Bill proposing changes to the Mathematics and Science Education Act advances this week
Lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that proposes statewide requirements for math instruction in K-12 schools and professional development for teachers
Senate Bill 235, sponsored by Sen. Bill Soules (D-Las Cruces), makes changes to the Mathematics and Science Education Act, including requiring school districts to create professional learning plans, assess students for difficulties in learning math before they finish second grade, provide interventions for students with learning difficulties and notify parents of their child's learning difficulties. The bill will also require that the Public Education Department monitor math instructional materials, create a leadership framework and set minimum course requirements for teacher licensure.
Soules presented the bill to the Senate Education Committee, which he chairs, on Wednesday and received unanimous support from members. SB 235 now goes to the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.
Soules said the state has worked hard in recent years to support structured literacy in public schools and improve literacy among New Mexico students, but the same attention has not been given to mathematics. Deficiencies in both math and reading were highlighted in the Yazzie/Martinez lawsuit by the late District Judge Sarah Singleton.
'It's now time that we start talking about math and the very low performance of students in New Mexico in the math area,' Soules said during the meeting. 'We've sort of pushed it aside.'
'Advancing the Science of Reading Act' gains unanimous support in Senate Education Committee
The bill received ample support from attendees, including representatives from the Higher Education Department, Public Education Department, New Mexico School Board Association, New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders, Albuquerque Teachers Federation, Think New Mexico, Kids Can, Teach Plus New Mexico, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, NM Partnership for Math & Science Education and New Mexico MESA.
Higher Education Department Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez shared her personal struggle with math as a young student and applauded the bill's attention to screening for math learning difficulties.
'I have dyscalculia, and unfortunately, it took many years of struggle to figure that out,' Rodriguez told the committee. 'I still went to college, but there are many other children in New Mexico who will go their entire life of schooling thinking they may not be college material or may not enter a trade program because math is too hard.'
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Politico
09-07-2025
- Politico
Why Sacramento is fighting over antisemitism in schools
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Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Here's how federal cuts could undermine free community college in Mass.
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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher incentives, math education bills become law in Oklahoma
Skelly Elementary teacher Charity Hargrave leads a reading exercise with a small group of fifth graders in Tulsa on April 9, 2024. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Longtime Oklahoma teachers will continue earning annual salary increases for an extra 10 years, and their children will qualify for a major state-funded scholarship under new laws the governor signed this week. Gov. Kevin Stitt approved House Bill 1087 on Tuesday to extend the teacher salary schedule, which grants annual incremental pay raises, up to 35 years. The bill also adds one day to the minimum length of an Oklahoma school year, stretching it to 181 instructional days in public schools. HB 1727, which Stitt also signed Tuesday, opens the Oklahoma's Promise college scholarship to the children of classroom teachers with at least 10 years of experience. Oklahoma's Promise pays an amount equal to full resident tuition at a public college or university. The state's largest teacher union, the Oklahoma Education Association, celebrated both bills as ways to retain veteran educators. Offering scholarship funds to educators' children is a 'powerful step for Oklahoma valuing its teachers and their households,' OEA President Cari Elledge said. 'By granting Oklahoma's Promise Scholarship to children of certified educators with at least a decade of service, this bill eases the college burden on our families while incentivizing long-term commitment to our schools,' Elledge, a former Norman teacher, said. 'OEA championed this from committee rooms to the governor's desk because addressing the educator shortage requires meaningful investment.' The governor also signed a bill offering grants to school districts that are trying to boost the pipeline of new teachers. Senate Bill 235 offers matching funds to districts that have established Grow Your Own Educator programs, which give undergraduate college tuition assistance or loan repayment to aspiring teachers. The bill's author, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said lawmakers set aside $5 million for these grants. Pugh, who leads the Senate Education Committee, said the slate of school-focused bills the Legislature passed this year are 'building a stronger foundation for Oklahoma's future.' 'Each of these measures reflects our commitment to supporting students, empowering teachers and ensuring every child in our state has access to a high-quality education,' Pugh said in a statement. Multiple bills emphasizing math also passed. Stitt approved HB 1287, giving $3 million to the University of Oklahoma for a math tutoring program assisting the lowest-performing ninth graders. Qualifying students must attend a school district with enrollment of at least 30,000 or a public charter school. The governor also signed on Tuesday the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, also known as SB 140. It's expected to cost $1 million, according to a fiscal impact estimate from legislative staff. The new law requires public schools to screen students' math proficiency three times a year in grades 2-5. Schools must create a math intervention plan for children who score below their grade level and could receive extra funds dedicated for these students. Struggling students also must be screened for dyscalculia, a learning disability affecting comprehension of arithmetic. Those who screen above their grade level in math must be offered advanced learning opportunities. 'Senate Bill 140 is a critical step forward in improving math outcomes across our state,' the bill's author, Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said. 'By identifying students who need additional help or more advanced instruction, they will now have personalized support to ensure every child can succeed.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
