Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-4.0021: Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this proposed rule amendment is to update the fee structure for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination program. The rule will increase fees for first-time examinees retaking a failed examination. The effect of this change is that examinees will be required to pay a fee more aligned with the real cost of the examinations.
SUMMARY: This rule is amended to update the fee structure for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination program.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1012.59(1) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.59(1) FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: April 15, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: 325 West Gaines, Suite 1703/07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Cornelia Orr, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Accountability, Research, and Measurement, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 414, Tallahassee, Florida; (850)245-0513

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-4.0021 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) Registration, late registration and refunds.

(a) Registration for the examinations shall be for the initial examinations or for one (1) or more examinations not previously passed. To register to take the examinations, an applicant shall submit a completed application which shall be received by the test administration agency at least fifty (50) days preceding the examination date.

1. Before October 1, 2004, a A complete application shall consist of the following:

a. A completed application Form CG-20-03A, Registration Application: Certification Examinations for Florida Educators, which includes the applicant’s signature. Form CG-20-03A, Registration Application: Certification Examinations for Florida Educators is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective October 2004. This form may be obtained without cost from the Bureau of Educator Certification, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

b. A twenty-five (25) dollar fee for each registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, for each registration for the professional skills examination, and for each registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test.

c. A charge of one hundred (100) dollars in addition to the fees described in sub-subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)1.b., F.A.C., for certification applicants taking a supplemental examination.

2. Beginning October 1, 2004, a completed application shall consist of the following:

a. A completed application Form CG-20-04, Registration Application: Certification Examinations for Florida Educators, which includes the applicant’s signature. Form CG-20-04 is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule to become effective October 1, 2004. This form may be obtained without cost from the Bureau of Educator Certification, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or may be submitted online via the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations/Florda Educational Leadership Examination Program website at http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/apply.asp.

b. Before January 1, 2009, a A twenty-five (25) dollar fee for each registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, each registration for the professional skills examination, and each registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test.  Beginning January 1, 2009, a fifty (50) dollar fee for each first-time registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination, each first-time registration for the professional skills examination, and each first-time registration for the general knowledge test or any combination of subtests for the general knowledge test.  A fee of one hundred (100) dollars for each retake registration for a subject area specialty examination, the professional skills examination, or the generla knowledge test, effective January 1, 2009.

c. A charge of one hundred (100) dollars in addition to the fees described in sub-subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)1.2.b., F.A.C., for certification applicants taking a supplemental examination.

2.3. An incomplete application shall be returned to the applicant. Applications which are completed and resubmitted to the test administration agency after the fifty (50) day deadline shall be acceptable only if the applicant complies with requirements specified in paragraph 6A-4.0021(4)(b), F.A.C.

(b) Late registration for the examinations shall be for the initial examinations or for one (1) or more examinations not previously passed. An applicant who did not submit a completed application to the test administration agency within the fifty (50) day deadline may register for the examination by completing the requirements listed in subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)1., F.A.C., and submitting a fifteen (15) dollar late charge for each registration for a subject area specialty examination; each registration for the professional skills examination and each registration for any combination of the General Knowledge Test subtests. Beginning October 1, 2003, an applicant who did not submit a completed application to the test administration agency within the fifty (50) day deadline may register for the examinations by completing the requirements listed in subparagraph 6A-4.0021(4)(a)2., F.A.C., and submitting a fifteen (15) dollar late charge for each registration for a subject area specialty examination or any combination of subtests for a subject area specialty examination; each registration for the professional education examination; and each registration for the general knowledge examination or any combination of the general knowledge subtests. All items shall be received by the test administration agency at least thirty (30) days preceding the examination date. Late registrations shall be accepted on a space available basis.

(c) Refunds. Fees shall be refunded provided written requests for refunds are received by the test administration agency at least thirty (30) days preceding the examination date. Failure to appear for or to complete an examination shall result in forfeiture of fees.

(5) through (15) No change.

Specific Authority 1012.55(1), 1012.56, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 1012.56 FS. History–New 8-27-80, Amended 1-11-82, 1-6-83, 5-3-83, 10-5-83, 10-15-84, Formerly 6A-4.021, Amended 12-25-86, 4-26-89, 4-16-90, 7-10-90, 4-22-91, 10-3-91, 8-10-92, 11-28-93, 4-12-95, 7-1-96, 9-30-96, 10-1-99, 7-17-00, 7-16-01, 3-24-02, 7-16-02, 3-24-03, 7-21-03, 12-23-03, 7-13-04, 5-24-05, 5-23-06, 5-21-07,________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Cornelia Orr, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Accountability, Research, and Measurement
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Jay Pfeiffer, Deputy Commissioner, Accountability, Research, and Measurement
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: March 11, 2008
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: October 19, 2007