1. 2017-2018 Certification Hiring Guidelines
The School Board of Polk County, Florida, prohibits any and all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, homelessness, disability, genetic information or other basis prohibited by law in any of its programs, services, activities or employment. To file concerns, you may contact the Office of Equity & Compliance in the Human Resource Services Division at (863) If you require any type of accommodation to complete the application process due to a disability, please call the Human Resource Services Division at (863) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please contact the Polk County School District by calling Florida Relay Service at
9/21/2018

2. CERTIFICATION HIRING GUIDELINES FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
If you are hired to fill a …
Then you must …
Elementary K-6 or PreK/Primary (PK-3) position
meet one of the following:
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in Elementary Education K-6 or PreK/Primary (PK-3) or
have an official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree or higher in the targeted subject documented with the FLDOE and have an active application in the targeted subject area with the FLDOE.
Note: If transcript does not reflect degree in targeted subject, he/she must provide the Certification Office with evidence of a passing score on the targeted subject area exam.
*K-6 ESE position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in ESE K-12 and Elementary K-6 or ESE K-12 and PreK/Primary (PK-3).
Note: If transcript does not reflect degree in targeted subject/s, he/she must provide the Certification Office with evidence of a passing score on both targeted subject area exams.
PreK/ESE position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in PreK/Primary (PK-3) or
have an official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree or higher in the targeted subject documented with the FLDOE and have an active application in the targeted subject area with the FLDOE and
K-6 Art, K-6 Music, or K-6 Drama position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in the targeted subject area or
Reading position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in Reading K-12 or Reading Endorsement or
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Florida Teaching certificate in any subject area and agree to the out-of-field Reading assignment requirements.
Gifted position
hold Gifted Endorsement on his/her Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE along with the appropriate academic subject coverage/s or
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Florida Teaching certificate in the core academic subject area/s of the assignment and agree to the out-of-field Gifted assignment requirements.
Note 1: *Subject to change pending approval of Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C) 6A
9/21/2018
Note 2: New teachers holding a valid Florida Temporary Certificate must document a passing score on all 4 portions of the General Knowledge (GK) Test upon hire.

3. CERTIFICATION HIRING GUIDELINES FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
If you want to hire a new …
Then he/she must …
6th grade Math position
meet one of the following:
he/she must hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in Middle Grades Math 5-9 or Math 6-12 or
he/she must have an official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree or higher in the targeted subject documented with the FLDOE and have an active application in the targeted subject area with the FLDOE
Note: If transcript does not reflect degree in targeted subject, he/she must provide the Certification Office with evidence of a passing score on the targeted subject area exam.
6th grade Science position
he/she must hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in Middle Grades General Science 5-9 or any comprehensive science 6-12 (i.e., Biology, Physics, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Earth Space) or
The certification coverage must align with the assigned courses as reflected in the Course Code Directory (CCD).
*ESE Secondary position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in ESE and the core content subject/s or
he/she must have an official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree or higher in the targeted subject documented with the FLDOE and have an active application in the targeted subject area/s with the FLDOE
Note: If transcript does not reflect degree in targeted subject, he/she must provide the Certification Office with evidence of a passing score on the targeted subject area exam/s. Secondary ESE teachers will have until June 30th of the current school year to become fully certified in the additional applicable content coverage in for the course to be assigned in the Course Code Directory (CCD).
Secondary position (Middle/Senior)
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in the targeted subject area or
Note 1: *Subject to change pending approval of Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C) 6A
9/21/2018
Note 2: New teachers holding a valid Florida Temporary Certificate must document a passing score on all 4 portions of the General Knowledge (GK) Test upon hire.

4. CERTIFICATION HIRING GUIDELINES FOR 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR
If you want to hire a new …
Then he/she must …
Social Science position (Middle/Senior)
meet one of the following:
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in Social Science 5-9 or Social Science 6-12 or
he/she must have an official transcript reflecting a bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the following disciplines with the FLDOE: Social Science, Social Studies, History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Economics, or Psychology and must have an active application in the targeted subject area with the FLDOE
Note: If transcript does not reflect degree in one of the acceptable disciplines, he/she must provide the Certification Office with evidence of a passing score on the targeted subject area exam.
Guidance Counselor position
hold a minimum of a Master’s degree and
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Florida Professional Certificate in Guidance & Counseling.
Dean position
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Florida Professional Certificate in Educational Leadership or
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Florida Teaching Certificate in any subject plus provide documentation that he/she is enrolled in an Educational Leadership program within an accredited college/university and agree to the out-of-field Educational Leadership assignment requirements.
Interventionist (Reading, Science, Math) position
hiring site must complete and submit the Google Intent to Hire Form. (Contact Staffing Office.)
he/she must hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE in the targeted subject area.
Behavior Interventionist position
he/she must hold or be deemed eligible to hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE (preferably in ESE K-12).
Academic Coach position
produce evidence of a minimum of 3 years of highly effective teaching experience
hold or be deemed eligible to hold a Temporary or Professional Certificate by the FLDOE (preferably in the targeted academic area) and
be an approved member of the Academic Coach (Math, Science, Reading) Pool.
Provisional Substitute position (This is not an instructional position.)
he/she must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree
have an active application with the FLDOE in any subject with the FLDOE and
have an active Polk County Schools online employment application.
The following positions CANNOT be filled with a Provisional Substitute: Dean, Interventionist, Social Worker, School Psychologist, and Guidance Counselor.
Note 1: *Subject to change pending approval of Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C) 6A
Note 2: New teachers holding a valid Florida Temporary Certificate must document a passing score on all 4 portions of the General Knowledge (GK) Test upon hire.
9/21/2018