Educational Media Specialist

  • OUT-OF-FIELD TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

    If you have been identified as teaching out-of-field as an Educational Media Specialist, you are mandated to satisfy out-of-field training requirements through one of the following methods:

    • completion of a minimum of six semester hours of college coursework in Educational Media 
      • NOTE: Completion of six semester hours of college credit will serve only to meet state-mandated training for the current school year; you will be required to again satisfy out-of-field training during subsequent school years.  Only passing the subject area exam OR submission of an approved infield rubric (where applicable) will completely close the out-of-field record for the subject area.
    • passing the subject area exam for Educational Media Specialist
    • documenting 100 points through the Infield Status Rubric 

    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 Educational Media Specialist, have passed the subject area exam, or have documented infield status via the rubric.  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 certification in Educational Media Specialist, have passed the subject area exam, or have documented infield status. Parent notification will be required to be sent home to the parents of the affected students while you are considered out-of-field.  If you obtain the certificate reflecting Educational Media Specialist (for those who pass the subject area exam and add the subject to their certificate), 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 EDUCATIONAL MEDIA SPECIALIST:

    Pass the subject area exam for Educational Media Specialist and add the subject to your certificate.  Information and registration for the subject area exam is found at the Florida Teacher Certification Exams web site.

    Once you have passed the subject area exam you will need to submit an application and fee to the Florida Department of Education and fee (paid through the district) for the addition.  For complete steps on submitting the addition application and fee go to Talent Acquisition and Operations, Instructional web site and click on "Florida Certificate Additions".

     

    INFIELD STATUS OPTION

    Board Policy 4003.4 establishes the infield designation option for teachers out-of-field in bachelor-level subject areas (excludes Athletic Coaching, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Driver Education, ESOL, Orientation and Mobility, Prek Disabilities, Severe and Profound Disabilities, Reading, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, and Speech-Language Impaired).

    Teachers may use the Infield Status Rubric to document experience and training as an Educational Media Specialist.  A minimum of 100 points must be achieved with documented experience and a classroom observation rating of effective or higher required.  Additional points are required in specific professional development (district in-service) in Educational Media.  

    It is strongly recommended that you submit the documentation as early as possible in the event you are asked to make modifications or in the event you are not approved.  If approval is not granted, you will need to comply with mandated training using another option.

    NOTE: Approval of an Infield Status Rubric in Educational Media Specialist does not enable you to add certification in Educational Media to your certificate, however, it is sufficient for documentation of infield status in Educational Media Specialist and for satisfaction of out-of-field requirements in the area.  A Broward County Public Schools Infield Status Rubric is acceptable in Broward County only.  

    Submit required documentation to the Infield Status Rubric and send to Celia Taylor, Curriculum Supervisor, Library Media, Innovative Learning at celia.taylor@browardschools.com.