AN ACT
RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; GRANTING A FIVE-YEAR LEVEL ONE LICENSE; PROVIDING THAT A LEVEL ONE TEACHER MUST TEACH AT LEVEL ONE FOR AT LEAST THREE FULL YEARS BEFORE APPLYING FOR A LEVEL TWO LICENSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 22-10A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 35) is amended to read:
"22-10A-4. TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS--PROFESSIONAL STATUS--LICENSURE LEVELS--SALARY ALIGNMENT.--
A. Teaching and school administration are recognized as professions, with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges accorded professions, having their first responsibility to the public they serve. The primary responsibilities of the teaching and school administration professions are to educate the children of this state and to improve the professional practices and ethical conduct of their members.
B. The New Mexico licensure framework for teachers and school administrators is a progressive career system in which licensees are required to demonstrate increased competencies and undertake increased duties as they progress through the licensure levels. The minimum salary provided as part of the career system shall not take effect until the department has adopted increased competencies for the particular level of licensure and a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation.
C. A level one license is a provisional license that gives a beginning teacher the opportunity, through a formal mentorship program, for additional preparation to be a quality teacher. A level two license is given to a teacher who is a fully qualified professional who is primarily responsible for ensuring that students meet and exceed department-adopted academic content and performance standards; a teacher may choose to remain at level two for the remainder of the teacher's career. A level three-A license is the highest level of teaching licensure for those teachers who choose to advance as instructional leaders in the teaching profession and undertake greater responsibilities such as curriculum development, peer intervention and mentoring. A level three-B license is for teachers who commence a new career path in school administration by becoming school administrators.
D. All teacher and school administrator salary systems shall be aligned with the licensure framework in a professional educator licensing and salary system.
E. All teachers and school administrators who hold teaching or administrator certificates on the effective date of the 2003 act shall meet the requirements for their level of licensure by September 1, 2006 and shall be issued licenses."
Section 2. Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 38) is amended to read:
"22-10A-7. LEVEL ONE LICENSURE.--
A. A level one license is a provisional five-year license for beginning teachers that requires as a condition of licensure that the licensee undergo a formal mentorship program and an annual intensive performance evaluation by a school administrator for at least three full school years before applying for a level two license.
B. Each school district, in accordance with department rules, shall provide for the mentorship and evaluation of level one teachers. At the end of each year and at the end of the license period, the level one teacher shall be evaluated for competency. If the teacher fails to demonstrate satisfactory progress and competence annually, the teacher may be terminated as provided in Section
22-10A-24 NMSA 1978. If the teacher has not demonstrated satisfactory progress and competence by the end of the five-year period, the teacher shall not be granted a level two license.
C. Except in exigent circumstances defined by department rule, a level one license shall not be extended beyond the initial period.
D. The department shall issue a standard level one license to an applicant who is at least eighteen years of age who:
(1) holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution;
(2) has successfully completed a department-approved teacher preparation program from a nationally accredited or state-approved educational institution;
(3) has passed the New Mexico teacher assessments examination; and
(4) meets other qualifications for level one licensure, including clearance of the required background check.
E. The department shall issue an alternative level one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.
F. The department shall establish competencies and qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject areas of level one licensure, including early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary, special education and vocational education.
G. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, with the adoption by the department of a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation for level one teachers, the minimum salary for a level one teacher shall be
thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract.
H. Teachers who hold level one licenses on the effective date of the 2003 act must be evaluated by the end of the 2006-2007 school year."
Section 3. Section 22-10A-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 40) is amended to read:
"22-10A-9. TEACHER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR LEVEL ONE TEACHERS--PURPOSE--DEPARTMENT DUTIES.--
A. The purpose of the teacher mentorship program is to provide beginning teachers with an effective transition into the teaching field, to build on their initial preparation and to ensure their success in teaching; to improve the achievement of students; and to retain capable teachers in the classroom and to remove teachers who show little promise of success.
B. The department shall develop a framework for a teacher mentorship program for all level one teachers. The department shall work with licensed school employees, representatives from teacher preparation programs and the commission on higher education to establish the framework.
C. The framework shall include:
(1) individual support and assistance for each beginning teacher from a designated mentor;
(2) structured training for mentors;
(3) an ongoing, formative evaluation that is used for the improvement of teaching practice;
(4) procedures for a summative evaluation of beginning teachers' performance during at least the first three years of teaching, including annual assessment of suitability for license renewal, and for final assessment of beginning teachers seeking level two licensure;
(5) support from local school boards, school administrators and other school district personnel; and
(6) regular review and evaluation of the teacher mentorship program.
D. The department shall:
(1) require submission and approval of each school district's teacher mentorship program;
(2) provide technical assistance to school districts that do not have a well-developed teacher mentorship program in place; and
(3) encourage school districts to collaborate with teacher preparation program administrators at institutions of higher education, career educators, educational organizations, regional service centers and other state and community leaders in the teacher mentorship program."
Section 4. Section 22-10A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 41) is amended to read:
"22-10A-10. LEVEL TWO LICENSURE.--
A. A level two license is a nine-year license granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that level and who annually demonstrates essential competency to teach. If a level two teacher does not demonstrate essential competency in a given school year, the school district shall provide the teacher with additional professional development and peer intervention during the following school year. If by the end of that school year the teacher fails to demonstrate essential competency, a school district may choose not to contract with the teacher to teach in the classroom.
B. The department shall issue a level two license to an applicant who successfully completes the level one license or is granted reciprocity as provided by department rules; demonstrates essential competency required by the department as verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications as required by the department.
C. The department shall provide for qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject areas of level two licensure, including early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, special education and vocational education.
D. With the adoption by the department of the statewide objective performance evaluation for level two teachers, the minimum salary for a level two teacher for a standard nine and one-half month contract shall be as follows:
(1) for the 2003-2004 school year,
thirty thousand dollars ($30,000);
(2) for the 2004-2005 school year,
thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000); and
(3) for the 2005-2006 school year,
forty thousand dollars ($40,000)."
Section 5. "22-10A-11. LEVEL THREE LICENSURE--TRACKS FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.--
A. A level three-A license is a nine-year license granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that level and who annually demonstrates instructional leader competencies. If a level three-A teacher does not demonstrate essential competency in a given school year, the school district shall provide the teacher with additional professional development and peer intervention during the following school year. If by the end of that school year the teacher fails to demonstrate essential competency, a school district may choose not to contract with the teacher to teach in the classroom.
B. The department shall grant a level three-A license to an applicant who has been a level two teacher for at least three years and holds a post-baccalaureate degree or national board for professional teaching standards certification; demonstrates instructional leader competence as required by the department and verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications for the license.
C. With the adoption by the department of a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation for level three-A teachers, the minimum salary for a level three-A teacher for a standard nine and one-half month contract shall be as follows:
(1) for the 2003-2004 school year,
thirty thousand dollars ($30,000);
(2) for the 2004-2005 school year,
thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000);
(3) for the 2005-2006 school year,
forty thousand dollars ($40,000);
(4) for the 2006-2007 school year,
forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000); and
(5) for the 2007-2008 school year,
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
D. A level three-B license is a nine-year license granted to a school administrator who meets the qualifications for that level. Licenses may be renewed upon satisfactory annual demonstration of instructional leader and administrative competency.
E. The department shall grant a level three-B license to an applicant who has been a level three-A instructional leader for at least one year, has satisfactorily completed department-approved courses in administration and a department-approved administration apprenticeship program and demonstrates instructional leader competence required by the department and verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation.
F. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the standard contract and minimum annual salary for a level three-B school principal shall be based on the size of the school in which the school principal is employed, as follows:
(1) for school principals of schools with two hundred or fewer students, a minimum salary of
fifty-eight thousand dollars ($58,000) for a standard
ten-month contract;
(2) for school principals of schools with two hundred one to four hundred students, a minimum salary of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for a standard ten-month contract;
(3) for school principals of schools with four hundred one to six hundred students, a minimum salary of sixty-two thousand dollars ($62,000) for a standard ten-month contract;
(4) for school principals of schools with six hundred one to eight hundred students, a minimum salary of sixty-four thousand dollars ($64,000) for a standard
ten-month contract;
(5) for school principals of schools with eight hundred one to one thousand students, a minimum salary of sixty-six thousand dollars ($66,000) for a standard
ten-month contract; and
(6) for school principals of schools with more than one thousand students, a minimum salary of
sixty-eight thousand dollars ($68,000) for a standard
ten-month contract."
Section 6. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.