Out-of-Field Teachers

All Educators in Florida are monitored to ensure they meet certification and training requirements as mandated by law. Florida Statute 1012.42 requires that parents are notified when their students are assigned to an out-of-field teacher. The Department of Education acknowledges that some subjects are difficult to fill and that there are shortages of teachers in certain fields. Employing out-of-field teachers allows schools to meet the curricular needs of all our students.

An out-of-field teacher is a teacher that is qualified to teach, but holds certification in a different area than they are teaching. Teachers who are out-of-field in only ESOL or Gifted are certified in the core subject that is being taught, but are required to complete specific courses in order to provide instruction to students who are English Language Learners or identified as being Gifted. 

The lists below are the teachers who are currently instructing students that meet the criteria for parental notification under this law.  All of the teachers included on this list are working towards completing the requirements to become certified in the appropriate area.

• Out-of-Field Associate Teacher Substitutes
• Out-of-Field Content Area Teachers
• Out-of-Field ESOL Teachers (2021-2022)
• Out-of-Field ESOL Teachers (2022-2023)
• Out-of-Field ESOL Teachers (2023-2024)
• Out-of-Field Gifted Teachers

Teaching Out-of-Field

If you have been identified as teaching out-of-field, you are required to take in-service, college coursework or the subject area exam (if applicable) in the out-of-field area prior to the end of the school year in which you were placed out-of-field.  You must continue to complete the training each additional school year you are out-of-field until you have added the out-of-field subject to your certificate. Failure to comply may impact your future placement/assignment.

ESOL

You must complete one course within two years of the initial out-of-field date and one course each year after that.  (After completion of your first ESOL course, you must complete one course each year thereafter). ESOL training completion has strict guidelines. What do I need for ESOL?

Gifted

You must complete 120 in-service points (two district courses) and/or six (6) semester college credit hours of coursework during the school year in which you are identified with gifted students.

All other Out-of-Field areas

If you are teaching out-of-field in any area other than the areas listed above, you must take and pass the appropriate subject area exam within the school year in which you were placed out-of-field.   After completion of coursework or passing the subject area exam, you must apply to have the subject area added to your certificate. You will complete that process directly with the Florida Department of Education.

For further information on teaching out-of-field, see the Florida State Board of Education Regulation, Rule 6A-1.0503.