Certification • Newsflash

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As of October 1, 2009 the following FTCE Computer-Based Tests are unavailable until futher notice:

In July 2009 the State Board of Education amended Rule 6A-4.00821, Florida Administrative Code (FAC), to include an increase in registration fees for the Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE). The new fees apply to FELE exams taken on or after September 6, 2009.

In May 2009 the State Board of Education amended Rule 6A-4.0021, Florida Administrative Code (FAC) to include an increase in registration fees for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) program. The new fees apply to test tests taken on or after September 1, 2009.

For more information, visit www.fl.nesinc.com or contact the FTCE office at 413-256-2893.

The Florida Deparment of Education announces their new Florida Teacher Certitication Excaminations (FTCE) Learning Portal, located at at https://app1.fldoe.org/ftce/Portal/ and also available on the FTCE Web page at http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/. The FTCE Learning Portal consolidates resources for teacher preparation into one Web location to convey the variety of preparation options available.

Effective July 1, 2009 a passing score on all 4 parts of the General Knowledge Test (GK) will be required in order to be eligible for instructional employment with M-DCPS. This includes applicants for full-time instructional, hourly instructional and temporary instructor (substitute teacher) positions. Registration and testing information may be found at www.fl.nesinc.com.

Teachers of core academic subjects must be Highly Qualified as defined by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The core academic subjects are elementary, English, ESOL, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages (other than English), civics, government, economics, arts, history, and geography. The Florida Department of Education has defined “arts” as music, art, and drama.

All applicants for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade must show evidence of a passing Subject Area Exam in the core subject area to be eligible for hire.

All applicants for middle and senior high school core academic subjects must have a degree major in the core subject area or a passing Subject Area Exam in the core subject area to be eligible for hire.

The Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) has been updated. All examinees seeking educational leadership certification must take the revised examination beginning January 2009. The three new subtests of the FELE are

Examinees who took the previous version of the FELE, administered prior to January 2009, and passed only one or two of the three subtests will be required to take and pass the revised FELE in its entirety. Please note that the written performance assessment that was previously in Subtest 2 is now part of Subtest 3 on the new FELE. For more information visit http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_ann_FELE.asp

Effective July 1, 2009 a passing score on all four (4) parts of the General Knowledge Exam will be required to be eligible for instructional employment.

We have been advised that the State Board of Education has approved increases in the certification examination registration fees beginning January 1, 2009. For the FTCE subject area exam, the professional education exam, and the general knowledge exam, the fee will increase from $25.00 to $50.00 for initial registration. Beginning January 1, 2009, the fee for retake examinations will be $100.00.

Also beginning January 1, 2009, there will be an increase in the FELE registration fees. The first-time registration fee will increase from $50.00 to $85.00. Each retake registration will be $100.00 effective January 1, 2009.

Beginning June 1, 2008, an additional 22 tests will be offered on computer at all available computer-based testing centers. For more information please visit the FTCE and FELE website at http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_ann_newcbt.asp

The updated Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE) will be administered beginning January 2009. All examinees seeking educational leadership certification must take the revised examination beginning January 2009. The three new subtests of the FELE are:

Examinees who took the previous version of the FELE, administered prior to January 2009, and passed only one or two of the three subtests will be required to take and pass the revised FELE in its entirety. Please note that the written performance assessment that is currently in Subtest 2 will instead be part of Subtest 3 on the new FELE.

Registration for the new test will open in October 2008. For more information about the new FELE, please visit the Florida Department of Education Web site at http://www.fldoe.org/asp/fele/.

The Critical Teacher Shortage Student Loan Forgiveness Program (CTSLF) provides financial assistance to eligible Florida teachers who hold a valid Florida Teacher’s Certificate or Florida Department of Health License by assisting them in the repayment of undergraduate and graduate educational loans that led to certification in a statewide critical teacher shortage subject area. The Florida CTSLF is a state-funded program and not the Federal Title I Program. For more information visit http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/CTS-LF.htm

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) continuously seeks ways to supplement local efforts to recruit, retain, and provide professional development to our state's educator work force. FDOE launched a redesigned and enhanced Teach In Florida website. The website is located at www.teachinflorida.com/

The Florida Department of Education amended Rule 6A-4.0012 “Application Information” to reflect an increase in the Florida Educator's Certificate application fee. Effective January 1, 2008, the state and district certificate fee will be:

State
Initial Florida Certificate (Temporary) - $75.00 (per subject)
Moving from a Temporary to a Professional Certificate - $75.00
Addition of a Subject (coverage or endorsement) to a Valid Temporary or Professional Certificate - $75.00 (per subject)
Renewal of a Valid Professional Certificate - $75.00
Reinstatement of an Expired Professional Certificate- $75.00

District
Part-Time Adult - $75.00 (per subject)
Part-Time and Full-time Vocational - $75.00 (per subject)
Renewal or Reinstatement -$75.00
Initial Temporary Instructor - $20.00
Temporary Instructor Renewal - $75.00
Temporary Instructor Reinstatement - $20.00 (non-active employee)

Florida educators can use college credit earned through CLEP to renew their teaching certification. CLEP exams test knowledge that corresponds to a variety of college-level courses, including Introduction to Educational Psychology and Spanish, French, and German Language. For more information click College Level Examination Program®.

The Florida Department of Education is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference is tentatively scheduled for June 29–July 2, 2008. More information can be found at http://www.justreadflorida.com/conference/

"Just for Teachers" 2007-2008 newsletter series from the Florida Department of Education.

Registration for Summer 2007

Open Enrollment

Open enrollment allows teachers across the state to register directly with FOR-PD. Teachers are grouped with other teachers from their district or surrounding districts. This option is ideal for smaller districts who feel they cannot register a full district section. Many districts post these dates on their district professional development site or send them out directly to teachers through various district communications.

The open enrollment web site can be found at http://forpd.ucf.edu/register/register.html.

Open Enrollment Summer 2007
4/02/2007 at 9 AM EST Open enrollment begins on FOR-PD Web site.
5/21/2007 at 5 PM EST Open enrollment closes.
6/4/2007 Spring OE courses begin.
9/10/2007 Spring OE courses end.

Obtaining the Reading Endorsement via The American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)
Teachers can now use ABCTE’s Reading Certificate Program to earn the Florida Reading Endorsement. The
comprehensive reading endorsement program includes a self-assessment, a learning plan developed in collaboration with
an experienced teacher, a CD-ROM with six modules of instruction, and a final exam. The program fee is $250. To enroll
in the program, visit http://www.abcte.org/reading. Upon completion, teachers will need to submit an application and
fee to the Florida Department of Education to have the Reading Endorsement added to their certificate. Additional
questions should be directed directly to ABCTE – Colleen Corliss at 202-261-2636 or via email at ccorliss@abcte.org.

Important Information for Teachers regarding Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes:

Florida Statutes, permits certain applicants who do not meet the 12-month legal residence requirement to be classified as Florida residents or “temporary residents” for tuition purposes. The institution will require documentation in support of the above exceptions; however, the student does not have to show 12 months of residence in Florida prior to qualifying. This includes Full time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the State public school system, community colleges and institutions of higher education (and spouse/dependent children). You may view the full-text version of FLDOE guidelines at http://www.facts.org/html_sw/residencyGuidelines.html.

Teachers in the school district can now use ABCTE’s reading Certificate program to earn their Florida State Reading Endorsement.

Current teachers, Passport to Teaching candidates, parents and other individuals can now earn the ABCTE reading professional certificate. The certificate program offers individuals the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of research-based techniques for reading instruction.

The program fee for the Reading Certificate is $250. Teachers can enroll in the ABCTE reading certificate program by visiting https://mypass.abcte.org. Please inform the principals and teachers in your district that our reading certificate program is now recognized in Florida.

Here is the latest news for those interested in enrolling in FOR-PD.

Summer Registration Update:

Open Enrollment Registration
Registration Begins: April 2, 2007 at 9 AM EST
Registration Closes: May 21, 2007 at 5 PM EST
Courses Begin: June 4, 2007
Courses Close: September 10, 2007

http://forpd.ucf.edu/

We are pleased to announce the availability of the Elementary K-6 Online Content Review Module. This comprehensive Online module is designed to help exceptional student education (ESE) teachers review their knowledge in the areas of language arts, math, science and technology, social science, physical education/health, and visual arts/music as required in the Elementary K-6 certification exam.

The Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum Online Content Review Module, sponsored by the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services is designed to help educators review their knowledge in the areas of English, math, science and social science as required in the Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum 5-9 certification exam.