Overview: The 3-Tiered Licensure System

High quality education in New Mexico depends on attracting and keeping excellent teachers. The new 3-Tiered Licensure System, established by the State, ensures teacher quality through accountability and support. This system encourages good teachers to keep teaching in New Mexico. The new system links teachers' licensure levels and salaries to the work teachers accomplish in the classroom, and it encourages and supports ongoing professional development in the nine teaching competency areas [PDF] established by the State of New Mexico.

At first, the system may seem somewhat daunting, but it's really quite simple. The three tiers of licensure are designed to encourage your professional growth, but you can set your own pace. You may want to advance to the highest level as quickly as possible, or you may choose a slower pace. If you're a new teacher, the system provides excellent opportunities for you to gain confidence and experience. The State Board of Education built in some time for educators in New Mexico to develop and get to know the changes that the 3-tiered licensure system will introduce; this system went into effect July 1, 2004. The Public Education Department will be developing and implementing training for teachers and administrators, so that by the effective date, everyone will have had a chance to learn about New Mexico's 3-tiered teacher licensure system and how it affects them.

Progress through the system guarantees minimum salary levels for teachers at different licensure levels. The minimum salary levels will be phased in over a five-year period, beginning with what will be the minimum salary for Level I teachers in the 2003/2004 school year:

As teachers' minimum salaries increase, so too, will the expectations for teachers' performance.

  The 3-Tiered Licensure System

“The 3-Tiered Licensure System is a progressive career system in which teachers are required to demonstrate increased competencies and undertake increased duties as they progress through the licensure levels.” 
                        –  22-10A-4 NMSA 1978 New Mexico’s Public School Code

The 3-Tiered Licensure System was signed into law by Governor Bill Richardson in April 2003. The State Board of Education passed the regulations to implement this system in August 2003. The Public Education Department will begin working with teachers and administrators to develop and implement the 3-Tiered Licensure System in the Fall of 2003. The new system went into effect on July 1, 2004. If you currently hold a NM Teaching License, whatever licensure level you hold on July 1, 2004, is the licensure level at which you will enter the new system. For example, if you hold a level II license now, you will hold a level II license in the new system as well.

Once the new system is phased in, as you progress through the 3-Tiered Licensure System, you will need to demonstrate, annually through local evaluations, how you meet the nine teacher competencies and indicators for your licensure level.

Beginning July 1, 2004, in order to advance to the next licensure level, either from Level I to Level II, or Level II to Level III-A, you will need to demonstrate how you meet increased competencies for the next licensure level by submitting a Professional Development Dossier (PDD), electronically, to the Public Education Department (PED). Templates will guide you through the process. Information about the process for submitting the PDD will be available in the spring of 2004. Your principal and superintendent will also be submitting local annual evaluations, verifications and recommendations to your PDD.

Under the new 3-Tiered Licensure System, there will be increased expectations for performance as teachers move upward through the licensure levels. During the 2003-2004 school year, the Public Education Department will work to help all of NM’s educators understand how the new system will affect them.

TO ENTER THE PROFESSION:

To teach in a core academic area (fine arts, language arts, mathematics, modern and classical languages, reading, science, social studies), you must hold a Baccalaureate Degree, pass all required licensure tests, and earn full state licensure (no waivers permitted).

To teach in a non-core area, you must hold a Baccalaureate Degree and pass all required licensure tests (waivers may be permitted).

To teach in a career and technical area, you must hold a Baccalaureate Degree or have relevant work experience, tests are not required (waivers may be permitted).

Once you enter the profession you will be issued a Level I Provisional Teacher License, a 3-year non-renewable license. A provisional license is not a substandard license. It just means that you are new to the teaching profession. It is a time of significant learning and adjusting to your new role and duties. During the period of your Level I license you will be assessed carefully, but also supported through mentorship to help you become a successful teacher. It is the time to determine if teaching is the profession for you. In order to continue in the teaching profession in New Mexico public schools, at the end of your Level I license, you must be able to move to Level II. Substandard licenses and internship licenses are not Level I licenses; they are pre-Level I.

  
LEVEL I:

As a Level I Provisional Teacher, you must develop a Professional Development Plan (PDP) with your principal at the beginning of each school year. Your PDP must be based upon New Mexico’s nine teacher competencies for Level I Licensure, although it may also include other factors that are determined locally. At the end of each school year, your principal will evaluate your performance based upon your PDP and the nine teacher competencies for Level I.

In addition, in order to be in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act, Level I Provisional Teachers who teach in core academic areas must be “highly qualified” for their teaching assignment(s) each year.

Salary: As a Level I Provisional Teacher, you will earn a minimum of $30,000.

Advancement to Level II:
To remain in the teaching profession in New Mexico, a Level I teacher must advance to Level II. The Level I teacher may advance to Level II after the third year of experience, but must advance to Level II by the end of the fifth year of experience at Level I.

To advance to Level II (Professional Teacher), you must:

Strand A . Evidence of Effective Teaching based upon competencies I, II, and V [PDF file] .

Strand A evidence includes:
(a) student achievement data (The data provides evidence of growth and progress of the students in your class or classes. The state’s standardized test scores will not be used unless you choose to use them. PED will provide models for collecting student achievement data for the content areas that teachers may decide to use in their PDDs. Your task is to present a compelling case in the PDD through student achievement data that your students demonstrate growth over the time they are with you.); and
(b) assessment techniques and procedures; and
(c) instructional plans and materials; and
(d) examples of student work and performance; and
(e) evidence of implementation of state curriculum standards;

Strand B. Evidence of Student Learning based upon competencies III, IV, VI, and VII [PDF file] .

Strand B evidence includes some required evidence and some optional evidence as follows:
(a) Required evidence:
   i.)   adaptations/modification for diverse learners; and
   ii.)  evidence of effective classroom management strategies and procedures; and
   iii.)  classroom observation reports; and
   iv.)  evidence of communication with students and parents.
(b) Optional evidence in the form of:
   i.)   student surveys; and/or
   ii.)  electronic media recording of classroom activities with reflections/analysis.

Strand C. Evidence of Professional Learning based upon competencies VII and IX [PDF file].

Strand C evidence includes at least one of the following:
(a) professional development activities associated with your annual professional development plan (PDP); or
(b) evidence of collaborating with professional community; or
(c) parent surveys; or
(d) research publications; or
(e) professional presentations.

OR through certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Strand D. Proof of your successful participation in a mentoring program for at least one year.

Strand E. Copies of successful annual evaluations for your previous two years of teaching, your superintendent’s recommendation for your licensure advancement, and your district’s verification of the data submitted in your PDD.

Once you submit your PDD, along with a fee of $175.00, strands one, two, and three will be forwarded to two Independent Reviewers to assess if you have demonstrated that you meet the competency standards at Level II. Your employing school district rates strands four and five. Each of the five strands will be rated as “exceeds standards,” “meets standards,” or “does not meet standards.” You must meet or exceed standards in all five strands in order to advance to Level II. Your Level II License will be issued once the PED confirms that you meet standards in all five strands.  [Application to become and Independent Reviewer]

As a holder of a Level I license you will have the right to appeal any adverse decision affecting your state license under the New Mexico Uniform Licensing Act.

Due to the fact that development of evaluation criteria and orientation to the implementation of the new 3-Tiered system will take place throughout the 2003-2004 school year, teachers who are in the third year of their Level I license in 2003-2004 will be permitted to advance to Level II under rules that were in place prior to the adoption of the new three-tiered system.

  
LEVEL II:

As a Level II teacher, you must develop a Professional Development Plan (PDP) with your principal at the beginning of each school year. Your PDP must be based upon New Mexico’s nine teacher competencies for Licensure Level II, although it may also include other factors that are determined locally. At the end of each school year your principal will evaluate your performance based upon your PDP and the nine teacher competencies for Level II.

In addition, Level II teachers who teach in core academic areas must be “highly qualified” for their teaching assignment(s) each year.

If you continue to demonstrate Level II competencies, you may choose to remain at Level II for the remainder of your teaching career by renewing your Level II License every nine years. To renew your Level II License, your superintendent must verify that you meet the competencies and indicators for Level II and recommend that your license be renewed. This process does not involve submission of a Professional Development Dossier (PDD).

Salary: As a Professional Teacher, you will earn a minimum of $35,000 in 2004-2005 and a minimum of $40,000 in 2005-2006.

Advancement to Level III-A:
Advancement to Level III-A is optional.

To advance to Level III-A (Instructional Leader), you must:

Strand A evidence includes:
(a) student achievement data (The data provides evidence of growth and progress of the students in your class or classes. The state’s standardized test scores will not be used unless you choose to use them. PED will provide models for collecting student achievement data for the content areas that teachers may decide to use in their PDDs. Your task is to present a compelling case in the PDD through student achievement data that your students demonstrate growth over the time they are with you.); and
(b) assessment techniques and procedures; and
(c) instructional plans and materials; and
(d) examples of student work and performance; and
(e) evidence of implementation of state curriculum standards;

Strand B. Evidence of Student Learning based upon competencies III, IV, VI, and VII [PDF file].

Strand B evidence includes some required evidence and some optional evidence as follows:
a) Required evidence:
   i.)   adaptations/modification for diverse learners; and
   ii.)  evidence of effective classroom management strategies and procedures; and
   iii.)  classroom observation reports; and
   iv.)  evidence of communication with students and parents.
(b) Optional evidence in the form of:
   i.)   student surveys; and/or
   ii.)  electronic media recording of classroom activities with reflections/analysis.

Strand C. Evidence of Professional Learning based upon competencies VII and IX [PDF file].

Strand C evidence includes at least one of the following:
(a) professional development activities associated with your annual professional development plan (PDP); or
(b) evidence of collaborating with professional community; or
(c) parent surveys; or
(d) research publications; or
(f) professional presentations.

OR certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Strand D. Verify your leadership roles based on the nine teacher competencies and indicators for Level III-A teachers.

Strand E . Copies of successful annual evaluations for your previous 2 years of teaching, your superintendent’s recommendation for your licensure advancement, and your district’s verification of the data submitted in your PDD.

Once you submit your PDD, along with a fee of $175.00, strands one, two and three will be forwarded to two Independent Reviewers to assess if you have demonstrated that you meet competency standards at Level III-A. Your employing school district rates strands four and five. Each of the five strands will be rated as “exceeds standards,” “meets standards,” or “does not meet standards.” You must meet or exceed standards in all five strands in order to advance to Level III. Your Level III-A License will be issued once the PED confirms that you meet standards in all five strands. If you are not successful in meeting standards in one or more of the strands, the passing scores that you earned in the other strands may be “banked” for two years to allow you to resubmit any unsuccessful strand(s) the following year. In that way, you will need to work only on the strands you did not pass the first time. [Application to become and Independen Reviewer]


LEVEL III-A:

As a Level III-A teacher, you must develop a Professional Development Plan (PDP) with your principal at the beginning of each school year. Your PDP must be based upon New Mexico’s nine teacher competencies for Licensure Level III-A, although it may also include other factors that are determined locally. At the end of each school year your principal will evaluate your performance based upon your PDP and the nine teacher competencies for Level III-A.

In addition, Level III-A teachers who teach in core academic areas must establish that they are “highly qualified” for their teaching assignment(s) each year.

If you continue to demonstrate Level III-A competencies, you will remain at Level III-A for the remainder of your teaching career by renewing your Level III-A License every nine years. To renew your Level III-A License, your superintendent must verify that you meet the competencies and indicators for Level III-A and recommend that your license be renewed.

Salary: As a Master Teacher, you will earn a minimum of $45,000 phased in by 2006-2007 and a minimum of $50,000 phased in by 2007-2008.

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from the New Mexico Public Education Department