New Mexico 2025 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HM32 Enrolled / Bill

Filed 04/22/2025

                    HM 32
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A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE
POSSIBILITY OF GRANTING TEACHERS MASTER'S LEVEL COLLEGE
CREDIT FOR EARNING MICROCREDENTIALS TO ADVANCE FROM LEVEL ONE
TO LEVEL TWO LICENSURE AND FROM LEVEL TWO TO LEVEL THREE
LICENSURE, INCLUDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL BARRIERS
AND PATHWAYS.
WHEREAS, a level one teaching license is a provisional,
nonrenewable license and a teacher is given up to five years
to develop the academic and pedagogical knowledge and skills
to become a level two teacher; and 
WHEREAS, to move from a level one license to a level two
license, the public education department requires teachers to
have a baccalaureate degree, teach for at least three years,
participate in a formal teacher mentorship program and earn
microcredentials in five areas:  classroom environment;
assessment literacy; multilayered systems of support;
culturally and linguistically responsive instruction; and
family engagement; and
WHEREAS, a teacher must earn a proficiency score of
eighty-five percent or higher in each of the microcredential
courses; and
WHEREAS, it is also possible for a level one teacher to
advance to level two by receiving certification from the HM 32
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national board for professional teaching standards, an
exceptionally rigorous program; and
WHEREAS, a teacher who holds a level three license will
have completed nine microcredentials or five microcredentials
and national board certification or a master's degree, all of
which take significant time and financial resources; and
WHEREAS, currently, higher education does not offer
master's degree credits for completion of microcredentials or
national board certification;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public
education department be requested to collaborate with the
teacher preparation programs at state universities to study
the possibility of giving master's degree credit to level one
teachers for the professional work required to move to level
two and to level two teachers for the professional work
required to move to level three; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study consider the pros
and cons of giving credit toward a master's degree, potential
pathways to realize the proposal as well as academic barriers
such as accreditation requirements; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department report to the
legislative education study committee by December 1, 2025;
and 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be HM 32
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transmitted to the secretary of public education.