Prek/Primary

  • OUT-OF-FIELD TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

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

    • completion of a minimum of six semester hours of (new) college coursework in Prek/Primary
      • 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 (all portions of) the Prek/Primary subject area exam
    • 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 Prek/Primary or 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 Prek/Primary to your certificate or 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 a certificate reflecting Prek/Primary (for those passing the subject area exam who 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 PREK/PRIMARY:

    Pass all portions of the Prek/Primary subject area exam 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 Prek/Primary 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 (click on "Florida Certificate Additions).

    INFIELD STATUS OPTION

    NOTE: The use of Infield Designation cannot apply to Head Start teachers, as they must hold the actual subject area on their certificate.

    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 in Prek/Primary.  A minimum of 100 points must be achieved with documented experience and a classroom observation rating of effective or higher required.  Additional points may be obtained in professional development (district in-service) and college coursework in Prek/Primary.  Lesson plans in the areas of math, science, ELA, and social studies are mandatory as well. One set of plans for each content area will suffice for years of experience.

    Notes: 

    • Lesson plan activities must be aligned to standards
    • Submissions must be an original developed by you
    • May not submit an lesson plan created by the district or an adopted materials vendor or that another colleague has written and/or submitted or that was created by or for a College/University

    Lesson plans must be your original work, may not be copied verbatim from the district examples, may not be copied from a colleague's lesson plan, and must include all criteria indicated on the lesson plan example.  Do not fill in the points awarded on the rubric - when your rubric is received and evaluated, points will be notated on the form.

    IMPORTANT:  if you have passed any portion(s) of the Prek/Primary subject area exam within the last 10 years, you will not be required to submit a lesson plan for that/those area(s).  You must, however, attach a copy of your passing score(s) to the documentation you submit. 

    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 Prek/Primary does not enable you to add the subject of Prek/Primary to your certificate, however, it is sufficient for documentation of infield status in Prek/Primary and for satisfaction of out-of-field requirements in Prek/Primary.  A Broward County Public Schools Infield Status Rubric is acceptable in Broward County only.  

    Submit attached to an Infield Status Rubric to Elizabeth Glaid, Specialist with Headstart/Early Intervention at liz.glaid@browardschools.com