SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1718

Educator Preparation and Certification
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SPONSOR
Calatayud
FILED BY
Alexis Calatayud — District 38, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/HB 561 — SB 1718 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Educator Preparation and Certification; Authorizing an educator preparation institute to allow certain program participants to enroll in introductory coursework; revising the criteria for the award of a temporary educator certification to include certain persons with expired professional certificates; requiring that subject area coverages and endorsements for a certificateholder be reinstated with the certificateholder’s professional certificate; requiring the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching for specified purposes, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Allows expired teachers to reinstate certificates with full endorsements.

Teachers with expired professional certificates can now reinstate them, including all subject area coverages and endorsements held at expiration. This removes the need to re-earn specific endorsements after a lapse.

Educator preparation institutes may allow participants to enroll in coursework while working to obtain an eligible statement of status of eligibility. This permits earlier enrollment in introductory classes before full certification requirements are met.

The Florida Center for Teaching Excellence must allow certified educators to use its professional learning system at no cost for certificate renewal or reinstatement. It must also submit inservice points earned through the system on the educator's behalf.

The bill requires the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching at the University of South Florida. This replaces the previous collaboration with the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Expanded Temporary Certification Eligibility majors. 1012.56(7)(b)

AIAllows individuals with expired professional certificates to qualify for temporary educator certification.

“Completes the requirements in paragraphs (2)(a)-(f) and whose previously issued professional certificate has expired” bill text, line 115 →
§ 2 Mandatory Reinstatement of Endorsements majors. 1012.585(5)

AIRequires that all subject area coverages and endorsements held at expiration be reinstated with the professional certificate.

“including each subject area coverage and endorsement held by the certificateholder at the time of the certificate's expiration” bill text, line 129 →
§ 3 Free Access to Professional Learning System moderates. 1012.981(3)(b)

AIRequires the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to allow certified educators to use its system at no cost for renewal or reinstatement.

“Shall allow a certified educator seeking to renew or reinstate his or her certificate to use the system at no cost” bill text, line 201 →
§ 4 Early Coursework Enrollment moderates. 1004.85(3)(b)

AIPermits educator preparation institutes to allow participants to take coursework before obtaining an eligible statement of status.

“An educator preparation institute may allow a program participant to enroll in and complete coursework while the participant is working to obtain an eligible statement of status” bill text, line 53 →
TIMELINE
3/5/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 561 (Ch....
3/5/2026
Substituted CS/HB 561 -SJ 612
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 612
3/2/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/24/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/19/2026
Now in Rules
2/18/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education;...
2/13/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12...
1/27/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
1/27/2026
Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/27/26, 3:30 pm, 412...
1/16/2026
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
1/9/2026
Filed
10 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1004.85
+40 / −1
s. 1012.56
+17 / −1
s. 1012.585
+33 / −56
s. 1012.981
+87 / −5
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →