TEACHER RESIDENCY ACT CHANGES, the official text

HOUSE BILL 30

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana and Mimi Stewart and Joy Garratt

and Natalie Figueroa and Brian G. Baca

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AMENDING THE TEACHER RESIDENCY ACT;
PROVIDING THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE STIPEND FOR A TEACHING
RESIDENT BE SET AT A PERCENTAGE OF THE STATUTORY MINIMUM SALARY
FOR LEVEL ONE TEACHERS BASED ON THE RESIDENT'S QUALIFICATIONS;
PROVIDING THAT A TEACHING RESIDENT MAY WORK AT ANY PUBLIC
SCHOOL AFTER THE RESIDENCY INSTEAD OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE
SPONSORING SCHOOL DISTRICT; PROVIDING THAT A PARTNER SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL BE EXPECTED TO OFFER
EMPLOYMENT TO A TEACHING RESIDENT DEPENDING ON THE DISTRICT'S
OR CHARTER SCHOOL'S STAFFING NEEDS AND THE RESIDENT'S
PERFORMANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. Section 22-10B-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2020,
Chapter 25, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"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 [area] 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 [thirty-five thousand dollars
($35,000) per year for teaching residents] 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 [schools in the
sponsoring school district] a public school;

M. an expectation of an offer of employment [for]
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 [area] school district or
charter school in fulfilling the purpose of the program."

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