HOUSE BILL 394

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Tomás E. Salazar

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; RECOGNIZING AND PROTECTING NEW MEXICO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS' RIGHTS TO AN ADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT IS CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE AND CONDUCTED WITH CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE STATEGIES, CURRICULA AND MATERIALS.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM ELEMENTS--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE.--

          A. School districts and charter schools shall ensure that English language learner educational programs, including bilingual, English as a second language and other English language development programs, meet the following criteria:

                (1) the programs the school districts and charter schools choose shall be recognized as sound by experts in the field or considered a legitimate experimental strategy;

                (2) the programs and practices used by the school districts and charter schools are reasonably calculated to implement effectively the educational theory adopted by the school districts or public schools; and

                (3) the program succeeds in producing results indicating that student learning of academic content as well as English language development is progressing in a timely manner.

          B. Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, teachers shall complete two days of professional development in culturally and linguistically responsive instruction every year.

          C. The department shall require reports from school districts and charter schools on teachers' compliance with Subsection B of this section and shall monitor compliance."

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

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHERS REQUIRED TO HAVE BILINGUAL OR TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ENDORSEMENT--TIME FRAMES FOR SATISFYING REQUIREMENT.--

          A. Beginning in 2023, in order for a teacher to move from a level two to level three-A license, the teacher must have a bilingual or teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement.

          B. Beginning in 2024, applicants for a level one license must be qualified to have a license endorsement in bilingual or teaching English to speakers of other languages."

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