THE BILL ITSELF
SB 510
Educator Certifications and Training
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 510 By Senator Jones 34-00161-26 2026510__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to educator certifications and
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training; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; revising the core
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curricula for certain teacher preparation programs to
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include training relating to mass casualty incidents;
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amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; requiring certain
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postsecondary educator preparation institutes’
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programs to include training relating to mass casualty
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incidents; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
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1012.56, F.S.; revising the certified educator
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eligibility criteria to require training in mass
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casualty incidents; creating s. 1012.5841, F.S.;
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requiring the Department of Education to develop a
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list of approved trainings relating to mass casualty
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incidents; beginning in a specified school year,
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requiring the department to include such trainings in
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existing continuing education and inservice training
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requirements for instructional personnel; providing
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applicability; authorizing the State Board of
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Education to adopt rules; amending ss. 1012.55 and
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1012.57, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing
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an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
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1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
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teacher preparation programs.—
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(2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
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(b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
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state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
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not limited to, the following:
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1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
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Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
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2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
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curricula and instruction.
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3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
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instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading
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which improve reading performance for all students, including
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explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching
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phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text
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comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The
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primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is
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phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional
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strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three
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cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for
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teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include
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visual information and strategies that improve background and
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experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language
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and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to
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teach word reading.
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4. Content literacy and mathematics practices.
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5. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
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language learners.
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6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
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with disabilities.
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7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on student
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needs.
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8. Strategies and practices to support evidence-based
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content aligned to state standards and grading practices.
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9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification of a
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student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge and
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the referral of such student to a mental health professional for
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support.
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10. Strategies to support the use of technology in
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education and distance learning.
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11. Strategies and practices to support effective,
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research-based assessment and grading practices aligned to the
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state’s academic standards.
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12. Strategies and practices for identifying, preventing,
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preparing for, addressing, and responding to mass casualty
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incidents.
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Section 2. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of
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section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
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(3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
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this section may offer competency-based certification programs
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specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
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degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
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educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
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preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
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certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
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must implement a program developed by the institute and approved
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by the department for this purpose. Approved programs shall be
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available for use by other approved educator preparation
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institutes.
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(a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
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the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
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pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
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statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
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department shall approve a certification program if the
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institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
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implement a competency-based program that instructs and assesses
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each candidate in the following:
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1.a. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices approved
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by the state board.
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b. The state academic standards provided under s. 1003.41,
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including scientifically based reading instruction, content
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literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject
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identified on the statement of status of eligibility or the
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temporary certificate.
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c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
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instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading
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which improve reading performance for all students, including
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explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching
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phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text
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comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The
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primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is
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phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional
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strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three
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cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for
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teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include
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visual information and strategies which improve background and
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experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language
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and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to
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teach word reading.
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d. Strategies and practices for identifying, preventing,
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preparing for, addressing, and responding to mass casualty
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incidents.
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2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
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certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
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teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
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certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
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competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
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3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
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subject area specified in the educational plan under the
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supervision of qualified educators. The state board shall
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determine in rule the amount of field experience necessary to
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serve as the teacher of record, beginning with candidates
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entering a program in the 2023-2024 school year.
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4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
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procedures required for participants who complete the program to
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meet any requirements related to the background screening
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pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
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certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
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(b) Each program participant must:
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1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
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1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility in
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the certification subject area of the educational plan and meet
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the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f)
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before participating in field experiences.
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2. Demonstrate competency and participate in field
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experiences that are appropriate to his or her educational plan
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prepared under paragraph (a). Beginning with candidates entering
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an educator preparation institute in the 2022-2023 school year,
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a candidate for certification in a coverage area identified
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pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must successfully complete all
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competencies for a reading endorsement, including completion of
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the endorsement practicum through the candidate’s field
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experience, in order to graduate from the program.
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3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate his
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or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she is
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seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
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student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
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setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving
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a passing score on the professional education competency
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examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area
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examination for the subject area certification which is required
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by state board rule.
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Section 3. Present paragraphs (g), (h), and (i) of
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subsection (2) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are
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redesignated as paragraphs (h), (i), and (j), respectively, a
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new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection, and paragraphs
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(a), (b), and (d) of subsection (7) of that section are amended,
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to read:
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1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
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(2) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.—To be eligible to seek
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certification, a person must:
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(g) Have received training that includes strategies and
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practices for identifying, preventing, preparing for,
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addressing, and responding to mass casualty incidents.
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(7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
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(a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
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certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
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who fulfills one of the following:
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1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
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subsection (2).
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2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
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12:
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a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
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(i) (2)(a)-(h) .
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b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
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science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
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c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
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advanced degree.
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d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
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performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
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student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
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assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
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Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
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examination.
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e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
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education competency examination required by state board rule.
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3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
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(i) (2)(a)-(h) and completes a professional learning
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certification program approved by the department pursuant to
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paragraph (8)(c) or an educator preparation institute approved
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by the department pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who
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completes one of these programs and is rated highly effective as
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determined by his or her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34
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is not required to take or achieve a passing score on the
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professional education competency examination in order to be
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awarded a professional certificate.
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(b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to
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any applicant who:
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1. Completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs
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(2)(a)-(g) (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content
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requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates
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mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and
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holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the
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Department of Education at the level required for the subject
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area specialization in state board rule;
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2. For a subject area specialization for which the state
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board otherwise requires a bachelor’s degree, documents 48
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months of active-duty military service with an honorable
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discharge or a medical separation; completes the requirements
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outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (d)-(g) (d)-(f) ;
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completes the subject area content requirements specified in
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state board rule or demonstrates mastery of subject area
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knowledge pursuant to subsection (5); and documents completion
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of 60 college credits with a minimum cumulative grade point
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average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as provided by one or more
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accredited institutions of higher learning or a nonaccredited
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institution of higher learning identified by the Department of
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Education as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s
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degree or higher; or
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3. Is enrolled in a state-approved teacher preparation
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program under s. 1004.04; is actively completing the required
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program field experience or internship at a public school;
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completes the requirements outlined in paragraphs (2)(a), (b),
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and (d)-(g) (d)-(f) ; completes the subject area content
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requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates
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mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5);
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and documents completion of 60 college credits with a minimum
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cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as
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provided by one or more accredited institutions of higher
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learning or a nonaccredited institution of higher learning
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identified by the Department of Education as having a quality
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program resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher.
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(d) The department shall issue a temporary apprenticeship
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certificate to any applicant who meets the requirements of
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paragraphs (2)(a), (b), and (d)-(g) (d)-(f) .
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At least 1 year before an individual’s temporary certificate is
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set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the
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individual of the date on which his or her certificate will
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expire and provide a list of each method by which the
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qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed.
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Section 4. Section 1012.5841, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1012.5841 Continuing education and inservice training for
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identifying, preventing, preparing for, addressing, and
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responding to mass casualty incidents.—
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(1) The Department of Education shall develop a list of
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approved trainings to prepare instructional personnel to
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identify, prevent, prepare for, address, and respond to mass
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casualty incidents.
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(2) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the
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department shall incorporate the training included in the list
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required under subsection (1) into existing requirements for the
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continuing education or inservice training of instructional
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personnel. The requirements of this section may not add to the
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total hours required for continuing education or inservice
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training as currently established by the department.
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(3) A person has no cause of action for any loss or damage
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caused by an act or omission resulting from the implementation
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of this section or resulting from any training required by this
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section unless the loss or damage was caused by willful or
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wanton misconduct. This section does not create any new duty of
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care or basis of liability.
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(4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
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implement this section.
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Section 5. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 1012.55,
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Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.—
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(5) A person who is employed as a school social worker is
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exempt from the educator certification requirements in s.
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1012.56(2)(h) and (i) s. 1012.56(2)(g) and (h) relating to the
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mastery of general and subject area knowledge.
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(6) Notwithstanding this section and ss. 1012.32 and
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1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
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the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow for the
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issuance of a classical education teaching certificate, upon the
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request of a classical school, to any applicant who fulfills the
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requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and
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(11) and any other criteria established by the department. Such
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certificate is only valid at a classical school. For the
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purposes of this subsection, the term “classical school” means a
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school that implements and provides professional learning in a
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classical education school model that emphasizes the development
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of students in the principles of moral character and civic
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virtue through a well-rounded education in the liberal arts and
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sciences that is based on the classical trivium stages of
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grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
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Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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1012.57 Certification of adjunct educators.—
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(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32, 1012.55,
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and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to the
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contrary, district school boards and charter school governing
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boards shall adopt rules to allow for the issuance of an adjunct
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teaching certificate to any applicant who fulfills the
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requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(g) s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and
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(11) and who has expertise in the subject area to be taught. An
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applicant is considered to have expertise in the subject area to
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be taught if the applicant demonstrates sufficient subject area
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mastery through passage of a subject area test or has achieved
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an industry certification in the subject area to be taught.
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Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.