SENATE BILL 361

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; ALLOWING A SUBJECT-AREA EXAMINATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUBJECT-AREA CREDIT HOURS FOR ALTERNATIVE LEVEL ONE LICENSURE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 39, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-10A-8. ALTERNATIVE LEVEL ONE LICENSE.--

          A. The department shall issue an alternative level one license to a person who is at least eighteen years of age and who has:

                (1) completed a baccalaureate degree at an accredited institution of higher education, including completion of a minimum of thirty credit hours at either the undergraduate or graduate level in the subject area of instruction for which the person is applying for a license or a passing score on a state-approved subject-area examination in the subject area of instruction for which the person is applying for a license; or

                (2) completed a master's degree at an accredited institution of higher education, including completion of a minimum of twelve graduate credit hours in the subject area of instruction for which the person is applying for a license; or

                (3) completed a doctoral or law degree at an accredited institution of higher education; and

                (4) passed the New Mexico teacher assessments examination; and

                (5) completed a minimum of twelve semester hours of instruction in teaching principles in a program approved by the department; or

                (6) demonstrated to the department, in conjunction with the school district or state agency, that the person has met the department-approved competencies for level one teachers that correspond to the grade level that will be taught.

          B. A degree or examination referred to in Subsection A of this section shall correspond to the subject area of instruction and the particular grade level that will enable the applicant to teach in a competent manner as determined by the department.

          C. An alternative level one teacher shall participate in the same mentorship, evaluation and other professional development requirements as other level one teachers.

          D. A school district or state agency shall not discriminate against a teacher on the basis that the teacher holds an alternative level one license.

          E. The department shall provide by rule for training and other requirements to support the use of unlicensed content area experts as resources in classrooms, team teaching, on-line instruction, curriculum development and other purposes."

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