This bill aims to enhance the quality of education in New Mexico by increasing the minimum salaries for teachers, school counselors, and school administrators, while also mandating the inclusion of the science of reading in public post-secondary teacher preparation programs. Specifically, it establishes a new section in Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 that outlines the requirements for teacher preparation programs to include structured literacy and scientifically based reading instruction. The bill defines key terms such as "high-quality instructional materials," "science of reading," and "structured literacy," and emphasizes the need for teacher candidates to receive extensive training in these areas, including supervised field experiences in public school classrooms.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections regarding level one, level two, and level three licensure to reflect the new minimum salary requirements, which are set at $55,000 for level one teachers, $65,000 for level two teachers, and $75,000 for level three-A teachers. It also stipulates that teacher preparation programs must adhere to specific standards related to the science of reading, with the public education department responsible for monitoring compliance. Programs that fail to meet these standards may face corrective action plans or loss of state approval. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-10A-7, 22-10A-10, 22-10A-11
Final Version: 22-10A-7, 22-10A-10, 22-10A-11