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Florida's yearly autism training for school staff (HB 851): what the law asks, and where outside training fits

The short answer

Since July 1, 2026, every Florida school district must offer at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity each year to its instructional staff and school-based administrators. The district must develop the opportunity in consultation with its assigned Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), and it must cover evidence-based practices supporting autistic students across all levels of need, including academic instruction, behavioral supports, communication strategies, and inclusive practices. This provision sets no minimum training hours and does not itself require every staff member to attend; staff should check their district's attendance requirements.

What the law says

Section 1012.98(5)(b)12, Florida Statutes, added by Chapter 2026-109 (CS/HB 851), says each district's professional learning system must:

"Provide at least one autism-specific professional learning opportunity annually for instructional personnel and school-based administrators. The professional learning must be developed in consultation with the district's assigned Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and must include evidence-based practices for supporting students with autism spectrum disorder across all levels of need, including academic instruction, behavioral supports, communication strategies, and inclusive practices."

Sources: the statute, s. 1012.98 · Chapter 2026-109 · bill history

Who counts as instructional personnel: Florida's definition includes classroom teachers and education paraprofessionals, along with other instructional support staff (s. 1012.01(2)).

When districts plan it: each district updates its professional learning catalog by September 1 and verifies board approval to the Commissioner by October 1 each year (s. 1012.98(5)(b)5). Ask your district's professional learning office about its current plan, any supplemental training needs, and its next catalog planning cycle.

The free foundation districts already have

The University of Florida's CARD and Alachua County Public Schools built a free six-module autism course, about 4 to 6 hours, which districts can load into their own learning systems. Start there: UF CARD's HB 851 page.

Where outside training fits

The law asks districts to develop their opportunity with their CARD center; it does not name approved vendors. Districts can consider outside training for specific supplemental learning needs; this provision does not require districts to use UF's course or purchase an outside course. Whether a district counts a course toward inservice credit is the district's decision, through its own professional learning procedures. We do not claim our training meets the HB 851 requirement on its own.

What our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers

Classroom methods from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding, starting with what autism is and what ABA is. It ends with a 40-question final exam; passing at 80% earns a certificate of completion. It is basic training, not a credential, and the certificate is not a CE certificate. We do not claim Florida inservice credit for this course.

A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."

Two ways to start