summary
Introduced
12/01/2025
12/01/2025
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to educator preparation and certification; amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; authorizing an educator preparation institute to allow certain program participants to enroll in introductory coursework; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; revising the criteria for the award of a temporary educator certification to include certain persons with expired professional certificates; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; 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; amending s. 1012.981, F.S.; 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 hb561-01-c1 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; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to educator preparation and certification in Florida. It allows educator preparation institutes to permit participants to enroll in introductory coursework while they are still working to obtain an eligible statement of eligibility in their desired certification subject area. The bill also revises the criteria for awarding a temporary educator certification to include individuals whose professional certificates have expired, ensuring their subject area coverages and endorsements are reinstated with their professional certificate. Furthermore, it clarifies that certain requirements for reinstating a professional certificate cannot be met using specific inservice points, and it mandates that the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching, requiring the center to submit a professional learning system for approval and allowing certified educators to use it at no cost for renewal or reinstatement purposes, with the center submitting their inservice points to the department on their behalf.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Education, Labor and Employment
Sponsors (4)
Other Sponsors (1)
Education & Employment Committee (House)
Last Action
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026) (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/BillText/c1/PDF |
| Analysis - Education & Employment Committee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/Analyses/h0561d.EEC.PDF |
| Analysis - PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/Analyses/h0561c.PKB.PDF |
| Analysis - PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/Analyses/h0561b.PKB.PDF |
| Analysis - Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/Analyses/h0561a.CWS.PDF |
| Analysis - Careers & Workforce Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/Analyses/h0561.CWS.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/561/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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