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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Kernan

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/17/08

HB

SHORT TITLE School Principal Recruitment and Monitoring

SJM 3

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Department of Finance (DFA)

SUM MARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial requesting the Office of Education Accountability of The Department of

Finance and Administration, The Public Education Department and The Higher Education

Department to develop a plan to enhance the recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation,

professional development and support for school principals and other school leaders.

•

The 2003 school reform legislation placed more responsibility for personnel and

instruction upon principals and superintendents.

•

More recent legislation in 2007 increased the minimum salaries of school principals and

assistant principals according to a responsibility factor.

•

Research shows that the influence of effective school leadership is second only to

classroom instruction among school-related factors affecting student learning.

•

Recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support

are as important for school leaders as they are for teachers, and New Mexico does not

have a statewide, coordinated approach for the recruitment and retention of school

leaders or their professional development.

Senate Joint Memorial 3 – Page

2

•

A joint study during the 2007 interim by the Legislative Education Study Committee, the

Legislative Finance Committee and the Office of Education Accountability of the

Department of Finance and Administration identified a number of challenges for school

leadership and recommended the creation of a systematic plan for the recruitment,

preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support for school

principals and other school leaders.

•

This joint study found that one-half of New Mexico schools have had three or more

principals in the last ten years and thirty-five percent of districts have had three or more

superintendents in the last four years.

•

This study also found that, according to the education commission of the states, New

Mexico requires more years of teaching experience to obtain an administrator's license

than other states.

•

The plan include such components as a review of successful strategies used in other states

for the identification and recruitment of individuals with leadership potential; an

examination of whether existing requirements for school administrator licenses limit the

pool of potential school leaders; and the development of ongoing procedures to monitor,

coordinate and strengthen professional development for school leaders, with a focus on

professional development for principals of schools in need of improvement.

•

The Office of Education Accountability of the Department of Finance and

Administration, the Public Education Department and the Higher Education Department

report their findings and recommendations to the Legislative Education Study Committee

by November 1, 2008.

•

Before the plan is implemented, it be reviewed by the Legislative Education Study

Committee.

•

Copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Secretary of Public Education, the

Secretary of Higher Education, the Secretary of Finance and Administration and the

Director of the Legislative Education Study Committee.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

According to the PED there are no funds appropriated in this bill. However, the PED will work

collaboratively with the OEA and HED to share costs associated with the preparing of this study

and the written report of findings and recommendations to the LESC. Amount of absorbed cost

is $4.0 for an Education Administrator – A position (120 hrs x $25.50/per hour plus 30%

benefits).

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

As stated by PED, over the last five years, national attention has focused on the critical role that

principals and other school leaders play in student achievement, particularly in high-need

schools. Research indicates that “Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all

school related factors that contribute to what students learn in school."

States across the nation, including New Mexico, are facing the challenge of finding and keeping

effective school leaders. A 2004 study by OEA, the University of New Mexico and the New

Mexico Coalition of School Administrators found that the average principal’s tenure was only

2.8 years. In addition, almost half of the 535 schools included in that study had between three

and seven principals in the previous 10 years.

Senate Joint Memorial 3 – Page

3

New Mexico has made a number off efforts to address the problem of attracting and retaining

qualified school administrators over the last two years:

1.

Principal Salaries - In 2007, the Legislature and the Governor increased the minimum

salaries for principals and assistant principals in elementary, middle and high schools.

2.

Alternative Licensure for Principals - SJM-15 during the 2007 Legislature examined

alternative pathways for talented individuals to become school administrators.

3.

Principal Evaluation - The PED, working collaboratively with OEA and several other

educational partners, is nearing completion of the new Principal Evaluation System. A

final draft has been completed.

4.

Principal Professional Development – The new Principal Evaluation System requires that

all principals and assistant principals develop (with their supervisor) an annual

professional development plan similar to the annual teacher professional development

plan requirement.

5.

Principal Mentorship – The PED, working collaboratively with OEA and other key

educational partners, will explore the development of a mentorship program for

beginning principals that aligns with the mentorship program for beginning teachers.

SJM-003 takes these efforts further by requiring the PED, OEA, school districts and higher

education to work together to develop a systematic plan to solve the challenge of recruiting,

preparing, and supporting principals and other school leaders who can effectively address student

achievement, particularly in New Mexico’s increasing number of schools in need of

improvement.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

As stated by PED, SJM-003 could help ensure that New Mexico’s schools and other educational

agencies have a larger pool of qualified individuals who can serve in leadership roles.

As stated by DFA, New Mexico’s most pressing problem in education is related to raising

student achievement, particularly in high-need schools. Increasing the number of, improving the

preparation of and enhancing the support for effective principals will help address this issue.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

•

The PED will ensure that the plan required in SJM 003 will align with the findings and

recommendations of the Three-Tier Teacher Licensure Report – a Joint Evaluation

Conducted by the Office of Education Accountability, the Legislative Education Finance

Committee and the Legislative Finance Committee

from 2007.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Per the PED the consequences of not enacting this bill will likely include a missed opportunity to

develop a congruent and interconnected principal and other school leader’s support system.

As stated by DFA, not enacting SJM-3 will likely mean that New Mexico will not have a

statewide coordinated approach for the recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation,

Senate Joint Memorial 3 – Page

4

professional development, and support for principals and other school leaders. The lack of such

an approach will make the challenge of increasing student achievement even more difficult.

PME/mt