BILINGUAL EDUCATOR CREDENTIALING

HM057

HOUSE MEMORIAL 57

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

INTRODUCED BY

E. Diane Torres-Velásquez and G. Andrés Romero

and Patricia Roybal Caballero

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT
A STUDY OF BEST PRACTICES FOR CREDENTIALING BILINGUAL
EDUCATORS.

WHEREAS, non-English speaking and bilingual students in
New Mexico often face significant achievement gaps in academic
performance, graduation rates and college and career readiness;
and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that well-implemented
bilingual multicultural education strengthens executive
function, expands career and higher education opportunities and
improves academic achievement for students; and

WHEREAS, there is a chronic shortage of skilled and
qualified professional bilingual educators available to meet
the need for bilingual education in New Mexico's public
schools; and

WHEREAS, the quality of bilingual education depends
substantially on the performance of professional bilingual
educators, and, like all other states, New Mexico requires
professional educators to hold credentials in the form of an
endorsement granted by the state in order to teach in the
public schools; and

WHEREAS, each state, including New Mexico, establishes and
enforces standards and requirements for earning credentials for
public school teachers, and these certification standards and
requirements are among the ways in which states exercise their
constitutional responsibility for governing public education;
and

WHEREAS, New Mexico has a legitimate interest in the
quality of training programs for credentialing professional
bilingual educators because completion of a professional
preparation program for bilingual educators is critical for
their subsequent professional performance; and

WHEREAS, evaluating best practices for credentialing
bilingual educators, including English as a second language
instructors, would help inform legislative recommendations and
actions to increase the number of bilingual educators in the
state and thereby help strengthen educational outcomes for
bilingual students; and

WHEREAS, the public education department is responsible
for the implementation of bilingual education programs and
oversees the bilingual multicultural education advisory council
that consists of selected educators, school leaders and higher
education faculty; and

WHEREAS, the public education department is responsible
for the credentialing of bilingual educators in the state,
including the promulgation of rules determining the education,
training and experience required to receive an endorsement as a
professional bilingual educator; and

WHEREAS, the state's higher education institutions that
teach courses required for certification of bilingual educators
and professional organizations such as the New Mexico
association for bilingual education and the New Mexico
coalition for the majority, as well as other professional
community organizations, include researchers, parents and
higher education faculty with substantial experience in
preparing bilingual education teachers to teach and supporting
those teachers in practice; and

WHEREAS, these organizations are well-versed in current
best practices and current effective policies in the bilingual
and English as a second language classrooms in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, there is a critical need for the public education
department to communicate, consult and coordinate with the
state's higher education institutions and other relevant
professional organizations in the process of promulgating rules
for credentialing bilingual educators in the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative
education study committee be requested to conduct a study in
consultation with the public education department, the state's
higher education institutions and members of the above-named
professional organizations and other bilingual education
professionals to study best practices for credentialing
bilingual educators, including English as a second language
instructors, and to publish a report of its findings and
recommendations by August 15, 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee's study include
conclusions and recommendations regarding ways to improve
communication and coordination among the public education
department, the state's higher education institutions and other
relevant professional organizations when determining best
practices for the purpose of promulgating rules for
credentialing bilingual educators in the state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the legislative education study committee, the
secretary of higher education, the secretary of public
education, the New Mexico association for bilingual education
and the New Mexico coalition for the majority.

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