PED MICRO-CREDENTIALING PILOT PROJECT

SB 158 creates a five-year pilot program in New Mexico public schools to issue micro-credentials (certifications for specific competencies) to site administrators and teachers. The program focuses on equity-centered instruction and leadership, aligned with the Martinez-Yazzie decision, targeting historically underserved students including bilingual learners, English language learners, and Native American students. It requires performance-based assessments for competency, phases development and validation with 50+ participants, then scales to 80 administrators and 1,100 teachers over three years of statewide implementation starting in 2028. The bill appropriates $3 million for implementation from 2027-2031, with the department required to report on outcomes for underserved student groups and program effectiveness.