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    Advanced Degree Pay Information

     For Instructional Personnel and School Administrators

     

    Senate Bill 7002 addresses salary supplements for advanced degrees in the educator’s area of certification. The exact language reads as follows: “A district school board may use advanced degrees in setting a salary schedule for instructional personnel or school administrators if the advanced degree is held in the individual’s area of certification.”

    What is Advanced Degree Pay?

    Instructional employees 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?

    Compensation Salary Schedule

    How much does the Advanced Degree Pay?

    The Advanced Degree Payment amounts are as follows:
    • Master's Degree         $3,500
    • ED Specialist Degree $4,000
    • Doctorate Degree       $5,000 

    Only one Advanced Degree payment 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?

    FLDOE Certification Subject Areas

     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 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 Julio Vigil at vigilj@collierschools.com or call (239) 377-0346.
     
    My Advanced Degree does not show an area that I have on my Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    We will accept a letter from the University if it states that you have a Concentration or Specialization in an area on your Florida Teaching Certificate.
     
    I just received my Advanced 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 payment:
      
     
    *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. To be eligible to receive the Advanced Degree Pay, the area of the degree must be an area of certification on your Florida Teaching Certificate. Therfore, in order to comply with Florida law, an advanced degree in 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 (e.g., Mathematics, English, French, Elementary Education, etc.).
     
    For more information regarding advanced degrees not listed, please contact:
    Julio Vigil
    vigilj@collierschools.com
    Certification Manager
    Human Resources
    239-377-0346