SENATE BILL 47
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019
INTRODUCED BY
Mimi Stewart
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE
AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL PERSONNEL; INCREMENTALLY INCREASING MINIMUM SALARIES FOR TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS AND CERTAIN OTHER SCHOOL STAFF; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 38, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-7. LEVEL ONE LICENSURE.--
A. A level one license is a provisional five-year license [for] granted to beginning teachers that requires as a condition of licensure that the licensee undergo a formal mentorship program for at least one full school year and an annual intensive performance evaluation by a school administrator for at least three full school years before applying for a level two license.
B. Each school district, in accordance with department rules, shall provide for the mentorship and evaluation of level one teachers. At the end of each year and at the end of the license period, the level one teacher shall be evaluated for competency. If the teacher fails to demonstrate satisfactory progress and competence annually, the teacher may be terminated as provided in Section 22-10A-24 NMSA 1978. If the teacher has not demonstrated satisfactory progress and competence by the end of the five-year period, the teacher shall not be granted a level two license.
C. Except in exigent circumstances defined by department rule, a level one license shall not be extended beyond the initial period.
D. The department shall issue a standard level one license to an applicant who is at least eighteen years of age; [who: (1)] holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution; [(2)] has successfully completed a department-approved teacher preparation program from a nationally accredited or state-approved educational institution; [(3)] has passed the New Mexico teacher assessments examination, including, for elementary licensure beginning January 1, 2013, a rigorous assessment of the candidate's knowledge of the science of teaching reading; and
[(4)] meets other qualifications for [level one licensure] the license, including clearance of the required background check.
E. The department shall issue an alternative level one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.
F. The department shall establish competencies and qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject areas of level one licensure, including early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary, special and vocational education.
G. [With the adoption by the department of a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation for level one teachers] The minimum salary for a level one teacher [shall be thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000)] for a standard nine and one-half month contract is, for fiscal year:
(1) 2020, forty thousand dollars ($40,000);
(2) 2021, forty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($42,500); and
(3) 2022 and subsequent fiscal years, forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000)."
SECTION 2. Section 22-10A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 41, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-10. LEVEL TWO LICENSURE.--
A. A level two license is a nine-year license granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that level and who annually demonstrates essential competency to teach. If a level two 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 issue a level two license to an applicant who successfully completes the level one license or is granted reciprocity as provided by department rules; demonstrates essential competency required by the department as verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications as required by the department.
C. The department shall provide for qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject areas of level two licensure, including early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, special and vocational education.
D. [With the adoption by the department of the statewide objective performance evaluation for level two teachers] The minimum salary for a level two teacher for a standard nine and one-half month contract [shall be forty-four thousand dollars ($44,000)] is, for fiscal year:
(1) 2020, fifty thousand dollars ($50,000);
(2) 2021, fifty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($52,500); and
(3) 2022 and subsequent fiscal years, fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000)."
SECTION 3. Section 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 42, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-11. LEVEL THREE LICENSURE--TRACKS FOR TEACHERS.--
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 fifty-four thousand dollars ($54,000)] is, for fiscal year:
(1) 2020, sixty thousand dollars ($60,000);
(2) 2021, sixty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($62,500); and
(3) 2022 and subsequent fiscal years, sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000).
D. The minimum salary for a counselor who holds a level three or three-A license as provided in the School Personnel Act and rules promulgated by the department [shall be] is the same as provided for level three-A teachers [pursuant to] in Subsection C of this section."
SECTION 4. Section 22-10A-11.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2015, Chapter 74, Section 2) is amended to read:
"22-10A-11.4. LEVEL THREE-B ADMINISTRATOR'S LICENSE-- TRACKS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR LICENSURE.--
A. A level three-B administrator's license is a five-year license granted to an applicant who meets the qualifications for [that] the license. Licenses may be renewed upon satisfactory annual demonstration of instructional leader and administrative competency.
B. The department shall grant a level three-B administrator's license to an applicant who [(1)] has completed a department-approved administrator preparation program; [(2)] holds a current level two or level three teacher's license; and [(3)] holds a post-baccalaureate degree or national board for professional teaching standards certification.
C. The minimum annual salary for a licensed school principal or assistant school principal [shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)] is the minimum salary for a level three-A teacher multiplied by the applicable responsibility factor.
D. The department shall adopt a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation, including data sources linked to student achievement and an educational plan for student success progress, for 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.
E. As used in this section, "level three-B administrator's license" means a five-year license granted to an applicant who meets the qualifications [pursuant to] of this section and department rules."
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATIONS.--The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the state equalization guarantee distribution of the public school fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2020. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund:
A. eighty-six million five hundred thirty-three thousand two hundred twelve dollars ($86,533,212) for teacher and counselor salary increases; and
B. six million three hundred thirteen thousand two hundred ninety-one dollars ($6,313,291) for principal salary increases.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2019.
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