For professional certificates with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, in any area of certification that includes reading instruction or intervention (see certification areas below) for any students in kindergarten through grade 6 educators will be required to earn two college credits or the equivalent inservice points (40) in the use of explicit, systematic and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.

Section 1012.585(3)(f) F.S. 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 in-service points (40) in the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.

Teachers with the following certification will be required to have the 40 in-service points 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)

• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (K-12) (This is for an ESOL Certification Teacher, does not apply to ESOL endorsement.)

Free PDA Options That May Meet Multisensory and SWD/ESE Course Requirements:

40 Hours - PDA Online Module: Exploring Structured Literacy - F
20 Hours - PDA Online Module: Reading Difficulties, Disabilities, and Dyslexia - IS
20 Hours - PDA Online Module: Structured Literacy through Multisensory Approach - IS
60 Hours - PDA Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students: Making it Explicit - F (This course may satisfy Competency 4 OR the multisensory requirement. Educator must choose which requirement it will satisfy.)

These courses can be found on the following website: https://fl-pda.org/#/home
You may also find locally facilitated PDA courses on the following website: https://www.fdlrsnefec.org/hrd/bese-portal-professional-development-alternatives

Per the FDOE Memo issued on 11/15/2019, coursework that meets the multisensory requirement AND the Teaching Students with Disabilities (SWD/ESE) requirement may count for both purposes.

While coursework earned during the five years immediately preceding the current validity period, and not used for a previous renewal, may be used to meet the multisensory requirement, it may not be used to meet the Teaching Students with Disabilities (SWD/ESE) requirement.

Current PCSD PD Options That Meet Multisensory Course Requirements Only:

Up to 12 Hours - Exploring Systematic and Explicit Multisensory Strategies in Early Reading Instruction

Self Pay Course Options That Meet Multisensory Course Requirements Only:

20 Hours - Beacon Educator: Reading Challenges 1: Dyslexia and More
20 Hours - Beacon Educator: Reading Challenges 2: Structured Literacy

When should a teacher with the above certification begin to work on his/her 40 points?

All documentation should be submitted to Susanne Lineberger in the Department of Teaching and Learning.