TITLE 6 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

CHAPTER 61 SCHOOL PERSONNEL - SPECIFIC LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR

INSTRUCTORS

PART 3 LICENSURE IN MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION, GRADES 5-9

6.61.3.1 ISSUING AGENCY: Public Education Department (PED)

[09-30-96; 07-30-99; 6.61.3.1 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.1, 10-31-01; A, 05-13-05; A, 10-31-07]

6.61.3.2 SCOPE: Chapter 61, Part 3, governs licensure in middle level education, grades 5-9 for those persons seeking such licensure.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.2 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.2, 10-31-01]

6.61.3.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Sections 22-2-1, 22-2-2 and 22-2-8.7, NMSA 1978.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.3 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.3, 10-31-01; A, 06-01-02]

6.61.3.4 DURATION: Permanent

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.4 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.4, 10-31-01]

6.61.3.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: September 30, 1996.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.5 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.5, 10-31-01]

6.61.3.6 OBJECTIVE: This rule governs the requirements for New Mexico licensure for persons seeking licensure in middle level education, grades 5-9.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.6 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.6, 10-31-01; A, 10-31-07]

6.61.3.7 DEFINITIONS:

A. "Advisory" - means a middle level arrangement intended to insure that each student is part of a small peer group with an adult advisor or mentor where communication within the group is open and non-threatening.

B. "Early adolescence" - means the developmental period that encompasses ages 10 through 15, or grades 5-9.

C. "Integrative curriculum" - means a curriculum model which coordinates or blends the interests of the learner into a unified whole, utilizing a variety of disciplines for investigating a central question.

D. "Interdisciplinary curriculum" - means a curriculum model designed to incorporate knowledge from two or more academic, scientific, or artistic disciplines.

E. "License" - means the professional certificate or credential which is issued upon completion of specified requirements and which designates the grade level(s) at which the holder is authorized to teach or administer.

F. "Middle level" - means grades 5-9.

G. "National board for professional teaching standards" - means a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization which operates a voluntary assessment system to grant national teacher certification to persons who meet an established set of national standards.

H. "Young adolescent" - means a student in grades 5-9.

I. “Core academic subjects” means English, language arts, reading, mathematics, science, modern and classical languages, except the modern and classical Native American languages and cultures of New Mexico tribes or pueblos, the arts, including music and visual arts, and social studies, which includes civics, government, economics, history, and geography.

J. “A highly qualified beginning middle level teacher” under this rule means a teacher who is fully qualified to teach the core academic subjects in grades 5-9, is new to the profession, has pursued a standard path to licensure, and:

(1) meets the requirements for middle level licensure in Subsections A, or C in 6.61.3.8 NMAC,

(2) has no licensure requirements waived on an emergency or temporary basis, or for any other reason, and

(3) has passed all applicable teacher testing requirements for licensure in 6.60.5.8 NMAC.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.7 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.7, 10-31-01; A, 06-30-03; A, 05-13-05; A, 06-15-09]

6.61.3.8 REQUIREMENTS:

A. persons seeking a teaching license or licensure endorsements pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the following requirements of Subsection A, Paragraph (1) of 6.61.3.8 NMAC, or Subsection B of 6.61.3.8 NMAC, or Subsection C of 6.61.3.8 NMAC.

(1) bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and including, for those students first entering a college or university beginning in the fall of 1986, the following:

(a) twelve (12) semester hours in English;

(b) twelve (12) semester hours in history including American history and western civilization;

(c) six (6) semester hours in mathematics;

(d) six (6) semester hours in government, economics, or sociology;

(e) twelve (12) semester hours in science, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, zoology, or botany;

(f) six (6) semester hours in fine arts; and

(2) thirty - thirty-six (30-36) semester hours of professional education in a middle level education program approved by the PED, including completion of the PED’s New Mexico middle level teacher competencies and a mandatory student teaching experience; and

(3) twenty-four (24) semester hours in at least one (1) teaching field such as mathematics, science(s), language arts, reading, and social studies (or other content related areas), six (6) semester hours of which must be in upper division courses; individuals must also complete the PED’s approved competencies in the teaching field; and

(4) in addition to the requirements specified in Subsection A, Paragraphs (1), (3) and (5) of 6.61.3.8 NMAC, three (3) hours in the teaching of reading in subject matter content for those who have first entered any college or university on or after August 1, 2001 regardless of when they graduate or earn their degree; and

(5) passage of all applicable portions of the current PED-approved teacher test; and

(6) satisfy the requirements of a highly qualified beginning middle level teacher, or

B. persons holding a standard New Mexico license in K-8 elementary education, 7-12 secondary education pre K-12 specialty area education, or pre K-12 special education, and

(1) five years (5) of documented, successful teaching experience at the middle school level during the ten-year period immediately preceding the date of application for middle level education licensure; and

(2) has demonstrated competency in the academic subjects the teacher teaches by:

(a) passing the content knowledge test(s) of the New Mexico teacher assessments or predecessor New Mexico teacher licensure examinations, or accepted comparable licensure tests from another state in each subject the teacher teaches; or

(b) successfully completing an undergraduate academic major (24-36 semester hours), six (6) semester hours of which must be in upper division courses or coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major, or a graduate degree in each subject area the teacher teaches; or

C. possess a valid certificate issued by the national board for professional teaching standards for the appropriate grade level and type.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.8 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.8, 10-31-01; A, 06-01-02; A, 06-30-03; A, 05-13-05; A, 10-31-07; A, 06-15-09]

6.61.3.9 IMPLEMENTATION: Persons who meet these requirements may obtain a license or endorsements at a level established by the PED unless otherwise barred by New Mexico statute or PED rule.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.9 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.9, 10-31-01; A, 05-13-05]

6.61.3.10 REFERENCED MATERIAL: The New Mexico middle level teacher competencies follow:

A. Teacher as guide - Middle level teachers understand the developmental nature of young adolescents.

(1) Knowledge of the physical, intellectual, emotional, and psychological changes that occur developmentally during early adolescence including the special needs of exceptional students.

(2) Knowledge and understanding of the influence of linguistic, cultural, and sociological factors on the development of young adolescents.

(3) Knowledge of specialized professional techniques used at the middle level including advisory programs, interdisciplinary team organizations, interdisciplinary planning, and cooperative learning.

B. Teacher as instructional leader - rationale: Middle level teachers work in ways which correspond to what they know about early adolescence.

(1) ability to develop middle level students' appreciation, enthusiasm, and skills as listeners, readers, speakers, writers, thinkers, problem-solvers, decision-makers, and researchers;

(2) ability to design and present instruction commensurate with the developmental needs and readiness of young adolescents;

(3) ability to plan, organize, manage, and evaluate student learning and classroom activities, including lesson planning, student discipline and classroom management, and the connectedness of knowledge by means of interdisciplinary and integrated instruction;

(4) knowledge of at least one content area appropriate to middle level curriculum; the middle level teacher must meet the content area knowledge base requirements of a highly qualified beginning middle level teacher; and

(5) ability to interest and actively involve students in the study of issues related to their lives and the environment in which they live, drawing on the disciplined knowledge of mathematics, science, language arts, health, physical education, social studies, including history, the arts, and computer science.

C. Teacher as person - rationale: Middle level teachers have a strong sense of self and foster the same in their students.

(1) Ability to encourage students to express themselves creatively in a number of ways, including visual and performing arts.

(2) Ability to provide an environment which encourages each student to become aware of himself or herself, to develop the ability to express, understand and control his or her feelings, and to develop a sense of trust and independence.

D. Teacher as advisor - rationale: Middle level teachers exhibit strong interpersonal skills.

(1) an understanding of each student in his or her family, school and community context, and cognizant of the variety of economic and cultural influences which affect each student's life;

(2) ability to provide an environment which encourages positive peer relations.

E. Teacher as colleague - rationale: Middle level teachers establish and maintain collegial and collaborative relationships. Ability to establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with professional colleagues, students, families, and the community.

[09-30-96; 6.61.3.10 NMAC - Rn, 6 NMAC 4.2.3.3.10, 10-31-01; A, 05-13-05]

HISTORY OF 6.61.3 NMAC: [RESERVED]