FL H1111

Department of Education must issue temporary educator certificates within 14 calendar days of request and provide electronic notice to employing schools; applicants receive official statement of eligibility status.

Applicants for professional certificates meeting specific criteria, including completion of approved professional development programs and high performance ratings, are not required to pass the Florida professional education competency examination.

Charter schools and charter management organizations may develop professional development certification and education competency programs; Department of Education must adopt approval standards by December 31, 2017, and all programs must be approved by June 30, 2018.

Teacher preparation programs must include scientifically researched, evidence-based reading instruction with explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension.

Certificate renewal requirements expanded to include training in explicit, systematic, and sequential reading approaches for educators in kindergarten through grade 6 effective July 1, 2020; Department must disseminate proven professional development programs meeting specified criteria.