STORAGE NAME: h1113a.SAS
DATE: 3/19/2025
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FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: CS/HB 1113
TITLE: Mathematics Education Requirements
SPONSOR(S): Valdés
COMPANION BILL: SB 1112 (Calatayud)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Student Academic Success
15 Y, 0 N, As CS
Careers & Workforce
Education & Employment
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill modifies the uniform core curricula requirements for state-approved teacher preparation programs,
including, competency-based certification programs for non-education baccalaureate degree holders, and
professional learning certification programs, by requiring content in mathematics at the elementary level, including
numbers and operations, fractions, algebraic reasoning, measurement, geometric reasoning, and data analysis and
probability. The bill further requires that content in mathematics at the elementary level for state-approved
teacher preparation programs be a minimum of 6 credit hours.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
None
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
Effective July 1, 2026, the bill modifies the uniform core curricula requirements for state-approved teacher
preparation programs to include specified content in mathematics at the elementary level. The bill requires that
content in mathematics for teacher preparation programs include numbers and operations, fractions, algebraic
reasoning, measurement, geometric reasoning, and data analysis and probability at the elementary level, for a
minimum of 6 credit hours. (Section 1).
Additionally, effective July 1, 2026, the bill requires that competency-based certification programs offered by
postsecondary educator preparation institutes for non-education major baccalaureate degree holders and the
professional learning certification program include content in mathematics, including numbers and operations,
fractions, algebraic reasoning, measurement, geometric reasoning, and data analysis and probability at the
elementary level. (Sections 2 and 3).
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this bill, the effective date of the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 4).
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Elementary Mathematics
Florida Standards
In 2020, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted new standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and
mathematics called the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards. The ELA standards JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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implementation began with the 2021-2022 school year and implementation of the mathematics standards began in
the 2022-2023 school year.
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The B.E.S.T. standards for mathematics are organized by strands. The stand is the focal group of related standards.
Mathematical strands for elementary B.E.S.T. standards include number sense and operations, algebraic reasoning,
fractions, measurements, geometric reasoning, and data analysis and probability.
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Teaching Mathematics
Because elementary teachers are usually responsible for teaching all core subjects, their preparation must cover
language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Every educator preparation program finds a different way
to balance these topics.
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When students struggle with foundational math skills taught in early elementary grades, they are likely to continue
struggling into middle and high school. Mathematics knowledge is highly cumulative, meaning that mastering each
new concept depends on having mastered the content that came before. As early as kindergarten, teachers play a
critical role in building and cementing these math skills.
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Florida Educator Certification
Teacher Preparation Programs
Teacher preparation programs are accountable for producing individuals with the competencies and skills
necessary to achieve the state education goals.
5 State-approved teacher preparation programs are offered by
Florida public and private postsecondary institutions, public school districts, and private providers by which
candidates for educator certification can, depending on the type of program, demonstrate mastery of general
knowledge, professional preparation and education competence, and/or subject area knowledge for purposes of
attaining an educator certificate.
6
There are various state-approved teacher preparation programs that individuals may use to receive the training
needed to attain an educator certificate, including:
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Initial Teacher Preparation programs in public and private colleges and universities requiring candidates
to demonstrate mastery of subject area knowledge in one or more specific subject areas(s), mastery of
general knowledge, and mastery of professional preparation and education competence. Program
completers qualify for a professional educator certificate.
8
Educator Preparation Institutes (EPIs) offering alternative certification programs by postsecondary
institutions and qualified private providers for baccalaureate degree holders. These programs provide
professional preparation for career-changers and recent college graduates who do not already possess a
Professional Educator Certificate and require mastery of general knowledge, mastery of subject area
knowledge, and mastery of professional preparation and education competence.
District professional learning certification and education competency programs. Such programs are
cohesive competency-based professional preparation certification programs offered by school districts,
charter schools, and charter management districts by which the instructional staff can satisfy the mastery
1
Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C.
2
Florida Department of Education, Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards: Mathematics, at 3-4, available at
https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/best/ma/mathbeststandardsfinal.pdf.
3
Southern Regional Education Board, Giving Elementary Teachers the Tools to Teach Math Well, https://www.sreb.org/blog-
post/giving-elementary-teachers-tools-teach-math-well (last visited Mar. 13, 2025).
4
National Council on Teacher Quality, Preparation for Teaching Elementary Mathematics, available at
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED619824.pdf.
5
S. 1004.04(1)(b), F.S.
6
See Florida Department of Education, Florida’s Coordinated System of Professional Learning,
https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/professional-dev/ (last visited Mar. 13, 2025). See also r. 6A-5.066, F.A.C.; ss. 1004.04(3)(a) and
1004.85(1), F.S.
7
Florida Department of Education, Educator Preparation, http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/preparation (last visited Mar. 13, 2025). See
also r. 6A-5.066, F.A.C.
8
Rule 6A-5.066(1)(r), F.A.C. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
of professional preparation and education competence requirements.
9 In addition to completing the district
program, candidates must demonstrate mastery of general knowledge
10 and subject area knowledge.
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Educator Preparation Institutes (EPIs)
Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or approved by the Department of Education (DOE) to award
degrees and credits for educator certification may seek approval from the DOE to create EPIs for the purpose of
providing all or any of the following:
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Professional development instruction to assist teachers in improving classroom instruction and in meeting
certification or recertification requirements;
Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute teachers in performing their duties;
Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting education and training requirements;
Instruction for noneducation baccalaureate degree holders to become certified teachers in order to
increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals; and
Instruction and professional development for part-time and full-time non-degreed teachers of career
programs.
A private provider that has a proven history of delivering high-quality educator preparation may also seek
approval to offer a competency-based certification program. The DOE approval must be based upon evidence
provided from other state recipients of the provider’s services and data showing the successful performance of
completers based upon student achievement.
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EPIs may offer competency-based certification programs specifically designed for noneducation major
baccalaureate degree holders to enable program participants to meet the educator certification requirements. The
DOE must approve a certification program within 90 days if the institute provides evidence of its capacity to
implement a competency-based program that instructs and assesses each candidate in the following:
The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices approved by the SBE.
The state academic standards, including scientifically based reading instruction, content literacy, and
mathematical practices, for each subject identified on the statement of status of eligibility or temporary
certificate.
Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading instructional strategies grounded in the science of
reading, which improve reading performance for all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension and
multisensory intervention strategies. The primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is
phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional strategies for foundational skills may not
employ the three-cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for teaching word reading.
An educational plan for each participant to meet certification requirements and demonstrate his or her
ability to teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking certification, based on an assessment
of competency.
Field experiences appropriate to the certification subject area under the supervision of qualified educators.
A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and procedures required for participants who
complete the program to meet any requirements related to background screening and educator
certification.
There are currently 28 state-approved EPI programs.
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9
S. 1012.56(8)(a), F.S. There are 77 such programs in Florida. Florida Department of Education. State-Approved Educator
Preparation Programs, Approved Add-on Programs, https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/preparation/initial-teacher-preparation-
programs/approved-teacher-edu-programs.stml (last visited Mar. 13, 2024).
10
See Florida DOE, General Knowledge, https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/general-cert-requirements/general-
knowledge.stml (last visited Mar. 13, 2024).
11
Florida DOE, Subject Area Knowledge, https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/general-cert-requirements/subject-area-
knowledge.stml (last visited Mar. 13, 2024).
12
S. 1004.85(2)(a), F.S.
13
S. 1004.85(2)(b), F.S.
14
Florida Department of Education, State-Approved EPI Programs, available at
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7502/urlt/State-ApprovedEPIProgram.pdf. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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Professional Learning Certificate Program
School districts, charter schools, and charter management organizations may offer a cohesive professional learning
certification program that must be approved by the DOE. Participants must hold a state-issued temporary
certificate. The program must include:
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an option to collaborate with other agencies or educational entities for implementation;
a teacher mentorship and induction component;
an assessment of teaching performance aligned with the district’s personnel evaluation system;
professional educational preparation content knowledge which must be included in the mentoring and
induction activities;
required passing scores on the general knowledge, subject area and the professional education competency
test; and
completion of all competencies for a reading endorsement for all candidates for certification in coverage
areas that include reading instruction or interventions in kindergarten through grade 6.
Professional education preparation content knowledge, which must be included in the mentoring and induction
activities, must include, but is not limited to:
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The state academic standards,
17 including scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading, content literacy, and mathematical practices, for
each subject identified on the temporary certificate. Reading instructional strategies for foundational skills
shall include phonics instruction for decoding and encoding as the primary instructional strategy for word
reading. Instructional strategies may not employ the three-cueing system model of reading or visual
memory as a basis for teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include visual information and
strategies which improve background and experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language
and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to teach word reading.
The educator-accomplished practices approved by the State Board of Education.
Currently, 47 school districts operate their own DOE-approved professional learning certification programs.
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RECENT LEGISLATION:
YEAR BILL # HOUSE SPONSOR(S) SENATE SPONSOR OTHER INFORMATION
2023 CS/CS/HB 7039 Trabulsy Calatayud Became law on July 1, 2023.
15
S. 1012.56(8)(a)1.-7., F.S.
16
S. 1012.56(8)(a)3.a.-b., F.S.
17
S. 1003.41, F.S.
18
Florida Department of Education, Professional Learning Certification Programs,
https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/preparation/plcp.stml (last visited Mar. 13, 2025). JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Student Academic Success
Subcommittee
15 Y, 0 N, As CS 3/18/2025 Sanchez Dixon
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Added fractions to the mathematics content in the core curriculum
requirements for state-approved teacher preparation programs,
including competency-based and professional learning certification
programs.
Changed the minimum mathematics content requirement from 85
instructional hours to 6 credit hours.
Removed the evaluation criteria for mathematics instructional
materials.
Careers & Workforce
Subcommittee
Education & Employment
Committee
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THIS BILL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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