TITLE 6               PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

CHAPTER 60     SCHOOL PERSONNEL - GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART 10               MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS

 

6.60.10.1               ISSUING AGENCY:  Public Education Department, herein after the “department”.

[6.60.10.1 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.1 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.2               SCOPE:  Applies to all New Mexico public school districts, charter schools, or state educational institutions.  First-year teachers shall successfully complete a minimum one-year teacher mentorship program provided by the public school district, charter school or state educational institution.  If any part or application of this rule is held invalid, the remainder of the rule or its application in other situations shall not be affected.

[6.60.10.2 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.2 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.3               STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Sections 22-2-1 and 22-10A-9 NMSA 1978.

[6.60.10.3 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.3 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.4               DURATION:  Permanent.

[6.60.10.4 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.4 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.5               EFFECTIVE DATE:  July 1, 2019, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[6.60.10.5 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.5 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.6               OBJECTIVE:  To establish requirements for teacher mentorship programs that improve teacher practice, achievement of their students, and overall performance of their school.

[6.60.10.6 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.6 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.7               DEFINITIONS:

                A.            “First-year teacher” means a teacher in their first year of teaching in a New Mexico public school as a teacher of record, holding a New Mexico teaching license.  Public school districts and charters may, at their discretion, extend this definition to include teachers in their first year as teacher of record in their school who may have had prior teaching experience in another school.

                B.            “Designated mentor” means a level 2 or level 3 teacher who:

                                (1)           has earned an effectiveness rating of highly effective or exemplary as determined by the state’s educator effectiveness evaluation system, NMTEACH, as outlined in 6.69.8 NMAC, for at least one of the two most recent years;

                                (2)           is a nationally board certified teacher and has earned an effectiveness rating of effective as determined by the state’s educator effectiveness evaluation system, NMTEACH, as outlined in 6.69.8 NMAC, for at least one of the most recent two years; or

                                (3)           is assigned by the department in situations where no qualifying mentor is available.

                C.            “Director” means the director of the educator quality division for the public education department.

                D.            “Local education agency” or “LEA” means a local school district, charter school, or state educational institution.

                E.            “Teaching license” means a department license issued in any of the following:

                                (1)           birth - pre-K;

                                (2)           pre-K - grade 3;

                                (3)           grades K- 8;

                                (4)           grades 5 - 9;

                                (5)           grades 7-12;

                                (6)           special education grades pre K-12;

                                (7)           licensure for pre K-12 in specialty areas;

                                (8)           blindness and visual impairment birth - grade 12;

                                (9)           secondary vocational-technical education; or

                                (10)         deaf and hard of hearing.

[6.60.10.7 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.7 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.8               REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS:  All mentorship programs must receive initial approval from the director prior to the first year of implementation and each year thereafter.  To receive approval, public school districts, charter schools, or state educational institutions shall submit a proposed teacher mentorship program that aligns with and supports the public school district’s, charter school’s, or state educational institution’s long range plan for student success.  Teacher mentorship programs shall align with all competencies outlined in the state’s educator effectiveness evaluation system, NMTEACH, in accordance with 6.69.8 NMAC, and all other competencies outlined in department regulation and guidance.  The proposal shall describe how this mandatory teacher mentorship program for first-year teachers addresses the following.

                A.            Individual support for first-year teachers from designated mentors shall be aligned to all competencies outlined in the NMTEACH system and also include, at a minimum:

                                (1)           instructional material development in alignment with department-approved standards;

                                (2)           culturally and linguistically responsive, as defined by the department, lesson planning and lesson design appropriate for all diverse learners, including English learners and students with disabilities;

                                (3)           development and administration of formative and benchmark student academic assessments;

                                (4)           individual instructional conferences with students;

                                (5)           individual conferences with parents and families, specifically to discuss student achievement, assessment scores, and college and career readiness; and

                                (6)           classroom observation protocol.

                B.            Structured and evidence-based training activities for designated mentors, which shall include the following, at a minimum:

                                (1)           identifying and addressing the needs of first-year teachers;

                                (2)           developing mentorship relationships;

                                (3)           evaluating mentees using observation domains outlined in NMTEACH; and

                                (4)           documenting teacher growth aligned with the NMTEACH system and rubrics.

                C.            Structured process for selection of designated mentors shall include:

                                (1)           selection criteria and process; and

                                (2)           criteria of evaluation for the efficacy of the mentor.

                D.            Compensation provided to designated mentors, as determined by the relevant public school district, charter school, or state educational institution.  Pursuant to Section 22-10A-4 NMSA 1978, a level 3-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.  LEAs may increase compensation for level 3-A license teachers.

                E.            Mentor quality, specifically guaranteeing that all designated mentors will be a level 2 or level 3 teacher who:

                                (1)           has earned an effectiveness rating of highly effective or exemplary as determined by the state’s educator effectiveness evaluation system, NMTEACH, as outlined in 6.69.8 NMAC, for at least one of the two most recent years;

                                (2)           is a nationally board certified teacher and has earned an effectiveness rating of effective as determined by the state’s educator effectiveness evaluation system, NMTEACH, as outlined in 6.69.8 NMAC, for at least one of the most recent two years; or

                                (3)           is assigned by the department in situations where no qualifying mentor is available.

                F.            Requirements to complete a mentorship program.

                G.            Programming that is at least one year in length and includes provisions whereby support for an additional one or two years may be provided to teachers who do not successfully complete the first-year teacher mentorship program and continue to be employed in the public school district, charter school, or state educational institution.

 [6.60.10.8 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.8 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.9               COMPLETION OF TEACHER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM:  All first-year teachers shall successfully complete a minimum of a one-year teacher mentorship program to be eligible for a level 2 license.  Successful completion of the program shall be determined by the public school district, charter school, or state educational institution.

[6.60.10.9 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.9 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

6.60.10.10             ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORTING:

                A.            Mentorship programs shall be reviewed by the department annually for effectiveness.  For the purposes of such review, each district shall maintain teacher evaluation data through NMTEACH and administer a department-issued teacher mentorship program survey for first-year teachers.  These data shall be provided to the department in a report submitted annually by November 15 of the following school year.  The annual report shall include the following, at a minimum, by school or institution:

                                (1)           assessment of proficiency in the areas of practice detailed in the approved teacher mentorship proposal, pursuant to Subsection A of 6.60.10.8 NMAC;

                                (2)           a current analysis each first-year teacher’s performance as demonstrated by NMTEACH; and

                                (3)           results from the department-issued teacher mentorship program survey for first-year teachers.

                B.            The department shall compile and analyze the data submitted by public school districts, charter schools and state educational institutions and report annually to the appropriate interim legislative committee. Nothing may inhibit the department’s discretion to share program evaluation results as it determines to be beneficial, within the bounds of applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

[6.60.10.10 NMAC - Rp, 6.60.10.10 NMAC, 7/1/2019]

 

HISTORY OF 6.60.10 NMAC:

 

HISTORY OF REPEALED MATERIAL:

6.60.10 NMAC, Mentorship Program for Teachers, filed 7/1/2002, was repealed and replaced by 6.60.10 NMAC,  Mentorship Program for Teachers, effective 7/1/2019.