Bill Text: FL S0934 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Education

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-26 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 1159 (Ch. 2021-228), CS/HB 7011 (Ch. 2021-9), CS/CS/SB 1028 (Ch. 2021-35) [S0934 Detail]

Download: Florida-2021-S0934-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2021                       CS for CS for SB 934
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Education; and Senator
       Wright
       
       
       
       
       576-04662-21                                           2021934c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to education; amending s. 1001.43,
    3         F.S.; authorizing members of certain committees of a
    4         district school board to attend meetings and establish
    5         quorums in person or through the use of
    6         telecommunications networks; prohibiting any official
    7         action of a district school board from being taken at
    8         any meeting of such committees; amending s. 1003.621,
    9         F.S.; authorizing academically high-performing school
   10         districts to provide up to 2 days of virtual
   11         instruction; specifying requirements for such virtual
   12         instruction for such virtual instruction to comply
   13         with a specified provision; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.;
   14         requiring additional specified strategies to be
   15         included in rules establishing uniform core curricula
   16         for each state-approved teacher preparation program;
   17         requiring that certain teacher preparation programs
   18         require students to demonstrate mastery of general
   19         knowledge by passing the General Knowledge Test of the
   20         Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the time
   21         of graduation; deleting a provision authorizing a
   22         teacher preparation program to waive certain
   23         admissions requirements for up to 10 percent of
   24         admitted students; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.;
   25         expanding the instruction that an educator preparation
   26         institute may provide to include instruction and
   27         professional development for part-time and full-time
   28         nondegreed teachers of career programs; requiring the
   29         Department of Education to approve a certification
   30         program if an institute provides evidence of its
   31         capacity to implement a competency-based program that
   32         includes specified strategies; amending s. 1012.39,
   33         F.S.; revising the minimum qualifications for part
   34         time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
   35         programs; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising the
   36         acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of general
   37         knowledge to include documentation of receipt of a
   38         master’s or higher degree from certain postsecondary
   39         institutions; revising the criteria for the Department
   40         of Education to issue a professional certificate;
   41         amending s. 1012.575, F.S.; authorizing an
   42         organization of private schools or a consortium of
   43         charter schools with an approved professional
   44         development system to design alternative teacher
   45         preparation programs; amending s. 1012.986, F.S.;
   46         defining the term “educational leader”; providing that
   47         the William Cecil Golden Professional Development
   48         Program for School Leaders must consist of a network
   49         of specified entities; revising the goals of the
   50         program; requiring the department to offer program
   51         components through university or educational
   52         leadership academies and through educational
   53         leadership coaching and mentoring; making technical
   54         changes; providing an effective date.
   55          
   56  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   57  
   58         Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 1001.43, Florida
   59  Statutes, is amended to read:
   60         1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school
   61  board.—The district school board may exercise the following
   62  supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or
   63  State Board of Education rule.
   64         (10) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS.—The
   65  district school board may adopt policies and procedures
   66  necessary for the daily business operation of the district
   67  school board, including, but not limited to, the provision of
   68  legal services for the district school board; conducting a
   69  district legislative program; district school board member
   70  participation at conferences, conventions, and workshops,
   71  including member compensation and reimbursement for expenses;
   72  district school board policy development, adoption, and repeal;
   73  district school board meeting procedures, including
   74  participation via telecommunications networks, use of technology
   75  at meetings, and presentations by nondistrict personnel; citizen
   76  communications with the district school board and with
   77  individual district school board members; collaboration with
   78  local government and other entities as required by law; and
   79  organization of the district school board, including special
   80  committees and advisory committees. Members of special
   81  committees and advisory committees may attend meetings and
   82  establish quorums in person or through the use of
   83  telecommunications networks such as telephonic and video
   84  conferencing. No official action of the school board may be
   85  taken at any meeting of a special committee or an advisory
   86  committee.
   87         Section 2. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
   88  1003.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   89         1003.621 Academically high-performing school districts.—It
   90  is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and reward school
   91  districts that demonstrate the ability to consistently maintain
   92  or improve their high-performing status. The purpose of this
   93  section is to provide high-performing school districts with
   94  flexibility in meeting the specific requirements in statute and
   95  rules of the State Board of Education.
   96         (2) COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES AND RULES.—Each academically
   97  high-performing school district shall comply with all of the
   98  provisions in chapters 1000-1013, and rules of the State Board
   99  of Education which implement these provisions, pertaining to the
  100  following:
  101         (g) Those statutes pertaining to planning and budgeting,
  102  including chapter 1011, except s. 1011.62(9)(d), relating to the
  103  requirement for a comprehensive reading plan. A district that is
  104  exempt from submitting a comprehensive reading this plan shall
  105  be deemed approved to receive the research-based reading
  106  instruction allocation. Each academically high-performing school
  107  district may provide up to 2 days of virtual instruction as part
  108  of the required 180 actual teaching days or the equivalent on an
  109  hourly basis each school year, as specified by rules of the
  110  State Board of Education. Virtual instruction that is conducted
  111  in accordance with the plan approved by the department, is
  112  teacher-developed, and is aligned with the standards for
  113  enrolled courses complies with s. 1011.60(2). The day or days
  114  must be indicated on the calendar approved by the school board.
  115  The district shall submit a plan for each day of virtual
  116  instruction to the department for approval, in a format
  117  prescribed by the department, with assurances of alignment to
  118  statewide student standards as described in s. 1003.41 before
  119  the start of each school year.
  120         Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and paragraph
  121  (b) of subsection (3) of section 1004.04, Florida Statutes, are
  122  amended to read:
  123         1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
  124  teacher preparation programs.—
  125         (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
  126         (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
  127  state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
  128  not limited to, the following:
  129         1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
  130  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
  131         2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
  132  curricula and instruction.
  133         3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
  134  instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
  135  all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
  136  approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
  137  fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
  138  strategies.
  139         4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
  140         5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
  141  language learners.
  142         6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
  143  with disabilities.
  144         7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
  145  needs.
  146         8. The use of character-based classroom management.
  147         9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of
  148  students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
  149  the referral of such students to a mental health professional
  150  for support.
  151         10. Strategies to support the use of technology in
  152  education and distance learning.
  153         (3) INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.—
  154         (b) Each teacher preparation program approved by the
  155  Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
  156  require students to meet, at a minimum, the following
  157  requirements as prerequisites for admission into the program:
  158         1. For admission into the program, have a grade point
  159  average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the general education
  160  component of undergraduate studies or have completed the
  161  requirements for a baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade
  162  point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from any college or
  163  university accredited by a regional accrediting association as
  164  defined by State Board of Education rule or any college or
  165  university otherwise approved pursuant to State Board of
  166  Education rule.
  167         2. Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge sufficient for
  168  entry into the program, including the ability to read, write,
  169  and perform in mathematics, by passing the General Knowledge
  170  Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination by the
  171  time of graduation or, for a graduate level program, obtain a
  172  baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited or
  173  approved pursuant to the rules of the State Board of Education.
  174  
  175  Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
  176  requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
  177  Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
  178  admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
  179  competencies to successfully meet requirements for certification
  180  and shall annually report to the Department of Education the
  181  status of each candidate admitted under such a waiver.
  182         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
  183  (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of section 1004.85, Florida
  184  Statutes, are amended to read:
  185         1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
  186         (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
  187  approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
  188  approval from the Department of Education to create educator
  189  preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
  190  of the following:
  191         1. Professional development instruction to assist teachers
  192  in improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification
  193  or recertification requirements.
  194         2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
  195  teachers in performing their duties.
  196         3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
  197  education and training requirements.
  198         4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
  199  certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
  200  increase routes to the classroom for mid-career professionals
  201  who hold a baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were
  202  not education majors.
  203         5. Instruction and professional development for part-time
  204  and full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
  205  1012.39(1)(c).
  206         (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
  207  this section may offer competency-based certification programs
  208  specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
  209  degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
  210  educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
  211  preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
  212  certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
  213  must implement a program previously approved by the Department
  214  of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
  215  institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
  216  Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
  217  educator preparation institutes.
  218         (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
  219  the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
  220  pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
  221  statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
  222  department shall approve a certification program if the
  223  institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
  224  implement a competency-based program that includes each of the
  225  following:
  226         1.a. Participant instruction and assessment in the Florida
  227  Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
  228         b. The use of state-adopted student content standards to
  229  guide curriculum and instruction.
  230         c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
  231  instructional strategies that improve reading performance for
  232  all students, including explicit, systematic, and sequential
  233  approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary,
  234  fluency, and text comprehension and multisensory intervention
  235  strategies.
  236         d. Content literacy and mathematical practices.
  237         e. Strategies appropriate for instruction of English
  238  language learners.
  239         f. Strategies appropriate for instruction of students with
  240  disabilities.
  241         g. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
  242  needs.
  243         h. The use of character-based classroom management.
  244         i.Strategies appropriate for the early identification of
  245  students in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
  246  the referral of such students to a mental health professional
  247  for support.
  248         j. Strategies to support the use of technology in education
  249  and distance learning.
  250         2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
  251  certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
  252  teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
  253  certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
  254  competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
  255         3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
  256  subject area specified in the educational plan with a diverse
  257  population of students in a variety of challenging environments,
  258  including, but not limited to, high-poverty schools, urban
  259  schools, and rural schools, under the supervision of qualified
  260  educators.
  261         4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
  262  procedures required for participants who complete the program to
  263  meet any requirements related to the background screening
  264  pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
  265  certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
  266         (b) Each program participant must:
  267         1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
  268  1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
  269  the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
  270  the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f).
  271         2. Participate in coursework and field experiences that are
  272  appropriate to his or her educational plan prepared under
  273  paragraph (a).
  274         3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
  275  or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
  276  seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
  277  student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
  278  setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving
  279  a passing score on the professional education competency
  280  examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area
  281  examination for the subject area certification which is required
  282  by state board rule.
  283         Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  284  1012.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  285         1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
  286  adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
  287  career specialists; students performing clinical field
  288  experience.—
  289         (1) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.56, and
  290  1012.57, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
  291  each district school board shall establish the minimal
  292  qualifications for:
  293         (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
  294  programs. Qualifications shall be established for nondegreed
  295  teachers of career and technical education courses for program
  296  clusters that are recognized in the state and are based
  297  primarily on successful occupational experience rather than
  298  academic training. The qualifications for such teachers shall
  299  require:
  300         1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same
  301  manner as required by s. 1012.32. Faculty employed solely to
  302  conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
  303  requirement.
  304         2. Documentation of education and successful occupational
  305  experience including documentation of:
  306         a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
  307         b. Completion of 6 years of full-time successful
  308  occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
  309  experience in the teaching specialization area. The district
  310  school board may establish alternative qualifications for
  311  teachers with an industry certification in the career area in
  312  which they teach.
  313         c. Completion of career education training conducted
  314  through the local school district inservice master plan or
  315  through an educator preparation institute approved by the State
  316  Board of Education pursuant to s. 1004.85.
  317         d. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
  318  education training in teaching methods, course construction,
  319  lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
  320  students. This training may be completed through coursework from
  321  an accredited or approved institution or an approved district
  322  teacher education program.
  323         e. Demonstration of successful teaching performance.
  324         f. Documentation of industry certification when state or
  325  national industry certifications are available and applicable.
  326         Section 6. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
  327  (7) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  328         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  329         (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  330  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
  331         (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
  332  examination required by state board rule;
  333         (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  334  certificate issued by another state;
  335         (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  336  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  337  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  338  Education;
  339         (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
  340  or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
  341  state university, or private college or university that awards
  342  an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
  343  or an institution of higher education identified by the
  344  Department of Education as having a quality program; or
  345         (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
  346  board rule, on national or international examinations that test
  347  comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
  348  writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
  349  limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
  350  reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination. Passing
  351  scores identified in state board rule must be at approximately
  352  the same level of rigor as is required to pass the general
  353  knowledge examinations; or
  354         (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
  355  from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
  356  the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
  357  program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher.
  358  
  359  A school district that employs an individual who does not
  360  achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
  361  examination must provide information regarding the availability
  362  of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
  363  assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
  364  must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
  365  information guides, school district test preparation resources,
  366  and preparation courses offered by state universities and
  367  Florida College System institutions.
  368         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
  369         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
  370  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
  371  who fulfills one of the following:
  372         1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
  373  subsection (2).
  374         2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
  375  12:
  376         a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
  377  (h).
  378         b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
  379  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
  380         c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
  381  advanced degree.
  382         d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
  383  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
  384  student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
  385  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
  386  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
  387  examination.
  388         e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
  389  education competency examination required by state board rule.
  390         3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
  391  (h) and completes a professional preparation and education
  392  competence program approved by the department pursuant to
  393  paragraph (8)(c) or an educator preparation institute approved
  394  by the department pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who
  395  completes one of these programs the program and is rated highly
  396  effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
  397  under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
  398  score on the professional education competency examination in
  399  order to be awarded a professional certificate.
  400  
  401  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
  402  and is nonrenewable. At least 1 year before an individual’s
  403  temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
  404  electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
  405  her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
  406  which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
  407  completed. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
  408  allow the department to extend the validity period of a
  409  temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
  410  professional certificate were not completed due to the serious
  411  illness or injury of the applicant, the military service of an
  412  applicant’s spouse, other extraordinary extenuating
  413  circumstances, or if the certificateholder is rated highly
  414  effective in the immediate prior year’s performance evaluation
  415  pursuant to s. 1012.34 or has completed a 2-year mentorship
  416  program pursuant to s. 1012.56(8). The department shall extend
  417  the temporary certificate upon approval by the Commissioner of
  418  Education. A written request for extension of the certificate
  419  shall be submitted by the district school superintendent, the
  420  governing authority of a university lab school, the governing
  421  authority of a state-supported school, or the governing
  422  authority of a private school.
  423         Section 7. Section 1012.575, Florida Statutes, is amended
  424  to read:
  425         1012.575 Alternative preparation programs for certified
  426  teachers to add additional coverage.—A district school board, or
  427  an organization of private schools or a consortium of charter
  428  schools with an approved professional development system as
  429  described in s. 1012.98(6), may design alternative teacher
  430  preparation programs to enable persons already certificated to
  431  add an additional coverage to their certificates. Each
  432  alternative teacher preparation program shall be reviewed and
  433  approved by the Department of Education to assure that persons
  434  who complete the program are competent in the necessary areas of
  435  subject matter specialization. Two or more school districts may
  436  jointly participate in an alternative preparation program for
  437  teachers.
  438         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 1012.986,
  439  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  440         1012.986 William Cecil Golden Professional Development
  441  Program for School Leaders.—
  442         (1) There is established the William Cecil Golden
  443  Professional Development Program for School Leaders to provide
  444  high-quality high standards and sustained support for
  445  educational principals as instructional leaders. For purposes of
  446  this section, “educational leader” means teacher leaders,
  447  assistant principals, principals, or school district leaders.
  448  The program shall consist of a collaborative network of school
  449  districts, state-approved educational leadership programs,
  450  regional consortia, charter management organizations, and state
  451  and national professional leadership organizations to respond to
  452  educational instructional leadership needs throughout the state.
  453  The network shall support the human-resource development needs
  454  of educational leaders principals, principal leadership teams,
  455  and candidates for principal leadership positions using the
  456  framework of leadership standards adopted by the State Board of
  457  Education, the Southern Regional Education Board, and the
  458  National Staff Development Council. The goal of the network
  459  leadership program is to:
  460         (a) Provide resources to support and enhance the roles of
  461  educational leaders principal’s role as the instructional
  462  leader.
  463         (b) Maintain a clearinghouse and disseminate data-supported
  464  information related to the continued enhancement of enhanced
  465  student achievement and learning, civic education, coaching and
  466  mentoring, mental health awareness, technology in education,
  467  distance learning, and school safety, based on educational
  468  research and best practices.
  469         (c) Build the capacity to Increase the quality and capacity
  470  of educational leadership development programs for preservice
  471  education for aspiring principals and inservice professional
  472  development for principals and principal leadership teams.
  473         (d) Support evidence-based leadership best teaching and
  474  research-based instructional practices through dissemination and
  475  modeling at the preservice and inservice levels for educational
  476  leaders both teachers and principals.
  477         (2) The Department of Education shall coordinate through
  478  the network identified in subsection (1) to offer the program
  479  components through multiple delivery systems, including:
  480         (a) Approved school district training programs.
  481         (b) Interactive technology-based instruction.
  482         (c) Regional consortium service organizations pursuant to
  483  s. 1001.451.
  484         (d) State, regional, university, or local educational
  485  leadership academies.
  486         (e) Educational leadership coaching and mentoring.
  487         Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

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