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 Spring 2009 meeting of the New Mexico Partnership for Math and Science Education

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PED Math and Science Bureau
Update for the NM Partnership for Math and Science Education

Prepared May 4, 2009 by Mary Jo Daniel and Claudia Ahlstrom

The 2009 Legislature passed HB 322 which increases from 6 to 9 the number of hours of mathematics those seeking licensure in elementary education must take in the college of arts and sciences.  We are working with the Licensure Bureau to prepare the required changes to applicable sections of the NM Administrative Code.   We are also discussing with the Teacher Quality Division a process for revising/updating the Entry Level Competencies for Teachers in math and science.

The Legislature also passed HB2, the General Appropriations Act, with $2,485,900 for Summer Reading, Math and Science Institutes.  The Bureau updated and circulated the guidelines for funding.  Requests were due to the Bureau by April 30; projects will be notified by May 15 if their requests have been approved.  Twenty-four requests, totaling about $3.3 million were received.

The Assessment and Evaluation Bureau are soliciting applications to participate in Data Review sessions for the Standards Based Assessment.  The review takes place at the end of July; application information is available on their website at http://www.ped.state.nm.us/AssessmentAccountability/AssessmentEvaluation/index.html.  Response has been overwhelming; only 8-10 people will be selected for each committee.

The Math and Science Bureau has revised its webpage and needs links to good resources for teachers.  The page for teachers (www.ped.state.nm.us/MathScience/teachers.html) is currently linked to Math New Mexico but there isn’t a functioning science counterpart.  Can the Partnership help with content for this page?  We need not only links but an organizing structure for them.  Please look at other parts of the Bureau’s website (www.ped.state.nm.us/MathScience/index.html) and give us suggestions for improvement.

Secretary of Education, Veronica García, is accepting applications for upcoming vacancies on the Math and Science Advisory Council (MSAC).  Application materials are available on our Bureau’s webpage (www.ped.state.nm.us/MathScience/msac.html).  We ask that Partnership members help solicit applications, especially from members of the private sector.
 Previous Comments 
For the Math and Science Bureau teacher resource web site I would suggest a page with links to various STEM professional organizations. I believe the web sites of such organizations can provide useful content about current STEM topics as well as teaching resources. Mr. Donivan Porterfield American Chemical Society – Central New Mexico Local Section
Thank you Claudia and Mary Jo for leading us in Santa Fe. We have forwarded the information about the vacancies on the Math and Science board to the appropriate people.
As you know well, there's a LOT of resource information for teachers on the web. Perhaps one should look that over before embarking on another such effort. Bob E
It looks like the Office of Educational Accountability (OEA) will be working on revising the Entry-Level Competencies for School Administrators and is interested in supporting the work of revising at least the Math Entry-Level competencies. Might there be a possible corporate sponsor for revising the Science Entry-Level Competencies. - Rick
 
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