New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB157 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 04/11/2025

                            HB 157/a
Page 1
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
AN ACT
RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; CREATING NEW LICENSES FOR SITE
ADMINISTRATORS, SUPERINTENDENTS AND OTHER SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS; PROVIDING ENHANCED QUALIFICATIONS AND
REQUIREMENTS; ENACTING THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR DEVELOPMENT
ACT; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; SETTING CRITERIA; PROVIDING
FOR A DELAYED REPEAL OF CURRENT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
LICENSES; AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE
NMSA 1978.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019,
Chapter 238, Section 1, as amended by Laws 2023, Chapter 148,
Section 3 and by Laws 2023, Chapter 177, Section 1) is
amended to read:
"22-10A-2.  DEFINITIONS.--As used in the School
Personnel Act:
A.  "child abuse" means a child:
(1)  who has suffered or who is at risk of
suffering serious harm because of the action or inaction of
the child's parent, guardian, custodian or other adult;
(2)  who has suffered physical abuse,
emotional abuse or psychological abuse inflicted or caused by
the child's parent, guardian, custodian or other adult;
(3)  who has suffered sexual abuse or sexual HB 157/a
Page 2
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
exploitation inflicted by the child's parent, guardian,
custodian or other adult;
(4)  whose parent, guardian, custodian or
other adult has knowingly, intentionally or negligently
placed the child in a situation that may endanger the child's
life or health; or
(5)  whose parent, guardian, custodian or
other adult has knowingly or intentionally tortured, cruelly
confined or cruelly punished the child;
B.  "constitutional special school" means the 
New Mexico military institute, New Mexico school for the deaf
and New Mexico school for the blind and visually impaired;
C.  "contractor" means a person who is under
contract with a public school and is hired to provide
services to the public school, but does not include a general
contractor or a building or maintenance contractor who is
supervised and has no access to students at the public
school;
D.  "discharge" means the act of severing the
employment relationship with a licensed school employee prior
to the expiration of the current employment contract;
E.  "employed for three consecutive school years"
means a licensed school employee has been offered and
accepted in writing a notice of reemployment for the third
consecutive school year; HB 157/a
Page 3
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
F.  "ethical misconduct" means the following
behavior or conduct by school district personnel, school
employees, school volunteers, contractors or contractors'
employees:
(1)  discriminatory practice based on race,
age, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy,
sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical
disability, marital status, religion, citizenship, domestic
abuse reporting status or serious medical condition;
(2)  sexual misconduct or any sexual offense
prohibited by Chapter 30, Article 6A or 9 NMSA 1978 involving
an adult or child, regardless of a child's enrollment status;
(3)  fondling a child or student, including
touching private body parts, such as breasts, buttocks,
genitals, inner thighs, groin or anus; or
(4)  any other behavior, including
licentious, enticing or solicitous behavior, that is
reasonably apparent to result in inappropriate sexual contact
with a child or student or to induce a child or student into
engaging in illegal, immoral or other prohibited behavior;
G.  "governing authority" means the policy-setting
body of a school district, charter school, constitutional
special school or regional education cooperative, or the
final decision maker of a state agency that provides
educational services to a school-aged person; HB 157/a
Page 4
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
H.  "instructional support provider" means a person
who is employed to support the instructional program of a
public school, including educational assistant, school
counselor, social worker, school nurse, speech-language
pathologist, psychologist, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, recreational therapist, marriage and family
therapist, interpreter for the deaf, diagnostician,
attendance coach, practical nurse, school health assistant,
school business official, rehabilitation counselor, athletic
coach, educational alcohol and drug abuse counselor and
substance abuse associate;
I.  "just cause" means a reason that is rationally
related to a school employee's competence or turpitude or the
proper performance of the school employee's duties and that
is not in violation of the school employee's civil or
constitutional rights;
J.  "military service member" means a person who
is:
(1)  serving in the armed forces of the
United States as an active duty member or in an active
reserve component of the armed forces of the United States,
including the national guard;
(2)  the spouse of a person who is serving in
the armed forces of the United States as an active duty
member or in an active reserve component of the armed forces HB 157/a
Page 5
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
of the United States, including the national guard; or a
surviving spouse of a member who at the time of death was
serving on active duty; or
(3)  the child of a person who is serving in
the armed forces of the United States as an active duty
member or in an active reserve component of the armed forces
of the United States, including the national guard; provided
that child is also a dependent of that person for federal
income tax purposes;
K.  "moral turpitude" means an act or behavior that
gravely violates the accepted standards of moral conduct,
justice or honesty and may include ethical misconduct;
L.  "public school" means a school district,
charter school, constitutional special school, regional
education cooperative or the educational program of another
state agency;
M.  "sabbatical leave" means leave of absence with
pay as approved by the governing authority during all or part
of a regular school term for purposes of study or travel
related to a licensed school employee's duties and of direct
benefit to the instructional program;
N.  "school administrator" means a person licensed
to administer in a school district, charter school,
constitutional special school or regional education
cooperative or a person employed with another state agency HB 157/a
Page 6
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
who administers an educational program and includes local
superintendents, school principals, central district
administrators, business managers, charter school head
administrators and state agency education supervisors;
O.  "school employee" includes licensed and
unlicensed employees of a public school;
P.  "school premises" means:
(1)  the buildings and grounds, including
playgrounds, playing fields and parking areas and a school
bus of a public school, in or on which school or school-
related activities are being operated under the supervision
of a local school board, charter school or state agency; or
(2)  any other public buildings or grounds,
including playing fields and parking areas that are not
public school property, in or on which public school-related
and -sanctioned activities are being performed;
Q.  "school volunteer" means a person, including a
relative of a student, who commits to serve on a regular
basis at a school district, charter school or other
educational entity without compensation;
R.  "site administrator" means an assistant
principal, a principal or a charter school head
administrator;
S.  "state agency" means a regional education
cooperative or state institution; HB 157/a
Page 7
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
T.  "state institution" means the juvenile
detention centers operated by the children, youth and
families department, including the New Mexico youth
diagnostic and development center; the John Paul Taylor
center; the Sequoyah adolescent treatment center; the Carrie
Tingley crippled children's hospital; the New Mexico
behavioral health institute at Las Vegas; and any other state
agency responsible for educating resident children;
U.  "substitute teacher" means a person who holds a
certificate to substitute for a teacher in the classroom;
V.  "superintendent" means a local superintendent,
head administrator of a charter school or regional education
cooperative, superintendent or commandant of a special school
or head administrator of the educational program of a state
agency;
W.  "teacher" means a person who holds a level one,
level two or level three-A license and whose primary job is
classroom instruction or the supervision, below the school
principal level, of an instructional program or whose duties
include curriculum development, peer intervention, peer
coaching or mentoring, or serving as a resource teacher for
other teachers;
X.  "terminate" means the act of severing the
employment relationship with a school employee;
Y.  "unsupervised contact with children or HB 157/a
Page 8
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
students" means access to or contact with, or the opportunity
to have access to or contact with, a child or student for any
length of time in the absence of:
(1)  a licensed staff person from the same
school or institution;
(2)  a school volunteer who has undergone a
background check pursuant to Section 22-10A-5 NMSA 1978; or
(3)  any adult relative or guardian of the
child or student;
Z.  "veteran" means a person who has received an
honorable discharge or separation from military service in
the armed forces of the United States or in an active reserve
component of the armed forces of the United States, including
the national guard; and
AA.  "working day" means every school calendar day,
excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays."
SECTION 2. Section 22-10A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003,
Chapter 153, Section 34, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-3.  LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE REQUIRED--APPLICATION
FEE--CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS--GENERAL DUTIES.--
A.  Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, any person teaching, supervising an instructional
program or providing instructional support services in a
public school; any person administering in a public school;
and any person providing health care and administering HB 157/a
Page 9
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
medications or performing medical procedures in a public
school shall hold a valid license or certificate from the
department authorizing the person to perform that function. 
A person applying for a license or certificate from the
department shall undergo a criminal history record check
pursuant to Section 22-10A-5 NMSA 1978.  The criminal history
record check requirement shall apply to the following
applicants:
(1)  applicants for level one licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978;
(2)  applicants for an alternative level one
license pursuant to Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978;
(3)  applicants for level two licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-10 NMSA 1978;
(4)  applicants for level three licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978;
(5)  applicants for an alternative level two
or level three license pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.1 
NMSA 1978;
(6)  applicants for alternative licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.2 NMSA 1978;
(7)  applicants for level three-B provisional
licensure for school principals pursuant to Section 
22-10A-11.3 NMSA 1978;
(8)  applicants for level three-B HB 157/a
Page 10
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
administrator's licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.4
NMSA 1978;
(9)  applicants for provisional site
administrator licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.5 NMSA
1978;
(10)  applicants for initial site
administrator licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.6 NMSA
1978;
(11)  applicants for professional site
administrator licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.7 NMSA
1978;
(12)  applicants for provisional
superintendent licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.8 NMSA
1978;
(13)  applicants for superintendent licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-11.9 NMSA 1978;
(14)  applicants for licenses granted on the
basis of reciprocity pursuant to Section 22-10A-12 NMSA 1978;
(15)  applicants for expedited licensure
pursuant to Section 22-10A-12.1 NMSA 1978;
(16)  applicants for Native American language
and culture certificates pursuant to Section 22-10A-13 NMSA
1978;
(17)  applicants for substitute teacher
certificates pursuant to Section 22-10A-15 NMSA 1978; HB 157/a
Page 11
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
(18)  applicants for instructional support
provider licenses pursuant to Section 22-10A-17 NMSA 1978;
(19)  applicants for educational assistant
licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-17.1 NMSA 1978;
(20)  applicants for alternative level three-
B licensure pursuant to Section 22-10A-17.2 NMSA 1978; and
(21)  applicants for licensure for student
teachers still in a teacher preparation program or a teacher
residency pursuant to Section 22-10B-5 NMSA 1978.
B.  In the event that the statutory section numbers
referring to the licenses and certificates in Subsection A of
this section are amended, the licensure and criminal history
record check requirement shall remain in effect for the
applicants.  The department may require a federal bureau of
investigation criminal history record check of a current
licensee to analyze whether the department has good and just
cause for suspension or revocation of a department-issued
license.  Applicants and current licensees shall pay the cost
of obtaining a federal bureau of investigation criminal
history record check.  The department shall not share
criminal history record check information with another entity
unless expressly permitted by applicable federal law or
federal regulation.
C.  Except as provided in Subsection D of this
section, the department shall charge a reasonable fee for HB 157/a
Page 12
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
each application for or the renewal of a license or
certificate.  The application fee may be waived if the
applicant meets a standard of indigency established by the
department.
D.  No licensing or certificate fee shall be
charged for the first three years a license or certificate
required by this section is valid if the licensee or
certificate holder is a military service member or a veteran.
E.  A person performing the duties of a licensed
school employee who does not hold a valid license or
certificate or has not submitted a complete application for
licensure or certification within the first three months from
beginning employment duties shall not be compensated
thereafter for services rendered until the person
demonstrates that the person holds a valid license or
certificate.  This section does not apply to practice
teachers or teaching interns as defined by rules of the
department.
F.  Each licensed school employee shall:
(1)  enforce all laws and rules applicable to
the employee's public school;
(2)  if teaching, teach the prescribed
courses of instruction;
(3)  exercise supervision over students on
public school premises and while the students are under the HB 157/a
Page 13
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
control of the public school; and
(4)  furnish reports as required."
SECTION 3. Section 22-10A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003,
Chapter 153, Section 35, as amended by Laws 2005, Chapter
315, Section 4 and by Laws 2005, Chapter 316, Section 1) is
amended to read:
"22-10A-4.  TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS--
PROFESSIONAL STATUS--LICENSURE LEVELS--SALARY ALIGNMENT.--
A.  Teaching and school administration are
recognized as professions, with all the rights,
responsibilities and privileges accorded professions, having
their first responsibility to the public they serve.  The
primary responsibilities of the teaching and site
administration professions are to educate the children of
this state and to improve the professional practices and
ethical conduct of their members.
B.  The New Mexico licensure framework for teachers
and school administrators is a progressive career system in
which licensees are required to demonstrate increased
competencies and undertake increased duties as they progress
through the licensure levels.  The minimum salary provided as
part of the career system shall not take effect until the
department has adopted increased competencies for the
particular level of licensure and a highly objective uniform
statewide standard of evaluation. HB 157/a
Page 14
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
C.  A level one license is a provisional license
that gives a beginning teacher the opportunity, through a
formal mentorship program, for additional preparation to be a
quality teacher.  A level two license is given to a teacher
who is a fully qualified professional who is primarily
responsible for ensuring that students meet and exceed
department-adopted academic content and performance
standards; a teacher may choose to remain at level two for
the remainder of the teacher's career.  A level three-A
license is the highest level of teaching licensure for those
teachers who choose to advance as instructional leaders in
the teaching profession and undertake greater
responsibilities such as curriculum development, peer
intervention and mentoring. 
D.  An initial site administrator license is for
teachers and instructional support providers who commence a
new career path in site administration by becoming assistant
school principals, school principals or charter school
administrators.  A professional site administrator license is
given to an assistant school principal, school principal or
charter school head administrator who is a fully qualified
professional who may choose to remain at this level for the
remainder of the assistant school principal's, school
principal's or charter school head administrator's career.
E.  A superintendent license is the highest level HB 157/a
Page 15
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
of administrative licensure for those administrators who
choose to undertake the responsibilities of leading a school
district.  Charter school governing bodies may choose to
require head administrators to hold a superintendent license
based on the needs of the school.
F.  All teacher and school administrator salary
systems shall be aligned with the licensure framework in a
professional educator licensing and salary system.
G.  A licensed school employee who holds a valid
three-B license on July 1, 2029 shall be granted a
professional site administrator license and a superintendent
license."
SECTION 4. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.5 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.5.  PROVISIONAL SITE ADMINISTRATOR
LICENSURE.--
A.  A provisional site administrator license is a
one-year license granted to a level two or three-A teacher
who meets the qualifications for that license.
B.  To qualify for a provisional site administrator
license, the candidate shall: 
(1)  meet the requirements for a level two or
three-A license;
(2)  be enrolled in a department-approved
site administrator induction and mentoring program in the HB 157/a
Page 16
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
school district; and
(3)  be accepted into a department-approved
site administrator preparation program.
C.  The provisional license is renewable up to
three times upon annual proof of enrollment in a
department-approved site administrator preparation program
and satisfactory evaluations each year from the school
district's mentoring program.  After successful completion of
the department-approved site administrator preparation
program and satisfactory evaluations, the provisional license
may be converted to a professional site administrator license
if the candidate completes the requirements for that
license."
SECTION 5. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.6 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.6.  INITIAL SITE ADMINISTRATOR LICENSE.--
A.  As used in this section, "responsibility
factor" means a value of 1.25 for an elementary school
principal, 1.45 for a middle school or junior high school
principal, 1.65 for a high school principal, 1.15 for an
assistant elementary school principal, 1.20 for an assistant
middle school or assistant junior high school principal and
1.30 for an assistant high school principal.
B.  An initial site administrator license is a
three-year license granted to an applicant who meets the HB 157/a
Page 17
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
qualifications for that license.  Up to two one-year renewals
may be granted upon request by the local superintendent.
C.  The department shall grant an initial site
administrator license to an applicant who:
(1)  has successfully completed a department-
approved site administrator preparation program or an out-of-
state council for the accreditation of educator preparation-
or association for advancing quality in educator preparation-
accredited administrator preparation program and a
department-approved clinical experience in New Mexico;
(2)  has at least three years of experience
as a teacher or instructional support provider;
(3)  holds a post-baccalaureate degree or
national board for professional teaching standards
certification; and
(4)  meets any additional requirements as
determined by the department.
D.  The minimum annual salary for a licensed site
administrator serving as a school principal or assistant
school principal is the minimum salary for a level three-A
teacher multiplied by the applicable responsibility factor.
E.  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 HB 157/a
Page 18
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
assistant school principals and rules for the implementation
of that evaluation system linked to the level of
responsibility at each school level."
SECTION 6. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.7 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.7.  PROFESSIONAL SITE ADMINISTRATOR
LICENSURE.--
A.  A professional site administrator license is a
five-year license granted to an applicant who meets the
qualifications for that license. 
B.  The department shall grant a professional site
administrator license to an applicant who: 
(1)  holds a post-baccalaureate degree or
national board for professional teaching standards
certification; 
(2)  has successfully completed a department-
approved site administrator preparation program;
(3)  has at least one year of experience as a
site administrator; 
(4)  has successfully completed a department-
approved site administrator induction program; and
(5)  meets any additional requirements as
determined by the department. 
C.  Licenses may be renewed on successful
completion of department-required professional development HB 157/a
Page 19
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
and satisfactory annual performance evaluations."
SECTION 7. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.8 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.8.  PROVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT LICENSURE.--
A.  A provisional superintendent license is a
one-year license granted to an applicant who meets the
qualifications for that license.  A provisional license may
be renewed up to three times with annual proof of enrollment
in a department-approved aspiring superintendent academy and
the recommendation of an induction coach.
B.  The department shall grant a provisional
superintendent license to an applicant who: 
(1)  has at least one year of experience as a
school administrator; 
(2)  is enrolled in a department-approved
superintendent induction and mentoring program; and
(3)  meets any additional requirements as
determined by the department."
SECTION 8. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.9 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.9.  SUPERINTENDENT LICENSURE.--
A.  A superintendent license is a five-year license
granted to an applicant who meets the qualifications for that
license.  
B.  The department shall grant a superintendent HB 157/a
Page 20
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
license to an applicant who: 
(1)  has at least one year of experience as a
site administrator;
(2)  has successfully completed a department-
approved aspiring superintendent academy; 
(3)  is enrolled in a department-approved
superintendent induction and mentoring program, which must be
successfully completed before license renewal; and
(4)  meets any additional requirements as
determined by the department.
C.  Licenses may be renewed upon successful
completion of department-required professional development."
SECTION 9. A new section of the School Personnel Act,
Section 22-10A-11.10 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10A-11.10.  LICENSURE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS NOT
LICENSED AS SITE ADMINISTRATORS OR SUPERINTENDENTS.--The
department may establish new licensure requirements for
school administrators who are not licensed as site
administrators or superintendents."
SECTION 10. Section 22-10A-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws
2003, Chapter 153, Section 43, as amended) is amended to
read:
"22-10A-12.  LIMITED RECIPROCITY.--
A.  A teacher or school principal licensed in
another state may be granted a level two, level three-A or HB 157/a
Page 21
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
site administrator license if the teacher or site
administrator has teaching experience, demonstrates the
required competencies and meets other requirements and
qualifications for the license for which the teacher or
school principal applies, including clearance of the required
background check.  The local superintendent may require a
mentorship period for the licensee if the superintendent
deems it necessary.  A teacher or site administrator who
holds an out-of-state license may apply for a lower level
license if the teacher or site administrator does not meet
the requirements for the higher level.
B.  The department may grant an initial site
administrator license to an out-of-state candidate who does
not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that
license if the candidate: 
(1)  has a standard, valid, unencumbered
school administrator license from another state;
(2)  has worked as a site administrator for
at least three years;
(3)  has a recent satisfactory performance
evaluation;
(4)  is enrolled in a department-approved
site administrator induction program; and
(5)  meets other requirements of the
department. HB 157/a
Page 22
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
C.  The department may grant a superintendent
license to an out-of-state candidate who does not meet the
other requirements and qualifications of that license if the
candidate:
(1)  has a standard, valid, unencumbered
school administrator license from another state;
(2)  has worked as a superintendent for at
least three years;
(3)  is enrolled in a department-approved
superintendent induction program; and 
(4)  meets other requirements of the
department."
SECTION 11. Section 22-10A-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws
2003, Chapter 153, Section 45, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-14.  CERTIFICATES OF WAIVER.--
A.  If a local superintendent or governing
authority of a state agency certifies to the department that
an emergency exists in the hiring of a qualified person, the
department may issue a certificate of teaching waiver or
assignment waiver.
B.  The department may issue a certificate of
teaching waiver to a person who holds a baccalaureate degree
but does not meet other requirements for licensure as a level
one teacher.  Certificates of teaching waivers are one-year
waivers and may be renewed only if the holder provides HB 157/a
Page 23
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
satisfactory evidence of continued progress toward a level one
license.  
C.  At the request of a local superintendent, the
department may issue a certificate of assignment waiver to a
licensed teacher who is assigned to teach outside the
teacher's teaching endorsement area.  A certificate of
assignment waiver may be renewed each school year if the
teacher provides satisfactory evidence of continued progress
toward meeting the requirements for endorsement.
D.  If a local superintendent or governing
authority certifies to the department that an emergency exists
in the hiring of a qualified site administrator, the
department may issue a certificate of principalship waiver to
a person who holds a level two or level three-A license but
does not meet the other requirements for a site administrator
license.  Certificates of principalship waivers are one-year
waivers and are not renewable.
E.  If a local school board certifies to the
department that an emergency exists in the hiring of a
qualified local superintendent, the department may issue a
certificate of superintendency waiver to a person who holds a
professional site administrator license but does not meet the
other requirements for a superintendent license.  Certificates
of superintendency waivers are one-year waivers and are not
renewable." HB 157/a
Page 24
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
SECTION 12. A new section of the Public School Code,
Section 22-10D-1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10D-1.  SHORT TITLE.--Chapter 22, Article 10D NMSA
1978 may be cited as the "School Administrator Development
Act"."
SECTION 13. A new section of the Public School Code,
Section 22-10D-2 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10D-2.  DEFINITIONS.--As used in the School
Administrator Development Act:
A.  "program" means a department-approved school
administrator preparation program; and
B.  "site administrator" means a school principal,
assistant school principal or charter school head
administrator."
SECTION 14. A new section of the Public School Code,
Section 22-10D-3 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"22-10D-3.  STANDARDS-BASED SITE ADMINISTRATOR
PREPARATION PROGRAMS--REQUIREMENTS--DEPARTMENT APPROVAL.--
A.  A public post-secondary education institution,
tribal college or other qualified entity that wants to offer a
school administrator preparation program is required to have
the program approved by the department in accordance with
criteria set forth in the School Administrator Development
Act.  The department shall promulgate rules to implement the
provisions of the School Administrator Development Act.  HB 157/a
Page 25
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
B.  The department shall promulgate rules to
establish criteria for programs that include the following
research-based features of effective leader preparation
programs: 
(1)  comprehensive curriculum aligned to
national and state standards;
(2)  deliberate candidate recruitment and
selection;
(3)  robust clinical experience;
(4)  cohort structure with trained coaches;
and 
(5)  formal partnerships between programs and
school districts and charter schools.
C.  The department shall convene a task force of
site administrators, local superintendents and representatives
of educator preparation programs to develop common performance
tasks and rubrics that shall be completed by applicants for
initial or professional site administrator licenses and
superintendent licenses. 
D.  No later than July 1, 2027, programs shall be
approved by the department before enrolling new students
seeking site administrator licensure.  Students enrolled
before the effective date of the School Administrator
Development Act may be granted licensure in accordance with
existing program approvals.  HB 157/a
Page 26
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
E.  The department shall provide by rule a process
for approving new and revised programs.  The department shall
consult the professional practices and standards council and
publish a manual outlining the requirements for program
approval.  The process shall be aligned with the School
Administrator Development Act and meet the general
requirements of the program as determined by the department. 
F.  All programs seeking approval pursuant to the
School Administrator Development Act, including those approved
prior to the effective date of that act, shall submit an
application to the department by January 15, 2027. 
Applications shall provide the information outlined in the
school administrator preparation professional practices and
standards manual published in accordance with Subsection E of
this section. 
G.  The department shall monitor program success
and candidate outcomes through educator accountability report
indicators, including data tracking of graduates through a
completer survey issued to all graduates within one year of
program completion that measures completers' perception of
their own readiness and individual effectiveness in the
position, the number of people licensed through each licensure
pathway and through each clinical experience type and the
number and types of licenses held by each school and school
district leader. HB 157/a
Page 27
1  
2  
3  
4  
5  
6  
7  
8  
9  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
H.  Nothing in this section shall preclude the
department from establishing or accepting equivalent
requirements for the purposes of reciprocal licensure for out-
of-state school administrators as provided in Section
22-10A-12 NMSA 1978."
SECTION 15. DELAYED REPEAL.--Sections 22-10A-11.3,
22-10A-11.4 and 22-10A-17.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2009,
Chapter 117, Section 2, Laws 2015, Chapter 74, Section 2 and
Laws 2017, Chapter 68, Section 1, as amended) are repealed
effective July 1, 2029.
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.