Advocates urge postponement of PED bilingual‑endorsement rule over misalignments

Several public commenters urged the Legislative Education Study Committee to press the Public Education Department to postpone planned rule changes to bilingual endorsement competencies (NMAC 6.64.0.1) scheduled to take effect July 1.

Speakers from the Coalition for the Majority and the Association for Bilingual Education New Mexico said the rule contains inconsistencies, incorrect cross‑references and insufficient consultation with advisory councils and Indigenous communities. Elena Valdez cited a specific mismatch: the rule refers to a portfolio alternative assessment (6.60.5.10) that applies to candidates who are deaf or hard of hearing—not the general endorsement pathway—creating an incongruity that could be misapplied at the LEA level.

Julia Rosa Lopez (retired professor) and others warned the proposed changes reduce the clarity and rigor of bilingual endorsements by expanding alternative pathways (for example, relying on a high‑school seal of bilingualism) instead of preserving established endorsement requirements. University faculty and program directors asked the committee to encourage collaboration between PED, advisory councils and stakeholder groups to redesign the rule text.

Why it matters: Commenters said the rule affects who is eligible to teach state‑funded bilingual programs and could shape program quality and staffing. They urged additional review to ensure language accuracy, alignment across rules and inclusion of tribal and expert input before implementation.

Sources: Public commenters during committee public comment period (Coalition for the Majority representatives, Julia Rosa Lopez, Elena Valdez, Elizabeth Valenzuela, Christine Sims).