LESC bill analyses are available on the New Mexico Legislature website (www.nmlegis.gov). Bill analyses are
prepared by LESC staff for standing education committees of the New Mexico Legislature. LESC does not assume
any responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.
LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE
BILL ANALYSIS
57th Legislature, 1st S ession, 2025
Bill Number HB297 Sponsor Gonzales/Sariñana/Mirabal Moya
Tracking Number .229704.1 Committee Referrals HEC/HGEIC
Short Title School Personnel Computer Science Licensure
Original Date 2/17/2025
Analyst Armatage Last Updated
BILL SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 297 (HB297) would amend the School Personnel Act to codify existing pathways to
computer science teacher endorsement, reinstate two recently expired pathways to endorsement,
and expand computer science endorsement eligibility to all kindergarten through 12th grade (K-
12) teachers who meet endorsement requirements.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025. FISCAL IMPACT
The bill appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to PED for expenditure in FY26 to
FY27. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY27 shall revert to the
general fund.
The costs of implementing HB297 would likely be minimal and limited to PED staff processing
additional computer science endorsements for some elementary, middle school, and junior high teachers.
SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Computer Science Endorsement for K-12 Teachers. HB297 would amend the state’s School
Personnel Act to:
1. Codify existing requirements
for computer science teacher endorsement enumerated in
PED administrative code;
2. Reinstate two pathways to computer science teacher endorsement that expired January 1, 2025; and
3. Expand eligibility for computer science endorsement beyond secondary teachers to all
kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) teachers who meet endorsement requirements.
HB297 – Page 2
PED rule currently provides four pathways to computer science endorsement for secondary school
teachers (seventh through 12th grade) plus two additional pathways that expired on January 1,
2025. See Table 1: Comparison of Current and Proposed Pathways to Computer Science
Endorsement.
Table 1: Comparison of Current and Proposed Pathways to Computer Science Endorsement
Pathways Current HB297 Proposed
Coursework 15 credit hours postsecondary computer science 15 credit hours postsecondary computer science
Exam Pass the licensure exam for computer science Pass the licensure exam for computer science
Work
Experience
Two or more years of related work experience Two or more years of related work experience
Industry
Certification
Possess an industry certification in field related to
computer science
Possess an industry certification in field related to
computer science
Professional
Development
Complete 60 hours of professional development within
the three years immediately prior to applying for
endorsement – expired January 1, 2025
Complete 60 hours of professional development within
three years of applying for endorsement
Teaching
Experience
Possess three or more years of computer science
teaching experience – expired January 1, 2025
Possess three or more years of computer science
teaching experience
Source: NMAC 6.64.20.8
Technology Endorsement for K-12 Teachers. According to PED, teachers of elementary school
computer classes are currently required to obtain a technology endorsement
. PED’s licensure
webpage for technology endorsement describes technology education as including any coursework specific to computers. The endorsement is available for middle level teachers, secondary teachers,
prekindergarten through 12th grade specialty teachers, and special education teachers. See Table
2: PED Requirements for Technology Education Endorsement.
Table 2: PED Requirements for Technology Education Endorsement
Pathway Endorsement Requirements
Beginning Teacher
(on an alternative license)
• 24-36 semester hours in technology educational coursework; and
• Pass the PRAXIS Technology Education exam
Existing Teacher
(has completed a standard or alternative
preparation program)
• 24-36 semester hours in technology educational coursework; or
• Pass the PRAXIS Technology Education exam; or
• Certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in
technology education.
Source: NMAC 6.64.16.1
The secondary computer courses that currently require a technology endorsement, and those that
require a computer science endorsement, is somewhat ambiguous. These determinations are made
by PED and published in the annual Student Teacher Accountability Reporting System (STARS)
manual. LESC staff analysis of the
2022-2023 School Year (SY23) STARS Course Licensure
Requirement Manual f courses that could be taught by a teacher with either a computer
science endorsement or a technology endorsement. T wo computer courses specifically required a
technology endorsement. See Table 3: SY23 STARS Course Endorsement Requirements .
HB297 – Page 3
If there are no courses that specifically require a computer science endorsement, it’s unclear how
necessary a computer science endorsement is. The purpose of a computer science endorsement for
elementary school teachers could be even less clear as computer classes may be more basic than
those at a secondary level, which still allow for a technology endorsement.
However, with more pathways to a computer science endorsement than to a technology
endorsement, computer course teachers in elementary school may opt to attain a computer science
license rather than a technology license. This could benefit instruction, as the requirements for a
computer science license are more job-specific than those for a technology education endorsement.
For comparison, however, a computer science endorsement requires 15 credit hours of relevant
coursework, while a technology endorsement requires 24 to 36 credit hours.
Table 3: SY23 STARS Course Endorsement Requirements
Course Name
Technology Education
Endorsement
Computer Science
Endorsement
Advanced Word Processing for Business
X
Business Computer Skills
X
Computer Applications II
X X
Desktop Publishing I
X X
Desktop Publishing II
X X
Computer Graphics II
X X
Computer Graphics III
X X
Computer Graphics IV
X X
Intro to 3D Design and Animation
X X
Computer Science/Programming
X X
Computer Networking II
X X
Computer Technology Assistant I
X X
Computer Technology Assistant II
X X
Computer Technology Assistant III
X X
AP Computer Science
X X
Advanced Career-Computers/Networks/Databases
X X
Advanced Career - Design for Digital World
X X
Advanced Career - Databases in the Cloud
X X
Advanced Career - Developing Cloud Presence
X X
AP Computer Science Principles
X X
PLTW Computer Science Essentials
X X
AP PLTW Computer Science Principles
X X
AP PLTW Computer Science A
X X
PLTW Cybersecurity
X X
PLTW App Creators
X X
PLTW Computer Science for Innovators and Makers
X X
Cyber Literacy
X X
Cyber Literacy 2
X X
Cybersecurity
X X
Cyber and Society
X X
Art and Computer Science
X X
Source: LESC Analysis of SY23 STARS Course License Requirements
HB297 – Page 4
OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
State of Computer Science Education. According to 2023 data from Code.org , a national
advocacy organization focused on expanding access to computer science, New Mexico offers a foundational computer science course in 50 percent of its public high schools, and 3 percent of high school students took a foundational computer science course in SY23 . Code.org also suggests
10 policies to make computer science “foundational” in schools across the country. The 10 suggested policies are:
1. Create a statewide plan for K-12 computer science.
2. Define computer science and establish standards for K-12 computer science.
3. Allocate funding for rigorous computer science teacher professional learning.
4. Implement clear certification pathways for computer science teachers at elementary and secondary levels.
5. Create university programs to encourage all preservice teachers to gain exposure to computer science.
6. Establish dedicated computer science positions in a state education agency.
7. Require that all schools offer computer science with appropriate implementation timelines.
8. Allow computer science to count toward a core graduation requirement.
9. Allow computer science to satisfy an admission requirement at higher education institutions.
10. Require that all students take computer science to earn a high school diploma.
Of these, Code.org notes
New Mexico has accomplished items one, two, three, four, six, and eight.
When New Mexico’s graduation requirements were revised in 2024, the state began requiring that
all high schools offer a computer science course and allowed computer science to count toward math and science graduation requirements, addressing the seventh and eighth policy recommendations. Code.org suggests New Mexico can increase computer science opportunities
for students by requiring all preservice teachers to receive instruction in computer science education.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
PED staff would need to update administrative code and potentially process license applications for additional teachers.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
• LESC Files
• New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT)
• University of New Mexico (UNM)
• New Mexico Independent Community Colleges (NMICC)
• New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)
• Public Education Department (NMPED)
AA/clh/mca/jkh