PLA Offerings: 2026-2027 School Year

The BEESS Portal to Professional Learning Alternatives (PLA) is a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student education (BEESS) and the Bureau of Educator Certification. Available to Florida educators since 2003, the courses are funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). Courses are coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Administration Project and the eighteen FDLRS Network Associate Centers, a FLDOE/BEESS project, in collaboration with the Florida Center for Interactive Media at FSU.

The courses listed on this page are the ones that are facilitated by our center, and will be taught by either FDLRS Heartland personnel or by teachers from one of the Heartland districts. Educators can now elect to register for ANY of the PLA courses offered through any FDLRS Center. The list of Facilitated courses and their descriptions can be found on the statewide portal (https://fl-pla.org), and registration is centrally located on the FDLRS Upcoming Courses page. There is also a General FAQ document available that has additional details about what a Facilitated PLA Course entails.

Participants will access the materials through the online learning portal for PLA courses, in addition to attending mandatory Zoom "face-to-face" meetings. Participants will receive information about their first virtual meeting, which will occur on Day 1 of the course, in the week prior to the start date. During this first meeting, login information and how to access materials will be discussed, as well as class pacing and other details about coursework.

DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, and Highlands counties will all register at the main FDLRS Upcoming Courses webpage (if you are looking for one of our center's courses specifically, you will see a course code beginning with "HE" at the bottom of the listing).

Gifted Endorsement Offerings: 2026-2027 School Year

The Gifted Endorsement is designed to increase the level of knowledge, expertise, and understanding of educators working with students who are gifted. The endorsement is intended to raise the awareness of the unique characteristics, emotional/social needs, and other challenges and issues associated with the students who are gifted. It is designed to foster an understanding of historical, state, and national trends, policies and guidelines to ensure implementation of appropriate academic curriculum, differentiation strategies, educational intervention, and support for this diverse population.

Our most recent direction from the Florida Department of Education is that the Gifted Endorsement Courses will only be available during the first semester of the 2026-2027 school year as they undergo revision by the state. We will keep this page updated with the most current information as that direction changes.

FDLRS Heartland's free Gifted Endorsement Courses offered locally will be taught by Donna Trucchio and/or Gina Sandusky-Nelson. You will have mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings combined with online assignments, quizzes, and/or discussions on the Moodle platform. You must complete all coursework and submit your evaluation by the course end dates listed with each course in order to receive inservice credit.

The Gifted Endorsement Add-On Program consists of five courses (300 hours). Two Gifted courses will be offered through FDLRS Heartland during the 2026-2027 School Year: Theory & Development of Creativity (Summer 2026) and Nature & Needs of the Gifted Student (Fall 2026). You can enter the course cycle at any time, but you must complete all five courses in order to receive the Gifted Endorsement. Please see below for course descriptions and registration information.

DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button below.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).

Gifted Registration

Theory and Development of Creativity

• Course Dates: July 8 through September 23, 2026 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: Donna Trucchio
• Description: Theory and Development of Creativity provides an overview of the theory, research, practical strategies, and resources on creativity, with an emphasis on classroom applications in the gifted classroom. It is intended that, upon completion of this course participants attain the following goals, to increase knowledge of the nature and definition of creativity, to reflect on and learn ways to enhance personal creativity and to provide ideas and strategies for teaching others (students) to develop and use their creativity.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be July 8, 2026 at 4:00PM. Participants will receive Zoom instructions the day prior.
• Deadline to Register: July 5, 2026

Nature and Needs of the Gifted

• Course Dates: September 30 through December 16, 2026 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
• Description: Nature and Needs of the Gifted provides an overview of the evolution of gifted education on the national, state, and local level. Major events affecting gifted education are described as well as major policies and procedures governing the delivery of gifted education. Cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics common to individuals who are gifted are identified along with strategies that can be used to meet the academic needs of different categories of students who are gifted.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be September 30, 2026 at 4:00PM. Participants will receive Zoom instructions the day prior.
• Deadline to Register: September 27, 2026

ASD Endorsement Offerings: 2026-2027 School Year

The Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement Program is designed to increase the level of knowledge, expertise, and understanding of educators working with K-12 students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The endorsement is intended to raise the awareness of the unique characteristics, emotional/social needs, and other challenges and issues related to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and its range of pervasive developmental disorders that adversely affect functioning and result in the need for specially designed instruction and related services. It is designed to foster an understanding of policies and guidelines to ensure implementation of appropriate curriculum, differentiation, strategies, educational intervention, and support for this diverse population.

FDLRS Heartland's free ASD Endorsement Courses offered locally will be taught by Cathy Gonzalez, an ESE Specialist and Autism Coach or Pam Lanier, FDLRS Heartland Director. You will have mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings combined with online assignments, quizzes, and/or discussions on the Moodle platform. You must complete all coursework and submit your evaluation by the course end dates listed with each course in order to receive inservice credit.

There are three modules (80 hours each) in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement which cover assessment, diagnosis, behavior analysis, positive behavior supports, assistive technology, communication systems, and field experience (embedded in each course). Participants must complete all three modules. Please see below for course descriptions and registration information.

Participants should verify with their school district that ASD Endorsement courses are in the District's Professional Learning Catalog, that the courses have been approved by the district, and are eligible for points. Please be advised that an endorsement is a rider on a valid Florida teaching certificate with another subject coverage. It cannot stand alone on the certificate. It is important to note that this add-on endorsement can only be added to your professional certification in conjunction with certification in any exceptional student education area.

DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button below.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).

ASD Registration

Nature and Needs, Assessment, and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

• Course Dates: August 10 through November 4, 2026 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 80 Hours
• Instructor: Cathy Gonzalez
• Description: Participants will be able to identify characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), demonstrate an understanding of current trends and research-based methodologies used to create appropriate instructional programs for these students, and become familiar with formal and informal assessments used for diagnosis and instructional planning.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on August 10th at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior. Additional meetings: August 31, September 21, October 12
• Deadline to Register: August 7, 2026

Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

• Course Dates: November 16, 2026 through February 24, 2027 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 80 Hours
• Instructor: Pam Lanier
• Description: This course provides participants with an understanding of how applied behavior analysis principles pertain to individuals with ASD, including implementation associated with teaching various skills and supporting behavior in educational settings. The functional assessment of problem behavior as well as proactive and preventative methods for addressing problem behavior will be addressed. In addition, evidence-based instructional strategies to develop communication, social, self-help, and academic skills will be emphasized and linked to behavioral needs.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on November 16th at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior. Additional meetings: December 7, January 11, February 8
• Deadline to Register: November 13, 2026

Augmentative/Alternative Communication Systems and Assistive/Instructional Technology for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

• Course Dates: March 1 through May 26, 2027 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 80 Hours
• Instructor: Cathy Gonzalez
• Description: Participants will be able to describe and analyze communication needs, design strategies to facilitate intervention, and demonstrate an understanding of various communication interventions for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders; including AAC/AT. Participants will understand the importance of transition planning for students with ASD.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on March 1 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior. Additional meetings: April 5, May 3
• Deadline to Register: February 26, 2027

2026-2027 School Year

We also offer various webinars, book studies, and other online, blended, or face-to-face professional learning. Please see the listings below, or see our calendar for information.

Depending on the type of training, participants may receive links to access their material in Padlet, Google Classroom, or Moodle. Please read the descriptions of each of the courses/trainings to see the requirements and expectations of the class.

DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration buttons below
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course