16. CERTIFICATION AND RENEWAL PROCEDURE

16.1 REGISTRATION OF CERTIFICATE

16.1.1 Each teacher must hold a valid Florida certificate issued by the State Department of Education or a valid District certificate issued by the School District of Hillsborough County. It is the individual teacher's responsibility to keep his certificate active; however, the Office of Professional Standards will aid the teacher in filling out forms, processing renewals, and when required, mailing them to the State Department of Education.

16.1.2 Each teacher must register his/her state-issued certificate (temporary, professional, renewal, upgrade, or addition), with the Office of Professional Standards within thirty (30) days after receiving it from the State Bureau of Teacher Certification. However, if a teacher has applied for the certificate through the Office of Professional Standards, the Bureau of Teacher Certification will mail a copy directly to the District.

16.2 CERTIFICATES REQUIRED FOR TENURE

16.2.1 Only teachers who hold a regular or professional certificate are eligible to gain tenure in Hillsborough County.

16.3 TEACHING OUT-OF-FIELD

16.3.1 Teachers shall not be assigned to subjects not listed on their teaching certificate except in accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Education and for good cause shown.

A. All teachers who are teaching out-of-field shall be required to complete, with a grade of "C" or higher, six semester or eight quarter hours or the equivalent toward meeting certification requirements within 12 months of having accepted the assignment.

B. Teachers who are teaching out-of-field shall be evaluated for knowledge of subject matter with consideration given to the lack of complete certification.

C. Teachers who are teaching out-of-field because of pool placement shall not be evaluated for knowledge of subject matter.

D. When the teacher is out-of-field in a subject area, and is also fulfilling a 300 hour ESOL requirement, the ESOL course work may be substituted for one course (3 hours or 60 inservice points) within the six-hour requirement, unless there is no current ESOL requirement.

16.4 CERTIFICATE EXTENSION

16.4.1 Certificates which are eligible for renewal or extension shall be renewed or extended under the rules of the Department of Education and/or the School District of Hillsborough County prescribing such additional training, experience and competencies as may be deemed necessary for said renewal or extension.

16.4.2 A teacher who is teaching on a special permit, that is, a college graduate who is not certified in the field of this assignment, must meet requirements by earning six semester or eight quarter hours (or the equivalent) in the field of his assignment annually in order to be eligible for reappointment. This course work may be in addition to course work needed for certificate extension.