46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATIVE TEACHING CERTIFICATION.

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

Section 1. Section 22-2-8.7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 8, as amended by Laws 2001, Chapter 255, Section 1 and by Laws 2001, Chapter 261, Section 1) is amended to read:

"22-2-8.7. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.--

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the state board shall require any person seeking certification in elementary or secondary education to complete 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) six hours in mathematics;

(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.

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

C. The state board shall require, prior to certification, no less than fourteen 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 certified school instructor 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 state board from establishing or accepting equivalent requirements for purposes of reciprocal certification or minimum requirements for alternative certification. The state board may waive the requirements of Subsections A and C of this section if it determines that an applicant is otherwise qualified by reason of the applicant's education or training.

E. The requirements in Subsections A and C of this section shall apply to students first entering a college or university beginning in the fall of 1986.

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