New Mexico Register / Volume XXIX,
Issue 12 / June 26, 2018
TITLE 6 PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
CHAPTER 65 SCHOOL PERSONNEL EDUCATOR PREPARATION
PART 3 EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM
ACCOUNTABILITY
6.65.3.1 ISSUING
AGENCY: Public Education Department, herein after the
department.
[6.65.3.1 NMAC -
N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.2 SCOPE: This rule applies to all educator preparation
programs serving candidates in New Mexico.
If any part or application of this rule is held invalid, its remainder
or application to other situations, shall not be
affected.
[6.65.3.2
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.3 STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: Section 22-10A-19.2 NMSA 1978, Section 22-2-1
NMSA 1978, and Section 21-22E-3 NMSA 1978
[6.65.3.3
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[6.65.3.4 NMAC -
N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.5 EFFECTIVE
DATE: July 1, 2018, unless a later date is cited at
the end of a section.
[6.65.3.5
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.6 OBJECTIVE: To improve and strengthen the preparation of
day-one ready New Mexico educators through streamlined evaluation, review, and
approval of educator preparation programs in the state.
[6.65.3.6
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.7 DEFINITIONS:
A. “Candidate”
means an individual enrolled in an educator preparation program for licensure
offered through a department-approved educator preparation program provider.
B. “Certified review
team” means the team trained by the department to conduct comprehensive
site visit reviews. Members of the
certified review team may serve in multiple roles. The following shall be represented:
(1) a representative of the department;
(2) a dean from another department-approved educator preparation
program;
(3) a director from another department-approved educator
preparation program;
(4) a faculty member from another department-approved educator
preparation program approved in New Mexico;
(5) a member of a local education agency administrative team;
and
(6) a principal or eligible cooperating teacher from a local
school.
C. “Clinical
experience” means the guided, hands-on application of knowledge and theory
to actual practice though collaborative and facilitated learning activities
taking place in field-based assignments.
D. “Clinical
supervisor” means the employee of the educator preparation program who
works with and provides feedback to candidates during their clinical experience
that is both trained and certified in NMTEACH and trained or experienced in the
field in which they are supervising.
E. “Cohort” means a
set of individuals who enter an educator preparation program or exit an
educator preparation program in the same year, or both.
F. “Completer”
means a candidate who earns a certificate or diploma from an educator
preparation program approved by the department.
G. “Cooperating
teacher” means an educator who has earned a rating of highly effective or
exemplary on the NMTEACH educator effectiveness system, is employed by a local
education agency, is collaboratively selected by the local education agency and
the educator preparation program, has at least three years of experience under
the appropriate license, and is the primary evaluator of the candidate during
their clinical experience. The
department may allow an educator who recently relocated to New Mexico and does
not yet have an NMTEACH evaluation to serve as a cooperating teacher if:
(1) the teacher has taught for at least three years; and
(2) the teacher is either nationally board certified or has an
effectiveness rating on their out-of-state evaluation equivalent to highly
effective or exemplary.
H. “Comprehensive site
visit review” means the visit conducted by a certified review team to
evaluate educator preparation program performance.
I. “Day-one ready
educator” means a teacher who positively impacts
measurable student achievement from the first day the educator begins teaching
by demonstrating deep content knowledge, the ability to motivate and actively
engage students, the ability to personalize learning based on students’ needs,
and a willingness to engage in continuous efforts to improve teaching
abilities.
J. “Disposition” means the level of
professionalism demonstrated by a candidate indicating capacity to be a day-one
ready educator.
K. “Educator
preparation program advisory board” means the group of individuals
appointed by the EPP who have unique knowledge regarding the educational needs
of the local community.
L. “Educator preparation program” or “EPP” means an educational program
offered by an educational preparation provider that is intended to lead to
teacher licensure upon candidates’ successful completion of the program.
M. “EPP provider” means any individual,
private or public education association, corporation, or institution of higher
education offering an educator preparation program.
N. “High-needs areas” shall
include one or more of the following:
(1) schools earning a “D” or “F” on the school grading system
pursuant to 6.19.8 NMAC;
(2) schools with a high percentage of students qualifying as
economically disadvantaged;
(3) schools with a high percentage of students qualifying for
special education services;
(4) schools with a high percentage of students qualifying as
English learners; or
(5) other schools determined by the department.
O. “Initial approval” means
the first time an educator preparation program provider seeks and is granted
approval from the professional practices and standards council to create a new
educator preparation program in the state of New Mexico.
P. “Local education agency” or “LEA” means a school district or a
state-chartered charter school.
Q. “New Mexico teacher
assessments” or “NMTA” means the tests required for individuals seeking
initial New Mexico licensure.
R. “NMTEACH educator
effectiveness system” or “NMTEACH”
means the department-approved educator evaluation system defined in 6.69.8 NMAC
that measures teacher performance on five components:
(1) improved student achievement;
(2) classroom
observation;
(3) planning,
preparation, and professionalism;
(4) student or
parent surveys; and
(5) teacher
attendance.
S. “Professional
practices and standards council” or
“PPSC” means the body that approves new educator preparation programs as
defined in 6.2.8 NMAC.
T. “Program revision”
means the addition of new licensure programming or modifications made to an
existing department-approved educator preparation program including changes to
standards.
U. “Quality review
rubric” means the tool used by the certified review team during a
comprehensive site visit review to determine an EPP’s status according to a
series of aligned indicators and subcomponents that contribute to an overall
rating on a five-level performance scale.
V. “Revocation” means
the department decision to no longer recognize an educator preparation program
as approved nor to license candidates completing coursework at the revoked
educator preparation program within three semesters of revocation.
W. “Scorecard” means
the annual report prepared and released by the department to rate educator
preparation program performance on an A through F scale.
X. “Theory of action”
means the collection of cause and effect relationships developed by the
educator preparation program to guide and achieve demonstrable outcomes.
[6.65.3.7
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.8 APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
APPROVAL:
A. EPP providers existing at the time
of the enactment of 6.65.3 NMAC shall be required to
reapply
through the PPSC no later than the end of the 2018 – 2019 school year.
B. EPP providers
seeking a program revision for an existing department-approved EPP and EPP
providers seeking initial approval shall submit an application to the
department to be reviewed by the PPSC.
C. Applications
shall provide the information outlined in the PPSC manual and meet the general
requirements of 6.65.3.9 NMAC.
[6.65.3.8
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.9 EDUCATOR
PREPARATION PROGRAM GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
EPPs
shall meet requirements as stated in state statute, regulation, and the following
additional requirements.
A. EPPs shall
establish rigorous entry requirements including:
(1) passage of all NMTA essential academic skills tests prior to
admission;
(2) candidate undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75
on a 4.0 scale; and
(3) successful
completion of the department’s required background check and approval process.
B. EPPs shall
ensure that opportunities for clinical experiences are provided to candidates
continuously throughout their enrollment.
(1) Clinical
experiences shall begin upon the candidate’s entrance into an EPP.
(2) The
majority of clinical experiences shall align with the area, subject, or
category of
certification or
license being sought by the candidate.
(3) During
at least one of candidates’ multiple clinical experiences, candidates shall
serve as
a
teacher in a school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and plan and
deliver independent instruction to students on a regularly scheduled basis.
C. EPPs shall
ensure that candidates embrace and execute upon their responsibility as
educators to develop the skills and capacities to implement meaningful
practices for parent and family engagement, notably keeping families fully
informed of their child’s progress towards college-and-career readiness, on a
regular basis, using objective measures in all subject areas.
D. EPPs shall
establish partnerships with stakeholder groups to fulfill requirements related
to clinical experiences and meet the needs of LEAs. At a minimum, partners shall include:
(1) classroom teachers;
(2) principals;
(3) superintendents;
(4) human resource directors;
(5) curriculum directors; and
(6) the EPP advisory board.
E. Programs for all
teachers shall include instruction in pedagogy that is aligned with department
standards pursuant to 6.61.2 NMAC through 6.61.12 NMAC.
F. EPPs shall
conduct a minimum of three formally documented observations that include verbal
and written feedback on the candidate’s practice.
(1) Observations
and evaluations of candidates shall be aligned with the four domains of
NMTEACH:
(a) planning and preparation;
(b) creating an environment
for learning;
(c) teaching for learning; and
(d) professionalism.
(2) Results
of evaluations shall inform program interaction with the candidate including
feedback, placement, remediation, and support.
(3) Documentation
of observations shall be stored by the EPP for a minimum of five years after
candidate completion and shall be available to the completer and the department
upon request.
G. EPPs shall
establish rigorous exit requirements in alignment with those required to seek
licensure from the department including:
(1) successful demonstration of competency in all relevant
areas, subjects, or categories of
NMTA;
and
(2) a written recommendation from the EPP that the candidate
demonstrates the dispositions necessary for success in the classroom and other
learning environments.
H. In a form
approved by the department, all EPPs shall annually submit candidate level data
as agreed to in memoranda of understanding or associated amendments between the
department and EPP providers. Failure to
comply with data reporting and collection requests may result in revocation of
the EPP’s approval.
I. EPPs shall
fully comply, in a timely manner, with all requirements that allow the
department to generate a scorecard and conduct the comprehensive site visit
review in accordance with 6.65.3.11 NMAC and 6.65.3.12 NMAC.
[6.65.3.9
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.10 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE WAIVED BY EDUCATOR
PREPARATION PROGRAMS: EPPs
may waive entrance requirements outlined in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of
Subsection A of 6.65.3.9 NMAC for certain candidates.
A. Candidates
admitted under a waiver specific to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of 6.65.3.9
shall be provided remedial services designed to support the candidate to pass
all NMTA tests. Documentation of the
remedial support provided to the candidate and documentation that the candidate
passes all NMTA tests within one year of admittance under a waiver shall be
available to the department upon request.
For each cohort, waivers for candidates who do not pass the NMTA
essential academic skills tests or for candidates not meeting the required
minimum GPA shall not exceed ten percent in each category.
B. EPPs shall
provide support, as needed, to candidates admitted under a waiver.
C. Candidates
admitted under waivers who do not meet the entry requirements outlined in Subsection
A of 6.65.3.9 NMAC within one year of enrollment shall be exited from the
EPP. EPPs shall not readmit said
candidates until they meet all requirements of Subsection A of 6.65.3.9 NMAC.
[6.65.3.10
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.11 EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM SCORECARDS: The department shall issue an annual
scorecard to each department-approved EPP in the state of New Mexico. EPPs earning initial approval after the
enactment of 6.65.3 NMAC shall be issued their first scorecard after the
completion of their first two years of operation.
A. The EPP scorecard shall:
(1) evaluate the effectiveness of the EPP;
(2) rate EPP performance on an A through F scale;
(3) be issued annually by the department for all EPPs with at
least 10 candidates; and
(4) be publicly released by the department.
B. The scorecard shall be organized
into four domains:
(1) admissions;
(2) candidate promise;
(3) hiring and retention; and
(4) graduate performance.
C. The department shall, in the
technical manual, state which specific indicators shall be included in the
calculations for the domains defined in Subsection B of 6.65.3.11 NMAC. The technical manual shall be published
annually on the department website prior to the release of the scorecards and
in accordance with memoranda of understanding between the EPPs and the
department.
D. The indicators
measured by the department shall include the following:
(1) acceptance rate;
(2) candidate aptitude based on department-approved assessments;
(3) diversity of cohort;
(4) candidate performance on licensure tests;
(5) hiring and retention rates for completers teaching in New
Mexico;
(6) multiple measures of effectiveness of completers, as
measured by NMTEACH;
(7) student growth based on department-approved assessments;
(8) student achievement based on department-approved
assessments;
(9) completers serving in high-needs areas;
(10) candidate
perception surveys; or
(11) employer
perception surveys.
[6.65.3.11
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.12 COMPREHENSIVE SITE VISIT REVIEW PROCESS: EPPs shall fully cooperate with
the comprehensive site visit review process.
The department shall develop an EPP manual outlining the comprehensive
site visit process that shall include all documents necessary for the site
visit review. Site visits shall occur
every four years on a calendar determined by the department unless the status
of a program, as outlined in 6.65.3.13 NMAC, changes in a way that merits more
frequent visits. EPPs receiving initial
approval after the enactment of 6.65.3 NMAC shall participate in their first
comprehensive site visit review after the completion of their first two years
of operation.
A. The
comprehensive site visit review process shall assess the performance of the EPP
on the four components of the quality review rubric.
(1) curriculum design and delivery;
(2) clinical experience;
(3) candidate quality; and
(4) continuous improvement.
B. The
comprehensive site visit review process shall include the following three elements:
(1) Self-evaluation. EPPs shall complete the self-evaluation
documents in the EPP manual prior to the site visit. Documents shall be submitted to the
department at least 12 weeks prior to the site visit. Documents shall include:
(a) quality review rubric;
(b) quality review worksheets for each of the four key
components on the quality review rubric; and
(c) data and artifacts listed as supplemental evidence in the
EPP manual accompanied by any releases for such information, if necessary.
(2) Site visit. The certified review team shall conduct the
site visit and review the EPP using the quality review rubric.
(3) Summative conference. The certified review team shall debrief the
site visit with the
EPP
and present their initial findings.
C. At the end of
the comprehensive site visit review process, the EPP shall be assessed on its
overall performance and shall be rated with one of following site visit
classifications defined in the EPP manual:
(1) industry leader;
(2) well-developed;
(3) proficient;
(4) developing; or
(5) underdeveloped.
D. The certified
review team shall release a final written report to the EPP containing the
EPP’s scores on each component of the quality review rubric and their overall
performance no later than 90 calendar days after the comprehensive site visit
review.
E. EPPs shall have
14 calendar days after receiving the report to submit a response, in writing,
to the department to indicate any alleged factual errors and to provide any
documentation deemed necessary to support the allegations. If, after review of the EPP’s response, the
department determines the error to be valid, the report shall be amended within
20 calendar days.
[6.65.3.12
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
6.65.3.13 DETERMINATION OF EPP STATUS: The scorecard grade and the site
visit classification shall determine whether an EPP earns approval for
continued operation, is placed on probation, or has its approval revoked. The EPP status shall determine the frequency
of comprehensive site visit reviews and the scope of EPP responsibilities. EPPs shall be notified of their status by the
department no later than November 30 annually.
A. Approval for continued operation. Approval for continued operation shall be
granted to EPPs earning a C or better on the department scorecard and
proficient or better on the comprehensive site visit review. Approval for continued operation shall last
four years unless the EPP scorecard grade falls below a C during the four year
approval period. Any approved EPP
falling below a C during their approval period shall have their status changed
to probation.
B. Probation. EPPs shall be placed on probation if they
earn less than a C on the department scorecard or below proficient on the
comprehensive site visit review. During
the two year probation period, EPPs shall not be eligible to seek approval for
new programs from the PPSC. EPPs may
continue to accept candidates for entry while on probation.
(1) Responsibilities
of EPPs on probation shall include:
(a) development of an improvement plan that addresses program
deficiencies that shall be submitted to the department for approval within 90
calendar days of notification of probation status;
(b) annual submittal of a report to the department detailing
progress made on the improvement plan;
(c) participation in a comprehensive site visit review at the
end of the two-year probation period;
(d) participation in professional
development and technical assistance prescribed by the department; and
(e) individual, written notification informing current
candidates of the EPP’s probation status within 30 calendar days of department
notification.
(2) Probation
shall last two years unless the EPP scorecard grade improves to a C or above
after the first year of probation.
(3) The
department shall monitor the EPP’s progress toward improving the areas noted in
the
comprehensive site
review process throughout the probationary period by reviewing the required
data reports and conducting monitoring visits as deemed necessary by the
department.
(4) Any
EPP not exiting probation after the conclusion of the two year probation period
may be moved to a status of revocation or may be granted an additional year of
probation. EPPs on a third year of
probation shall:
(a) participate in an additional comprehensive site visit review
at the end of the
third year
of probation;
(b) provide documentation of candidate notification of continued
probation to the department; and
(c) cease acceptance of new candidates.
(5) EPPs
not making necessary improvements to exit probation after three years on
probation
shall have
their status changed to revocation.
C. Revocation.
(1) The
department may revoke an EPP’s approval for any of the following reasons:
(a) earning a grade of F on the scorecard or underdeveloped on
the comprehensive
site
visit review;
(b) not exiting
probation status;
(c) failing to meet reporting or compliance requirements as set
forth by statute, department regulation, or guidance provided in department
manuals; or
(d) having 10 or fewer completers for at least two consecutive
years.
(2) The
department shall notify EPPs of revocation in writing. Immediately upon receipt of a notice of
revocation, the EPP shall:
(a) cease recruitment and acceptance of new candidates;
(b) allow candidates currently enrolled in the EPP to complete
the licensure program, provided they complete the program within three
semesters of the notice of revocation; and
(c) work with candidates unable to complete the licensure
program within three semesters by providing options for transfer to another
EPP.
(3) An
EPP provider that has received a notice of revocation may file a request for
reconsideration by the department no later than 30 calendar days after the
notice of revocation has been received.
(a) The
department shall review the materials submitted by the EPP provider including
written statements of position, documents, and comments supporting the claim.
(b) The
department, after considering the request, shall make a decision and inform the
EPP provider in writing of its decision within 60 calendar days of receipt of
the request for reconsideration.
(c) The
decision of the department shall be final.
(4) An
EPP with revoked approval shall wait two years following the date of revocation
before reapplying via the application process defined in 6.65.3.8 NMAC.
[6.65.3.13
NMAC - N, 7/1/2018]
History of 6.65.3 NMAC: [RESERVED]