Bill Text: FL S1112 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mathematics Instruction
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-25 - Filed [S1112 Detail]
Download: Florida-2025-S1112-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1112
By Senator Calatayud
38-01157-25 20251112__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to mathematics instruction; amending
3 s. 1004.04, F.S.; revising rules for teacher
4 preparation programs to include a minimum of 85
5 instructional hours in specified content in
6 mathematics; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; revising
7 requirements for certificate programs from educator
8 preparation institutes to include specified content in
9 mathematics; amending s. 1006.31, F.S.; revising the
10 criteria that instructional materials reviewers use to
11 evaluate mathematics instructional materials; amending
12 s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising requirements for a
13 professional learning certification program to include
14 specified content in mathematics; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
20 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
21 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
22 teacher preparation programs.—
23 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
24 (b) The rules to establish uniform core curricula for each
25 state-approved teacher preparation program must include, but are
26 not limited to, the following:
27 1. Candidate instruction and assessment in the Florida
28 Educator Accomplished Practices across content areas.
29 2. The use of state-adopted content standards to guide
30 curricula and instruction.
31 3. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
32 instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading
33 which improve reading performance for all students, including
34 explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching
35 phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text
36 comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The
37 primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is
38 phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional
39 strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three
40 cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for
41 teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include
42 visual information and strategies that improve background and
43 experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language
44 and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to
45 teach word reading.
46 4. Content in literacy and mathematics practices.
47 5. Content in mathematics, including numbers and
48 operations, algebraic reasoning, measurement, geometric
49 reasoning, and data analysis and probability at the elementary
50 level, for a minimum of 85 instructional hours.
51 6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of English
52 language learners.
53 7.6. Strategies appropriate for the instruction of students
54 with disabilities.
55 8.7. Strategies to differentiate instruction based on
56 student needs.
57 9.8. Strategies and practices to support evidence-based
58 content aligned to state standards and grading practices.
59 10.9. Strategies appropriate for the early identification
60 of a student in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge
61 and the referral of such student to a mental health professional
62 for support.
63 11.10. Strategies to support the use of technology in
64 education and distance learning.
65 12.11. Strategies and practices to support effective,
66 research-based assessment and grading practices aligned to the
67 state’s academic standards.
68 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
69 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
70 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
71 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
72 this section may offer competency-based certification programs
73 specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
74 degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
75 educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
76 preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
77 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
78 must implement a program developed by the institute and approved
79 by the department for this purpose. Approved programs shall be
80 available for use by other approved educator preparation
81 institutes.
82 (a) Within 90 days after receipt of a request for approval,
83 the Department of Education shall approve a preparation program
84 pursuant to the requirements of this subsection or issue a
85 statement of the deficiencies in the request for approval. The
86 department must shall approve a certification program if the
87 institute provides evidence of the institute’s capacity to
88 implement a competency-based program that instructs and assesses
89 each candidate in the following:
90 1.a. The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices approved
91 by the state board.
92 b. The state academic standards provided under s. 1003.41,
93 including scientifically based reading instruction, content
94 literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject
95 identified on the statement of status of eligibility or the
96 temporary certificate.
97 c. Scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
98 instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading
99 which improve reading performance for all students, including
100 explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching
101 phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text
102 comprehension and multisensory intervention strategies. The
103 primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is
104 phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. Instructional
105 strategies for foundational skills may not employ the three
106 cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for
107 teaching word reading. Instructional strategies may include
108 visual information and strategies which improve background and
109 experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language
110 and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to
111 teach word reading.
112 d. Content in mathematics, including numbers and
113 operations, algebraic reasoning, measurement, geometric
114 reasoning, and data analysis and probability at the elementary
115 level, consistent with the requirements of s. 1004.04.
116 2. An educational plan for each participant to meet
117 certification requirements and demonstrate his or her ability to
118 teach the subject area for which the participant is seeking
119 certification, which is based on an assessment of his or her
120 competency in the areas listed in subparagraph 1.
121 3. Field experiences appropriate to the certification
122 subject area specified in the educational plan under the
123 supervision of qualified educators. The state board shall
124 determine in rule the amount of field experience necessary to
125 serve as the teacher of record, beginning with candidates
126 entering a program in the 2023-2024 school year.
127 4. A certification ombudsman to facilitate the process and
128 procedures required for participants who complete the program to
129 meet any requirements related to the background screening
130 pursuant to s. 1012.32 and educator professional or temporary
131 certification pursuant to s. 1012.56.
132 Section 3. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of
133 section 1006.31, Florida Statutes, to read:
134 1006.31 Duties of the Department of Education and school
135 district instructional materials reviewer.—The duties of the
136 instructional materials reviewer are:
137 (2) EVALUATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.—To use the
138 selection criteria listed in s. 1006.34(2)(b) and recommend for
139 adoption only those instructional materials aligned with the
140 state standards provided for in s. 1003.41. Instructional
141 materials recommended by each reviewer shall be, to the
142 satisfaction of each reviewer, accurate, objective, balanced,
143 noninflammatory, current, free of pornography and material
144 prohibited under s. 847.012, and suited to student needs and
145 their ability to comprehend the material presented. Reviewers
146 shall consider for recommendation materials developed for
147 academically talented students, such as students enrolled in
148 advanced placement courses. When recommending instructional
149 materials, each reviewer shall:
150 (f) Evaluate mathematics instructional materials for focus,
151 coherence, rigor, mathematics practices, instructional supports,
152 and usability. Such materials must:
153 1. Simultaneously develop conceptual understanding,
154 computational fluency, and problem-solving skills.
155 2. Assist teachers to emphasize the positive cumulative
156 effects of students’ conceptual understanding of mathematical
157 operations, fluent execution of procedures, and fast access to
158 number combinations to support effective and efficient problem
159 solving.
160 3. Support students’ abilities to attain automatic recall
161 and fluency with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
162 division facts and a solid understanding of key concepts of the
163 communicative, distributive, and associative properties.
164 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section
165 1012.56, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
166 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
167 (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—
168 (a) The Department of Education shall develop and each
169 school district, charter school, and charter management
170 organization may provide a cohesive competency-based
171 professional learning certification program by which
172 instructional staff may satisfy the mastery of professional
173 preparation and education competence requirements specified in
174 subsection (6) and rules of the State Board of Education.
175 Participants must hold a state-issued temporary certificate. A
176 school district, charter school, or charter management
177 organization that implements the program shall provide a
178 competency-based certification program developed by the
179 Department of Education or developed by the district, charter
180 school, or charter management organization and approved by the
181 Department of Education. These entities may collaborate with
182 other supporting agencies or educational entities for
183 implementation. The program shall include the following:
184 1. A teacher mentorship and induction component.
185 a. Each individual selected by the district, charter
186 school, or charter management organization as a mentor:
187 (I) Must hold a valid professional certificate issued
188 pursuant to this section;
189 (II) Must have earned at least 3 years of teaching
190 experience in prekindergarten through grade 12;
191 (III) Must have completed training in clinical supervision
192 and participate in ongoing mentor training provided through the
193 coordinated system of professional learning under s. 1012.98(4);
194 (IV) Must have earned an effective or highly effective
195 rating on the prior year’s performance evaluation; and
196 (V) May be a peer evaluator under the district’s evaluation
197 system approved under s. 1012.34.
198 b. The teacher mentorship and induction component must, at
199 a minimum, provide routine opportunities for mentoring and
200 induction activities, including ongoing professional learning as
201 described in s. 1012.98 targeted to a teacher’s needs,
202 opportunities for a teacher to observe other teachers, co
203 teaching experiences, and reflection and follow-up followup
204 discussions. Professional learning must meet the criteria
205 established in s. 1012.98(3). Mentorship and induction
206 activities must be provided for an applicant’s first year in the
207 program and may be provided until the applicant attains his or
208 her professional certificate in accordance with this section.
209 2. An assessment of teaching performance aligned to the
210 district’s, charter school’s, or charter management
211 organization’s system for personnel evaluation under s. 1012.34
212 which provides for:
213 a. An initial evaluation of each educator’s competencies to
214 determine an appropriate individualized professional learning
215 plan.
216 b. A summative evaluation to assure successful completion
217 of the program.
218 3. Professional education preparation content knowledge,
219 which must be included in the mentoring and induction activities
220 under subparagraph 1., that includes, but is not limited to, the
221 following:
222 a. The state academic standards provided under s. 1003.41,
223 including scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
224 instructional strategies grounded in the science of reading,
225 content literacy, and mathematical practices, for each subject
226 identified on the temporary certificate. Reading instructional
227 strategies for foundational skills shall include phonics
228 instruction for decoding and encoding as the primary
229 instructional strategy for word reading. Instructional
230 strategies may not employ the three-cueing system model of
231 reading or visual memory as a basis for teaching word reading.
232 Instructional strategies may include visual information and
233 strategies which improve background and experiential knowledge,
234 add context, and increase oral language and vocabulary to
235 support comprehension, but may not be used to teach word
236 reading. Content in mathematics must include numbers and
237 operations, algebraic reasoning, measurement, geometric
238 reasoning, and data analysis and probability at the elementary
239 level, consistent with the requirements of s. 1004.04.
240 b. The educator-accomplished practices approved by the
241 state board.
242 4. Required achievement of passing scores on the subject
243 area and professional education competency examination required
244 by State Board of Education rule. Mastery of general knowledge
245 must be demonstrated as described in subsection (3).
246 5. Beginning with candidates entering a program in the
247 2022-2023 school year, a candidate for certification in a
248 coverage area identified pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must
249 successfully complete all competencies for a reading
250 endorsement, including completion of the endorsement practicum.
251 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
