HOUSE BILL 92

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana and Joy Garratt

 

 

 

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ENACTING THE TEACHER RESIDENCY ACT; CREATING A TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM; PROVIDING PROGRAM COMPONENTS; PROVIDING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING PARTICIPANT SELECTION REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; CREATING A FUND; 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] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Teacher Residency Act"."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Teacher Residency Act:

          A. "program" means a teacher residency program created pursuant to the Teacher Residency Act; and

          B. "teaching resident" means a participant in a department-approved teacher residency program."

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM--CREATED.--

          A. On or before July 1 of each year, the secretary shall, through a competitive selection process, provide grants to establish New Mexico teacher residency programs at public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges that have developed a commitment to investing in teacher education. In selecting grant recipients, the department shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that grant recipients include representation from rural, urban and suburban areas across the state.

          B. The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall form a partnership with one or more school districts or charter schools to provide employment to residents in the program following their graduation.

          C. The program must be designed to:

                (1) diversify the teaching profession with candidates that reflect the diversity of the public schools in the state or the geographic area where the school is located;

                (2) fill high-need teaching positions within the state; and

                (3) provide a full academic year of rigorous master's or bachelor's level coursework and provide a full academic year of guided apprenticeship in the classroom of an expert mentor teacher at the partner area school district or charter school.

          D. The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall ensure faculty who work with the teacher residency program visit residency sites no less than three times per month to monitor teacher residents' programs."

     SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM COMPONENTS.--A teacher residency program established pursuant to the Teacher Residency Act shall include:

          A. competitive admission requirements with multiple

criteria;

          B. rigorous master's or bachelor's level coursework, while undertaking a full academic year of guided apprenticeship in the classroom of an expert mentor teacher at the partner area school district or charter school;

          C. a team mentorship approach to expose teaching

residents to a variety of teaching methods, philosophies and

classroom environments;

           D. clear criteria for the selection of mentor

teachers based on measures of teacher effectiveness and the

appropriate subject area knowledge;

          E. providing mentors with ongoing evidence-based training in coaching and mentoring teacher candidates and compensation for time and added responsibility;

          F. grouping teacher candidates in cohorts to facilitate professional collaboration among residents and place candidates in teaching schools or professional development programs that are organized to support a high-quality teacher learning experience in a supportive work environment;

          G. measures of appropriate progress through the

program;

          H. a livable stipend for teaching residents;

          I. a post-completion commitment by teaching residents to serve three years at schools in the sponsoring school district;

          J. an expectation of employment for the teaching resident from the partner school district or charter school;

          K. support for teaching residents for not less than one year following the resident's completion of the program through the provision of mentoring, professional development and networking opportunities; and

          L. demonstration of the integral role and responsibilities of the partner area school district or charter school in fulfilling the purpose of the program."

     SECTION 5. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--To be eligible to be admitted and hired as a teaching resident under the program, an individual must:

          A. hold a bachelor's degree; and

          B. be a professional from outside the field of education and have strong content knowledge or a record of achievement; or

          C. be a noncertified educator, such as a substitute teacher or teaching assistant."

     SECTION 6. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read: 

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT SELECTION REQUIREMENTS.--The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall establish criteria for selection of individuals to participate in the program. The selection criteria shall include:

          A. a demonstration of comprehensive subject area

knowledge or a record of accomplishment or professional experience in the field or subject area to be taught;

          B. strong verbal and written communication skills,

which may be demonstrated by performance on appropriate tests or performance assessments;

          C. other attributes linked to effective teaching, which may be determined by interviews or performance assessments; and

          D. consideration given to a participant's ability to increase the racial, ethnic or linguistic diversity of the teacher workforce."

     SECTION 7. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.--The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the Teacher Residency Act."

     SECTION 8. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER RESIDENCY FUND--CREATED-- PURPOSE.--The "teacher residency fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations to the fund. Money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to implement the provisions of the Teacher Residency Act. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrants of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative."

     SECTION 9. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.--Public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges shall collaborate with their partner school district or charter school to submit data to the department no later than July 1 of each year. The department shall compile data from all residency sites and submit a report to the legislature no later than November of each year. The report shall include the following indicators of teacher residency program success:

          A. the standards for entering and exiting the program;

          B. the number of credit hours required to complete the program;

          C. the number and percentage of residents completing the program;

          D. the number and types of teaching licenses residents are obtaining, including endorsements;

          E. the educator evaluation rating for residents during their first five years of teaching;

          F. the educator evaluation rating for mentors during their time as a resident mentor;

          G. the number and percentage of residents who continue to teach in New Mexico school districts or charter schools after one, two, three, four and five years;

          H. the percentage of residents who are diverse candidates that reflect the diversity of the public schools in the state or the geographic area where the school is located;

          I. performance of students in classes taught by residency graduates in comparison to students in classes taught by other trained teachers;

          J. principal perception surveys of resident and mentor effectiveness;

          K. state-student perception surveys;

          L. the residency program graduate achievement, as determined by first-time pass rates on the state teaching performance assessment; and

          M. other data as determined by the department."

     SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the teacher residency fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2021 to carry out the provisions of the Teacher Residency Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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