Florida Governor Ron DeSantis encourages veteran teachers to apply for his schoolteacher certification. DeSantis revealed the new phase of the Educator Certification Pathways for Veterans Program on August 11.Th Features a brand new official site, which allows veterans to find out if their eligibility for the program.
This initiative brings to life Florida SB 896. It was originally introduced in the Florida legislature back in January 2022. The bill, which passed the Florida House and Senate unanimously — you know, those cretins who, according to the Associated Press, hate “those” kind of people? — is officially summarized as follows.
This bill offers veterans a way to obtain subject matter certification. The requirement that they have a baccalaureate degree is removed in order for them to be issued a temporary educator certificate. However, certain criteria must be met.
The following requirements are required to be eligible for this temporary certificate:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- File an affidavit in which the applicant subscribes to and agrees to uphold the principles of the state and federal Constitutions;
- Submit to criminal background screening;
- Competent and capable of performing the duties, functions, and responsibilities of an educator; and
- Demonstrates mastery of the subject matter pursuant to state board rule.
The exception for a bachelor’s degree under this provision applies only to subject area specializations that require a bachelor’s degree for issuance of a temporary certificate. The applicant must also submit documentation to be eligible for this exception.
- Successful completion of minimum 48 months active duty service in the military with an honorable discharge, or medical separation.
- Completion of at least 60 college credits with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 grade scale, as provided by one or more accredited institutions of higher learning or a non-accredited institution of higher learning that the Department of Education (DOE) has identified as having a quality program resulting in a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Teaching under temporary certificates requires that the teacher mentor be available for at least two school years. A valid teacher mentor should have at least three years teaching experience and have an effective, or very effective, performance evaluation rating.
This pathway grants temporary certificates for five school years. They are non-renewable.
The summary clarifies that this program is not for those veterans who have only served. It is a program that allows veterans to learn while they wait, giving them the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in military service.
DeSantis noted the following when he announced the site:
“Florida is the most veteran- and military-friendly state in the nation. It is also well-known that veterans possess skills and talents that are valuable to students. This new opportunity expands Florida’s existing programs that help our veterans take their talents to our schools, and it will help Florida remain a national leader in education.”
On August 17, the Florida State Board of Education will officially consider this rule.Th. Given the bill’s unanimous bipartisan support, this is doubtless little more than a formality.
It works on multiple levels. The bill helps veterans reintegrate into civilian society. The program has a large pool of experienced teachers who have real-world experiences that are unmatched by any educational system that focuses on teaching credential certification. It also actively brings into the teaching pool men and women who far more likely than not love their country, based on their willingness to have served in its defense, thus providing a desperately needed counter to woke agenda pushers hiding behind an educator’s facade. Teachers who have been trained in the proper use of firearms can help deter school shooters in an age where they are all too common.
When it comes to genuinely assisting veterans, most government officials, regardless of position held, embody the joke often attributed to Mark Twain yet most likely composed by one of his friends: “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Once again, through his actions, Ron DeSantis is walking the talk and doing something about improving schools.
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