Beginning July 1, 2011, teachers with 100 percent of students on their caseload or in their class who are identified as an eligible student with a disability with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will need to be certified in an exceptional student education (ESE) area and have the ASD endorsement. For additional information, click here to view EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION – AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD) ENDORSEMENT MEMORANDUM, dated May 28, 2010.
The Autism Endorsement Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE teachers who are teaching students identified as having ASD in Florida public schools. In order to be accepted into this program, the applicant must have a Florida Educator Certificate in Exceptional Student Education, be currently employed in a Florida public school, and teach students with ASD. Program recipients must agree to teach students identified as having ASD in a Florida public school for a minimum of one year for every six hours of tuition support received.