Pursuant to Florida Statute 1012.57, Certification of adjunct educators, and 1012.56 (2)(a)-(f) and (10), Educator certification requirements, the School Board of Highlands County has outlined the following process for issuing adjunct teacher certificates.

Eligibility requirements to be considered for an Adjunct Teaching Certificate are as follows:

• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age

• Hold a bachelor's or higher from an accredited institution with an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

• Document expertise in the subject area to be taught by passing the appropriate Florida subject area exam

  • Note: An Adjunct Teaching Certificate cannot be issued for any subject for which a Florida subject area exam does not exist. Additionally, an Adjunct Teaching Certificate cannot be issued for the following subjects: Educational Leadership, Reading K-12, School Counseling, School Psychologist and Speech and Language Impaired K-12.

  • The passing exam scores must have been earned no more than ten (10) years prior to the date the employee is recommended for hire to the Human Resources Department.

• The applicant will be required to provide to the HR Department an official college transcript and an official passing score report for the subject area exam.

The instructional employee must only be assigned to courses/students in which the subject area listed on the Adjunct Teaching Certificate is appropriate. Teaching out-of-field while using the Adjunct Teaching Certificate is not permitted.

Each Adjunct Teaching Certificate is valid for one year and through the term of the annual contract between the instructional employee and the District. At the District’s discretion, an additional annual contract and an additional one year Adjunct Teaching Certificate may be issued by the District, but only if the instructional employee is rated effective of highly effective during each year of employment using the Adjunct Teaching Certificate. The District may issue an adjunct teaching certificate for a part-time or full-time position. An Adjunct Teaching Certificate issued for a full time position is valid for no more than five (5) years and is non-renewable.

Issuance of a subsequent Adjunct Teaching Certificates and employment contract renewal are at the District’s discretion and subject to the requirements set forth in Florida Statutes.

Additional Information:

• The adjunct teacher will have to meet all ESOL requirements indicated by their ESOL category which is determined by the subject they teach and the presence of an ELL student on their class roster.

• Adjunct teachers cannot teach a subject that requires an endorsement, such as reading or gifted.

• Adjunct teachers cannot provide tier 3 intervention to students.

• Adjunct teachers will complete professional development during the school year as required by their school administration.

• Adjunct teachers will have a qualified mentor assigned to meet with them for a minimum of 1 hour/week.

• Upon approval for hire by SBHC Human Resources, the instructional employee will be provided an application for the Adjunct Teaching Certificate.

• A completed application and check or money order in the amount of &75.00 per subject area, made payable to School Board of Highlands County (SBHC) must be submitted.

The adjunct teaching certificate issued for a full time teaching position is valid for no more than five (5) years and is non-renewable.