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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 educator certifications and 2
training; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; revising the core 3
curricula for certain teacher preparation programs to 4
include training relating to mass casualty incidents; 5
amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; requiring certain 6
postsecondary educator preparation institution 7
programs to include training relating to mass casualty 8
incidents; conforming a cross -reference; amending s. 9
1012.56, F.S.; revising the certified educator 10
eligibility criteria to require such persons to 11
receive training in mass casualty incidents; 12
conforming cross-references; amending s. 1012.57, 13
F.S.; requiring persons who hold adjunct teaching 14
certificates to receive training in mass casualty 15
incidents; creating s. 1012.5841, F.S.; requiring the 16
Department of Education to develop a list of approved 17
trainings relating to mass casualty incidents; 18
beginning in a specified school year, requiring the 19
department to include such trainings in existing 20
continuing education and inservice training 21
requirements for instructional personnel; providing 22
applicability; authorizing the State Board of 23
Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date. 24
25
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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 It Enacted by the L egislature of the State of Florida: 26
27
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 28
1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 29
1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for 30
teacher preparation programs. — 31
(2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT. — 32
(b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each 33
state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are 34
not limited to, the following: 35
1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida 36
Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas. 37
2. The use of state -adopted content standards to guide 38
curricula and instruction. 39
3. Scientifically researched and evidence -based reading 40
instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading 41
which improve reading performance for all students, including 42
explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching 43
phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text 44
comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The 45
primary instructional strateg y for teaching word reading is 46
phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional 47
strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three -48
cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for 49
teaching word reading. Instructional stra tegies may include 50
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visual information and strategies that improve background and 51
experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language 52
and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to 53
teach word reading. 54
4. Content literacy and m athematics practices. 55
5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English 56
language learners. 57
6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students 58
with disabilities. 59
7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on 60
student needs. 61
8. Strategies and practices to support evidence -based 62
content aligned to state standards and grading practices. 63
9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of 64
a student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge 65
and the referral of such stu dent to a mental health professional 66
for support. 67
10. Strategies to support the use of technology in 68
education and distance learning. 69
11. Strategies and practices to support effective, 70
research-based assessment and grading practices aligned to the 71
state's academic standards. 72
12. Strategies and practices on identifying, preventing, 73
preparing, addressing, and responding to mass casualty 74
incidents. 75
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Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of 76
section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amend ed to read: 77
1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes. — 78
(3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to 79
this section may offer competency -based certification programs 80
specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate 81
degree holders to enable program participants to meet the 82
educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator 83
preparation institute choosing to offer a competency -based 84
certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section 85
must implement a program developed by the institute and approved 86
by the department for this purpose. Approved programs shall be 87
available for use by other approved educator preparation 88
institutes. 89
(a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for 90
approval, the Departmen t of Education shall approve a 91
preparation program pursuant to the requirements of this 92
subsection or issue a statement of the deficiencies in the 93
request for approval. The department shall approve a 94
certification program if the institute provides evidence of the 95
institute's capacity to implement a competency -based program 96
that instructs and assesses each candidate in the following: 97
1.a. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices approved 98
by the state board. 99
b. The state academic standards provided und er s. 1003.41, 100
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including scientifically based reading instruction, content 101
literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject 102
identified on the statement of status of eligibility or the 103
temporary certificate. 104
c. Scientifically researched and evidence -based reading 105
instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading 106
which improve reading performance for all students, including 107
explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching 108
phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text 109
comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The 110
primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is 111
phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional 112
strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three -113
cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for 114
teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include 115
visual information and strategies which improve background and 116
experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language 117
and vocabulary to sup port comprehension, but may not be used to 118
teach word reading. 119
d. Strategies and practices on identifying, preventing, 120
preparing, addressing, and responding to mass casualty 121
incidents. 122
2. An educational plan for each participant to meet 123
certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to 124
teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking 125
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certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her 126
competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1. 127
3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification 128
subject area specified in the educational plan under the 129
supervision of qualified educators. The state board shall 130
determine in rule the amount of field experience necessary to 131
serve as the teacher of record, beginning with candidates 132
entering a program in the 2023 -2024 school year. 133
4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and 134
procedures required for participants who complete the program to 135
meet any requirements related to the background screening 136
pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary 137
certification pursuant to s. 1012.56. 138
(b) Each program participant must: 139
1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s. 140
1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in 141
the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet 142
the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f). 143
2. Demonstrate competency and participate in field 144
experiences that are appropriate to his or her educational plan 145
prepared under paragraph (a). Beginnin g with candidates entering 146
an educator preparation institute in the 2022 -2023 school year, 147
a candidate for certification in a coverage area identified 148
pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must successfully complete all 149
competencies for a reading endorsement, incl uding completion of 150
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the endorsement practicum through the candidate's field 151
experience, in order to graduate from the program. 152
3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his 153
or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is 154
seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on 155
student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12 156
setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving 157
a passing score on the professional education competency 158
examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area 159
examination for the subject area certification which is required 160
by state board rule. 161
Section 3. Paragraphs (g) through (i) of subsection (2) of 162
section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 163
paragraphs (h) through (j), respectively, paragraphs (a), (b), 164
and (d) of subsection (7) are amended, and a new paragraph (g) 165
is added to that subsection, to read: 166
1012.56 Educator certification requirements. — 167
(2) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. —To be eligible to seek 168
certification, a person must: 169
(g) Have received training that includes strategies and 170
practices on identifying, preventing, preparing, addressing, and 171
responding to mass casualty incidents. 172
(7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION. — 173
(a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional 174
certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 175
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who fulfills one of the following: 176
1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in 177
subsection (2). 178
2. For a professional certificate covering g rades 6 179
through 12: 180
a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-181
(i) (2)(a)-(h). 182
b. Holds a master's or higher degree in the area of 183
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 184
c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the 185
advanced degree. 186
d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the 187
teacher's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part 188
on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized 189
assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International 190
Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate 191
examination. 192
e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional 193
education competency examination required by state board rule. 194
3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-195
(i) (2)(a)-(h) and completes a professional learning 196
certification program approved by the department pursuant to 197
paragraph (8)(b) or an educator preparation institute approved 198
by the department pursua nt to s. 1004.85. An applicant who 199
completes one of these programs and is rated highly effective as 200
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determined by his or her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 201
is not required to take or achieve a passing score on the 202
professional education competency examination in order to be 203
awarded a professional certificate. 204
(b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to 205
any applicant who: 206
1. Completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs 207
(2)(a)-(g) (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area conte nt 208
requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates 209
mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and 210
holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the 211
Department of Education at the level required for the subject 212
area specialization in state board rule; 213
2. For a subject area specialization for which the state 214
board otherwise requires a bachelor's degree, documents 48 215
months of active-duty military service with an honorable 216
discharge or a medical separation; completes the req uirements 217
outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (d)-(g) (d)-(f); 218
completes the subject area content requirements specified in 219
state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject area 220
knowledge pursuant to subsection (5); and documents completion 221
of 60 college credits with a minimum cumulative grade point 222
average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as provided by one or more 223
accredited institutions of higher learning or a nonaccredited 224
institution of higher learning identified by the Department of 225
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Education as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor's 226
degree or higher; or 227
3. Is enrolled in a state -approved teacher preparation 228
program under s. 1004.04; is actively completing the required 229
program field experience or internship at a public school; 230
completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), 231
and (d)-(g) (d)-(f); completes the subject area content 232
requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates 233
mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5); 234
and documents completion of 60 college credits with a minimum 235
cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as 236
provided by one or more accredited institutions of higher 237
learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher learning 238
identified by the Department of Education as havin g a quality 239
program resulting in a bachelor's degree or higher. 240
(d) The department shall issue a temporary apprenticeship 241
certificate to any applicant who: 242
1. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and 243
(d)-(g) (d)-(f). 244
2. Completes the sub ject area content requirements 245
specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject 246
area knowledge as provided in subsection (5). 247
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At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 249
set to expire, the department shall electronicall y notify the 250
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individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 251
expire and provide a list of each method by which the 252
qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 253
Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida 254
Statutes, is amended to read: 255
1012.57 Certification of adjunct educators. — 256
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32, 257
1012.55, and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to 258
the contrary, district school boards and charter school 259
governing boards shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance of 260
an adjunct teaching certificate to any applicant who fulfills 261
the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) 262
and (11) and who has expertise in the subject area to be taught. 263
An applicant is considered to have expertise in the subject area 264
to be taught if the applicant demonstrates sufficient subject 265
area mastery through passage of a subject area test or has 266
achieved an industry certification in the subject area to be 267
taught. 268
Section 5. Section 1012.5841, Florida Statutes, is created 269
to read: 270
1012.5841 Continuing education and inservice training for 271
identifying, preventing, preparing, addressing, and responding 272
to mass casualty incidents. — 273
(1) The Department of Education shall develop a list of 274
approved trainings to prepare instructional personnel to 275
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identify, prevent, prepare for, address, and respond to mass 276
casualty incidents. 277
(2) Beginning with the 2025 -2026 school year, the 278
department shall incorporate the training included in the list 279
required under subsection (1) into existing requirements for the 280
continuing education or inservice training of instructional 281
personnel. The requirements of this section may not add to the 282
total hours required for continuing education or inservice 283
training as currently established by the department. 284
(3) A person has no cause of action for any loss or damage 285
caused by an act or omission resulting from the implementation 286
of this section or resulting from any training required by this 287
section unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or 288
wanton misconduct. This section does not create any new duty of 289
care or basis of liability. 290
(4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 291
implement this section. 292
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 293