SENATE BILL 133

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; ELIMINATING THE ONE-YEAR THREE-A LICENSURE REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICANTS OF REGULAR LEVEL THREE-B LICENSES; PROVIDING FOR A PROVISIONAL LEVEL THREE-B LICENSE FOR CERTAIN LEVEL TWO LICENSEES; RECONCILING MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS TO THE SAME SECTION OF LAW IN LAWS 2007.

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

     Section 1. Section 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 42, as amended by Laws 2007, Chapter 303, Section 1 and by Laws 2007, Chapter 304, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "22-10A-11. LEVEL THREE LICENSURE--TRACKS FOR TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.--

          A. A level three-A license is a nine-year license granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that level and who annually demonstrates instructional leader competencies. If a level three-A teacher does not demonstrate essential competency in a given school year, the school district shall provide the teacher with additional professional development and peer intervention during the following school year. If by the end of that school year the teacher fails to demonstrate essential competency, a school district may choose not to contract with the teacher to teach in the classroom.

          B. The department shall grant a level three-A license to an applicant who has been a level two teacher for at least three years and holds a post-baccalaureate degree or national board for professional teaching standards certification; demonstrates instructional leader competence as required by the department and verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications for the license.

          C. With the adoption by the department of a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation for level three-A teachers, the minimum salary for a level three-A teacher for a standard nine and one-half month contract shall be as follows:

                (1) for the 2003-2004 school year, thirty thousand dollars ($30,000);

                (2) for the 2004-2005 school year, thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000);

                (3) for the 2005-2006 school year, forty thousand dollars ($40,000);

                (4) for the 2006-2007 school year, forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000); and

                (5) for the 2007-2008 school year, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

          D. A level three-B license is a nine-year license granted to a school administrator who meets the qualifications for that level. Licenses may be renewed upon satisfactory annual demonstration of instructional leader and administrative competency.

          E. The department shall grant a level three-B license to an applicant who:

                (1) [has been a level three-A teacher for at least one year] holds a level two license or who holds a current level [2] two teacher's license and [who] for at least four years, has held the highest-ranked counselor license as provided in Chapter 22, Article 10A NMSA 1978 and rules promulgated by the department;

                (2) holds a post-baccalaureate degree or national board for professional teaching standards certification;

                [(2)] (3) has satisfactorily completed department-approved courses in administration and a department-approved administration apprenticeship program; and

                [(3)] (4) demonstrates instructional leader competence required by the department and verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation.

          F. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the minimum annual salary for a level three-B school principal or assistant school principal shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) multiplied by the applicable responsibility factor.

          G. By the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, the department shall adopt a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation, which includes data sources linked to student achievement and educational plan for student success progress, for level three-B school principals and assistant school principals and rules for the implementation of that evaluation system linked to the level of responsibility at each school level."

     Section 2. A new section of the School Personnel Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] LEVEL THREE-B PROVISIONAL LICENSURE FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.--

          A. A school district that has a shortage of qualified school principal candidates may request that the department issue a provisional three-B license to a level two teacher whom the school district believes has the potential to be an effective school principal.

          B. To qualify for a provisional three-B license, the candidate shall:

                (1) meet the requirements for a level three-A license;

                (2) be enrolled in a department-approved induction and mentoring program in the school district; and

                (3) be accepted into a department-approved school administrator preparation program.

          C. The provisional license is a four-year license and is not renewable. To maintain the provisional license, the licensee must receive satisfactory evaluations each year from the school district's mentoring program and from the school administrator preparation program. At the end of the four years, the provisional license may be converted to a regular level three-B license if the candidate:

                (1) satisfactorily completes the school district's mentoring program; and

                (2) satisfactorily completes the department-approved school administrator preparation program."

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