HOUSE MEMORIAL 32

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

INTRODUCED BY

Randall T. Pettigrew and Catherine J. Cullen

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF GRANTING TEACHERS MASTER'S LEVEL COLLEGE CREDIT FOR EARNING MICROCREDENTIALS TO ADVANCE FROM LEVEL ONE TO LEVEL TWO LICENSURE AND FROM LEVEL TWO TO LEVEL THREE LICENSURE, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL BARRIERS AND PATHWAYS.

 

     WHEREAS, a level one teaching license is a provisional, nonrenewable license and a teacher is given up to five years to develop the academic and pedagogical knowledge and skills to become a level two teacher; and

     WHEREAS, to move from a level one license to a level two license, the public education department requires teachers to have a baccalaureate degree, teach for at least three years, participate in a formal teacher mentorship program and earn microcredentials in five areas: classroom environment; assessment literacy; multilayered systems of support; culturally and linguistically responsive instruction; and family engagement; and

     WHEREAS, a teacher must earn a proficiency score of eighty-five percent or higher in each of the microcredential courses; and

     WHEREAS, it is also possible for a level one teacher to advance to level two by receiving certification from the national board for professional teaching standards, an exceptionally rigorous program; and

     WHEREAS, a teacher who holds a level three license will have completed nine microcredentials or five microcredentials and national board certification or a master's degree, all of which take significant time and financial resources; and

     WHEREAS, currently, higher education does not offer master's degree credits for completion of microcredentials or national board certification;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to collaborate with the teacher preparation programs at state universities to study the possibility of giving master's degree credit to level one teachers for the professional work required to move to level two and to level two teachers for the professional work required to move to level three; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study consider the pros and cons of giving credit toward a master's degree, potential pathways to realize the proposal as well as academic barriers such as accreditation requirements; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department report to the legislative education study committee by December 1, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education.

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