SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 22

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Lynda M. Lovejoy

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY TO STUDY THE INTERNSHIP TEACHING LICENSE.

     WHEREAS, the state is committed to engaging highly qualified teachers in the public education of all students; and

     WHEREAS, United States department of education regulations allow persons who have not yet obtained full state licensure to be considered highly qualified teachers if they are participating in an alternative teacher licensure program that provides quality professional development and in a program of supervision such as a teacher mentoring program; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico law provides for an alternative route to a level one teaching license; and

     WHEREAS, state law also provides for a teacher mentorship program to provide beginning teachers with an effective transition into the teaching field, to build on their initial preparation and to ensure their success in teaching; to improve the achievement of students; and to retain capable teachers in the classroom and to remove teachers who show little promise of success; and

     WHEREAS, public education department rules establish, through an alternative licensure route, an internship teaching license for persons who seek to become teachers but do not yet meet the requirements for an alternative level one teaching license as prescribed in state law; and

     WHEREAS, state law does not define or provide for an internship license; and

     WHEREAS, it is unknown whether all internship licensed teachers are participating in such professional development and supervision or mentorship as required in federal regulations; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department has reported a total of six hundred eighty-four internship licensed teachers statewide in school year 2008-2009; and

     WHEREAS, the sources of funding for professional development and supervision or mentorship of internship licensed teachers are uncertain;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department and the office of education accountability of the department of finance and administration be requested to study the issues of internship licensure, including:

          A. examining whether internship licensed teachers:

                (1) receive sustained, intensive and classroom-focused professional development before and while teaching; and

                (2) participate in a program of intensive supervision or a teacher mentoring program; and

          B. determining the number of internship licensed teachers receiving mentorship services in school districts and state-chartered charter schools in school year 2009-2010 and the sources of funding for those mentorship services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of the study be presented to the legislative education study committee prior to the first session of the fiftieth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the director of the office of education accountability and the director of the legislative education study committee.

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