summary
Introduced
01/09/2026
01/09/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
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 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 Florida's educator preparation and certification laws, including allowing 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 subject area, and revising the criteria for temporary educator certification to include individuals whose professional certificates have expired. It also mandates that subject area coverages and endorsements must be reinstated along with a professional certificate, and clarifies that certain requirements for reinstatement, such as college credits or inservice points, cannot be the same ones used to initially obtain the expired certificate. Additionally, the bill requires the Florida Center for Teaching Excellence to collaborate with the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching, mandates that the center submit a professional learning system for approval, and requires the center to allow certified educators to use this system for free to earn inservice points for certificate renewal or reinstatement, while also providing information on other district professional learning systems.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 561 (on 03/05/2026)
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/2026/1718 |
| Analysis - Rules (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.rc.PDF |
| Analysis - Rules (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.pre.rc.PDF |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.aed.PDF |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.pre.aed.PDF |
| Analysis - Education Pre-K - 12 (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.ed.PDF |
| Analysis - Education Pre-K - 12 (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/Analyses/2026s01718.pre.ed.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1718/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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