Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6A-5.081 - Approval of School Leadership Programs
This rule sets forth the requirements and implementation of the approval process for each type of school leadership program offered by a Florida postsecondary institution or public school district, charter school, or charter management organization.
(1)
Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply.
(a) "Academic year" means the period of time
during which program candidates attend or complete a state-approved school
leader preparation program. This includes summer term, fall term and spring
term.
(b) "Competencies and Skills
Required for Certification in Educational Leadership in Florida" mean those
practices described in Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., which is incorporated herein by
reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16031).
A copy of Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department
of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL
32399-0400.
(c) "Competency-based"
means that participants in school leader preparation programs must demonstrate
the skill sets and knowledge bases outlined in the Florida Educational
Leadership Standards.
(d)
"Continued approval" means that subsequent to an initial approval, a school
leadership program has been granted the authority to operate for a five-year
period. The basis for continued approval is outlined in the documents entitled
Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level
I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL CAS-2025; and Florida Department of
Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal
Programs, Form SP CAS-2025.
(e)
"eIPEP" or "electronic Institutional Program Evaluation Plan" means a
Department-maintained web-based tool that serves as a data repository, data
collection and reporting tool for both program performance data as well as a
repository of continued approval goals and strategies for state-approved school
leadership programs.
(f) "Field
experiences" mean activities conducted in a variety of prekindergarten through
grade 12 settings that are designed to give the program candidate the ability
to practice and demonstrate competence in the expectations of effective school
administrators outlined in the Florida Educational Leadership
Standards.
(g) "Florida Educational
Leadership Standards" mean those practices described in subsection 6A-5.080(2),
F.A.C., which is incorporated herein by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16032).
A copy of Rule 6A-5.080, F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of
Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL
32399-0400.
(h) "Initial approval"
means that a new school leadership program has been granted the authority to
operate for a five-year period. The basis for initial approval is outlined in
the documents entitled Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval
Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL IAS-2025; and
Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level II
School Principal Programs, Form SP IAS-2025.
(i) "Institutional Program Evaluation Plan"
or "IPEP" means the annual plan developed by each approved Level I or Level II
program to describe its review and analysis of program candidate and program
completer data and how the results will impact continuous program improvements
as part of its continued approval process.
(j) "Instructional expertise" means
documented successful demonstration of the standards for effective educators
outlined in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) and a
documented track record of achieving student gains. Acceptable documentation of
instructional expertise must include a rating of "effective" or higher on the
"Performance of Students" and "Instructional Practice" sections of the
candidate's two most recent performance evaluations per Section 1012.34, F.S.
For candidates who are not employed by a Florida public school district, a
provider may accept alternative equivalent documentation demonstrating two
years of effective instruction with a record of student learning
gains.
(k) "Leadership potential"
means the critical skills and dispositions that a candidate must demonstrate
prior to entering the program. At a minimum, these qualifications must include
an analysis of the candidate's relentless focus on improving student
achievement in their own classrooms and contributing to the demonstrable
improvement of teaching effectiveness in the classrooms of
colleagues.
(l) "Level I
educational leadership program" (Level I program) means a program eligible to
be offered by a post-secondary institution, school district, charter school, or
charter management organization that leads to certification in educational
leadership for the purpose of preparing individuals to serve as school
administrators.
(m) "Level II
school principal program" (Level II program) means a program eligible to be
offered by a school district, charter school, or charter management
organization that builds upon Level I program training and leads to
certification as a school principal.
(n) "Partner" means to develop and maintain a
collaborative professional relationship with agreed upon goals and outcomes.
Partnerships must include evidence that the institution, school district(s),
charter school(s), or charter management organization(s) work together to:
1. Determine program admission standards, and
identify and select candidates,
2.
Provide job-embedded field experiences for program candidates; and,
3. Identify strategies for continuous
improvement of the program based upon a review of the performance of program
candidates and the performance of program completers using aggregate data from
performance evaluations.
(o) "Placement rate" means the number of
program completers reported annually by each program to the Department who are
identified by the Department's Staff Information System, as prescribed in
Section 1008.385(2), F.S., as employed in a full-time or part-time school
administrator position in a Florida public school district, including charter
schools, within three years of program completion. If a program provides
documentation of a program completer's death or disability, the number of
program completers included in the calculation will be adjusted.
(p) "Program admission standards" mean the
minimum requirements an applicant must meet to be considered for entry into an
educational leadership preparation program. The program admission standards for
all programs must define (1) candidate grade point average (GPA) requirements,
(2) candidate professional qualifications, to include minimum "instructional
expertise" and "leadership potential" standards, and (3) candidate selection
processes used to determine admission status.
(q) "Program candidate" means an individual
who has been admitted into and is currently enrolled in, but has not yet
completed Level I or Level II program approved under this rule.
(r) "Provider" means an entity that is
authorized to offer a Level I or Level II program, as defined in this
rule.
(s) "Program completer" means
an individual who has satisfied all Level I or Level II program requirements
approved under this rule.
(t)
"School leadership positions" mean the administrative personnel positions that
are defined in Section 1012.01(3)(c), F.S.
(2) Requirements and processes for initial
request and approval of Level I and Level II programs.
(a) Requirements for approval of Level I
programs:
1. Providers shall employ faculty
who are qualified to teach courses required in the program. Faculty and staff
who supervise field experiences shall document annual onsite participation in
activities in prekindergarten through grade 12 school settings.
2. A postsecondary institutional program
shall provide evidence of its partnership with at least one school district as
approved under this rule.
3. A
postsecondary institutional program may include a modified version of its
approved program to individuals who hold a master's or higher degree, provided
the instittution has a means to document that the completer of the modified
program has met all program requirements.
4. Providers shall describe the
qualifications used for admission and admit only candidates that demonstrate
instructional expertise and leadership potential as approved under this
rule.
5. Providers shall describe
how competency-based training is aligned to the Florida Educational Leadership
Standards.
6. Providers shall
describe how training shall be aligned to the personnel evaluation criteria
under Section 1012.34, F.S.
7.
Providers shall only endorse as program completers candidates who demonstrate
all of the Florida Educational Leadership Standards at the initial
certification level and earn passing scores on all portions of the Florida
Educational Leadership Examination required in Section 1012.56, F.S.
8. Except for postsecondary institutions, a
provider shall offer its approved Level I program only to its employees who
hold a master's degree from an accredited or approved institution as described
in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C. Programs may provide for admission of candidates
without this degree, provided that the provider includes a process of formally
notifying such candidates that they are not eligible to complete the program
without official documentation of the master's degree.
(b) Processes for submission of a Level I
program for initial approval:
1. The president
or chief executive officer of a Florida post-secondary institution, a charter
school or charter management organization or a public school district
superintendent who seeks approval to offer a Level I program, shall submit a
written request which is further described in the documents, Florida Department
of Education Request to Submit Form-Educational Leadership, Form RTS-EL 2023
within thirty (30) business days prior to January 15, April 15, July 15, and
October 15. The Department will inform the institution or district
superintendent in writing of the receipt of a fully completed request within
five (5) business days.
2. Upon
written verification by the Department of a fully completed request, the
provider shall submit to the Department an electronic application, which is
further described in the documents, Florida Department of Education Initial
Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL
IAS-2025 by January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
3. The Department shall conduct a review of
the electronic application submitted in support of the request for initial
approval within ninety (90) days of receipt of the application. The Department
shall notify the provider in writing of the following:
a. Receipt of the electronic
application.
b. Missing or
deficient elements and provide a period of ten (10) business days for the
program to submit supplemental information or documentation to address the
deficit(s).
c. Approval or denial
of approval for each program included in the request. A denial of approval
shall identify the reason(s) for the denial and the deficiencies. A program
that receives a denial of approval may reapply for initial approval.
(c) Requirements for
approval of Level II programs:
1. With the
exception of former military officers that qualify for admittance under Section
1012.55(1)(e)l., F.S., a provider shall only admit candidates who hold a valid
Florida Educator's Certificate in the area of educational leadership, education
administration, or administration and supervision pursuant to requirements of
Rule 6A-4.0083, F.A.C., and who are employed in a public school within the
district in a school leadership position through which the candidate can fully
demonstrate the competencies associated with the Florida Educational Leadership
Standards.
2. The provider shall
only admit candidates who have earned a highly effective or effective
evaluation rating under Section 1012.34, F.S.,
3. The provider shall describe how it
provides individualized instruction using a customized learning plan for each
candidate, and the competency-based training that is aligned to its school
administrator evaluation criteria under Section 1012.34, F.S., and the William
Cecil Golden Professional Learning Program for School Leaders under Section
1012.986, F.S.
4. The provider
shall ensure individuals who are designated as program completers have
satisfactorily performed instructional leadership responsibilities as measured
by the school district's school administrator evaluation system under Section
1012.34, F.S., for persons employed by the school district or by the charter
school or charter management organization.
(d) Processes for submission of a Level II
program for initial approval:
1. The president
or chief executive officer of a charter school or charter management
organization or a public school district superintendent who seeks approval to
offer a Level II program, shall submit a written request which is further
described in the document, Florida Department of Education Request to Submit
Form-Level II School Principal Program, Form RTS-SP 2023, within thirty (30)
business days prior to January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. The
Department will inform the president or chief executive officer or district
superintendent in writing of the receipt of a fully completed request within
five (5) business days.
2. Upon
written verification by the Department of a fully completed request, the
provider shall submit to the Department an electronic application, which is
further described in the document, Florida Department of Education Initial
Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP
IAS-2025, by January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
3. The Department shall conduct a review of
the electronic application submitted in support of the request for initial
approval within ninety (90) days of receipt of the application. The Department
shall notify the provider in writing of the following:
a. Receipt of the electronic
application.
b. Missing or
deficient elements and provide a period of ten (10) business days for the
program to submit supplemental information or documentation to address the
deficit(s).
c. Approval or denial
of approval for each program included in the request. A denial of approval
shall identify the reason(s) for the denial and the deficiencies. A program
that receives a denial of approval may reapply for initial approval.
(3)
Requirements and processes for continued approval of Level I and Level II
programs.
(a) Reporting processes for
continued approval are as follows:
1. The
program has procedures or processes to ensure annual continuous improvement and
to review and make modifications if needed to maintain compliance with
statutory changes. Reporting instructions to the Department for these
procedures are posted at
https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/preparation/edual-leadership.stml.
2. Each provider shall annually submit
program candidate and completer data to the Department's secure management
information system.
3. By November
15 of each year, each provider shall submit via the Department's eIPEP platform
located at https://www.florida-eipep.org/, a
program evaluation plan in accordance with Florida Department of Education
Continued Program Approval Standards, Form EL CAS-2025 for Level I programs; or
Form SP CAS-2025 for Level II programs.
4. During the final year of the program
approval period, the Department shall conduct a continued approval site visit
that will include a review of each approved program. The purpose of the site
visit shall be to review evidence of the program's implementation of the
continued approval standards described in the document, Florida Department of
Education Continued Program Approval Standards, Form EL CAS-2025 or Form SP
CAS-2025. The site visit shall also include a review of the annual program
evaluation plans described in subparagraph (3)(a)2. of this rule. At the end of
the site visit, a summative rating score shall be calculated based on criteria
outlined in the forms: Form EL CAS-2025 for Level I programs or Form SP
CAS-2025 for Level II programs.
5.
A program that has three (3) consecutive years within the continued approval
period with no completers shall not receive a continued approval site visit, or
a summative rating score.
(b) At the end of the continued approval
period, the Department shall examine the summary findings with summative rating
score from the site visit review. The Commissioner shall grant continued
approval or denial of approval for each state-approved Level I or Level II
program based on the continued approval summative rating scale and shall notify
provider in writing of the decision. The continued approval summative rating
scale is as follows:
1. Full Approval with
Distinction rating: the program has earned "Acceptable" for all indicators of
Standards 1, 2 and 3.
2. Full
Approval rating: the program has earned "Acceptable" for each indicator of
Standard 3, and indicators 1.2 and 1.3 of Standard 1, and no score of
"Unacceptable" in any indicator of Standards 1 and 2.
3. Denial of Approval rating: the program has
earned "Needs Improvement" for one or more indicators of Standard 3, or
indicators 1.2 and 1.3 of Standard 1, or "Unacceptable" on any indicator of
Standards 1, 2 and 3. A program that receives a denial of approval rating may
reapply for initial approval as specified in subsection (2) of this
rule.
(4)
Pursuant to Section 1012.562(2)(c), F.S., a Level I program must guarantee the
high quality of personnel who complete the program for the first two (2) years
after program completion or the person's initial certification as a school
leader, whichever occurs first. If a person who completed the program is
evaluated in a school leadership position at less than highly effective or
effective under Section 1012.34, F.S., and the person's employer requests
additional training, the Level I program must provide additional training at no
cost to the person or his or her employer.
(5) Program Requirements
(a) Section 1012.562(4), F.S., curriculum for
Level I and Level II programs must not:
1.
Violate s. 1000.05, F.S.
2. Distort
significant historical events. Distortion of historical events in curriculum
and instruction is the presentation of or the assignment of instructional
resources or learning activities that give a misleading or false account or
impression. Examples of theories that distort historical events and are
inconsistent with State Board-approved standards include the denial or
minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT).
CRT is the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that
racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold
the supremacy of white persons.
3.
Promote identity politics. Promoting identity politics is the presentation of
or the assignment of instructional resources or learning activities that
promote the theory that an individual inherently adheres to a particular
political viewpoint based on one's race, color, national origin, sex,
disability, religion, or marital status.
4. Endorse theories that systemic racism,
sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the
United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic
inequities. For the purposes of this rule, institutions refer to the initial
creation and foundational structure of the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of the United States government.
(b) School leader preparation programs must
afford candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program content,
including instructional leadership strategies, coaching development, school
safety, and continuous improvement efforts.
(6) The following forms are hereby
incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies may be obtained
from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.
(a) Florida
Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level I
Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL IAS-2025 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18010),
effective May 2025.
(b) Florida
Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level II School
Principal Programs, Form SP IAS-2025 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18011),
effective May 2025.
(c) Florida
Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level I
Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL CAS-2025 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18012),
effective May 2025.
(d) Florida
Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level II
School Principal Programs, Form SP CAS-2025 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18013),
effective May 2025.
(e) Florida
Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Level I Educational Leadership
Program, Form RTS-EL 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16037),
effective November 2023.
(f)
Florida Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Level II School
Principal Program, Form RTS-SP 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16038),
effective November 2023.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.562, 1012.986 FS. Law Implemented 1012.56, 1012.562, 1012.986 FS.
New 6-20-07, Amended 12-20-16, 11-28-18, 11-21-23.
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
This rule sets forth the requirements and implementation of the approval process for each type of school leadership program offered by a Florida postsecondary institution or public school district, charter school, or charter management organization.
(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply.
(a) "Academic year" means the period of time during which program candidates attend or complete a state-approved school leader preparation program. This includes summer term, fall term and spring term.
(b) "Competencies and Skills Required for Certification in Educational Leadership in Florida" mean those practices described in Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., which is incorporated herein by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16031). A copy of Rule 6A-4.00821, F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.
(c) "Competency-based" means that participants in school leader preparation programs must demonstrate the skill sets and knowledge bases outlined in the Florida Educational Leadership Standards.
(d) "Continued approval" means that subsequent to an initial approval, a school leadership program has been granted the authority to operate for a five-year period. The basis for continued approval is outlined in the documents entitled Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL CAS-2023; and Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP CAS-2023.
(e) "eIPEP" or "electronic Institutional Program Evaluation Plan" means a Department-maintained web-based tool that serves as a data repository, data collection and reporting tool for both program performance data as well as a repository of continued approval goals and strategies for state-approved school leadership programs.
(f) "Field experiences" mean activities conducted in a variety of prekindergarten through grade 12 settings that are designed to give the program candidate the ability to practice and demonstrate competence in the expectations of effective school administrators outlined in the Florida Educational Leadership Standards.
(g) "Florida Educational Leadership Standards" mean those practices described in subsection 6A-5.080(2), F.A.C., which is incorporated herein by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16032). A copy of Rule 6A-5.080, F.A.C., may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.
(h) "Initial approval" means that a new school leadership program has been granted the authority to operate for a five-year period. The basis for initial approval is outlined in the documents entitled Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL IAS-2023; and Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP IAS-2023.
(i) "Institutional Program Evaluation Plan" or "IPEP" means the annual plan developed by each approved Level I or Level II program to describe its review and analysis of program candidate and program completer data and how the results will impact continuous program improvements as part of its continued approval process.
(j) "Instructional expertise" means documented successful demonstration of the standards for effective educators outlined in the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs) and a documented track record of achieving student gains. Acceptable documentation of instructional expertise must include a rating of "effective" or higher on the "Performance of Students" and "Instructional Practice" sections of the candidate's two most recent performance evaluations per Section 1012.34, F.S. For candidates who are not employed by a Florida public school district, a provider may accept alternative equivalent documentation demonstrating two years of effective instruction with a record of student learning gains.
(k) "Leadership potential" means the critical skills and dispositions that a candidate must demonstrate prior to entering the program. At a minimum, these qualifications must include an analysis of the candidate's relentless focus on improving student achievement in their own classrooms and contributing to the demonstrable improvement of teaching effectiveness in the classrooms of colleagues.
(l) "Level I educational leadership program" (Level I program) means a program eligible to be offered by a post-secondary institution, school district, charter school, or charter management organization that leads to certification in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing individuals to serve as school administrators.
(m) "Level II school principal program" (Level II program) means a program eligible to be offered by a school district, charter school, or charter management organization that builds upon Level I program training and leads to certification as a school principal.
(n) "Partner" means to develop and maintain a collaborative professional relationship with agreed upon goals and outcomes. Partnerships must include evidence that the institution, school district(s), charter school(s), or charter management organization(s) work together to:
1. Determine program admission standards, and identify and select candidates,
2. Provide job-embedded field experiences for program candidates; and,
3. Identify strategies for continuous improvement of the program based upon a review of the performance of program candidates and the performance of program completers using aggregate data from performance evaluations.
(o) "Placement rate" means the number of program completers reported annually by each program to the Department who are identified by the Department's Staff Information System, as prescribed in Section 1008.385(2), F.S., as employed in a full-time or part-time school administrator position in a Florida public school district, including charter schools, within three years of program completion. If a program provides documentation of a program completer's death or disability, the number of program completers included in the calculation will be adjusted.
(p) "Program admission standards" mean the minimum requirements an applicant must meet to be considered for entry into an educational leadership preparation program. The program admission standards for all programs must define (1) candidate grade point average (GPA) requirements, (2) candidate professional qualifications, to include minimum "instructional expertise" and "leadership potential" standards, and (3) candidate selection processes used to determine admission status.
(q) "Program candidate" means an individual who has been admitted into and is currently enrolled in, but has not yet completed Level I or Level II program approved under this rule.
(r) "Provider" means an entity that is authorized to offer a Level I or Level II program, as defined in this rule.
(s) "Program completer" means an individual who has satisfied all Level I or Level II program requirements approved under this rule.
(t) "School leadership positions" mean the administrative personnel positions that are defined in Section 1012.01(3)(c), F.S.
(2) Requirements and processes for initial request and approval of Level I and Level II programs.
(a) Requirements for approval of Level I programs:
1. Providers shall employ faculty who are qualified to teach courses required in the program. Faculty and staff who supervise field experiences shall document annual onsite participation in activities in prekindergarten through grade 12 school settings.
2. A postsecondary institutional program shall provide evidence of its partnership with at least one school district as approved under this rule.
3. A postsecondary institutional program may include a modified version of its approved program to individuals who hold a master's or higher degree, provided the instittution has a means to document that the completer of the modified program has met all program requirements.
4. Providers shall describe the qualifications used for admission and admit only candidates that demonstrate instructional expertise and leadership potential as approved under this rule.
5. Providers shall describe how competency-based training is aligned to the Florida Educational Leadership Standards.
6. Providers shall describe how training shall be aligned to the personnel evaluation criteria under Section 1012.34, F.S.
7. Providers shall only endorse as program completers candidates who demonstrate all of the Florida Educational Leadership Standards at the initial certification level and earn passing scores on all portions of the Florida Educational Leadership Examination required in Section 1012.56, F.S.
8. Except for postsecondary institutions, a provider shall offer its approved Level I program only to its employees who hold a master's degree from an accredited or approved institution as described in Rule 6A-4.003, F.A.C. Programs may provide for admission of candidates without this degree, provided that the provider includes a process of formally notifying such candidates that they are not eligible to complete the program without official documentation of the master's degree.
(b) Processes for submission of a Level I program for initial approval:
1. The president or chief executive officer of a Florida post-secondary institution, a charter school or charter management organization or a public school district superintendent who seeks approval to offer a Level I program, shall submit a written request which is further described in the documents, Florida Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Educational Leadership, Form RTS-EL 2023 within thirty (30) business days prior to January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. The Department will inform the institution or district superintendent in writing of the receipt of a fully completed request within five (5) business days.
2. Upon written verification by the Department of a fully completed request, the provider shall submit to the Department an electronic application, which is further described in the documents, Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL IAS-2023 by January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
3. The Department shall conduct a review of the electronic application submitted in support of the request for initial approval within ninety (90) days of receipt of the application. The Department shall notify the provider in writing of the following:
a. Receipt of the electronic application.
b. Missing or deficient elements and provide a period of ten (10) business days for the program to submit supplemental information or documentation to address the deficit(s).
c. Approval or denial of approval for each program included in the request. A denial of approval shall identify the reason(s) for the denial and the deficiencies. A program that receives a denial of approval may reapply for initial approval.
(c) Requirements for approval of Level II programs:
1. With the exception of former military officers that qualify for admittance under Section 1012.55(1)(e)l., F.S., a provider shall only admit candidates who hold a valid Florida Educator's Certificate in the area of educational leadership, education administration, or administration and supervision pursuant to requirements of Rule 6A-4.0083, F.A.C., and who are employed in a public school within the district in a school leadership position through which the candidate can fully demonstrate the competencies associated with the Florida Educational Leadership Standards.
2. The provider shall only admit candidates who have earned a highly effective or effective evaluation rating under Section 1012.34, F.S.,
3. The provider shall describe how it provides individualized instruction using a customized learning plan for each candidate, and the competency-based training that is aligned to its school administrator evaluation criteria under Section 1012.34, F.S., and the William Cecil Golden Professional Learning Program for School Leaders under Section 1012.986, F.S.
4. The provider shall ensure individuals who are designated as program completers have satisfactorily performed instructional leadership responsibilities as measured by the school district's school administrator evaluation system under Section 1012.34, F.S., for persons employed by the school district or by the charter school or charter management organization.
(d) Processes for submission of a Level II program for initial approval:
1. The president or chief executive officer of a charter school or charter management organization or a public school district superintendent who seeks approval to offer a Level II program, shall submit a written request which is further described in the document, Florida Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Level II School Principal Program, Form RTS-SP 2023, within thirty (30) business days prior to January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. The Department will inform the president or chief executive officer or district superintendent in writing of the receipt of a fully completed request within five (5) business days.
2. Upon written verification by the Department of a fully completed request, the provider shall submit to the Department an electronic application, which is further described in the document, Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP IAS-2023, by January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
3. The Department shall conduct a review of the electronic application submitted in support of the request for initial approval within ninety (90) days of receipt of the application. The Department shall notify the provider in writing of the following:
a. Receipt of the electronic application.
b. Missing or deficient elements and provide a period of ten (10) business days for the program to submit supplemental information or documentation to address the deficit(s).
c. Approval or denial of approval for each program included in the request. A denial of approval shall identify the reason(s) for the denial and the deficiencies. A program that receives a denial of approval may reapply for initial approval.
(3) Requirements and processes for continued approval of Level I and Level II programs.
(a) Reporting processes for continued approval are as follows:
1. Each provider shall annually submit program candidate and completer data to the Department's secure management information system.
2. By November 15 of each year, each provider shall submit via the Department's eIPEP platform located at https://www.florida-eipep.org/, a program evaluation plan in accordance with Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards, Form EL CAS-2023 for Level I programs; or Form SP CAS-2023 for Level II programs.
3. During the final year of the program approval period, the Department shall conduct a continued approval site visit that will include a review of each approved program. The purpose of the site visit shall be to review evidence of the program's implementation of the continued approval standards described in the document, Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards, Form EL CAS-2023 or Form SP CAS-2023. The site visit shall also include a review of the annual program evaluation plans described in subparagraph (3)(a)2. of this rule. At the end of the site visit, a summative rating score shall be calculated based on criteria outlined in the forms: Form EL CAS-2023 for Level I programs or Form SP CAS-2023 for Level II programs.
4. A program that has three (3) consecutive years within the continued approval period with no completers shall not receive a continued approval site visit, or a summative rating score.
(b) At the end of the continued approval period, the Department shall examine the summary findings with summative rating score from the site visit review. The Commissioner shall grant continued approval or denial of approval for each state-approved Level I or Level II program based on the continued approval summative rating scale and shall notify provider in writing of the decision. The continued approval summative rating scale is as follows:
1. Full Approval with Distinction rating: the program has earned "Acceptable" for all indicators of Standards 1, 2 and 3.
2. Full Approval rating: the program has earned "Acceptable" for each indicator of Standard 3, and indicators 1.2 and 1.3 of Standard 1, and no score of "Unacceptable" in any indicator of Standards 1 and 2.
3. Denial of Approval rating: the program has earned "Needs Improvement" for one or more indicators of Standard 3, or indicators 1.2 and 1.3 of Standard 1, or "Unacceptable" on any indicator of Standards 1, 2 and 3. A program that receives a denial of approval rating may reapply for initial approval as specified in subsection (2) of this rule.
(4) Pursuant to Section 1012.562(2)(c), F.S., a Level I program must guarantee the high quality of personnel who complete the program for the first two (2) years after program completion or the person's initial certification as a school leader, whichever occurs first. If a person who completed the program is evaluated in a school leadership position at less than highly effective or effective under Section 1012.34, F.S., and the person's employer requests additional training, the Level I program must provide additional training at no cost to the person or his or her employer.
(5) The following forms are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule. Copies may be obtained from the Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 124, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.
(a) Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL IAS-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16033), effective November 2023.
(b) Florida Department of Education Initial Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP IAS-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16034), effective November 2023.
(c) Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level I Educational Leadership Programs, Form EL CAS-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16035), November 2023.
(d) Florida Department of Education Continued Program Approval Standards for Level II School Principal Programs, Form SP CAS-2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16036), effective November 2023.
(e) Florida Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Level I Educational Leadership Program, Form RTS-EL 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16037), effective November 2023.
(f) Florida Department of Education Request to Submit Form-Level II School Principal Program, Form RTS-SP 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16038), effective November 2023.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1012.562, 1012.986 FS. Law Implemented 1012.56, 1012.562, 1012.986 FS.
New 6-20-07, Amended 12-20-16, 11-28-18, 11-21-23.