After giving military veterans easier access to temporary teaching certificates, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said he wants state legislators to expand that same option for law enforcement officers and other first responders next year.
The goal is to help Florida schools fill vacant teaching positions — which amount to nearly 9,000 in schools across the state, according to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Education. But the governor says the proposal will also support and incentivize law enforcement officers and other first responders, like paramedics and firefighters, to go into the teaching profession.
“Just like we do for veterans, we will do for the other first responders,” DeSantis said at a press conference in New Port Richey on Tuesday morning. “We will waive the exam fees for the state certification program.”
Participants must have a bachelor’s degree and those who sign up will be eligible for a $4,000 bonus. If they teach courses or subject matters that are experiencing “really acute shortages,” DeSantis said they will get another $1,000. “We believe that the folks that have served our communities have an awful lot to offer,” DeSantis said.
“We have people who have served 20 years in law enforcement, who have retired, and some of them are looking for the next chapter in their life.”
The State Board of Education on Wednesday will consider a rule that outlines the qualifications and steps veterans need to take to obtain a five-year temporary teaching certificate without a bachelor’s degree.
The goal is to help Florida schools fill vacant teaching positions — which amount to nearly 9,000 in schools across the state, according to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Education. But the governor says the proposal will also support and incentivize law enforcement officers and other first responders, like paramedics and firefighters, to go into the teaching profession.
“Just like we do for veterans, we will do for the other first responders,” DeSantis said at a press conference in New Port Richey on Tuesday morning. “We will waive the exam fees for the state certification program.”
Participants must have a bachelor’s degree and those who sign up will be eligible for a $4,000 bonus. If they teach courses or subject matters that are experiencing “really acute shortages,” DeSantis said they will get another $1,000. “We believe that the folks that have served our communities have an awful lot to offer,” DeSantis said.
“We have people who have served 20 years in law enforcement, who have retired, and some of them are looking for the next chapter in their life.”
The State Board of Education on Wednesday will consider a rule that outlines the qualifications and steps veterans need to take to obtain a five-year temporary teaching certificate without a bachelor’s degree.