Is your teaching certificate expiring June 30, 2023? If so it’s time to look at your credit bank in MyPGS. Not sure how to view your in-service/ESE credits to renew? You may find this clicksheet useful

Feel free to access professional learning opportunities through our weekly PL Announcement email. Additionally, you can search for professional learning opportunities in MyPGS (click sheet). Our Professional Learning website is also updated regularly with opportunities. 

Recertification Requirement 40-hour Reading Instruction

--Reading Requirements (this requirement is separate from Reading Endorsement) for Certification effective for 2020 and after (House Bill 7069)

HB 7069 includes specific in-service requirements for renewal of a professional certificate. Beginning with a validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, Educators who hold certification in an area that includes reading instruction or intervention for any students in Pre-kindergarten through grade 6, will be required to earn a minimum of two college credits or the equivalent of 40 in-service points in the use of explicit, systematic and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. Here is a Flyer with more information.

Option 1:   The BEESS Portal offers two free independent study courses: 

• Reading Difficulties, Disabilities and Dyslexia (20 hours)
• Structured Literacy through a Multi-Sensory Approach (20 hours)

To enroll in one of the BESE Portal courses:

1. Go to:  www.fl-pda.org. 
2. Under the Independent Study Courses heading, click Sign In.
3. Click on Register as a New User if it is your first time on the site. If you are returning to this site to get back into a course, type in your email username and password.
4. Click on a course title to expand the course to view the description, enroll or continue in a course, and to check your status.
5. Upon completion of all required coursework, send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley in the Professional Learning office for your in-service to be awarded in MyPGS.

Step by step, visual directions for registering and enrolling into these courses can be found HERE.

Option 2: RDGESECR PDA Exploring Structured Literacy Online Course (40 ESE Hours) Free and offered multiple times throughout the school year.

Option 3:  Beacon ​Educator Professional Learning Options

• Reading Challenges 1: Dyslexia and More (SWD) (20 hours) These courses require payment by participant
• Reading Challenges 2: Structured Literacy (20 hours)      These courses require payment by participant

Option 4: Florida Literacy Micro-Credentials

Created in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and the Division of Early Learning, the UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s Flamingo Literacy Micro-Credentials are available at no cost to Florida instructional personnel in an effort to create accessible and on-demand reading professional development. They give instructional personnel an opportunity to work at their own pace while implementing new instructional strategies in real-time and receiving individualized feedback and one-on-one support from an assessor. For more information, visit https://lastinger.center.ufl.edu/work/literacy/flamingo-literacy/literacy-microcredentials/

Option 5:  To search for professional learning sessions, which you are part of the identified target audience, that count towards this 40 -hour requirement, type in RDGESECR in the course title box in MyPGS.  You will then see a list of sessions that you can register for that count towards the 40 hours of reading (which also count towards ESE) in-service points. 

Additional courses will be announced throughout the year.

If you have questions. please contact Robin King, Certification Specialist: Teacher-Certification@volusia.k12.fl.us

Stay in the Know with Reading Endorsement Updates

Click HERE to self-enroll in the VCS Reading Endorsement Informational Canvas page so you can stay up-to-date with reading endorsement information. Questions? Contact Stephanie Gaudio @ sagaudio@volusia.k12.fl.us  

The ESE Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE teachers or speech-language pathologists who are teaching students identified as having autism spectrum disorder or Pre-K/ESE in Florida public schools. BEESS is advertising tuition support to assist teachers seeking an endorsement in autism and Pre-K/ESE. Please include announcements of the ESE Endorsement Tuition Support Program in regional notices, listservs or newsletters for teachers. To view the application, go to the Florida’s Personnel Development web page. For questions, contact Ms. Melanie Morales at ESESupport@fiu.edu.

The Tuition Support Programs for Exceptional Student Educators (ESE) provide financial support to ESE teachers earning an endorsement in autism, severe/profound, or prekindergarten disabilities; paraprofessionals earning a bachelor’s degree in special education; and educators earning a master’s degree in speech/language pathology. Upon completion of the program, recipients must fulfill a service obligation.

Prior to requesting tuition support, an applicant must enroll in a college or university of his or her choice. The applicant should follow the admission policy and course registration procedures for that institution. Upon successful completion of that institution’s registration process, an applicant may apply for the tuition support program. 

For more information, click on this link:

https://florida-ese.org/tuition-support

Updated Reading Endorsement Offerings – Beginning in January 2024, the pathway to Reading Endorsement option will be through the UF Flamingo Literacy Matrix. Completion of the Reading Endorsement allows instructional personnel to provide Tier 3 reading intervention for students.

• UF Flamingo Literacy Matrix courses approved updated criteria and working directly with FLDOE
• Unlimited seats available
• Possible stipends available for eligible personnel (see attached flyers and information below)
• Fully online, self-paced 5-week (accelerated) and 6-week course offerings for all competencies
• Earn professional learning in-service credit for certification renewal
• Pre-enroll today! https://lastinger.center.ufl.edu/work/literacy/flamingo-literacy/literacy-matrix/

Literacy Micro-Credentials – What are they and why should I think about getting one or more micro-credentials? (see attached flyers for more information about each)

https://lastinger.center.ufl.edu/work/literacy/flamingo-literacy/literacy-microcredentials/

• Three Literacy Micro-Credentials: Emergent (Birth through Pre-K), Elementary (Pre-K through 5^th grade), Secondary (6^th grade through 12^th grade)
• Possible stipends available for eligible personnel (see attached flyers and information below)
• Allows instructional personnel to teach intensive reading intervention AND satisfies Competency 1 of the Reading Endorsement (Elementary and Secondary options)
• Satisfies the 40-hour reading requirement for renewal (Elementary and Secondary)
• Earn professional learning in-service credit for certification renewal

Stay in the Know with Reading Endorsement Updates

Click HERE to self-enroll in the VCS Reading Endorsement Informational Canvas page so you can stay up-to-date with reading endorsement information. Questions? Contact Stephanie Gaudio @ sagaudio@volusia.k12.fl.us  

Reading Endorsement Fee Reimbursement

The Volusia County Schools Professional Learning office has received approval to continue offering the opportunity to all eligible teachers to be reimbursed for costs associated with meeting reading endorsement requirements. The following fees are eligible for reimbursement if completed between January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024: 

1.      $150 registration fee for successfully passing the Reading K-12 Subject Area exam

2.      $75 fee for adding the reading endorsement or certification to their professional certificate.
 
If you believe you are eligible for the reading endorsement fee(s) reimbursement, complete the form using This LINK .

Florida K-12 educators can earn their Reading Endorsement for The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) and Just Read, Florida! fund online professional development to help more than 1,100 certified public educators earn their Reading Endorsement and improve their reading instruction skills.

Please view this pre-enrollment flyer for more information or click this LINK to register!

The Literacy Matrix is based on the science of reading and prepares educators to:

• effectively teach reading
• diagnose reading issues
• intervene appropriately using research-based strategies

Participants will demonstrate evidence of their learning and receive personalized feedback from expert literacy navigators.

• The Literacy Matrix is made up of eight online modules that can be completed within one year.

 We are happy to support educators in obtaining their Reading Endorsement. Email p.alfaro@coe.ufl.edu  with questions or to provide more details about the Literacy Matrix.

For more information, visit bit.ly/Literacy-Matrix

Tammy Perez-Njezic, MA (she/her/hers)

Learning Services Specialist
UF | Lastinger Center for Learning, College of Ed​ucation 

http://lastingercenter.com  
(352) 448-9450 (c)  

tammyperez@coe.ufl.edu  

The Volusia County Schools Professional Learning office has received approval to extend the opportunity to provide fee reimbursements to all eligible teachers for costs associated with meeting reading endorsement requirements. The following reading endorsement fees are eligible for reimbursement: 

1. $150 registration fee for successfully passing the Reading K-12 Subject Area exam
2. $75 fee for adding the reading endorsement or certification to their professional certificate

You are eligible for reimbursement(s) if:

• the above fees were incurred anytime between March 13, 2020 to the present and you have not previously been reimbursed for these costs.
• a passing score is earned on the Reading K-12 Subject Area exam between now and June 30, 2024.
  • Please note the registration fee to take the exam is the responsibility of each individual who chooses this option. The district will only reimburse after verification of a passing score is received.
• the reading endorsement or reading certification is added to your professional certificate between now and June 30, 2024.

If you believe you are eligible for the reading endorsement fee(s) reimbursement using THIS LINK.

Reading Endorsement up-to-date information

Stay in the Know with Reading Endorsement Updates

Click HERE to self-enroll in the VCS Reading Endorsement Informational Canvas page so you can stay up-to-date with reading endorsement information. Questions? Contact Stephanie Gaudio @ sagaudio@volusia.k12.fl.us  

This is just a reminder that The Test Camp, used by hundreds of teachers

to pass certification exams, is sponsored and available via this shortcut
... through the end of this year!

Passgate

https://TheTestCamp.com/FL-Volusia

Your passgate provides free 365-day, all-inclusive passes this semester
for you, your colleagues, pre-service teachers ... everyone you invite.
Training materials are online and accessible from any electronic device
Also found on the VCS HR Certification Department Resources page. 


 The Test Camp flyer!

Great News! The Recruitment, Support and Retention office has partnered with The Learning Liaisons company to offer comprehensive teacher certification support for teachers needing additional instruction and guidance to pass the FTCE Professional or Subject Area Exam. 

The Learning Liaisons (TLL) will give you the knowledge, skill & attitude you deserve to pass on your next attempt.  Their pass rate is over 90%...finish the course with fidelity and you're in a position to pass.

For inquiries please reach out to the Recruitment, Support and Retention Office by phone at Ext: 20115 or 20541 or by email lbtroutm@volusia.k12.fl.us. or tnfuller@volusia.k12.fl.us

*Please Note: Licenses are limited.

ESOL Opportunities

 If you are unsure of your category, you must contact HR certifications.  For any questions, please feel free to contact Debbie Johnson at dejohns1@volusia.k12.fl.us or call her at 23040.
 

• The courses are self-paced and open for 10 weeks. Each course is administered online through Canvas. Each course will take about 60 clock hours to complete. 
• Sign up will be through MyPGS. Start dates indicate when the course will open on Canvas.   
• Emails will be populated from Instructure directly to your district email, so please watch for both personal emails from me as well as automated emails from Instructure/Canvas. 
• Courses started on March 18, 2024, do not count for VSET ESOL credit requirements for 2023-2024 school year but will count for 2024-2025 school year.  
• For questions relating to Online ESOL Courses please contact:  

Debbie Johnson- ESOL Compliance Resource Teacher 

Dejohns1@volusia.k12.fl.us 

386-734-7190 Ext. 23040

To see the state requirements for ESOL click on this flyer to view a simplified table. 

Visit webpage for more information.  UCF Literacy Symposium - College of Community Innovation and Educa

 Click Here for the Application

The ESE Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE teachers or speech-language pathologists who are teaching students identified as having autism spectrum disorder or Pre-K/ESE in Florida public schools. BEESS is advertising tuition support to assist teachers seeking an endorsement in autism and Pre-K/ESE. Please include announcements of the ESE Endorsement Tuition Support Program in regional notices, listservs or newsletters for teachers. To view the application, go to the Florida’s Personnel Development web page. For questions, contact Ms. Melanie Morales at ESESupport@fiu.edu.

The Exceptional Student Education (ESE)  Endorsements Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE teachers who are teaching students identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Severe/Profound or PreKindergarten/ESE (PreK/ESE) in Florida public schools.  The purpose of the project is to increase the State’s capacity to prepare and retain highly qualified personnel that provide instructional services to children with disabilities. Funding is provided by Public Law 108-446, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), Part B, Section 611, CFDA # 84.027.

In order to be accepted into this program, the applicant must have a Florida Educator Certificate in Exceptional Student Education, be currently employed in a Florida public school, and teach students identified as ASD, Severe/Profound, or PreK/ESE. Program recipients must agree to teach students identified as ASD, Severe/Profound, or PreK/ESE in a Florida public school for a minimum of one year for every six hours of tuition support received. The endorsement requires up to 12 credits of coursework.  The program provides up to $1,400 per course for tuition support.

The following is a brief description of the program.  If you would like to review the website for additional information or share the information, the link is as follows:

http://florida-ese.org/tuition-support

Thank you,

Melanie Morales, Associate Teaching Professor
Special Education Undergraduate Program Leader
Project Director, ESE Endorsements Tuition Support Program
School of Education and Human Development
11200 SW 8^th Street, ZEB 340B

Eugenia Romero, College of Arts, Sciences & Education Graduate Assistant
Florida International University 
ESE Tuition Support Program
11200 SW 8th St, ZEB 349A
Miami, FL 33199
email: esesupport@fiu.edu
fax: 3053482086

Heather Simpson, OTD, OTR/L | Occupational Therapist

UF Health Rehab-Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases

3009 SW Williston Road | Gainesville, FL 32608

Ph.  (352) 265-9992

Fax (352) 627-4961

Pronouns: She, Her

LRP Media Courses offered FREE through FDOE provide evidence-based best practices, case law and compliance guidance to help serve and instruct students with disabilities.    
Earn ESE Credit while becoming a more compliant educator for students with disabilities.  Access & complete courses online following directions below. (NOT in MYPGS)
Send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley for processing of in-service points in MyPGS.     
  Questions?  Please contact Melissa Bisesi   
     

Available Courses:     

Identifying Disabilities to Determine IDEA Eligibility   

Child Find: Understanding IDEA Provisions & Responsibilities   

Postsecondary Transition: IDEA Requirements for Processes, Procedures, and Implementation   

Required Components for Compliant IEPs   

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): What Teachers Need to Know   

Independent Educational Evaluations: Responsibilities & Procedures   

Guidelines for IEP Team Composition 

Conducting Compliant IEP Team Meetings   

Evaluations & Reevaluations – Purposes, Standards, & Procedures   

Legal Requirements and Practical Tips to Develop Measurable Annual IEP Goals 

Legal Requirements & Best Practices for Prior Written Notice   

Practical Strategies & IDEA Requirements for Developing IEPs   

When to Review & How to Revise IEPs to Stay Compliant   

IEP Implementation Strategies to be IDEA Compliant   

Requirements & Strategies to Facilitate Parental Participation in IEPs   

Discipline & Placement Changes for Students w/ Disabilities who Exhibit Violent Behavior   

Developing and Implementing Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavioral Intervention Plans 

Eligibility & Development of a Student’s Extended School Year Services   

Early Intervention Services: Facilitating Transition from IDEA Part C to Part B  

Administrators’ Responsibilities for Meeting IDEA Parental Consent Rules  

Collaboration & Communication:  Guidelines & Strategies for Paraprofessional Participation in Instructional Teams   
     

In order to access the LRP courses, please follow the instructions below to create an account on the DirectSTEP® eLearning website:   

Go to HTTP://FLDOE2022-DS.LRP.COM.   

Please read the “Is This Your First Time Here?” section located on the right side of the screen.   

Click the “Create new account” button.   

Create a username (Recommended format:  John Sample = jsample).   

Create a password (Recommended format: J#sample1)   
Please write down your username and password and keep it somewhere secure for future reference.    
       This information will NOT be emailed to you after you register.   

Enter your email address as well as first and last name.   

Enter the letters/numbers pictured in the reCAPTCHA image.    

Click the “Create my new account” button.   

You will receive a confirmation e-mail with a link to the website.     
     

To take a DirectSTEP® eLearning course:   

Login to HTTP://FLDOE2022-DS.LRP.COM  using your username and password.  Select the course you would like to access or have been assigned to complete.   You will enter your enrollment key and click onto “Enroll Me”.   

Click the course link next to the icon of a gold box.   

Click the “Enter” button to begin taking the course.   

You can use the arrow icons to move through the slides in the lower left-hand corner of the slide player.   

When you reach the Final Assessment, you will need to click the “submit” button after you select an answer. You will be directed to a new window which will inform you whether or not you answered each question correctly. You will need to score an 80% or higher to pass.   

When you have completed the assessment, it is important that you click the “Exit Activity” link in the upper right-hand corner of your screen to get credit for completing the course and to record your grade.   

Your “Course Completion Certificate” link will now be active. If you are required to print a Completion Certificate, you may do so from this page.             

To save your certificate as a PDF, click print and then select “adobe pdf” as your printer.  This will open a dialogue box for you to select the location and name of the file you are saving.  Please name your file – “last name, first name – name of course”     

The Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) Portal to Professional Learning Alternatives (PLA) offers a variety of FREE online courses for Florida educators that will increase their ability to respond to the needs of students with disabilities.  There are a wide variety of online, self-paced independent courses available for ESECR credit upon submission of your Certificate of Completion to the Professional Learning Office. These courses are ALWAYS available online.    

Independent study courses are available in a variety of topics, ranging from non-credit to 20 in-service credits.  
Two new courses are:    
Collaborative Teaching Partnerships (15 ESE Hours)   
Emotional/Behavioral Disability:  An Introduction (8 ESE Hours)    
   
An entire list of courses can be found in the BEESS Portal Independent Study Course Catalog. 

To enroll in any of these courses:  

·         Go to: https://fl-pla.org/#/home    

·         Under the Independent Study Courses heading, click Sign In.  

·         Click on Register as a New User if it is your first time on the site. If you are returning to this site to get back into a course, type in your email username and password.  

·         Click on a course title to expand the course to view the description, enroll or continue in a course, and to check your status.  

·         Upon completion of all required coursework, send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley in the Professional Learning office for your in-service to be awarded in MyPGS.