SENATE BILL 329

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; AMENDING THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL ACT TO CHANGE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS SEEKING LICENSURE OR RECIPROCITY IN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY EDUCATION.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-10A-6. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE.--

          A. The department shall require a person seeking licensure or reciprocity in elementary or secondary education to have completed the following minimum requirements in the college of arts and sciences:

                [(1) twelve hours in English;

                (2) twelve hours in history, including American history and western civilization;

                (3) nine hours in mathematics for elementary education and six hours in mathematics for secondary education;

                (4) six hours in government, economics or sociology;

                (5) twelve hours in science, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, zoology and botany; and

                (6) six hours in fine arts]

                (1) nine semester hours in communication;

                (2) three semester hours in mathematics;

                (3) eight semester hours in laboratory science;

                (4) nine semester hours in social and behavioral science; and

                (5) nine semester hours in humanities and fine arts.

          B. In addition to the requirements specified in Subsections A and C of this section, the department shall require that a person seeking standard or alternative elementary licensure shall have completed six hours of reading courses, and a person seeking standard or alternative secondary licensure shall have completed three hours of reading courses in subject matter content. The department shall establish requirements that provide a reasonable period of time to comply with the provisions of this subsection.

          C. Except for licensure by reciprocity, the department shall require, prior to initial licensure, no less than [fourteen] sixteen weeks of student teaching, a portion of which shall occur in the first thirty credit hours taken in the college of education and shall be under the direct supervision of a teacher and a portion of which shall occur in the student's senior year with the student teacher being directly responsible for the classroom.

          D. Nothing in this section shall preclude the department from establishing or accepting equivalent requirements for purposes of reciprocal licensure or minimum requirements for alternative licensure.

          E. Vocational teacher preparatory programs may be exempt from Subsections A through C of this section upon a determination by the department that other licensure requirements are more appropriate for vocational teacher preparatory programs."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

- 3 -