Senate Bill 1590 (2025) — Educator preparation
SB 1590
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2025 SB By Senator Burgess 23-01562A-25 20251590__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled
An act relating to educator preparation; providing legislative intent; establishing the Task Force for Educator Preparation; providing the purpose for the task force; providing for the composition of the task force; requiring the Department of Education to provide administrative support for the task force; 7 providing the duties of the task force; requiring the task force to provide a specified report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 10 providing for expiration of the task force; providing an effective date. 12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
Section 1.
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to revise educator preparation, certification, and professional learning development by 2028, to modernize and reform the program, and to properly prepare educators to meet the challenges of educating students in the 21st century. 20
(2) There is established the Task Force for Educator Preparation to make recommendations regarding educator training, 22 assessment, certification, and professional learning. The task force shall be composed of the following members: 24
(
a) Two members from a state university initial teacher preparation program, appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 27
(
b) Two members from private postsecondary institution initial teacher preparation programs, appointed by the Governor Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1590 23-01562A-25 20251590__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. and the President of the Senate. 30
(
c) Two members from a Florida College System institution initial teacher preparation program or educator preparation institute, appointed by the Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 34
(
d) Two school district representatives with responsibility for district alternative certification programs, appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 38
(
e) Three teachers with active certifications, with at least one from a charter school, and at least one who has served as a mentor. The Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each appoint one teacher. 43
(
f) Two district school superintendents, appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 46
(
g) A Department of Education representative with expertise in educator quality, appointed by the Governor. 48
(3) The Department of Education shall provide administrative support for the task force. 50
(4) The task force shall: 51
(
a) Evaluate the effectiveness of teacher training programs, including: 53 1. The uniform core curricula in initial teacher preparation programs, including evidence-based practices in mathematics and literacy instruction, classroom management, and the use of data to analyze student performance for personalized instruction. 58 Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1590 23-01562A-25 20251590__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 2. Preparation under school district alternative certification pathways or educator preparation institutes. 60 3. The effectiveness of teacher apprenticeship programs. 61 4. Improvements to field experiences for student teachers. 62
(
b) Analyze existing Florida teacher certification standards and procedures, including: 64 1. Gaps or inefficiencies in current certification pathways. 66 2. Appropriate educator certification for elementary, 67 middle, and secondary school grades. 68 3. The effectiveness of certification exams and alternatives to ensure teachers meet competency standards. 70
(
c) Evaluate educator professional learning, including: 71 1. Ongoing professional learning requirements for teachers. 72 2. Mentor teachers and teaching coaches. 73 3. Collaboration with teacher preparation programs. 74
(5) The task force shall issue a report with recommendations for improvements to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than December 1, 2025, at which time the task force shall expire. 79