SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-106

No. CS/HB 561

Educator Preparation and Certification
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SPONSOR
Education & Employment Committee; Gerwig
FILED BY
Anne Gerwig — District 93, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

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; revising requirements for reinstatement of a professional certificate; providing that certain requirements for reinstatement of a professional certificate may not be satisfied using specific inservice points; requiring the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching for specified purposes; requiring, rather than authorizing, the center to submit a specified professional learning system for approval by the department; requiring the center to allow certain certified educators to use such professional learning system for specified purposes at no cost to the educator; requiring the center to submit inservice points for such educators to the department; requiring the center to provide information on certain school district professional learning systems to certain certified educators, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates free professional learning for certificate renewals.

The Florida Center for Teaching Excellence must now submit its professional learning system for department approval. This changes a previous option into a mandatory requirement for the center.

Certified educators seeking to renew or reinstate their certificates can use the center's system at no cost. The center must also submit any inservice points earned by the educator to the department on their behalf.

The center must provide educators with information on school district professional learning systems that offer inservice training to non-employees. This ensures educators have access to necessary training resources for their certification status.

Educator preparation institutes may now allow participants to enroll in and complete coursework while they are still working to obtain an eligible statement of status of eligibility.

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

AIAdds a new pathway for individuals with expired professional certificates to obtain a temporary educator certificate.

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

AIRequires that all subject area coverages and endorsements held at the time of 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 Reinstatement Requirements majors. 1012.585(5)(b)

AIReplaces the requirement to pass a subject area examination with a requirement to complete specific college credits or inservice points.

“Documents completion of 6 college credits during the 5 years immediately preceding reinstatement of the expired certificate, completion of 120 inservice points, or a combination” bill text, line 136 →
§ 4 Mandatory Professional Learning System moderates. 1012.981(3)(a)

AIChanges the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence's submission of a professional learning system from optional to mandatory.

“Must submit a professional learning system for approval pursuant to s. 1012.98.”
§ 5 Free Access for Educators moderates. 1012.981(3)(b)

AIRequires the center to allow certified educators seeking renewal or reinstatement to use the professional learning system at no cost.

“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 →
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-106
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/21/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/5/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 612
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 612
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 612
3/5/2026
Substituted for SB 1718 -SJ 612
3/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/5/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 612
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/11/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/11/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/10/2026
CS Filed
2/10/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/10/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable with CS by Education & Employment Committee
2/6/2026
PCS added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
2/4/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
2/4/2026
Reported out of PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
2/4/2026
Favorable by PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
2/2/2026
Added to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/14/2026
Now in PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Reported out of Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable by Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee agenda
12/12/2025
Now in Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Careers & Workforce Subcommittee
12/1/2025
Filed
35 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1004.85
+40 / −1
s. 1012.56
+16 / −1
s. 1012.585
+31 / −55
s. 1012.981
+85 / −5
STAFF ANALYSES