44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999
RELATING TO EDUCATION; CHANGING THE CALCULATION OF THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE INDEX; AUTHORIZING THE USE OF APPROVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS; INCREASING CRITERIA FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 22-8-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1974, Chapter 8, Section 15, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 91, Section 1 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 237, Section 3) is amended to read:
"22-8-24. INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE INDEX--DEFINITIONS--FACTORS--CALCULATIONS.--
A. For the purpose of calculating the instructional staff training and experience index, the following definitions and limitations shall apply:
(1) "instructional staff" means the personnel assigned to the instructional program of the school district, excluding principals, substitute teachers, instructional aides, secretaries and clerks;
(2) the number of instructional staff to be counted in calculating the instructional staff training and experience index is the actual number of full-time equivalent instructional staff on the October payroll;
(3) the number of years of experience to be used in calculating the instructional staff training and experience index is that number of years of experience allowed for salary increment purposes on the salary schedule of the school district; and
(4) the academic degree [and], additional
academic credit hours and professional development credits to
be used in calculating the instructional staff training and
experience index is the degree and additional [semester]
credit hours allowed for salary increment purposes on the
salary schedule of the school district and shall include
professional development credits verified by the department.
B. Credit hours earned after the completion of a bachelor's degree and prior to the completion of a master's degree that are not included in the master's degree granting requirements shall be counted when an academic classification in excess of the master's degree classification is determined.
[B.] C. The factors for each classification of
academic training by years of experience are provided in the
following table:
Years of Experience
Academic
Classification 0 - 2 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 15 Over 15
Bachelor's degree
or less .75 .90 1.00 1.05 1.05
Bachelor's degree plus
15 credit hours .80 .95 1.00 1.10 1.15
Master's degree or
bachelor's degree
plus 45 credit
hours .85 1.00 1.05 1.15 1.20
Master's degree plus
15 credit hours .90 1.05 1.15 1.30 1.35
Post-master's degree
or master's degree
plus 45 credit
hours 1.00 1.15 1.30 1.40 1.50.
[C.] D. The instructional staff training and
experience index for each school district shall be
calculated in accordance with instructions issued by the
state superintendent. The following calculations shall be
computed:
(1) multiply the number of full-time
equivalent instructional staff in each academic
classification by the numerical factor in the appropriate
"years of experience" column provided in the table in
Subsection [B] C of this section;
(2) add the products calculated in Paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
(3) divide the total obtained in Paragraph (2) of this subsection by the total number of full-time equivalent instructional staff.
[D.] E. In the event that the result of the
calculation of the training and experience index is 1.0 or
less, the district's factor shall be no less than 1.0.
[E. In the event that a new school district is
created, the training and experience index for that district
is 1.12.]"
Section 2. A new section of the Public School Finance Act, Section 22-8-24.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-8-24.1. [NEW MATERIAL] INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE INDEX--APPROVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROGRAM PLANS--STATE BOARD AND DEPARTMENT DUTIES.--
A. Professional development credits earned in department-approved professional development programs may be counted in calculating the instructional staff training and experience index.
B. Professional development credits used in calculating the instructional staff training and experience index shall:
(1) include a minimum of sixteen contact hours of instruction for each credit hour;
(2) be earned after July 1, 1995;
(3) be transferrable among school districts; and
(4) be limited to fifteen credit hours in each of the five academic classifications included in the training and experience matrix.
C. Professional development program plans in each district shall meet state board approval criteria, including:
(1) evidence of ongoing collaboration between instructional and administrative staff;
(2) evidence of interdistrict collaboration, as appropriate, to pool funding resources and training opportunities;
(3) incorporation of the district's professional development plan in the district's accreditation self-study and other assessments designed to show evidence of the plan's impact on improving student performance;
(4) verification that the individual professional development courses address individual school, local district and state goals; and
(5) evidence of the manner in which progress toward or accomplishment of certification by the national board of professional teaching standards will be considered in the calculation of professional development credits.
D. The state board shall:
(1) provide for department approval of all local district professional development plans; and
(2) provide for department verification, monitoring, assessment, evaluation and auditing of professional development courses and credit hours."
Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.