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What is the new 40-hour reading requirement?

Flo­­rida Statute Section 1012.585 (3) f states: An applicant for renewal of a professional certificate in any area of certification identified by State Board of Education rule that includes reading instruction or intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade 6, with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, must earn a minimum of 2 college credits or the equivalent inservice points in evidence-based instruction and interventions specifically designed for students with characteristics of dyslexia, including the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonological and phonemic awareness, decoding, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. 

Who is affected?

Teachers with the following certification areas will be required to have 40 inservice hours/points in courses that meet this requirement when they renew:

• Elementary Education (K-6)
• Pre-Kindergarten/Primary Education (age 3-Gr 3)
• Elementary Education (1-6)
• Primary Education (K-3)
• English (Gr 1-6)
• Middle Grades English (Gr 5-9)
• Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (Gr 5-9)
• English (6-12) 
• Reading (K-12)
• Reading (Endorsement)
• ESOL (K-12) (This is for an ESOL certified teacher, does not apply to ESOL endorsement.)  

When should a teacher begin to work on their 40 hours/points?

Which courses meet this requirement?

• Prior to April 2023: Comps 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the Reading Endorsement courses (60 hours/points)
• From April 2023 forward: Each of the courses of the Reading Endorsement (Comps 1-5) (60 hours/points)
• Local FDLRS facilitated course: (40 hours/points) ALSO MEETS SWD REQUIREMENT
• Independent courses through : Reading Difficulties, Disabilities and Dyslexia (20 hours/points) ALSO MEETS SWD REQUIREMENT, Structured Literacy through a Multi-Sensory Approach (20 hours/points) ALSO MEETS SWD REQUIREMENT, and Science of Reading: An Introduction (5 hours/points)
• Courses equivalent to Reading Comp 1 through : Elementary Literacy Micro-Credential (60 hours/points)  and Secondary Literacy Micro-Credential (60 hours/points)
• С³óߣ professional development courses are available for registration in PowerSchool under the credit area of Reading (Courses > Course Search > Show all > Click Reading under Credit Area on lefthand side)

Please note that teachers cannot receive inservice points towards renewal for completing the same ASD, ESOL, Reading, Ed Leadership, Gifted or SWD course that was completed previously.