SENATE BILL 104

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales and Siah Correa Hemphill

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; ELIMINATING THE BASIC SKILLS ASSESSMENT AS A REQUIRED COMPONENT OF THE NEW MEXICO TEACHER ASSESSMENTS EXAMINATION; PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO TEACHER LICENSURE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

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] NEW MEXICO TEACHER ASSESSMENTS EXAMINATION--ALTERNATIVES TO EXAMINATIONS.--

          A. As used in this section, "school district" includes charter schools and state agencies.

          B. Beginning September 1, 2022, the basic skills assessment of the New Mexico teacher assessments examination shall not be required for licensure. An applicant may choose to take the basic skills assessment or use an alternative portfolio assessment that includes grades in college core courses, overall grade point averages and letters of recommendation from course professors and other persons knowledgeable about the applicant's abilities in reading, writing and mathematics and other documentation of basic skills competency as provided by rule.

          C. An applicant for licensure who has a degree from an accredited teacher education program and who has scored higher than one hundred seventy but has not passed the required content knowledge assessments of the New Mexico teacher assessments examination after at least two attempts may elect to apply for a restricted license with the approval of the school district that employs or will employ the applicant. A restricted license is a two-year license that restricts the licensee to employment with the approving school district. The restricted license shall convert to a standard license after two years of successful evaluations and recommendations from the approving school district.

          D. An applicant for licensure who has a degree from an accredited teacher education program and who has scored higher than one hundred seventy but has not passed the required content knowledge assessments of the New Mexico teacher assessments examination after at least two attempts may elect to demonstrate competency through a portfolio assessment aligned with the current dossier process for teacher advancement.

          E. Rules to implement the provisions of this section shall be promulgated by August 15, 2022."

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