SB 343
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AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION; REMOVING EXCEPTIONS TO LEVEL ONE,
LEVEL TWO AND LEVEL THREE-A LICENSED TEACHER SALARY RATES;
AMENDING SECTIONS 22-10A-7, 22-10A-10 AND 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978
(BEING LAWS 2003, CHAPTER 153, SECTIONS 38, 41 AND 42, AS
AMENDED).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 22-10A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003,
Chapter 153, Section 38, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-10A-7. LEVEL ONE LICENSURE.--
A. A level one license is a provisional five-year
license for beginning teachers that requires as a condition
of licensure that the licensee undergo a formal mentorship
program for at least one full school year and an annual
intensive performance evaluation by a school administrator
for at least three full school years before applying for a
level two license.
B. Each school district, in accordance with
department rules, shall provide for the mentorship and
evaluation of level one teachers. At the end of each year
and at the end of the license period, the level one teacher
shall be evaluated for competency. If the teacher fails
to demonstrate satisfactory progress and competence
annually, the teacher may be terminated as provided in SB 343
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Section 22-10A-24 NMSA 1978. If the teacher has not
demonstrated satisfactory progress and competence by the end
of the five-year period, the teacher shall not be granted a
level two license.
C. Except in exigent circumstances defined by
department rule, a level one license shall not be extended
beyond the initial period.
D. The department shall issue a standard level one
license to an applicant who is at least eighteen years of age
who:
(1) holds a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited educational institution;
(2) has successfully completed a
department-approved teacher preparation program from a
nationally accredited or state-approved educational
institution;
(3) has passed the New Mexico teacher
assessments examination, including for elementary licensure
beginning January 1, 2013, a rigorous assessment of the
candidate's knowledge of the science of teaching reading; and
(4) meets other qualifications for level
one licensure, including clearance of the required
background check.
E. The department shall issue a standard level one
vocational license to an applicant who meets the requirements SB 343
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of Subsection D of this section or to an applicant who is at
least twenty-three years of age and who:
(1) has five or more years of professional
experience in the vocational field in which the applicant
will teach; and
(2) meets other qualifications for level one
licensure, including clearance of a background check pursuant
to Section 22-10A-5 NMSA 1978.
F. The department shall issue an alternative level
one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of
Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.
G. The department shall establish competencies and
qualifications for specific grade levels, types and subject
areas of level one licensure, including early childhood,
elementary, middle school, secondary, special and vocational
education.
H. The minimum salary for a level one teacher is
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a standard nine and
one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an
extended learning time program or K-12 plus program shall
receive additional salary at the same rate as their base
salary for that teaching time.
I. After the issuance of a license, a license
holder shall not be required to meet changed requirements to
maintain the license until such time as the license expires SB 343
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and the license holder seeks renewal of the license."
SECTION 2. Section 22-10A-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws
2003, Chapter 153, Section 41, as amended) is amended to
read:
"22-10A-10. LEVEL TWO LICENSURE.--
A. A level two license is a nine-year license
granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that
level and who annually demonstrates essential competency to
teach. If a level two teacher does not demonstrate essential
competency in a given school year, the school district shall
provide the teacher with additional professional development
and peer intervention during the following school year. If
by the end of that school year the teacher fails to
demonstrate essential competency, a school district may
choose not to contract with the teacher to teach in the
classroom.
B. The department shall issue a level two license
to an applicant who has successfully taught at least three,
but no more than five, years as a level one teacher or an
alternative level one teacher, or a combination of the two,
or is granted reciprocity as provided by department rules.
An applicant for a level two license shall:
(1) demonstrate essential competency
required by the department as verified by the local
superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide SB 343
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standard of evaluation; and
(2) meet other qualifications as required by
the department.
C. The department shall provide for qualifications
for specific grade levels, types and subject areas of level
two licensure, including early childhood, elementary, middle,
secondary, special and vocational education.
D. The minimum salary for a level two teacher is
sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) for a standard nine and
one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an
extended learning time program or K-12 plus program shall
receive additional salary at the same rate as their base
salary for that teaching time."
SECTION 3. Section 22-10A-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws
2003, Chapter 153, Section 42, as amended) is amended to
read:
"22-10A-11. LEVEL THREE LICENSURE--TRACKS FOR
TEACHERS.--
A. A level three-A license is a nine-year license
granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that
level and who annually demonstrates instructional leader
competencies. If a level three-A teacher does not
demonstrate essential competency in a given school year, the
school district shall provide the teacher with additional
professional development and peer intervention during the SB 343
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following school year. If by the end of that school year the
teacher fails to demonstrate essential competency, a school
district may choose not to contract with the teacher to teach
in the classroom.
B. The department shall grant a level three-A
license to an applicant who has been a level two teacher for
at least three years and holds a post-baccalaureate degree
or national board for professional teaching standards
certification; demonstrates instructional leader competence
as required by the department and verified by the local
superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide
standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications for
the license.
C. The department shall grant a level three-A
license to an applicant seeking a level three-A vocational
education license who does not meet the requirements of
Subsection B of this section, but who otherwise is eligible
for a level three-A license, provided that the applicant:
(1) has been a level two teacher for at
least three years;
(2) provides documentation from an
accredited higher education institution of the applicant's
eligibility to teach dual-credit courses at the
post-secondary level in the field in which the applicant
is teaching; or SB 343
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(3) completes a department-approved
career-technical education training certificate course of
study that is a minimum of sixteen hours at an accredited
higher education institution.
D. The minimum salary for a level three-A teacher
is seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) for a standard nine and
one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an
extended learning time program or K-12 plus program shall
receive additional salary at the same rate as their base
salary for that teaching time.
E. The minimum salary for a counselor who holds a
level three or three-A license as provided in the School
Personnel Act and rules promulgated by the department shall
be the same as provided for level three-A teachers pursuant
to Subsection D of this section."
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.