July 19, 2023 — The State Board of Education approved several new rules, including Rule 6A-4.002, to help with teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
Educator Certification Rule Amendments
- Allow educators to waive the General Knowledge test if they have taken and failed the test and received at least three years of support, and received effective or highly effective summative evaluations for each of the three most recent years they were rated.
- Allow educators to waive the Professional Education test if they have completed required professional preparation courses, demonstrated professional education competencies, and received effective or highly effective summative evaluations for three years.
- Allow educators to demonstrate subject area mastery if they have a master’s or higher degree in a bachelor-level subject area for which a Florida subject area examination exists, as identified in the list incorporated into this rule.
Click here to read Rule 6A-4.002.
Designation of Restrooms and Changing Facilities in K-12 Educational Institutions
- Requires restrooms and changing facilities at K-12 education institutions be designated for exclusive use by biological males or biological females, or that there is a unisex restroom/changing facility.
- School districts must also update their student codes of conduct and certify their schools are in compliance with the new restrooms and changing facilities requirement.
Education Records
- Directs districts to develop procedures for a parent to specify any change from the child’s legal name in school, thereby ensuring transparency for parents.
The July 19, 2023, State Board agenda and supporting materials can be found here.