School and District Leaders

Overview

The NMPED oversees several initiatives aimed at developing and supporting school and district leaders, including:

• Approval and re-authorization of Site Administrator Preparation Programs (SAPPs)
• Principal Residencies
• Aspiring Superintendent Academies

HB157

School and District Leader work is guided by relevant statutes and regulations, including House Bill 157, which was signed into law in April 2025. Key provisions of the legislation include:

• Creation of new licenses – HB157 replaced the Teacher 3b license with three tiers of administrative licenses:
  • Initial Site Administrator License
  • Professional Site Administrator License
  • Superintendent License
• Preparation and induction requirements – HB157 requires individuals seeking licensure to complete PED-approved preparation programs (Site Administrator Preparation Program for initial site administrator licenses and Aspiring Superintendent Academies for superintendent licenses). It also requires completion of mentoring/induction programs for first-year principals and superintendents.
• Standards for SAPP approval – HB157 stipulates standards that PED must use to approve SAPPs, including:
  • Comprehensive curriculum aligned to national and state standards;
  • Deliberate candidate recruitment and selection;
  • Robust clinical experience;
  • Cohort structure with trained coaches; and
  • Formal partnerships between programs and school districts and charter schools.
• Grandfathering and transition dates – A licensed school employee who holds a valid three-B license on July 1, 2029 shall be granted a professional site administrator license and a superintendent license.

Contact Us

Email: SchoolDist.Leaders@ped.nm.gov