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 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 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-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time.

History: 1978 Comp., § 22-10A-10, enacted by Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 41; 2005, ch. 315, § 7; 2005, ch. 316, § 4; 2018, ch. 72, § 2; 2019, ch. 191, § 1; 2019, ch. 206, § 22; 2019, ch. 207, § 22.

2019 Multiple Amendments. — Laws 2019, ch. 191, § 1, Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 22, and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 22, all effective June 14, 2019, enacted different amendments to this section that can be reconciled. Pursuant to 12-1-8 NMSA 1978, Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 22 as the last act signed by the governor, is set out above and incorporates all amendments. The amendments enacted by Laws 2019, ch. 191, § 1, Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 22 and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 22 are described below. To view the session laws in their entirety, see the 2019 session laws on NMOneSource.com.

The nature of the difference between the amendments is that Laws 2019, ch. 191, § 1, permitted alternative level one teachers to obtain level two licenses after meeting certain requirements, Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 22, increased minimum salary levels for level two teachers, and provided that teachers in an extended learning program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary for that teaching time, and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 22, provided that teachers in an extended learning program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary for that teaching time.

Laws 2019, ch. 191, § 1, effective June 14, 2019, permitted alternative level one teachers to obtain level two licenses after meeting certain requirements; in Subsection B, after "applicant who", deleted "successfully completes the level one license or is granted reciprocity as provided by department rules; demonstrates" and added "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", and added new paragraph designations "(1)" and "(2)".

Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 22, effective June 14, 2019, increased minimum salary levels for level two teachers; in Subsection D, after the subsection designation, deleted "With the adoption by the department of the statewide objective performance evaluation for level two teachers", after "level two teacher", deleted "for a standard nine and one-half month contract shall be forty-four thousand dollars ($44,000)" and added "is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an extended learning program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time".

Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 22, effective June 14, 2019, provided that teachers in an extended learning program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary for that teaching time; in Subsection D, after the subsection designation, deleted "With the adoption by the department of the statewide objective performance evaluation for level two teachers", after "level two teacher", deleted "for a standard nine and one-half month contract shall be forty-four thousand dollars ($44,000)" and added "is provided that teachers in an extended learning program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time".

Applicability. — Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 29 and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 29 provided that the provisions of Sections 21 through 24 apply to school personnel contracted to provide services for summer 2019 K-5 plus programs in fiscal year 2019 and to all school personnel in fiscal year 2020 and subsequent fiscal years.

The 2018 amendment, effective May 16, 2018, increased the statutory minimum salaries for teachers with a level two license; and in Subsection D, after "contract shall be", deleted "as follows", deleted former Paragraphs D(1) through D(3) and added "forty-four thousand dollars ($44,000)".

The 2005 amendment, effective April 7, 2005, deleted the former provision that an applicant complete the three year level one license.