NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-1 Short title
22-10B-1. Short title
This act [22-10B-1 to 22-10B-9 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Teacher Residency Act".
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 1.
Teacher Residency
NMSA 1978 ch. 22, art. 10B
in effectNMSA 1978, § 22-10B-2 Definitions
22-10B-2. Definitions
As used in the Teacher Residency Act:
A. "department-approved teacher preparation program" means a department-approved teacher preparation program at a public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college;
B. "program" means a teacher residency program created pursuant to the Teacher Residency Act that is designed to result in teacher licensure; and
C. "teaching resident" means a participant in a department-approved teacher residency program.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 2.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-3 Teacher residency program; created
22-10B-3. Teacher residency program; created
A. On or before July 1 of each year, the secretary, in partnership with a department-approved teacher preparation program, shall establish and maintain department-approved New Mexico teacher residency programs at public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges that have a department-approved teacher preparation program and have developed a commitment to investing in teacher education. The secretary shall ensure that the department-approved New Mexico teacher residency programs include representation from rural, urban and suburban areas across the state.
B. The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall form a partnership with one or more school districts or charter schools to coadminister the teacher residency program and to provide employment to residents in the program following completion of all licensure requirements.
C. The program shall be designed to:
(1) diversify the teaching profession with teaching residents that reflect the diversity of students in the public schools in the state or the geographic area where the school is located;
(2) fill high-need teaching positions within the state and ensure that teaching residents are prepared for a department-issued teaching license at the end of the program; and
(3) provide at least one full academic year of rigorous department-approved teacher preparation program coursework while concurrently providing a full academic year of guided apprenticeship in the classroom of a level two or level three teacher at the partner area school district or charter school.
D. The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall ensure faculty or university supervisors who work with the teacher residency program visit residency sites no less than one time per month to monitor teacher residents' programs.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 3; 2022, ch. 17, § 1.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-4 Teacher residency program components
22-10B-4. Teacher residency program components
A teacher residency program established pursuant to the Teacher Residency Act shall include:
A. competitive admission requirements with multiple criteria;
B. rigorous department-approved teacher preparation program coursework, which shall be offered while the teaching resident undertakes a full academic year of guided apprenticeship in the classroom of a level two or level three teacher at the partner school district or charter school;
C. a co-teaching approach to expose teaching residents to a variety of teaching methods, philosophies and classroom environments;
D. clear criteria for the selection of level two and level three teachers based on measures of teacher effectiveness and the appropriate subject area knowledge;
E. providing level two and level three teachers with ongoing evidence-based training in coaching and mentoring teaching residents and compensation for time and added responsibility;
F. grouping teaching residents in cohorts to facilitate professional collaboration among residents and placing teaching residents in teaching schools or professional development programs that are organized to support a high-quality teacher learning experience in a supportive work environment;
G. measures of appropriate progress through the program;
H. for a teaching resident who is an undergraduate, a stipend of no less than sixty-five percent of the statutory minimum salary for a level one teacher and, for a teaching resident who has a bachelor's degree, a stipend of no less than eighty percent of the statutory minimum salary for a level one teacher;
I. a stipend of no less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) per year for level two and level three teachers participating in the program;
J. a stipend of no less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) per year for principals or head administrators at the partner school district or charter school;
K. funding of no less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year for teacher residency program coordinators at each department-approved New Mexico teacher residency program;
L. a post-completion commitment by teaching residents to serve a minimum of three years at a public school;
M. an expectation of an offer of employment to the teaching resident from the partner school district or charter school, depending on the district's or charter school's staffing needs and the resident's performance;
N. support for teaching residents for not less than one year following the resident's completion of the program through the provision of mentoring, professional development and networking opportunities; and
O. demonstration of the integral role and responsibilities of the partner school district or charter school in fulfilling the purpose of the program.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 4; 2022, ch. 17, § 2; 2026, ch. 51, § 1.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-5 Teacher residency program eligibility
22-10B-5. Teacher residency program eligibility
To be eligible to be admitted and hired as a teaching resident under the program, an individual shall not hold a level one, two or three-A teaching license and shall:
A. be in the final year of a department-approved undergraduate teacher preparation program; or
B. hold a bachelor's degree, be a professional from outside the field of education and have strong content knowledge or a record of achievement.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 5; 2022, ch. 17, § 3.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-6 Teacher residency program participant selection requirements
22-10B-6. Teacher residency program participant selection requirements
The public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college shall establish criteria for selection of individuals to participate in the program. The selection criteria shall include:
A. a demonstration of comprehensive subject area knowledge or a record of accomplishment or professional experience in the field or subject area to be taught;
B. strong verbal and written communication skills, which may be demonstrated by performance on appropriate tests or performance assessments;
C. other dispositions linked to effective teaching, which may be determined by interviews or performance assessments; and
D. consideration given to a participant's ability to increase the racial, ethnic or linguistic diversity of the teacher workforce.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 6.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-7 Rulemaking authority
22-10B-7. Rulemaking authority
The department shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the Teacher Residency Act.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 7.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-8 Teacher residency fund; created; purpose
22-10B-8. Teacher residency fund; created; purpose
The "teacher residency fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations to the fund. Money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to implement the provisions of the Teacher Residency Act. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrants of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 8.
NMSA 1978, § 22-10B-9 Reporting requirements
22-10B-9. Reporting requirements
Public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges shall collaborate with their partner school district or charter school to submit data to the department no later than July 1 of each year. The department shall compile data from all residency sites and submit a report to the legislature no later than November of each year. The report shall include the following indicators of teacher residency program success:
A. the standards for entering and exiting the program;
B. the number of credit hours required to complete the program;
C. the number and percentage of teaching residents completing the program;
D. the number and types of teaching licenses teaching residents are obtaining, including endorsements;
E. the educator evaluation rating for teaching residents during their first five years of teaching;
F. the educator evaluation rating for level two and level three teachers during their time supporting a teacher resident;
G. the number and percentage of teaching residents who continue to teach in New Mexico school districts or charter schools after one, two, three, four and five years;
H. the percentage of teaching residents who are diverse candidates that reflect the diversity of the public schools in the state or the geographic area where the school is located;
I. academic performance of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students in classes taught by residency graduates in comparison to students in classes taught by other trained teachers;
J. principal perception surveys of teaching resident and level two and level three teacher effectiveness;
K. state-student perception surveys;
L. the residency program graduate achievement, as determined by first-time pass rates on the state teaching performance assessment; and
M. other data as determined by the department.
Laws 2020, ch. 25, § 9; 2022, ch. 17, § 4.
Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18522/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026