Florida Teacher Certification Examinations

Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) are standardized tests used to assess the competencies of prospective teachers according to Florida's Sunshine State Standards. FTCE refers to 47 different exams: four General Knowledge sub-tests, one Professional Education exam, and 42 Subject Area examinations.

Passing the appropriate FTCE exam is considered one part of the requirements for becoming a licensed teacher in Florida. Prospective teachers go through the Bureau of Educator Certification at the Department of Education to become certified. The Bureau advises that teacher candidates should submit an application for certification before applying to take certification examinations. Note: All teachers must have either professional or temporary certification by the Bureau of Educator Certification.

Paper and pencil tests are offered 6 times per Calendar Year, with 2 additional supplemental administrations. Supplemental administrations cost considerably more than regular testing dates. As an alternative to paper-and-pencil tests, many tests are now offered on the computer during the week at 36 locations throughout the state. The computer-based tests are equivalent to the paper-and-pencil tests in length and difficulty.[1]

History

The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires that, in order for states to receive federal funding, all teachers must be "highly qualified" as defined in the law by the end of the 2006-07 school year.[2] The Florida Department of Education has defined a highly qualified teacher to be one who has (1) fulfilled the state's certification and licensing requirements, (2) obtained at least a bachelor's degree, and (3) demonstrated subject matter expertise.[3] The procedure for demonstrating subject matter knowledge depends on a teacher's tenure and level of instruction.

As a result, the FTCE began in 2002 to replace the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST). The test satisfies Florida Statutes 1012.56.2 (g), (h), and (i) to be certified as a teacher. The specific implementation is according to the Florida Administrative Code 6A-4.0021

FTCE General Knowledge test

The general knowledge test is meant to test general education. There are four parts: English Language Skills, Readings, mathematics, and an Essay.

English Language

Percent correct needed to pass on the easiest version: 73%

Time allotted: 40 minutes

Competencies Covered

Essay

Time allotted: 50 minutes

Competencies Covered

Mathematics

A 4 function calculator is provided for this portion of the test.

Percent correct needed to pass on the easiest version: 60%

Time allotted: 100 minutes

Competencies Covered

Reference Sheet

The reference sheet provided includes:

Reading

Percent correct needed to pass on the easiest version: 73% Time allotted: 40 minutes

Competencies Covered

FTCE Profession Education test

The profession education test is meant to test education specific to pedagogy and professional practices.

Percent correct needed to pass on the easiest version: 73%

Time allotted: 150 minutes

Competencies Covered

of subject matter

learning

[4]

FTCE Subject Area Examinations

The subject area tests are meant to test the various subjects prospective teachers in Florida will be teaching.

Grades 5-9

Grades 6-12

Grades K-12

Other

No test score results are provided for years beyond 2012. Scores 2013-Present should be publicized, as the tests seem to be ridiculously difficult to passed (I know this, as I have passed them all previously for certification). Pearson View is making a ton of money (don't know if the state also gets a cut of profits), college students are being held back from certification, and those needing to recertify are spending a small fortune and a grandiose amount of time and effort for the "general knowledge" exam. This exam is far from general knowledge. I have quite a high IQ and am more than capable of effectively teaching elementary students. This general knowledge test and the test taker results for tests taken in the past 3 years need to be re-examined. This is obviously an unjust part of the recent certification expectations.


Passing Rates

Passing rates for various test are shown in the tables below.[5][6] The table list the percentage of first time test takers passing each exam, it then list the percentage of all test takers passing for that year.

Results for the 4 sections of the general knowledge exam (GK) and the professional education exam are shown below.

Exam 2006 First Time 2006 All 2007 First Time 2007 All 2008 First Time 2008 All 2009 First Time 2009 All 2010 First Time 2010 All 2011 First Time 2011 All 2012 First Time 2012 All
GK-English Language Skills 88% 80% 86% 78% 86% 77% 89% 83% 92% * 92% * 91% *
GK-Essay 87% 77% 89% 78% 88% 79% 89% 82% 95% * 96% * 97% *
GK-Math 75% 65% 73% 63% 76% 64% 78% 68% 82% * 82% * 81% *
GK-Reading 85% 76% 83% 74% 81% 71% 83% 76% 86% * 87% * 85% *
Professional Education 76% 69% 78% 69% 77% 68% 84% 77% 86% * 85% * 87% *

Results of the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) are shown below

FELE Section 2009 First Time 2009 All 2010 First Time 2010 All 2011 First Time 2011 All 2012 First Time 2012 All
Subtest 1 - Instructional Leadership 83.9% 75.7% 88% * 90% * 88% *
Subtest 2 - Operational Leadership 90.9% 86.6% 95% * 96% * 94% *
Subtest 3 - School Leadership 81.3% 74.5% 87% * 89% * 89% *

Results of subject area exams are shown below

Exam 2006 First Time 2006 All 2007 First Time 2007 All 2008 First Time 2008 All 2009 First Time 2009 All 2010 First Time 2010 All 2011 First Time 2011 All 2012 First Time 2012 All
Biology 6-12 74% 67% 75% 67% 74% 67% 77% 71% 85% * 87% * 85% *
Chemistry 6-12 58% 52% 59% 50% 50% 46% 58% 53% 76% * 74% * 76% *
Elementary Ed K-6 78% 70% 75% 67% 74% 64% 79% 72% 83% * 83% * 84% *
English 6-12 68% 63% 71% 64% 69% 64% 72% 67% 73% * 73% * 73% *
Mathematics 6-12 46% 41% 42% 40% 44% 40% 48% 47% 54% * 55% * 63% *
MG English 5-9 84% 81% 74% 70% 68% 65% 78% 75% 85% * 81% * 85% *
MG General Science 5-9 56% 49% 57% 48% 54% 47% 61% 57% 74% * 78% * 73% *
MG Math 5-9 63% 57% 62% 55% 61% 53% 66% 61% 75% * 76% * 73% *
MG Social Science 5-9 58% 51% 60% 50% 61% 53% 66% 60% 82% * 81% * 86% *
Music K-12 84% 79% 82% 71% 82% 73% 86% 78% 88% * 88% * 92% *
Physics 6-12 53% 46% 49% 42% 54% 48% 45% 44% 59% * 60% * 61% *
Pre-K/Primary PK-3 69% 60% 69% 58% 68% 57% 80% 71% 94% * 93% * 93% *
Social Science 6-12 64% 55% 63% 54% 60% 51% 69% 62% 90% * 89% * 66% *
Spanish K-12 84% 78% 85% 78% 84% 78% 79% 72% 83% * 83% * 87% *

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fl.nesinc.com/FL_CBToverview.asp
  2. ↑ http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/051021.html
  3. ↑ http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2437/Phase2.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/ftcecomp.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.fldoe.org/asp/ftce/pdf/firsttime-ftce-examinees.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.fldoe.org/asp/pdf/09perfbook.pdf
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