Pre-Kindergarten Disabilities

  • OUT-OF-FIELD TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

    If you have been identified as teaching out-of-field in Prek Disabilities, you are mandated to satisfy out-of-field training requirements through one of the following methods:

    • completion of six semester hours of college coursework in Prek Disabilities
    • passing the Prek/Primary or Preschool Education subject area exam 
    • documenting at least two years of full-time teaching experience with ESE students at the prek level (experience must have been completed between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011)

    One of the above methods must be completed prior to the end of April in the school year in which you were placed out-of-field. You must continue to complete out-of-field training each school year or until you have obtained certification in Prek Disabilities. Note that failure to comply will impact your future placement/assignments up to including non-renewal of your contract.

    Your out-of-field record will remain open until you have added Prek Disabilities to your certificate. Parent notification will be required to be sent home to the parents of the affected students.  Once you obtain the certificate reflecting Prek Disabilities, be sure to notify certificationrequests@browardschools.com so your out-of-field record can be closed.  Note: no money is saved by waiting to add a certification area to your certificate when you submit your application for renewal and/or your initial professional certificate.  You are urged to apply immediately for the addition once you have met and can document the subject area requirements.

    REQUIREMENTS TO ADD PREK DISABILITIES:

    OPTION 1

    NOTE: You must hold certification in ESE, Preschool Education, Primary Education, or Prek/Primary Education to be eligible (after completion of all subject area requirements) to add this area to your certificate.

    Complete six semester hours of college coursework to satisfy requirements for two of the following areas: (a), (b), or (c) of the Prekindergarten Disabilities Endorsement subject area requirements. Details regarding the Prekindergarten Disabilities Endorsement subject area requirements are found at the Florida Department of Education web site.

    Note that two years of full-time instructional experience in working with ESE students at the prek level can be used to satisfy the remaining requirements after the six semester hours noted above have been completed. Note that requirement (a) consists of a total of six hours and so a year of experience may be used in lieu of three or all six hours depending on what areas the college courses satisfy. To document the experience your principal must complete and submit the Verification of Teaching Experience form. The form must document your experience in working with ESE students at the prek level specifically. NOTE: The verification form must be submitted to the Talent Acquisition & Operations (Instructional) Department, Attn: Certification. DO NOT send the form to the Florida Department of Education as indicated on the form.

    Once you have completed all courses required to add the Prek Disabilities Endorsement you will need to submit an application, fee, and official transcripts (indicating completion of the required nine semester hours) to the Florida Department of Education for the addition.

    OPTION 2:

    Pass the Prek/Primary or Preschool Education subject area exam and add the subject to your certificate.  Note that if you hold a professional certificate you must pass the Prek/Primary or Preschool Education exam to meet requirements to add the subject to your certificate.  Exam information and registration is obtained at the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) web site. 

     

    ADDITIONAL OPTION

    If you have a certificate in ESE and can document at least two years of full-time teaching experience with ESE students at the prek level (experience must have been completed between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011) then you may use the experience to be considered as infield for the assignment. You must also have satisfactory evaluations during the period the experience was gained. Note that while using experience during the time period noted will make you infield, it will not enable you to add the Prekindergraten Disabilities Endorsement to your certificate. To do so, you will need to complete the course requirements as outlined above in option one.

    If you can meet the experience requirement noted in this option, please have your principal submit an original letter, on school letterhead, indicating the period in which you gained the experience.  The letter must include a statement that you worked with ESE students at the prek level and that you had satisfactory evaluations during the period.  The letter must be signed and dated by your principal and submitted to the Talent Acquisition & Operations (Instructional) Department; attn: Certification

     

    NOTE: The Infield Status Rubric is not an option for satisfying out-of-field requirements in the subject of Prek Disabilities.