FL H1181

State Board of Education must establish by rule subject area certificates in bilingual education for prekindergarten-primary and kindergarten-grade 12 educators

Certificate requirements include: meeting existing certification standards, completing coursework in bilingualism/biliteracy/bilingual education, completing methods and curriculum coursework for two-language instruction, completing clinical experience in bilingual settings, and demonstrating bilingual/biliterate proficiency

All courses meeting bilingual education requirements must be taught by faculty with a terminal degree in Bilingual Education, Applied Linguistics, World Language, TESOL, or Modern Language Education who have experience teaching, researching, or providing professional development in dual language or bilingual settings

Subject area certificates must be available to educators beginning July 1, 2018

Act takes effect July 1, 2017