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 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 an alternative level one license to an applicant who meets the requirements of Section 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.
F. 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 education and vocational education.
G. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, with the adoption by the department of a highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation for level one teachers, the minimum salary for a level one teacher shall be thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract.
H. Teachers who hold level one licenses on the effective date of the 2003 act must be evaluated by the end of the 2006-2007 school year.
HISTORY:
1978 22-10A-7, enacted by Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 38; 2005, ch. 315, § 5; 2005, ch. 316, § 2; 2010, ch. 113, § 1; 2011, ch. 95, § 1.
Amendment Notes.
2005 amendments. —
Laws 2005, ch. 316, § 2, effective April 7, 2005, substituting “department” for “state board” throughout the section; inserting “at least” in Subsection A; and in Subsections A and B, substituting “four-year” for “three-year”, was approved April 7, 2005. However, this section was also amended by Laws 2005, ch. 315, § 5, effective April 7, 2005, substituting “department” for “state board” throughout the section; inserting “at least” in Subsection A; and in Subsections A and B, substituting “five-year” for “three-year”, and was also approved on April 7, 2005.
Because Laws 2005, ch. 315, § 5 was approved earlier on April 7, 2005, this section is set out as amended by Laws 2005, ch. 316, § 2. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.
The 2010 amendment, effective May 19, 2010, added “for at least one full school year” in (A).
The 2011 amendment, effective June 17, 2011, added “including for elementary licensure beginning January 1, 2013, a rigorous assessment of the candidate’s knowledge of the science of teaching reading” in (D)(3).