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    Advanced Degree Salary Supplement Pay Information

     

     for Instructional Personnel and School Administrators hired after July 1, 2011

     

    The 2011 SB 736 Student Success Act addresses salary supplements for advanced degrees in the educator’s area of certification. The exact language reads as follows: “A District school board may not use advanced degrees in setting a salary schedule for instructional personnel or school administrators hired on or after July 1, 2011, unless the advanced degree is held in the individual’s area of certification and is only a salary supplement.”

    The advanced degree supplement is not considered part of base pay.

    What is Advanced Degree Pay?

    According to the State Law that became effective July 1, 2011, instructional employees that are new to the District or that are rehired after a break in service may receive pay for advanced degrees provided the degree is held in an area of certification on their Florida Teaching Certificate.

    What if I am not instructional?

    Salary Schedule

     

    How much does it pay?

    For eligible degrees above a Bachelor’s the supplement amount is as follows:
    • Master's Degree         $2,700
    • Specialist Degree       $4,000
    • Doctorate Degree       $5,000 

    Only one supplement is paid for the highest level eligible degree.

    How do I qualify?

    To qualify for Advanced Degree Pay, the degree major must appear on the instructional employee’s Florida Teaching Certificate.

    Some examples are:

          -Elementary Education            - Biology
          -English                                   - Chemistry
          -Journalism                              - Reading
          -Math                                       - ESOL
          -Spanish                                  - Guidance and Counseling
          -French                                    - School Psychologist
          -ESE
    Non-specific degree majors such as Curriculum and Instruction, Education or Teaching and Learning  cannot be considered for Advanced Degree Pay unless they specify an area of concentration that matches the employee’s area of certification on their Florida Teaching Certificate.
     

    What are the Florida Department of Education subject areas?

    http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/subjlist.asp

    What do I do to receive Advanced Degree Pay?

    • Print and complete the Degree Supplement Form
    • Submit the form to the Certification Department
    • Submit official transcript showing degree awarded and the conferred date to the Certification Department, if the transcript is not already on file.  We are not able to accept electronic transcripts or copies of transcripts.
    How do I receive Advanced Degree Pay?
     
    If approved, the Certification Department will notify the Compensation Department. The Advanced Degree Pay will show as a supplement on your paycheck.

    What if I leave the District and return at a later date?

     
    If you resign, retire, or have a termination date for any reason, and then return to an instructional position within the District, the degree major must appear on the instructional employee’s Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    This also applies if you transfer to a professional support staff position within the District and return to an instructional or school administrative position.
     
    What if I am transferring to another Florida school district?
     
    Instructional personnel or school administrators moving to or from another Florida school district, after July 1, 2011, will need to have the area stated on their transcripts on their Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    I believe I should be receiving Advanced Degree Pay.  Whom should I contact?  
     
    If you are a current employee and have submitted your transcripts for Advanced Degree Pay and you currently are not receiving the Advanced Degree Pay, email Robbie Stanek at stanekro@collierschools.com or call (239) 377-0346.
     
    My Master’s Degree does not show an area that I have on my Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    We are able to accept a letter from the University if it states the Concentration or Specialization is in an area on your Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    I just received my Master’s Degree.  Where should I send my transcripts?
     
    You may have the official transcripts sent to: 
    Collier County Public Schools
    Attn:  Certification
    5775 Osecola Trail
    Naples, FL 34109
     
    Collier County Public Schools will use the below list of acceptable majors recommended by the Department of Education to determine eligibility for the advanced degree supplement:
      
     Florida Certification Coverage  Frequently Acceptable Degree Major(s)
    Agriculture Agriculture
    Arabic Arabic
    Art Art, Art Education, Fine Arts (major, not degree type), Architecture, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Commercial Art, One Area of Art (Painting, Sculpture, etc.)
    Biology Bacteriology, Biology, Biological Sciences, Biomechanics, Botany, Dentistry, Doctor of Medicine, Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Genetics, Kinesiology, Life Science, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Zoology, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy         
    Business Education Business Education, Business Administration
    Chemistry Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doctor of Pharmacy
    Chinese Chinese
    Computer Science Computer Information Sciences, Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Technology, Computer Engineering
    Dance Dance, Dance Education
    Drama Acting, Drama, Dramatic Arts, Theatre, Theatre Arts, One Area of Drama (Directing, etc.)
    Earth-Space Science Astronomy, Climatology, Earth Science, Geology, Metallurgy, Meteorology, Oceanography, Paleontology, Physical Geography, Space Science
    Educational Leadership Educational Administration, Administration and Supervision, Educational Leadership, Educational Management and Development, School Principal (master’s level)
    Educational Media Specialist Educational Media, Educational Media Technology, Instructional Media, Library Science (not Technology Education)
    Elementary Education (K-6) Elementary Education 1-6, K-6, N/K-6, K-3, K-4, K-8, K-9, Upper Elementary 4-6
    English English, Literature (English), Creative Writing, Language Arts
    English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
    Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Special Education, Mild and Moderate Needs, Teacher of the Handicapped, Varying Exceptionalities; Behavioral Disorders, BD/LD, Emotionally Conflicted, Emotionally Disturbed, Emotionally Handicapped, Socially and Emotionally Maladjusted; Educable Mentally Retarded, Children with Retarded Mental Development (CRMD), Intellectual Disabilities, Mentally Handicapped, Mentally Impaired, Mental Retardation, Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Severely and Profoundly Mentally Retarded, Trainable Mentally Retarded; Learning Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities; Motor Disabilities, Orthopedically Handicapped, Physically Handicapped, Physically Impaired
    Family and Consumer Science Home Economics, Vocational Home Economics, Family and Consumer Science
    Farsi Farsi
    French French
    German German
    Greek  Greek
    Guidance and Counseling School Guidance and Counseling, School Counseling, School Guidance (master’s degree level)
    Haitian-Creole Haitian-Creole
    Health Allied Health, Health, Health Education, Health Services, Nursing (BS), Public Health, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Dental Science, Doctor of Osteopathy
    Hearing Impaired  Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deaf Education, Hearing Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Hearing Science, Education of Deaf-Blind
    Hebrew Hebrew
    Hindi       Hindi
    Humanities Humanities, Classical Studies
    Italian Italian
    Japanese Japanese
    Journalism Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Television Journalism
    Latin    Latin
    Marketing Distributive Education, Marketing, Marketing Education
    Mathematics Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Aeronautical/Aerospace, or Nuclear), Statistics, Actuarial Science
    Middle Grades English Middle Grades English, Middle Grades Language Arts, Middle School English Education, Junior High School English, English, Literature (English), Creative Writing, Language Arts Literature (English), Creative Writing
    Middle Grades General Science Middle Grades Science, Teaching Middle School Science, Junior High Science, Middle School Science Education, General Science
    Middle Grades Mathematics Middle Grades Mathematics, Teaching Middle School Mathematics, Junior High Mathematics, Middle School Mathematics Education, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering (Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Aeronautical/Aerospace, or Nuclear), Actuarial Science
    Middle Grades Social Science Middle Grades Social Science, Teaching Middle School Social Science, Junior High Social Science, Middle School Social Science Education, Social Science, Social Studies, American History, History, Western Civilization, World History, Geography, Economic Geography, (and other specialized areas of geography) Economics, Civics, Government, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology (and other specialized areas of Psychology)
    Music Applied Music, Instrumental Music, Music, Music Education, Piano or other major instrument, Vocal Music, Voice, Composition (music), Percussion
    Physical Education (K-12) Physical Education any grade level with student teaching
    Physics Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Physics, Physics, Thermodynamics, Nuclear Engineering
    Portuguese Portuguese
    Preschool Education Nursery School Education, Preschool Education, Birth-Age 4, Birth-Age 8
    Prekindergarten/Primary Education Early Childhood Education if NK-3, NK-4, or Birth-Age 8; P-5, N-6, NK-6, Prekindergarten/Primary Education
    Reading Reading (master’s degree level)
    Russian    Russian
    School Psychologist School Psychology (specialist’s degree level)
    School Social Worker Social Work, Social Worker, Social Welfare
    Social Science Social Science, Social Studies, American History, History, Western Civilization, World History, Geography, Economic Geography (and other specialized areas of geography), Economics, Civics, Government, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Educational Psychology (and other specialized areas of Psychology)
    Spanish Spanish
    Speech Speech, Speech Communication, Public Speaking
    Speech-Language Impaired  Communication Disorders, Speech Correction, Speech and Hearing Science, Speech-Language Impaired, Speech Pathology, Speech Pathology and Audiology (master’s degree level)
    Technology Education Industrial Arts, Industrial Technology Education, Industrial Education, Industrial Arts-Technology Education, Technology Education
    Turkish Turkish
    Visually Impaired
    Blind and Partially Sighted, Visual Disabilities, Visually Handicapped, Visually Impaired
     
     *Please note that both the language and intent of the legislation are precise and clear that the advanced degree must be in a subject shown on the certificate to award the supplement. Therefore, in order to comply with the Student Success Act, a general graduate degree such as Curriculum and Instruction, which does not “match” any of the certification subjects, would not be acceptable, unless the transcript identified a major or specialization in the teacher’s certification subject (e.g., Mathematics, English, French, Elementary Education, etc.)
     
    For more information regarding advanced degrees not listed, please contact:
    Certification Manager
    Human Resources
    239-377-0346