Senate Bill 992 (2024) — Educator certifications and training
SB 992
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 By Senator Jones 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 1 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 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 Be It Enacted by the Legislature 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 2 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 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 strategy 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 strategies may include 50 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 mathematics practices. 55 5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English 56 language learners. 57 6.
Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students 58
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 3 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. with disabilities. 59 7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student 60 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 a 64 student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and 65 the referral of such student to a mental health professional for 66 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
Section 2. Paragraphs (
a) and (
b) of subsection (3) of 76
section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 4 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. available for use by other approved educator preparation 88 institutes. 89 (
a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval, 90 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program 91 pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a 92 statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The 93 department shall approve a certification program if the 94 institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to 95 implement a competency-based program that instructs and assesses 96 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 under s. 1003.41, 100 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 5 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language 117 and vocabulary to support 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 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 6 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. prepared under paragraph (a). Beginning 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, including completion of 150 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. Present paragraphs (
g) through (
i) of subsection 162 (2) of
section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 163 paragraphs (
h) through (j), respectively, a new paragraph (
g) is 164 added to that subsection, and paragraphs (a), (b), and (
d) of 165 subsection (7) of that
section are amended, 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 7 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 175 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 grades 6 through 179 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 teacher’s 187 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on 188 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 pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who 199 completes one of these programs and is rated highly effective as 200 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 8 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 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 content 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 requirements 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 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
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 9 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 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 having 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 subject area content requirements 245 specified in state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject 246 area knowledge as provided in subsection (5). 247 248 At least 1 year before an individual’s temporary certificate is 249 set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the 250 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, 1012.55, 257 and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to the 258 contrary, district school boards and charter school governing 259 boards shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance of an adjunct 260 teaching certificate to any applicant who fulfills the 261
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 10 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(
g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(
f) and 262 (11) and who has expertise in the subject area to be taught. An 263 applicant is considered to have expertise in the subject area to 264 be taught if the applicant demonstrates sufficient subject area 265 mastery through passage of a subject area test or has achieved 266 an industry certification in the subject area to be taught. 267
Section
Section 1012.5841, Florida Statutes, is created 268 to read: 269 1012.5841 Continuing education and inservice training for 270 identifying, preventing, preparing, addressing, and responding 271 to mass casualty incidents.— 272
(1) The Department of Education shall develop a list of 273 approved trainings to prepare instructional personnel to 274 identify, prevent, prepare for, address, and respond to mass 275 casualty incidents. 276
(2) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the 277 department shall incorporate the training included in the list 278 required under subsection (1) into existing requirements for the 279 continuing education or inservice training of instructional 280 personnel. The requirements of this
section may not add to the 281 total hours required for continuing education or inservice 282 training as currently established by the department. 283
(3) A person has no cause of action for any loss or damage 284 caused by
an act or omission resulting from the implementation 285 of this
section or resulting from any training required by this 286
section unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or 287 wanton misconduct. This
section does not create any new duty of 288 care or basis of liability. 289
(4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 290
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 992 34-01543-24 2024992__ Page 11 of 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. implement this section. 291