House Bill 156

HOUSE BILL 156

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Joy Garratt and Mimi Stewart and Heather Berghmans

 

 

 

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; INCREASING THE MINIMUM SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 38, as amended) 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 for at least one full school year 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, including for elementary licensure beginning January 1, 2013, a rigorous assessment of the candidate's knowledge of the science of teaching reading; and

                (4) meets other qualifications for level one licensure, including clearance of the required background check.

          E. The department shall issue a standard level one vocational license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Subsection D of this section or to an applicant who is at least twenty-three years of age and who:

                (1) has five or more years of professional experience in the vocational field in which the applicant will teach; and

                (2) meets other qualifications for level one licensure, including clearance of a background check pursuant to Section 22-10A-5 NMSA 1978.

          F. The department shall issue an alternative level one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.

          G. 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 and vocational education.

          H. The minimum salary for a level one teacher, except for a teacher licensed pursuant to Subsection E of this section, is [fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)] fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an extended learning time program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time.

          I. After the issuance of a license, a license holder shall not be required to meet changed requirements to maintain the license until such time as the license expires and the license holder seeks renewal of the license."

     SECTION 2. Section 22-10A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 41, as amended) 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 has successfully taught at least three, but no more than five, years as a level one teacher or an alternative level one teacher, or a combination of the two, or is granted reciprocity as provided by department rules. An applicant for a level two license shall:

                (1) demonstrate essential competency required by the department as verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and

                (2) meet 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 and vocational education.

          D. The minimum salary for a level two teacher, except for those teachers with a vocational education license, is [sixty thousand dollars ($60,000)] sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an extended learning time program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time."

     SECTION 3. Section 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 42, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-10A-11. LEVEL THREE LICENSURE--TRACKS FOR TEACHERS.--

          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. The department shall grant a level three-A license to an applicant seeking a level three-A vocational education license who does not meet the requirements of Subsection B of this section, but who otherwise is eligible for a level three-A license, provided that the applicant:

                (1) has been a level two teacher for at least three years;

                (2) provides documentation from an accredited higher education institution of the applicant's eligibility to teach dual-credit courses at the post-secondary level in the field in which the applicant is teaching; or

                (3) completes a department-approved career-technical education training certificate course of study that is a minimum of sixteen hours at an accredited higher education institution.

          D. The minimum salary for a level three-A teacher, except teachers licensed pursuant to Subsection C of this section, is [seventy thousand dollars ($70,000)] seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an extended learning time program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time.

          E. The minimum salary for a counselor who holds a level three or three-A license as provided in the School Personnel Act and rules promulgated by the department shall be the same as provided for level three-A teachers pursuant to Subsection D of this section."

     SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.

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