Committee backs bill letting secondary schools count professional work hours in instructional day

The House Education Committee voted to give House Bill 238 a do-pass recommendation, approving language that would allow middle and high schools to count professional work hours — including collaboration, coaching, mentorship and family outreach — as part of the instructional day in the same way elementary schools may.

Supporters said the change promotes equity between elementary and secondary educators, eases calendar complications for families with children at multiple grade levels and helps retain and prepare teachers by embedding professional collaboration in contract hours.

Representative Cohen, sponsor of HB238, described the measure as "aligning the middle school and high school grades for professional work to align it with the elementary," and said the bill would provide additional professional-work hours for secondary educators. Renee Salcedo, a secondary-school improvement specialist from Rio Rancho Public Schools, testified as an expert witness that offering equal professional work hours across grade levels "will help ensure that all educators, regardless of the grade level they teach, have equal opportunities to grow professionally." Salcedo told the committee that the disparity can produce separate school calendars for families and reduce attendance for secondary students when elementary students have in-service days.

Several education organizations voiced support: Lauren Hatch (counsel for Rio Rancho Public Schools) and Laurie Ortega of NEA New Mexico backed the bill; Kate McDermott, a 30-year teacher, and John Durch of AFT New Mexico highlighted that "professional work" is broader than traditional professional development and can include mentorship, coaching and home visits; Lillian Aertis of the New Mexico School Board Association said embedded professional time is among the most effective types of development for student achievement. Bonnie Lightfoot, president of the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders, also urged a do-pass recommendation.

Committee members debated implementation details and context. Several members recalled House Bill 130 and an earlier amendment process that reduced a proposed allotment of professional development hours (testimony referenced an original 60-hour proposal that was reduced during prior negotiations). Representative Collin and others emphasized that the bill provides options for districts that already have working schedules and would not force unnecessary changes: if a district's current calendar meets requirements, it may remain in place.

Representative Baca moved a do-pass on HB238 and Representative Torres Velasquez seconded. The chair announced a unanimous do-pass recommendation in committee. The committee record shows support from district superintendents, unions, and school boards; implementation would be handled at the district level under state law if the bill becomes law.