HOUSE BILL 131

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; ADDING REQUIREMENTS FOR GIFTED EDUCATION TEACHERS.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the School Personnel Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REQUIREMENTS FOR GIFTED EDUCATION TEACHERS.--

          A. The department shall establish competencies for gifted education teachers.

          B. Beginning January 1, 2012, gifted education teachers shall be highly qualified in gifted education and shall demonstrate the competencies for gifted education teachers.

          C. A gifted education teacher may meet the requirement of being highly qualified by:

                (1) completing a minimum of twelve graduate hours of courses in the teaching of gifted students from an accredited college or university;

                (2) passing a state-approved assessment examination for gifted education; or

                (3) completing three or more years of gifted education teaching and successfully completing a portfolio process reviewed by two or more individuals who already meet the highly qualified requirement for gifted education teachers.

          D. For the purpose of this section, "gifted education teacher" means a teacher who provides special instruction or case management to a student who qualifies as gifted in accordance with Sections 22-13-6 and 22-13-6.1 NMSA 1978."

     Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2009.

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