HOUSE BILL 25

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Karen C. Bash and Christine Trujillo and Joy Garratt

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO TEACHING; PROVIDING FOR A STATEWIDE COORDINATOR TO RESEARCH, COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA ON CURRENT AND FUTURE TEACHING NEEDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DEVELOP PLANS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE LEGISLATURE AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ON EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS IN NEW MEXICO; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHING PATHWAYS COORDINATOR--DUTIES.--

          A. The department shall employ a statewide teaching pathways coordinator for the various teaching pathways in public schools and public post-secondary educational institutions, with particular attention on needs for critical teaching specialties, such as bilingual multicultural, Indian and Hispanic education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other identified specialties.

          B. The teaching pathways coordinator's duties shall include:

                (1) gathering and analyzing data on:

                     (a) the number of public post-secondary educational institution teacher preparation programs in the state and the number of students in each program;

                     (b) the teaching specialties available at each institution;

                     (c) the number of students who have declared interest in each of the specialities by institution, particularly in critical specialties;

                     (d) institutional student supports, such as mentoring, provided to teacher preparation program students to ensure they graduate qualified for a teaching license and a teaching career;

                     (e) the number of students receiving teacher loan-for-service grants or other state-provided financial assistance;

                     (f) the number of students who have defaulted on teacher loan-for-service or teacher loan repayment programs, through failure to receive a degree leading to teacher licensure, failure to provide the required teaching service or other reasons;

                     (g) the number of teaching pathways in public schools and higher education, including educators rising and other after-school clubs and programs, in-school academic programs and other efforts to interest public school and higher education students in a teaching career;

                     (h) the number of high school students who indicate an interest in a teaching career or who are enrolled in or members of a teaching pathway, including the number of students in each pathway;

                     (i) future teaching needs as teachers retire;

                     (j) the number and type of elementary or secondary licensees, including endorsements and identification of gaps in licensure needs;

                     (k) researching other states and national and international educational trends and plans to encourage more teachers;

                     (l) other data that inform the state's, the legislature's and school districts' awareness of current needs and future trends; and

                     (m) identifying gaps in licensure needs statewide and by school district or charter school;

                (2) collaboration with and support to school districts and charter schools and public post-secondary educational institutions in their efforts to interest, attract and develop future teachers;

                (3) planning and executing teaching pathways meetings and conferences and other educational support for teachers, education preparation faculty and public school and higher education students; and

                (4) developing plans and recommendations for the department, the legislature and school districts and charter schools."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to carry out the provisions of Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

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