3120 - EMPLOYMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

The School Board of Polk County

Bylaws & Policies

Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013.

3120 - EMPLOYMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

The School Board recognizes that it is vital to the successful operation of the District that positions created by the Board be filled with highly qualified and competent personnel. Any person employed in an instructional position requiring certification shall possess a valid certificate issued pursuant to Florida law and shall file the certificate with the District.

The Board may establish reciprocal certification agreements with other Florida school districts whose employment and/or certification requirements are comparable to those of the District.

For purposes of this policy, instructional staff includes those employees in the instructional bargaining unit represented by the certified bargaining agent.

The Superintendent shall also conduct employment history checks of all candidates for instructional staff positions. The employment history check shall include, but not be limited to, contacting any previous employer and screening the candidate through the use of the screening tools described in State law. If contact with (a) previous employer(s) cannot be made, the Superintendent shall document the efforts made to do so.

Any instructional staff member's misstatement of fact material to qualification for employment or the determination of salary shall be considered to constitute grounds for dismissal.

A candidate shall be disqualified from employment in any position that requires direct contact with students if the candidate is ineligible for such employment under F.S. 1012.315.

The Board shall approve employment, upon recommendation of the Superintendent.

Upon Board approval of employment, each instructional staff member shall execute a written contract as required by State law and Policy 3128 - Contracts: Instructional Personnel

INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL

Qualifications of instructional personnel shall be as required by law and Florida Administrative Code. To be eligible for appointment in any position in the District, a person must be of good moral character; must have attained the age of 18 years; and must, when required by law, hold a certificate or license issued under rules of the state Board of Education or the Department of Children and Family Services, except when employed pursuant to F.S. 1012.55 or under the emergency provisions of F.S. 1012.24. Previous residence in this State shall not be required in any school of the state as a prerequisite for any person holding a valid Florida certificate or license to serve in an instructional capacity.

CERTIFICATION

	A.	State Certification
		Teachers who teach in classes for which FEFP funds are earned shall be certified teachers as defined in F.S. 1012.56 and the Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rule, F.A.C. 6A-1.0503 and 6A-1.0502.
		Teachers who have passed the subject area exam for the subject area assignment or who have demonstrated sufficient subject area expertise in the subject area assignment may be placed in the field. The procedures for using this provision are found in the Guidelines For Determining Sufficient Subject Area Expertise if Designating A Teacher In-Field.
		Teachers may meet foreign language certification requirements and demonstrate mastery of subject area knowledge by achieving passing scores on subject area examinations required by State Board rule, or by completion of a bachelor's degree or higher and verification of the attainment of an oral proficiency interview score above the intermediate level and a written proficiency score above the intermediate level on a test administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages for which there is no Florida developed examination.
		F.S. 1021.42
	B.	District Certification
		It is the intent of the Board that career/technical instructional personnel and adult instructional personnel possess the credentials, knowledge, and/or expertise necessary to provide quality education in the District. The purpose of District certification is to provide evidence of instructional qualifications in order to protect the interest of students, parents, and the public. The requirements for District certification may be found in the Employment and Certification Procedures Manual.
		The Board may revoke a District certificate for cause. The application fee for the District Certificate shall be the same as a State issued Educator's Certificate.

NONCERTIFICATED INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL

The Superintendent is hereby authorized to select and recommend noncertificated instructional personnel for appointment, pursuant to State Board of Education Rule F.A.C. 6A-1.0502, in a critical teacher shortage area, or other areas identified by the Board. To be eligible for employment under this provision, such individuals must hold a Bachelor's or higher degree and possess expert skill in or knowledge of a particular subject or talent, but not hold a Florida teaching certificate. Instructional personnel employed under this policy shall be governed by the instructional collective bargaining agreement.

CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL

Any person employed in a position requiring certification shall possess a valid certificate issued pursuant to Florida law or issued by the Board and shall file said certificate with the Superintendent.

ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION

The alternative certification program is a competency-based program designed to expand the pool of educators to include non-education majors committed to making a positive impact on student achievement.

LICENSED PERSONNEL

Speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and audiologists will receive contracts, salary, and benefits. To be eligible for employment these individuals must hold a license to practice in the State of Florida.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS PURSUANT TO THE EVERY CHILD SUCCEEDS ACT (ESSA)

All teachers employed by the District shall be "eligible for full State certification" in the appropriate subject area as reflected in the Course Code Directory and, as stipulated by rule, acceptable comparable methods for attainment of essential competencies in the subject area to be taught. Eligibility for full State certification shall include those teachers who currently hold a temporary teaching certificate.

F.S. 1012.01
F.S. 1012.22
F.S. 1012.24
F.S. 1012.27
F.S. 1012.32
F.S. 1012.315
F.S. 1012.33
F.S. 1021.42
F.S. 1012.55
F.S. 1012.56
F.A.C. 6A-1.0502
F.A.C. 6A-1.0503
20 U.S.C. 6301
20 U.S.C. 7801