HOUSE BILL 281

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Tomás E. Salazar

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ESTABLISHING OVERARCHING REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO BE CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE AND CONDUCTED WITH CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE STRATEGIES, CURRICULA AND MATERIALS; REQUIRING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; REQUIRING CERTAIN ENDORSEMENTS FOR LEVEL ONE LICENSES BEGINNING IN 2025; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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 that 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 2020-2021 school year, teachers, school principals and assistant school principals shall complete ten hours of professional development in culturally and linguistically responsive instruction every year; provided that the ten hours shall not be considered additional professional development, but as part of the regular professional development plan for teachers and school principals.

          C. The department shall require reports from school districts and charter schools on 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.--Beginning in 2025, applicants for a level one license must be qualified to have a license endorsement in bilingual education or teaching English to speakers of other languages."

     SECTION 3. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES WORKING GROUP.--

          A. The secretary of public education shall convene a working group to:

                (1) develop criteria for evaluating bilingual multicultural and teaching English to speakers of other languages professional development courses for content and quality before the public education department approves them; and

                (2) review and update the teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement rules, including course requirements, competencies and the required test.

          B. The secretary of public education shall name members to the working group, to include:

                (1) one member from each New Mexico public university's college of education faculty who teach teaching English to speakers of other languages courses for teacher licensure endorsement or bilingual faculty;

                (2) endorsed teachers in elementary and secondary schools;

                (3) members of the state bilingual advisory council, Indian education advisory council and Hispanic education advisory council;

                (4) other experts in language acquisition, culture and language and teaching English to speakers of other languages; and

                (5) the director of the language and culture division of the public education department, who shall serve as chair.

     SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Four million dollars ($4,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 as follows:

                (1) four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for:

                     (a) two full-time-equivalent coordinators for required language and culture professional development; and

                     (b) purchasing programs and services for professional development courses in language and culture; and

                (2) three million six hundred thousand dollars ($3,600,000) to conduct required language and culture professional development programs statewide.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2021 shall revert to the general fund.

- 5 -