Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-4.002: General Provisions
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to align the provisions for the use of classroom teaching experience to the proposed new requirements for the college courses option for teacher professional preparation in Rule 6A-4.006, FAC., and to add language to establish that the recognition of national certificates shall be for subjects comparable and at the same degree level of training as Florida certification. The effect is consistency with Rule 6A-4.006, FAC., and current statutes.
SUMMARY: The change to the provisions for the use of classroom teaching experience in lieu of college credit is necessary to align to the proposed changes to the college course requirements in the teacher preparation course analysis option. Clarification relating to national certificates is provided to ensure a uniform standard for all Florida certificates issued.
SUMMARY 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: 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE TIME, DATE AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
TIME AND DATE: 8:30 a.m., June 20, 2006
PLACE: Orlando, Florida (For exact location please contact Lynn Abbott, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, #1514, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400; (850)245-9661.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Beverly Gregory, Chief, Bureau of Educator Certification, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 201, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-4.002 General Provisions.

(1)(a) through – (i) No change. Educator’s certificates.

(j) Certificates from national certification organizations.  Certificates issued by national certification organizations approved in Florida Statute or by the State Board of Education shall:

1. Be issued in a subject comparable to a Florida certification subject,

2. Require the same or higher degree level of training required for certification in that subject in Florida, and

3. Official documentation of the national certificate shall be a photocopy of the front and back of the original certificate.

(k) (j) Alteration of certificates. The alteration of any certificate with the intent to mislead or defraud shall be sufficient grounds for revocation of the certificate. It shall be incumbent upon the certificate holder to establish evidence of the absence of intent to mislead or defraud.

(2) through (4) No change.

(5)(a) No change.

(b) Utilization of teaching experience. A year of full-time teaching experience may be accepted in lieu of three (3) semester hours of college credit. A maximum of three (3) years of teaching experience may be used in lieu of nine (9) semester hours of college credit. Not more than one (1) year of teaching experience may be used in lieu of three (3) semester hours of college credit toward satisfying requirements in professional preparation. Not more than two (2) years of teaching experience may be used in lieu of six (6) semester hours of college credit toward satisfying requirements in professional preparation, or a specialization area. When teaching experience is used to satisfy a course requirement in a specialization area or to satisfy a subject special methods course requirement in professional preparation, the teaching experience shall be comparable to the course requirement acquired in the subject or field and at the appropriate instructional level to which it is applied.

(6) No change.

(a) An Official Statement of Status of Eligibility shall be issued when the applicant meets requirements specified in Section 1012.56(1), Florida Statutes.

(b) through (c) No change.

Specific Authority 1001.02, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1012.54, 1012.55, 1012.56 FS. History–Amended 4-10-64, 4-8-68, 4-11-70, 10-18-71, 3-19-72, 12-18-72, 6-17-73, 4-19-74, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 6-22-76, 6-27-77, 12-26-77, 4-27-78, 7-1-79, 7-2-79, 6-26-80, 7-28-81, 1-3-82, 5-11-82, 6-22-83, 3-28-84, 1-31-85, 3-13-85,  Formerly 6A-4.02, Amended 12-25-86, 10-18-88, 10-10-89, 4-15-91, 11-10-92, 5-30-94, 11-13-96, 10-15-01, 12-27-04, ________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Deputy Chancellor, K-12 Educator Quality, Department of Education
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Chancellor Cheri Pierson-Yecke, K-12 Public Schools
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 5, 2006
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: April 7, 2006.