Senator Annette Taddeo, Representative Robert Asencio File Legislation to Improve Florida’s Teacher Recruitment, Certification, and Retention Processes

Senator Annette Taddeo (D-Miami) and Representative Robert Asencio (D-Miami) have filed SB 1704 and HB 1269 to establish the Blue-Ribbon Panel Task Force on Teacher Recruitment, Certification, and Retention within the Department of Education to investigate and provide recommendations to improve K-12 teacher recruitment, certification, and retention. The bill also makes changes to teacher certification, allowing certain scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test and a Graduate Record Examination Subject Area Test to meet particular needs for certification.
“Florida has a serious problem of teacher shortages and high turnover rates that directly affects our children – I have noticed it in my daughter’s and her friends’ schools across Miami-Dade. We must take action to remedy the situation effectively and swiftly,” stressed Senator Annette Taddeo.
“Waiving certification fees for prospective teachers and allowing standardized tests scores to be used for specific certification requirements can only serve to cut down on teacher turnover and shortages,” stated Representative Robert Asencio. “With the arrival of our Puerto Rican and Virgin Islander neighbors fleeing the destruction of Hurricane Maria, it’s crucial that we do everything we can to ensure our schools have the teachers they need to serve their students.”
The task force will submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which will also be published on their websites. Membership will be composed of thirteen various public education officials and others appointed by education stakeholders
If enacted, SB 1704 and HB 1269 will also make certification less expensive for teachers and prospective teachers by waiving fees for first time applicants and licensed educators seeking renewal. But, if an applicant doesn’t pass the exam on their first attempt they are responsible for all fees.
The bill also attempts to bring transparency to the state examination process for teacher certification by changing the public records exemption on testing materials from indefinitely to three years. Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, and every three years after, the Commissioner of Education must publish a previously administered general knowledge examination and a Florida subject area examination for each subject area.