The Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS), oversees programs for students with disabilities. To help provide high quality programs, BEESS funds many discretionary projects that provide professional development training for Florida educators and related service personnel working with students with disabilities.
Additional educator certification renewal requirements for all educators working with students with disabilities as required by s.1012.585, F.S.:
Beginning July 1, 2014, an applicant for renewal of a professional certificate must earn at least one college credit or equivalent inservice points (20 hours) in instruction for teaching students with disabilities.
Online Professional Development
- Personnel Development (PD) Portal
The PD Portal is a collection of online independent study courses designed to provide high-quality professional development to Florida educators to increase their ability to respond to the needs of students with disabilities. - Professional Development Alternatives (PDA)
PDA modules are designed to assist educators in becoming more proficient in responding to the various instructional and behavioral needs of each individual learner in order to maximize achievement of all students. PDA offers both facilitated and independent study online modules. - Additional webinars, mini-modules, and model lessons can also be found on the PD Portal.
Face-to-Face Professional Development
- Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS)
FDLRS provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities. - Working with the Experts (WWE)
WWE provides professional development opportunities for speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists working in Florida’s public schools. - Contact the individual BEESS Discretionary Projects for additional face-to-face trainings in your area.