SENATE BILL 197

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

John M. Sapien

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROVIDING A ONE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER EVALUATION SYSTEM CREATED BY THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS--WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS.--The legislature finds that the recent adoption of common core content standards in public schools requires a marked shift in curriculum and instruction methods, more stringent requirements for passing standards-based assessments and higher stakes for teachers and school leaders, including employment consequences such as termination based on the results of standards-based assessments. The legislature also finds that, although teachers and school leaders have had insufficient time to receive adequate training and school districts have had insufficient time to adequately train teachers and school leaders on the newly adopted common core content standards and to ensure alignment of curriculum and instruction under the common core content standards with standards-based assessments, teacher and school leader evaluations are required by public education department rules to be based to a significant degree upon student performance on standards-based assessments despite an inadequate transition period. For the 2013-2014 school year, teachers and school leaders shall not be evaluated pursuant to any evaluation system established in rule or law after January 1, 2011.

     SECTION 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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