 
October 1, annually. Each school principal may establish and 1433 
maintain an individual professional learning development plan 1434 
for each instructional employe e assigned to the school as a 1435 
seamless component to the school improvement plans developed 1436 
pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional learning 1437 
development plan must be related to specific performance data 1438 
for the students to whom the teacher is assigned, define the 1439 
inservice objectives and specific measurable improvements 1440 
expected in student performance as a result of the inservice 1441 
activity, and include an evaluation component that determines 1442 
the effectiveness of the professional learning development plan. 1443 
 6.  Include inservice activities for school administrative 1444 
personnel, aligned to the state's educational leadership 1445 
standards, that address updated skills necessary for 1446 
instructional leadership and effective school management 1447 
pursuant to s. 1012.986. 1448 
 7.  Provide for systematic consultation with regional and 1449 
state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and 1450     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 59 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
evaluation of local professional learning development programs. 1451 
 8.  Provide for delivery of professional learning 1452 
development by distance learning and other technology -based 1453 
delivery systems to reach more educators at lower costs. 1454 
 9.  Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality 1455 
and effectiveness of professional learning development programs 1456 
in order to eliminate ineffe ctive programs and strategies and to 1457 
expand effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of 1458 
such activities on the performance of participating educators 1459 
and their students' achievement and behavior. 1460 
 10.  For all middle grades, emphasize: 1461 
 a.  Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and 1462 
instruction. 1463 
 b.  Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to 1464 
the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41. 1465 
 c.  Use of small learning communities; problem -solving, 1466 
inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students; 1467 
strategies and tools based on student needs; competency -based 1468 
instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project -based 1469 
instruction. 1470 
 1471 
Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include 1472 
in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a 1473 
description of the specific strategies used by the school to 1474 
implement each item listed in this subparagraph. 1475     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 60 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
 11.  Provide training to reading coaches, classroom 1476 
teachers, and school administrators in effective methods of 1477 
identifying characteristics of conditions such as dyslexia and 1478 
other causes of diminished phonological processing skills; 1479 
incorporating instructional techniques into the general 1480 
education setting which are proven to improve reading 1481 
performance for all students; and using predictive and other 1482 
data to make instructional decisions based on individual student 1483 
needs. The training must help teachers integrate phonemic 1484 
awareness; phonics, word study, and spelling; reading fluency; 1485 
vocabulary, including academic vocabulary; and text 1486 
comprehension strategies into an explicit, systematic, and 1487 
sequential approach to reading instruction, including 1488 
multisensory intervention strategies. Each district must provide 1489 
all elementary grades instructional p ersonnel access to training 1490 
sufficient to meet the requirements of s. 1012.585(3)(f). 1491 
 (6)(5) Each district school board shall provide funding 1492 
for the professional learning development system as required by 1493 
s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act, a nd shall direct 1494 
expenditures from other funding sources to continuously 1495 
strengthen the system in order to increase student achievement 1496 
and support instructional staff in enhancing rigor and relevance 1497 
in the classroom. The department shall identify professi onal 1498 
learning development opportunities that require the teacher to 1499 
demonstrate proficiency in specific classroom practices, with 1500     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 61 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
priority given to implementing training to complete a reading 1501 
endorsement pathway adopted pursuant to s. 1012.586(2)(a). A 1502 
school district may coordinate its professional learning 1503 
development program with that of another district, with an 1504 
educational consortium, or with a Florida College System 1505 
institution or university, especially in preparing and educating 1506 
personnel. Each distr ict school board shall make available 1507 
inservice activities to instructional personnel of nonpublic 1508 
schools in the district and the state certified teachers who are 1509 
not employed by the district school board on a fee basis not to 1510 
exceed the cost of the activ ity per all participants. 1511 
 (7)(6) An organization of private schools or consortium of 1512 
charter schools which has no fewer than 10 member schools in 1513 
this state, which publishes and files with the Department of 1514 
Education copies of its standards, and the memb er schools of 1515 
which comply with the provisions of part II of chapter 1003, 1516 
relating to compulsory school attendance, or a public or private 1517 
college or university with a teacher preparation program 1518 
approved pursuant to s. 1004.04, may also develop a profess ional 1519 
learning development system that includes a professional 1520 
learning catalog master plan for inservice activities. The 1521 
system and inservice catalog plan must be submitted to the 1522 
commissioner for approval pursuant to state board rules. 1523 
 (8)(a)(7)(a) The Department of Education shall 1524 
disseminate, using web -based technology, research -based best 1525     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 62 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
practice methods by which the state and district school boards 1526 
may evaluate and improve the professional learning development 1527 
system. The best practices must includ e data that indicate the 1528 
progress of all students. The department shall report annually 1529 
to the State Board of Education and the Legislature any school 1530 
district that, in the determination of the department, has 1531 
failed to provide an adequate professional learning development 1532 
system. This report must include the results of the department's 1533 
investigation and of any intervention provided. 1534 
 (b)  The department shall also disseminate, using web -based 1535 
technology, professional learning development in the use of 1536 
integrated digital instruction at schools that include middle 1537 
grades. The professional learning development must provide 1538 
training and materials that districts can use to provide 1539 
instructional personnel with the necessary knowledge, skills, 1540 
and strategies to ef fectively blend digital instruction into 1541 
subject-matter curricula. The professional learning development 1542 
must emphasize online learning and research techniques, reading 1543 
instruction, the use of digital devices to supplement the 1544 
delivery of curricular conten t to students, and digital device 1545 
management and security. Districts are encouraged to incorporate 1546 
the professional learning development as part of their 1547 
professional learning development system. 1548 
 (9)(8) The State Board of Education may adopt rules 1549 
pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this 1550     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 63 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
section. 1551 
 (10)(9) This section does not limit or discourage a 1552 
district school board from contracting with independent entities 1553 
for professional learning development services and inservice 1554 
education if the district school board can demonstrate to the 1555 
Commissioner of Education that, through such a contract, a 1556 
better product can be acquired or its goals for education 1557 
improvement can be better met. Such entities shall have 3 or 1558 
more years of experience providing professional learning with 1559 
demonstrative success in instructional or school administrator 1560 
growth. The school district must verify that such entities and 1561 
contracted professional learning activities fro m such entities 1562 
meet the criteria established in subsection (3) for training 1563 
linked to student learning or professional growth. 1564 
 (11)(10) For instructional personnel and administrative 1565 
personnel who have been evaluated as less than effective, a 1566 
district school board shall require participation in specific 1567 
professional learning development programs as provided in 1568 
subparagraph (5)(b)5. (4)(b)5. as part of the improvement 1569 
prescription. 1570 
 (12)(11) The department shall disseminate to the school 1571 
community proven model professional learning development 1572 
programs that have demonstrated success in increasing rigorous 1573 
and relevant content, increasing student achievement and 1574 
engagement, meeting identified student needs, and providing 1575     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 64 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
effective mentorship activities to new teachers and training to 1576 
teacher mentors. The methods of dissemination must include a 1577 
web-based statewide performance -support system including a 1578 
database of exemplary professional learning development 1579 
activities, a listing of available professional learning 1580 
development resources, training programs, and available 1581 
technical assistance. Professional learning development 1582 
resources must include sample course -at-a-glance and unit 1583 
overview templates that school districts may use when developing 1584 
curriculum. The templates must provide an organized structure 1585 
for addressing the Florida Standards, grade -level expectations, 1586 
evidence outcomes, and 21st century skills that build to 1587 
students' mastery of the standards at each grade level. Each 1588 
template must support teach ing to greater intellectual depth and 1589 
emphasize transfer and application of concepts, content, and 1590 
skills. At a minimum, each template must: 1591 
 (a)  Provide course or year -long sequencing of concept -1592 
based unit overviews based on the Florida Standards. 1593 
 (b)  Describe the knowledge and vocabulary necessary for 1594 
comprehension. 1595 
 (c)  Promote the instructional shifts required within the 1596 
Florida Standards. 1597 
 (d)  Illustrate the interdependence of grade -level 1598 
expectations within and across content areas within a grade . 1599 
 (13)(12) The department shall require teachers in grades 1600     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 65 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
K-12 to participate in continuing education training provided by 1601 
the Department of Children and Families on identifying and 1602 
reporting child abuse and neglect. 1603 
 Section 15.  Subsection (1) of se ction 1012.986, Florida 1604 
Statutes, is amended to read: 1605 
 1012.986  William Cecil Golden Professional Learning 1606 
Development Program for School Leaders. — 1607 
 (1)  There is established the William Cecil Golden 1608 
Professional Learning Development Program for School Le aders to 1609 
provide high-quality standards and sustained support for 1610 
educational leaders. For purposes of this section, the term 1611 
"educational leader" means teacher leaders, assistant 1612 
principals, principals, or school district leaders. The program 1613 
shall consist of a collaborative network of school districts, 1614 
state-approved educational leadership programs, regional 1615 
consortia, charter management organizations, and state and 1616 
national professional leadership organizations to respond to 1617 
educational leadership needs throughout the state. The network 1618 
shall support the human -resource learning development needs of 1619 
educational leaders using the framework of leadership standards 1620 
adopted by the State Board of Education. The goal of the network 1621 
leadership program is to: 1622 
 (a) Provide resources to support and enhance the roles of 1623 
educational leaders. 1624 
 (b)  Maintain a clearinghouse and disseminate data -1625     
 
HB 1537  	2023 
 
 
 
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 
hb1537-00 
Page 66 of 66 
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P	R E S E N T A T I V E	S 
 
 
 
supported information related to the continued enhancement of 1626 
student achievement and learning, civic education, coaching and 1627 
mentoring, mental health awareness, technology in education, 1628 
distance learning, and school safety based on educational 1629 
research and best practices. 1630 
 (c)  Increase the quality and capacity of educational 1631 
leadership learning development programs. 1632 
 (d)  Support evidence-based leadership practices through 1633 
dissemination and modeling at the preservice and inservice 1634 
levels for educational leaders. 1635 
 (e)  Support the professional growth of instructional 1636 
personnel who provide reading instruction and interventions by 1637 
training school administrators on classroom observation , 1638 
instructional coaching, and teacher evaluation practices aligned 1639 
to evidence-based reading instruction and intervention 1640 
strategies. 1641 
 Section 16.  The Division of Law Revision shall prepare a 1642 
reviser's bill to replace references to the term "professional 1643 
development" where it occurs within chapters 1000 through 1013 1644 
of the Florida Statutes with the term "professional learning." 1645 
 Section 17.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 1646 
act, and except for this section, which shall take effect upon 1647 
this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 1648 
2023. 1649