0001|                               AN ACT
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0002| RELATING TO EDUCATION; ENACTING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT.
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0003| 
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0004| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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0005|      Section 1.  A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
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0006|      "SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Professional Development Act"."
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0007|      Section 2.  A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
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0008|      "PURPOSE OF ACT.--It is the purpose of the Professional Development Act to:
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0009|           A.  establish a framework for professional development within the department of
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0010| education to facilitate statewide planning and adoption of professional development programs in
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0011| school districts to ensure that New Mexico public schools have a quality work force;
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0012|           B.  provide school personnel with a variety of professional development
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0013| opportunities and ongoing support to ensure integration of effective teaching strategies, learning
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0014| technologies and use of resources in the educational process to enhance student learning and
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0015| performance; and 
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0016|           C.  establish a funding mechanism that supports the development of an effective
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0017| school personnel work force for the benefit of all public school students in New Mexico."
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0018|      Section 3.  A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
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0019|      "STATE BOARD DUTIES--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.--The state
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0020| board shall:
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0021|           A.  administer the provisions of the Professional Development Act;
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0022|           B.  develop and adopt, in cooperation with school districts and their communities,
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0023| a professional development framework with criteria for schools and school districts to use in
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0024| creating plans for professional development consistent with school, school district, state and
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0025| national goals that will enhance student achievement and performance;
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0001|           C.  assist schools and school districts to develop a comprehensive plan based on
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0002| the state board's planning framework;
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0003|           D.  develop and administer a process for the review and approval of school district
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0004| professional development plans; and 
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0005|           E.  distribute funds to school districts upon approval of each school district's
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0006| professional development plan as addressed in its educational plan for student success."
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0007|      Section 4.  A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
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0008|      "SCHOOL DISTRICTS--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.--
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0009|           A.  A school district shall adopt and implement a professional development plan
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0010| for its local school board and all administrators, teachers and other personnel employed by the
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0011| district.  The professional development plan shall be updated annually to ensure that the proposed
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0012| plan is consistent with national, state and school district goals and objectives.
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0013|           B.  Each school district shall submit a proposed professional development plan to
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0014| the state board that meets state board professional development guidelines and standards.
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0015|           C.  Proposed professional development plans shall:               (1)  be
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0016| developed in collaboration with certified and noncertified school personnel;
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0017|                (2)  show evidence of how the plans will enhance student academic
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0018| achievement and support the attainment of school district, state and national goals; and 
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0019|                (3)  include a parent and community involvement component and
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0020| appropriate evaluation procedures.
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0021|           D.  Proposed professional development plans shall be designed to respond to local
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0022| needs and may include the following:
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0023|                (1)  academic standards-based educational reform innovations that will
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0024| assist in the attainment of national and state educational goals and content standards, with
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0025| benchmarks and supporting assessment practices;
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0001|                (2)  knowledge and skills to assist teachers in meeting the individual needs
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0002| of students, the needs of limited language-proficient students and the complex challenges
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0003| encountered in the classroom;
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0004|                (3)  knowledge and skills to assist in the use of technology in education
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0005| and technology applications that will enhance student learning and professional development,
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0006| such as technology-enhanced curricula and instruction and administrative resources and services
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0007| for the public schools;
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0008|                (4)  professional development activities to assist teachers in preparing for
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0009| national certification through the national board for professional teaching standards;
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0010|                (5)  career ladder programs for educational assistants and noncertified
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0011| school employees to improve job-related skills; and
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0012|                (6)  methods to successfully implement inclusion, transition and
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0013| unified systems to meet the local needs of all students with developmental disabilities."       
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0014|  
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