Sonya Butler. Coordinator of Certification, NCLB Compliance and Recruitment

Transcription

1 The School District of Osceola County, Florida CERTIFICATION HANDBOOK Sonya Butler Coordinator of Certification, NCLB Compliance and Recruitment Revised June 2011

2 Name School Position (exactly as listed on SS card) (subject and grade level) IMPORTANT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! I have received Osceola District Schools Certification Handbook to use as a resource for questions I may have about the Florida Educator s Certification process. This handbook is based on current certification laws. The laws are subject to change on July 1 each year. I understand that it is my responsibility to complete all of the requirements for my teaching certificate and that the services provided by the Osceola District Schools Certification Office DO NOT relieve me of meeting certification requirements. It is my responsibility to complete ALL requirements as outlined on the Florida Department of Education Official Statement of Status of Eligibility that has been (or will be) sent to the home address listed on my application for certification. For teachers who do not hold a five year renewable professional certificate: I understand that I have one year from my start date as a teacher (even if the start date was in another Florida school district) to satisfy the General Knowledge requirement by one of the methods outlined in my Certification Handbook. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT BE REAPPOINTED FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR UNTIL THE PASSING SCORES FOR ALL SECTIONS OF THE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EXAM ARE ON FILE. The reappointment deadline for certification purposes is the last Friday of April. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Federal Law Requirement For all teachers at an elementary school and ESE teachers K-12: I understand that I must become highly qualified in the core academic subjects being taught, in accordance with NCLB, by either passing the appropriate Florida subject area exam(s), or by providing the appropriate documentation from my previous Florida school district or another state. If I have not satisfied the NCLB requirement, I will register to take the appropriate subject area exam on the next available testing administration date, and I will submit my original score report to the District Certification/NCLB Office. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT BE REAPPOINTED FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR UNTIL I AM HIGHLY QUALIFIED IN THE CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECT(S) BEING TAUGHT. The reappointment deadline for certification purposes is the last Friday of April. For all teachers (K-12) of core academic subjects: I understand that the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requires all teachers (K-12) of core academic subjects to be highly qualified. The core academic subjects are: English; reading or language arts; mathematics; science; foreign languages; civics and government; economics; arts (visual arts, drama and music); history; and geography. The NCLB school contact will advise teachers of their highly qualified status. Signature Date

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome/Certification Assistance... 1 Florida Educator s Certificate Requirement... 2 Certification Process... 2 Official Statement of Status of Eligibility... 2 General Knowledge Requirement... 2 Testing Requirements... 3 Mastery of Professional Preparation and Education Competence... 3 Professional Preparation Coursework... 3 ABCTE Program... 4 Valencia s EPI Program... 4 Satisfying Requirements Using College Teaching Experience Verification... 4 Direct Routes to a Professional Certificate... 5 Reciprocity... 5 Graduates of a Florida State Approved Program... 5 Out-of-Field Requirement... 5 No Child Left Behind Requirement... 5 ESOL Requirement... 6 Passing the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Exam... 6 Renewal of the Professional Certificate... 7 Adding a Subject to a Valid Professional or Temporary Certificate... 7 Adding a Subject by Passing an Appropriate Subject Area Exam... 7 Adding a Subject Using an Out of State Certificate... 8 Certification Services Provided by the District... 8 Certification Services Provided by the State... 9 Updating Address Required by Law... 9 Appendix Appendix A Descriptions of FTCE and FELE Appendix B Certification Subject Area Exams to Add a Subject Appendix C Professional Preparation Appendix D Approved Professional Prep Coursework from Local Colleges Appendix E Termination Prevention Checklist Appendix F Contact Information... 23

4 Welcome to Osceola District Schools! As a member of the Osceola team, all of your official documents pertaining to your Florida Educator s Certificate must be submitted to the District Certification Office for processing. A copy of all documents will be placed in your district personnel file and the original, official documents will be mailed to the Department of Education. This will enable our staff to assist you with the certification process throughout your career with Osceola District Schools. The services provided by the Osceola District Schools Certification Office DO NOT relieve the applicant/employee of meeting certification requirements. Florida State Board Rule reads, It is the responsibility of each applicant to complete all requirements for a certificate. We hope that this handbook will answer most of your questions regarding the certification process. This handbook was written based on certification rules, effective July 1, Please be advised that rules and laws are subject to change on July 1 each year. To be secured under a specific law, you must submit your certification application and fee to the Department of Education. The following website, phone numbers, and addresses are provided for your convenience: Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification Phone: edcert@fldoe.org Website: Osceola District Schools Certification Office Phone: certhelp@osceola.k12.fl.us, or on First Class just type: Certification Help Sonya Butler, Supervisor of Employment and Certification Cathy McBride, Certification Specialist Denise Havlice, Certification Senior Records Clerk Reminder: Send a copy of the following to the District Certification Office as soon as they are received: Official Statement of Status of Eligibility Florida Educator s Certificate Original Score Reports 1

5 Florida Educator s Certificate Requirement Florida State Law requires that all teachers are eligible and have applied for a Florida Educator s Certificate. Employment with Osceola District Schools cannot begin until certification requirements have been satisfied. Certification Process For most applicants, certification is a three-part process which includes: 1) Statement of Status of Eligibility; 2) Three Year Non-Renewable Temporary Certificate; and 3) Five Year Renewable Professional Certificate. The certification application must be submitted online at the following website: The cost for certification is $75 per subject area. You will need to print the confirmation page which displays after the online application has been submitted and send it to the District Certification Office. The official transcripts and out of state certificates (if available) must then be mailed to the Department of Education. All Temporary Certificates are issued for the entire school fiscal year, July 1 June 30. This includes those teachers employed any time during second semester. Extensions to a Temporary Certificate are not available under any circumstances. Official Statement of Status of Eligibility An Official Statement of Status of Eligibility will be issued directly to the applicant by the Florida Department of Education in approximately 30 business days from the date the application for certification and official college transcripts are received. The Statement of Status of Eligibility is not the teaching certificate. The District will send to the Department of Education the results of your fingerprints and the request form to issue your certificate. The statement indicates whether or not the applicant meets the subject requirements, and the requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to receive a temporary and professional certificate. The teacher MUST send a copy of the statement to the Certification Office as soon as it is received, so that continued assistance may be provided. The requirements that you may be asked to complete are explained on the pages to follow. Important Read Carefully! General Knowledge Requirement Florida law requires that an individual demonstrate mastery of general knowledge within one year from the date the individual is first employed in a Florida public school. For contract renewal purposes, your principal will need verification that you have satisfied this requirement by April of the school year in which you were first employed in Florida. This requirement may be satisfied by providing an original score report indicating passing scores on all sections of the Florida General Knowledge Test, or by holding a valid standard certificate from another U.S. state or territory. The Praxis exams and out-of-state exams are not accepted for Florida certification. According to Florida law, if a teacher does not satisfy this requirement within the first year, the teacher is not eligible for continued employment as a teacher with our district or any other Florida school district until the requirement has been met. Once again, teachers who have an August start date must satisfy this requirement by the following April for renewal purposes. Do not delay in taking this test!!! 2

6 Testing Requirements The Florida Teacher Certification Exams are described in detail in Appendix A. An original score report must be submitted to the District Certification Office. A valid standard certificate from another U.S. state or territory will satisfy all certification requirements, including testing. A comparable subject must be listed on the out of state certificate. The tests that are required for certification are: General Knowledge Test (GK) Passing portions of the CLAST exam will be accepted if the exam was taken and passed prior to July 1, Professional Education Test (PEd) Subject Area Exam(s) (SAE) For more information on Florida certification tests, please call the testing center at , or visit their website at: Mastery of Professional Preparation and Education Competence The following methods satisfy the Mastery of Professional Preparation and Education Competence requirement: Completion of a Florida state-approved teacher education and a passing score on the Florida Professional Education Test. Completion of a teacher preparation program from another U.S. state or territory and a passing score on the Professional Education test. A valid standard certificate from another U.S. state or territory. Completion of the District Preparing New Educators Program and professional prep education coursework and a passing score on the Professional Education Test A valid certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) and completion the District Preparing New Educators Program. Completion of a Florida state-approved Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) alternative certification Program and a passing score on the Florida Professional Education Test. For more information about the Preparing New Educators Programs, contact Larry Rowan, in Professional Development, at (407) or through First Class . Professional Preparation Coursework If you were not teacher-trained in college and did not complete the education courses required for certification, the Statement of Status of Eligibility will indicate Professional Prep education coursework is needed. Depending on courses reflected on the transcript(s) sent to Department of Education, you may be asked to complete all or a portion of the courses listed in Appendix C. 3

7 Professional Prep, as well as other certification requirements as noted below, may also be satisfied through one of the following programs: ABCTE The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the United States. This organization is approved by the federal government to offer Passport to Teaching certifications in Elementary K-6, English 6-12, Math 6-12, General Science 5-9, Biology 6-12, Chemistry 6-12, Physics 6-12 and Special Education K-12. Teachers who obtain certification through this program are considered highly qualified according to the No Child Left Behind federal law. The Passport to Teaching certificate will satisfy all Florida certification requirements for the specific subject, with the exception of Demonstration of Professional Education Competence (PEC). Completion of the District Preparing New Educators Program (portfolio and workshops) will satisfy the PEC requirement. For information, contact ABCTE toll-free at or visit their website at Valencia Community College s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) Valencia s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) is an alternate route to complete certification requirements and has received approval from the Florida Department of Education. The program prepares the participant for a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate in approximately eight months and is available for all bachelors level certification subjects. Participants will receive half of the instruction in a classroom setting and the other half online. Testing requirements must be completed through the Florida Teacher Certification Exams. For information, call the Valencia Educator Preparation Institute staff at , or visit their website at Satisfying Requirements Using College Teaching Experience Verification Verification of two semesters of full-time college teaching experience satisfies the General Knowledge test, Professional Education test, Professional Education Competence and Professional Prep Coursework. Subject area exam(s) are not waived with this verification. The verification letter must be on college letterhead and signed by the registrar or dean. The letter must include: 1. Instructor s name and social security number 2. Statement that the instructor was a full-time instructor of the college 3. Specific beginning and ending dates of full-time employment 4. Course title 5. Course prefix and number 6. Course dates 7. Number of semester hours earned by the students in the course Foreign college teaching experience must also include documentation from a credential evaluation agency confirming that the foreign college/university is equivalent to a U.S. institution that awards a bachelor s or higher degree. 4

8 Direct Routes to a Professional Certificate Reciprocity Florida has two reciprocity routes for certified teachers and administrators to qualify for the five (5) year renewable Professional Certificate. Route 1: Valid Standard Certificate Issued by a State Other than Florida The certificate must be a standard or Level II certificate issued by another U.S. state or territory. The certificate must be currently valid (not expired or revoked). The subject shown on your certificate must be considered comparable to a subject issued in Florida. Route 2: Certificate Issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) The NBPTS certificate must be currently valid. The Florida certificate will reflect the Florida subject considered comparable to the NBPTS subject. Eligibility for reciprocity is determined by the Department of Education and is based on documentation provided by the applicant. Graduates of a Florida State Approved Program Graduates of a Florida state approved teacher preparation programs may apply and qualify for the Professional Certificate in the subject area of program completion, if all testing requirements have been met and original score reports have been submitted. Out-of-Field Requirement If you are teaching in a subject area in which you do not hold a Florida Educator s Certificate, then you are considered to be out-of-field. You must complete the certification requirements to obtain in-field status before you will be eligible for reappointment for the following school year. In most cases, this can be accomplished by passing the appropriate subject area exam. No Child Left Behind Requirement Effective July 1, 2006, the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requires that all teachers (grades K-12) who teach core academic subjects to their students are highly qualified. The core academic subjects, as defined by No Child Left Behind, are: English, reading or language arts; mathematics, science; foreign languages; civics and government; economics, arts (visual arts, drama and music); history; and geography. Please contact the school s NCLB administrator for a determination of your highly qualified status. 5

9 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Requirement Florida law mandates specific ESOL requirements for teachers, guidance counselors, and school administrators. In following this mandate, Osceola District Schools requires these groups of employees to maintain ESOL Compliance according to the chart below: Teaching Assignment Language Arts/English/ Reading Teacher for: Elementary K-6 Lang. Arts 6-12 Reading K-12 Self Contained ESE Basic Subject Areas, other than Language Arts: Math, Science, Social Studies, and Computer Literacy Other Subject Area Teachers and Services Providers: Special Area and Vocational Teachers, Speech Language Pathologist School Administrators and Guidance Counselors Required Certification Appropriate coverage plus ESOL endorsement (Must sign ESOL agreement) Appropriate coverage Appropriate coverage Appropriate coverage Required Hours Completion Deadline 300 Beginning and Experienced Teachers: First 60 hours within 2 years and 60 hours each following year, until the ESOL Endorsement or ESOL K-12 coverage has been added to certificate. 60 Beginning Teachers: 60 hours within 2 years. Experienced Teachers: 60 hours within 1 year. 18 Beginning Teachers: 18 hours within 2 years. Experienced Teachers: 18 hours within 1 year. 60 Beginning and Experienced Employees: 60 hours within 3 years. Must complete ESOL workshop designed specifically for Administrators and Guidance Counselors Passing the ESOL K-12 Subject Area Exam Requirement Florida law requires teachers who pass the ESOL K-12 subject area exam and add ESOL K-12 to their valid Florida certificate, to complete 120 inservice hours in ESOL. The 120 inservice hours must be completed no later than three years from the date that ESOL K-12 was added to the certificate. Teachers who give language arts / reading instruction, hold the ESOL K-12 coverage on their certificate and have completed the 120 inservice hours in ESOL will not be required to complete the remainder of the 300 hours required for the ESOL endorsement. If you need assistance or have questions concerning the ESOL requirements or ESOL classes, please contact Raquel Garcia or Dalia Medina, in the Multicultural Education Department, at (407) , or through First Class . 6

10 Renewal of the Professional Certificate The five (5) year Professional Certificate may be renewed by completing one or more of the following methods, within the five-year validity period: College Coursework At least 6 semester hours of college credit earned within the validity period of the Professional Certificate. College credit must be earned from an accredited institution. A grade of at least a C must be earned. District Inservice Points 120 inservice points earned within the validity period of the Professional Certificate. (60 inservice points are equivalent to 3 semester hours of college coursework.) Subject Area Exam A passing score on the subject area examination for the subject shown on the certificate is equivalent to 3 semester hours of college credit. The exam must be taken in the subject area at the appropriate level. There is no limit on the number of exams that may be taken during one validity period. National Board Certification A certificate issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) will renew all corresponding areas shown on the Florida certificate. The NBPTS certificate may be used for renewal as long as it is valid during any part of the Florida certificate validity period. A copy of the valid national certificate must be submitted with each renewal application. College Teaching A course taught at the college level is the same as a course taken at the college level for renewal. Verification of course name, prefix, number, semester hours and dates taught must be signed and submitted by the Registrar on college letterhead. A letter from a college Dean or Department Chair is not acceptable. Teaching multiple sections of the same course may only be used as one course for renewal. Courses taught through high school/college dual enrollment are not acceptable to satisfy renewal requirements. The courses must be taught on the college campus and must be available to the general public. Adding a Subject to a Valid Professional or Temporary Certificate Adding a Subject by Passing an Appropriate Subject Area Exam A bachelor s level certification subject may be added to a valid Florida Professional Educator s Certificate by submitting an Application for Certification, the $75 fee per subject area and an original passing score report for the appropriate Florida Subject Area Test. The subject area test must have been taken after July 1, Please see Appendix B for a complete list of the subject area exams which may be used to qualify for an addition. Make sure you sign up for the appropriate exam. The Department of Education will not accept a passing test score from a subject that has been discontinued. If you are using this method to add a subject to your professional certificate, no other coursework will be required. If you are adding to a temporary certificate, you are still required to complete the professional prep education courses and all other certification requirements as listed on your DOE Statement of Status of Eligibility. 7

11 This method cannot be used to add a subject that requires a master s or higher degree (guidance and counseling; educational leadership; school psychologist; reading; administration of adult education; speech-language impaired; and local director of vocational education). The appropriate degree with subject area specialization requirements (coursework) and a passing score on the subject area test are required to add these subjects to a certificate. This method cannot be used for the addition of an endorsement to the certificate since subject area examinations are not available for endorsements. Teachers must complete all coursework requirements or complete a district add-on program to add an endorsement to a valid certificate, and submit the Application for Certification and the $75 fee. Adding a Subject Using an Out of State Certificate A subject may be added to a valid Florida certificate by submitting to the Department of Education a valid standard certificate, from another U.S. state or territory, in a subject considered comparable to a subject currently issued in Florida, along with an Application for Certification and the $75 fee per subject area. Certification Services Provided by the District The district certification staff is able to provide the following certification services for our district teachers and administrators. Please contact the District Certification Office for the appropriate application form. 1. Add a bachelor s level certification subject to a valid Florida professional certificate where a passing subject area exam is appropriate. The official score report which reflects the passing score, must be submitted to the district. The district staff does not have the ability to add a subject to a temporary certificate. Teachers who hold a temporary certificate will still need to use the DOE application form and apply directly to DOE for an addition. Please see Appendix B for a complete list of the subject area exams which may be used to qualify for an addition. 2. Add an endorsement to a valid Florida professional or temporary certificate, based upon completion of an approved district add-on inservice program. Teachers must provide the appropriate verification that the program has been completed. 3. Request a duplicate of a valid Florida certificate or a name change to a valid Florida certificate. 4. Renew a five-year professional certificate, based upon completion of the appropriate requirements. 8

12 Certification Services Provided by the State The Florida Bureau of Educator Certification offers the following services at their website 1. Use the Certificate Lookup button to view the status of any Florida teacher. 2. Use the Application Status Lookup button to view the status of your certification application. From there you can also use the View Address button to check and/or update your mailing address on file at DOE. 3. Request certification materials. Updating Address Required by Law Please read the following statute carefully. You can change your address at the Department of Education on their website or the district certification staff will change your address when you submit the Employee Address Change form to the district Human Resources Department. Please see your payroll secretary for this form Address of record.--each certified educator or applicant for certification is solely responsible for maintaining his or her current address with the Department of Education and for notifying the department in writing of a change of address. By January 1, 2005, each educator and applicant for certification must have on file with the department a current mailing address. Thereafter, a certified educator or applicant for certification who is employed by a district school board shall notify his or her employing school district within 10 days after a change of address. At a minimum, the employing district school board shall notify the department monthly of the addresses of the certified educators or applicants for certification in the manner prescribed by the department. A certified educator or applicant for certification who is not employed by a district school board shall personally notify the department in writing within 30 days after a change of address. The department shall permit electronic notification; however, it is the responsibility of the certified educator or applicant for certification to ensure that the department has received the electronic notification. 9

13 APPENDIX 10

14 Appendix A Descriptions of Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) and Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) The FTCE is composed of three (3) tests: General Knowledge Test, Subject Area Test, and the Professional Education Test. Registration bulletins for these tests may be picked up in the Human Resources lobby. Please visit the following website for general information about the testing process and for information about computer-based tests: General Knowledge Test (GK) The General Knowledge Test is a basic skills test containing the following subtests: essay and English language skills, reading and math. The Essay and English subtests measure general skills such as formulating a thesis statement, providing supporting details, arranging ideas in a logical manner, word choice, sentence structure, grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. The Reading subtest includes passages with questions measuring literal and critical comprehension. The Mathematics subtest includes arithmetic, geometry, measurement, algebra, statistics, and logical reasoning. A passing score must be received on all subtests. Professional Education Test (PEd) This is a multiple-choice test which assesses general knowledge in five content areas: personal development, appropriate student behavior, planning instruction, implementing instruction, and evaluating instruction. Subject Area Exams (SAE) Most SAEs are single tests. However, the German K-12 and Speech 6-12 tests each consist of two subtests. Although most SAEs consist of only multiple-choice questions, some (such as English 6-12, Middle Grades English 5-9, French K-12, German K-12, Spanish K-12, and Speech 6-12) also include an essay, recorded speaking and listening sections, or a videotaped section. Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) The FELE is for the certification of administrators and consists of three subtests: 1) Instructional Leadership, 2) Operational Leadership, and 3) School Leadership. Subtests 1 and 2 consist of only multiple-choice questions. Subtest 3 consists of multiple-choice questions and an essay. 11

15 Appendix B Certification Subject Examinations That May Be Used to Qualify for a Temporary Certificate or Addition Note: Only passing exam scores earned after July 1, 2002, are acceptable. Certification Subject Area Agriculture (6-12) Agriculture (6-12) Art (K-12) 12 Florida Subject Area Test that Must Be Passed Art (K-12) Biology (6-12) Biology (6-12) Business Education (6-12) Business Education (6-12) Chemistry (6-12) Chemistry (6-12) Computer Science (K-12) Computer Science (K-12) Drama (6-12) Drama (6-12) Earth-Space Science (6-12) Earth-Space Science (6-12) Educational Media Specialist (PK-12) Educational Media Specialist (PK-12) Elementary Education (K-6) Kindergarten - Grade 6 English (5-9) Middle Grades English (5-9) English (6-12) English (6-12) English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-12) Exceptional Student Education (K-12) English to Speakers of Other Languages (K-12) Exceptional Student Education (K-12) Family and Consumer Science (6-12) Family and Consumer Science (6-12) Foreign Language: French (K-12) Foreign Language: German (K-12) Foreign Language: Latin (K-12) Foreign Language: Spanish (K-12) French (K-12) German (K-12) Latin (K-12) Spanish (K-12) General Science (5-9) Middle Grades General Science (5-9) Health (K-12) Hearing Impaired (K-12) Humanities (K-12) Health (K-12) Hearing Impaired (K-12) Humanities (K-12) Journalism (6-12) Journalism (6-12) Marketing (6-12) Marketing (6-12) Mathematics (5-9) Middle Grades Mathematics (5-9) Mathematics(6-12) Mathematics (6-12) Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (5-9) Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (5-9) Music (K-12) Physical Education (K-12) Music (K-12) Physical Education (K-12) Physics (6-12) Physics (6-12)

16 Prekindergarten/Primary Education (Age 3-Gr 3) Prekindergarten/Primary Education (Age 3-Gr 3) Preschool Education (Birth - Age 4) Preschool Education (Birth Age 4) Social Science (5-9) Middle Grades Social Science (5-9) Social Science (6-12) Social Science (6-12) Speech(6-12) Speech (6-12) Technology Education (6-12) Technology Education (6-12) Visually Impaired (K-12) Visually Impaired (K-12) 13

17 Appendix C Professional Preparation (certification application received by DOE on or after July 27, 2006) The following coursework requirements are based on state certification rules in effect on July 27, Please carefully review your Statement of Status of Eligibility to ensure that you are taking the appropriate courses. Call DOE at for course approvals. Professional Preparation coursework is required which includes fifteen (15) semester hours with credit in the professional education areas below. Note: The 15 hour total applies to all subjects; however, more than 15 hours may be needed to complete all of the specific course requirements. Classroom management including safe learning environments. Courses in this area must be taken at a senior institution at the upper division level. Sample course titles include: Classroom Management Classroom Management and Teaching Classroom Management/Guidance Managing the Classroom Human development and learning. Courses taken at a community college are acceptable in this area. Sample course titles include: Learning Theories of Learning Psychology of Learning Classroom Learning Principles Psychological Foundations of Education Human Growth & Development Adolescent Psychology Developmental Psychology Educational Psychology Child Development Cognition Lifespan Development Educational assessment to include the content measured by state achievement tests and the interpretation and utilization of data to improve achievement. Courses in this area must be taken at a senior institution at the upper division level. Sample course titles include: Measurement & Evaluation in the Classroom Measurement & Evaluation in Education Measurement, Evaluation & Assessment in Education 14

18 Effective instructional strategies including the needs of diverse learners. Courses in this area must be taken at a senior institution at the upper division level. Sample course titles include: Professional Teaching Practices Teaching Practicum Middle Grades Instructional Strategies Instructional Strategies Effective Teaching in the Secondary School Field Experiences Integrated Teaching in Elementary Education Curriculum and special methods of teaching the subject. Courses in this area must be taken at a senior institution at the upper division level. This requirement applies to: All middle grades (5-9) subjects All secondary (6-12) subjects The following K-12 subjects: art, music, dance, computer science, health, foreign languages, and humanities Sample course titles include: Teaching Mathematics in the Middle School Teaching K-12 Computer Science Teaching Science in the Secondary School Secondary Social Science Curriculum and Methods This requirement does not apply to: Educational Leadership Educational Media Specialist Elementary Education Exceptional Student Guidance and Counseling Physical Education Education Admin of Adult Education Reading Visually Impaired School Psychologist School Social Worker Hearing Impaired ESOL 15

19 Foundations of research-based practices in teaching reading. Courses in this area must be taken at a senior institution at the upper division level. This requirement applies to: All middle grades (5-9) subjects All secondary (6-12) subjects Sample course titles include: Florida Online Reading Professional Development Methods of Teaching Reading in the Elementary School Foundations of Developmental Reading Developmental Reading Teaching Reading in Middle and High School Practical experience in teaching. Practical experience in teaching may be satisfied by one of the plans listed below: Six (6) semester hours earned in a college student teaching program or in a supervised internship completed in an elementary or secondary school. -or- One (1) year of full-time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school. 16

20 Appendix D Pre-Approved Professional Prep Coursework from Local Colleges (for teachers under the rule in effect July 27, 2006 and after) Course Pre-Approval To obtain pre-approval from the Department of Education (DOE) for courses not listed below, please call the Bureau of Educator Certification at You will need to provide them with the requirement(s) that you need to complete, as listed on your Statement of Status of Eligibility, the course prefix, number, title and course description. Valencia Community College Orlando, Florida Website: For Weekend College: ext or 6845 Weekend College Website: Courses appropriate for Human Development and Learning: DEP1302 DEP2004 EDP2002 Psychology of Adolescence Developmental Psychology (prerequisite required) Educational Psychology Valencia Community College Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) Orlando, Florida Website: Completion of the entire Valencia EPI Program satisfies all professional prep and education competence requirements. 17

21 Florida Southern College Orlando Campus (located at Bishop Moore High School campus) Contact: Donna Davis at Courses appropriate for Human Development and Learning: EDU1107 Foundations of Education I (Introduction to Education & Human Development and Learning) Courses appropriate for Educational Assessment to include the Content Measured by State Achievement and the Interpretation and Utilization of Data to Improve Student Achievement: EDU2235 Technology Infused Teacher, and Educational Assessments and Measurements Course appropriate for Effective Instructional Strategies AND Classroom Management requirements. Note: This course will satisfy both requirements; however, the total number of required semester hours in education coursework must still be completed. EDU3333 Foundations of Education III (Classroom Instructional Strategies and Classroom Management) Courses appropriate for Curriculum and Special Methods of Teaching the Subject: ART4099 Art for Teachers Workshops EDU4454 Special Methods in Education (Secondary English & Social Science 6-12, Secondary Mathematics & Science 6-12, Secondary Foreign Language 6-12) Course appropriate for Foundations of Researched-Based Practices in Teaching Reading: EDU3360 Teaching Elementary Reading Methods I and Examining Trends 18

22 University of Central Florida (UCF) Initial Teacher Professional Prep (ITPP) Program Orlando, Florida Website: Contact: Dr. W. Scott Wise Course appropriate for Effective Instructional Strategies AND Classroom Management requirements. Note: This course will satisfy both requirements; however, the total number of required semester hours in education coursework must still be completed. EDG 6415 Principles of Instruction and Classroom Management Course appropriate for Human Development and Learning AND Educational Assessment requirements. Note: This course will satisfy both requirements; however, the total number of required semester hours in education coursework must still be completed. EDF 6237 Principles of Learning and Introduction to Classroom Assessment Course appropriate for Education Elective Credit. Note: Credit earned through this course can be used towards the total semester hours in education coursework required by the Department of Education, but does not satisfy a specific requirement. EDF 6727 Critical Analysis of Social, Ethical, Legal and Safety Issues Related to Education Course appropriate for Foundations of Researched-Based Practices in Teaching Reading: RED 5147 Developmental Reading Courses appropriate for Curriculum and Special Methods of Teaching the Subject: ARE 5359 Teaching Art K-12 BTE 6935 Seminar in Business Education LAE 5346 Methods of Teaching English Language Arts MAE 5327 Teaching Middle School Mathematics MAE 5336 Current Methods in Secondary School Mathematics MUE 5348C K-12 Music Methods SCE 5325 Teaching Middle School Science SCE 5337 Issues and Methods in Secondary School Science Education SSE 5790 Inquiry and Instructional Analysis in Social Science Education 19

23 University of Phoenix Online Website: Contact: Brian Eastwood at ext or Todd Driggs at Courses appropriate for Classroom Management including Safe Learning Environments: VTE-ED578 Classroom Management Courses appropriate for Human Development and Learning: VTE-ED571 Growing and Learning Theories Courses appropriate for Educational Assessment to include the Content Measured by State Achievement and the Interpretation and Utilization of Data to Improve Student Achievement: EDU 574 Assessment and Evaluation Courses appropriate for Effective Instructional Strategies including the Needs of Diverse Learners: VTE-ED510 Curriculum and Instruction VTE-ED530 Secondary Methods for Classroom Teachers Courses appropriate for Curriculum and Special Methods of Teaching the Subject: MTE 544 MTE 546 MTE 547 MTE 548 Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary Math Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary English/Language Arts Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary History/Social Science Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary Science Course appropriate for Foundations of Researched-Based Practices in Teaching Reading: RDG515 Secondary Reading Methods 20

24 University of Phoenix South Orlando Learning Center Face-to-Face Classes completed in less than one week Contact: Dr. Connie Lorthridge at Courses appropriate for Classroom Management including Safe Learning Environments: EDU 578 Classroom Management Courses appropriate for Human Development and Learning: VTE-ED571 Growing and Learning Theories Courses appropriate for Educational Assessment to include the Content Measured by State Achievement and the Interpretation and Utilization of Data to Improve Student Achievement: EDU 574 Assessment and Evaluation Courses appropriate for Effective Instructional Strategies including the Needs of Diverse Learners: VTE-ED510 Curriculum and Instruction MED 530 Secondary Methods for Classroom Teachers Courses appropriate for Curriculum and Special Methods of Teaching the Subject: MTE 544 MTE 546 MTE 547 MTE 548 Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary Math Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary English/Language Arts Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary History/Social Science Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Secondary Science Course appropriate for Foundations of Researched-Based Practices in Teaching Reading: RDG515 Secondary Reading Methods 21

25 APPENDIX E Termination Prevention Checklist If you hold a temporary certificate, the state law requires that you submit a passing score on all sections of the General Knowledge exam within your first year of employment. The district requires completion of this requirement by April to be eligible for re-appointed in a teaching position for the following year. Passing scores on the CLAST exam are acceptable if taken prior to July 1, If you are an elementary teacher and hold a temporary certificate, you must also submit a passing score on your subject area exam by April to be eligible for re-appointed in your position. If you teach in a core academic subject (K-12) as defined by the federal No Child Left Behind law, you must be highly qualified for all of the core subjects being taught in order to be eligible for re-appointment for the following school year. The core academic subjects are: English; reading or language arts; mathematics; science; foreign languages; civics and government; economics; arts (visual arts, drama and music); history; and geography. Please see the NCLB contact at your school for information about your highly qualified status. If your temporary certificate expires June 30 of the current school year, all of your certification requirements must be completed by April to be eligible for re-appointment. If your professional certificate expires June 30 of the current school year, you must complete the renewal requirements and submit your certification application and fee by April to be eligible for re-appointment. Complete your ESOL inservice hours. Contact Raquel Garcia or Dalia Medina, in the Multicultural Education Department, for information about your specific ESOL requirements. 22

26 Florida Department of Education APPENDIX F Contact Information Florida Educator Certification District Contacts (407) Sonya Butler, Cathy McBride, and Denise Havlice certhelp@osceola.k12.fl.us DOE Bureau of Educator Certification (800) , edcert@fldoe.org Florida Certification Exams (413) , Professional Development Novice Educator Training (PD-NET) National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Larry Rowan, Professional Development (407) rowanl@osceola.k12.fl.us District Reading Endorsement Add-on Program Carl Watson, Professional Development (407) watsonca@osceola.k12.fl.us ESOL Requirements Dalia Medina or Raquel Garcia, Multicultural Education (407) medinad@osceola.k12.fl.us garciar@osceola.k12.fl.us American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) Toll-free: 1 (877) Valencia Community College s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) (407)