Senator Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens) and Representative Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) have announced the filing of SB 992 and HB 903. The bill, titled “An Act Relating to Educator Certifications and Training,” amends sections of Florida Statutes relating to educator preparation, certification, and ongoing training. Under this new legislation, educator training programs across the state will now be required to include comprehensive training focused on identifying, preventing, preparing for, addressing, and responding to mass casualty incidents.
The bill mandates revisions to core curricula for teacher preparation programs, necessitating the inclusion of strategies and practices specifically tailored for handling mass casualty incidents. This requirement extends to postsecondary educator preparation institutes, adjunct teaching certificates, and certified educator eligibility criteria. Additionally, the Department of Education has been tasked with developing a comprehensive list of approved trainings related to these incidents, which will be integrated into existing continuing education and in-service training requirements for instructional personnel, starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
“Keeping our students safe is, and always should be a top priority. While teachers receive on the job training, we want to make sure that those entering the career field have an in-depth understanding of how to prepare for, prevent, and if necessary, react to an active shooting situation,” stated Senator Shevrin Jones.
“It’s truly unfortunate that we have to train our teachers how to handle an active shooter situation, but in a post-Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School world, it’s a reality. HB 903 adds training requirements for future teachers as part of their education certification and will increase awareness, preparedness, and response to an active shooter situation. This bill is another step in the right direction to prevent tragedies like the one at my alma mater,” said Representative Dan Daley.
