SB 345 — TEACHER & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LICENSURE

SENATE BILL 345 57 TH LEGISLATUR- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSIO, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Natalie Figueroa 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL;

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

e t 17 SECTION 1.

Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, w l n d 18 Chapter 153, Section 38, as amended) is amended to read:

= = 19 a l "22-10A-7.

LEVEL ONE LICENSURE.-- i a e r 20 A.

A level one license is a provisional five-year a t m m 21 license for beginning teachers that requires as a condition of d r e 22 licensure that the licensee undergo a formal mentorship program c e s k 23 for at least one full school year and an annual intensive e a n b 24 performance evaluation by a school administrator for at least u [ three full school years before applying for a level two .230530.1 license.

If the teacher has not demonstrated SB 345 Page 1 satisfactory progress and competence by the end of the five-year period, the teacher shall not be granted a level two license.

The department shall issue a standard level one license to an applicant who is at least eighteen years of age e t 17 who:

w l n d 18 (1) holds a baccalaureate degree from an = = 19 a l accredited educational institution;

i a e r 20 (2) has successfully completed a department-department-approved a t m m 21 approved teacher preparation program from a nationally d r e 22 accredited or state-approved educational institution;

c e s k 23 (3) has passed the New Mexico teacher e a n b 24 assessments [examination] or the New Mexico teacher portfolio, u [ including for elementary licensure beginning January 1, 2013, a .230530.1 - 2 - rigorous assessment of the candidate's knowledge of the science of teaching reading;

The department shall issue a standard level one vocational license to an applicant who meets the requirements SB 345 Page 2 of Subsection D of this section or to an applicant who is at least twenty-three years of age and who:

The department shall issue an alternative level e t 17 one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of w l n d 18 Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.

= = 19 a l G.

The department shall establish competencies and i a e r 20 qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject a t m m 21 areas of level one licensure, including early childhood, d r e 22 elementary, middle school, secondary, special and vocational c e s k 23 education.

e a n b 24 H.

The minimum salary for a level one teacher, u [ except for a teacher licensed pursuant to Subsection E of this .230530.1 - 3 - section, is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract;

After the issuance of a license, a license holder shall not be required to meet changed requirements to SB 345 Page 3 maintain the license until such time as the license expires and the license holder seeks renewal of the license." SECTION 2.

A teacher or school principal licensed in another state may be granted a level two or level three license if the teacher or school principal has teaching experience, demonstrates the required competencies and meets other e t 17 requirements and qualifications for the license for which the w l n d 18 teacher or school principal applies, including clearance of the = = 19 a l required background check.

The local superintendent may i a e r 20 require a mentorship period for the licensee if the a t m m 21 superintendent deems it necessary.

A teacher or school d r e 22 principal who holds an out-of-state license may apply for a c e s k 23 lower level license if the teacher or school principal does not e a n b 24 meet the requirements for the higher level.

u [ B.

The department may grant a level three-B .230530.1 - 4 - license to a candidate who does not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that license if the candidate has a school administrator license issued in another state and has worked as a school administrator in good standing for at least six years.

SB 345 Page 4 C.

An instructional support provider who holds an out-of-state school license may apply e t 17 for a lower level license if the instructional support w l n d 18 provider does not meet the requirements and qualifications = = 19 a l for the higher level." iSB a345 ePage r 20 - 5 -25 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .230530.1