State Superintendent Accepts Corrective Action Plans With Conditions for 42 Schools in 13 Districts

(Santa Fe, NM)-- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael J. Davis announced today that he has approved local corrective action plans with mandatory conditions for the 42 new corrective action schools in 13 public school districts. Through his approval, the local school boards and superintendents will retain duties and responsibilities for those schools.

“Under my approval announced today, no suspension orders will be issued for these corrective action schools. The local boards did what they needed to do at the hearings to prove to me they could successfully address the deficiencies in their corrective action schools,” said State Superintendent Davis. “Staff from the New Mexico State Department of Education (SDE) will immediately begin to work with the schools to ensure that the plans are carried out and that schools and districts do everything possible to attain a meets standards rating.”

Letters detailing requirements specific to the districts and schools were issued to the school districts within 10 days of corrective action show cause hearings, held in each district from September 2 to 11. Several additional requirements were placed on all the schools. They include the following:

1. The district and school must provide mentoring and support to new teachers at the school.
2. Professional development must be addressed outside the school day with one exception -- teachers may attend professional development during the school day for no more than three instructional days. Schools must work with SDE staff to ensure that the professional development is appropriate to the school.
3. At least one permanent substitute teacher must be assigned to each corrective action school.
4. Adequate resources must be provided.
5. Schools and districts must continue to disaggregate and review student-level data by the required subgroups (Caucasian/Whites not of Hispanic origin, Blacks not of Hispanic origin, Hispanics, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indian/Alaskan natives, English Language Learners, Free and Reduced-Price Lunch and students receiving special education services)
6. Schools and districts in areas where there are tribal governments must include them in the improvement process.

The 42 corrective action schools and 13 school districts include the following: