6A-4.0021: Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt new competencies and skills for the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 examination, effective July 1, 2013, and new passing score requirements for the Biology 6-12, Chemistry 6-12, Earth-Space Science 6-12, Middle Grades General Science 5-9, Physics 6-12, Health K-12, and Physical Education K-12 examinations, effective September 1, 2012. The effect of these changes will be updated competencies and skills for the FTCE and modification of existing passing score requirements for the affected subject area examinations.
SUMMARY: The rule is proposed for amendment to adopt the Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Eighteenth Edition, and new passing score requirements for seven subject area examinations will be adopted.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: 1) no requirement for SERC was triggered under Section 120.541(1), Florida Statutes, and; 2) based on past experiences with the FTCE rule and rules of this nature, the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, do not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), Florida Statutes.
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.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1012.56(9) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1012.56 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: July 17, 2012, 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Phil Canto, Chief, Bureau of Postsecondary Assessment, Office of Assessment, Division of Accountability, Research, and Measurement, 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 414, Tallahassee, FL 32399, (850)245-0513
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
6A-4.0021 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations.
(1) through (c)2. No change.
3. Before January 1, 2012, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication, “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Fifteenth Edition,” which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2012, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Sixteenth Edition,” (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-00247) which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Beginning January 1, 2013, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Seventeenth Edition,” which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule. Beginning July 1, 2013, the subject area competencies and skills contained in the publication “Competencies and Skills Required for Teacher Certification in Florida, Eighteenth Edition,” which is incorporated by reference and made part of this rule. Copies of these publications may be obtained as described in subparagraph (2)(c)1. of this rule.
(3) No change.
(4) Registration, fees, 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 to the test administration agency.
A completed application shall consist of the following:
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 September 1, 2009. 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/Florida Educational Leadership Examination Program Web site at http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce.
(b) through (8) No change.
(9) Scoring of the subject area specialty examinations.
(a) through (t) No change.
(u) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Biology 6-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-three (83) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012.
(v) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Chemistry 6-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of seventy-one (71) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012.
(w) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Middle Grades General Science 5-9 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-four (84) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012.
(x) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Earth-Space Science 6-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-three (83) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012.
(y) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Physics 6-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of sixty (60) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January 2011 and April 2012.
(z) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Physical Education K-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-five (85) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered in January and February 2012.
(aa) Effective September 1, 2012, the passing score for the Health K-12 examination shall be a scaled score of at least two hundred (200). This scaled score shall be equivalent to a raw score of eighty-three (83) correct items on the test used for standard setting and administered between January and March 2012.
(bb)(u) The Commissioner of Education shall review the passing score for each of the General Knowledge Subtests, each of the subject area specialty examinations, and the professional education test not less than once every five (5) years and determine whether to recommend to the State Board of Education to maintain or change the existing passing scores.
(10) through (11) No change.
Rulemaking Authority 1012.55(1), 1012.56, 1012.59 FS. Law Implemented 1012.55, 1012.56, 1012.59 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, 5-19-08, 7-21-08, 7-9-09, 6-22-10, 6-21-11,_________.