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1. Certification Requirements

A. Grades 9-12

1. Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science (2004): 374
2. Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment (2004): 98
3. Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification (2004): 93%
4. Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers (2006-2007): 54 hours general ed.; 24-36 hours in at least one teaching field; 12 hours in upper division courses; 12-24 electives. 24 credits in science 

B. Grades 6-8

1. Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science (2004): 335
2. Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments (2004): 607
3. Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science (2004): 43%
4. Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers (2006-2007): 54 hours general ed.; 24-36 hours in at least one teaching field; 12 hours in upper division courses; 12-24 electives.

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2. Course Requirements:2006-2007 School Year

A. Grades 9-12

1. Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2 (3 as of 2009)
2. Required science courses: 1 course with laboratory component. Any 2 science courses, one of which must be a lab science
3. Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Determined at the district level. Determined at the district level
4. Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Some districts offer integrated science courses.
5. If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?  Yes.
6. Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes
7. Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? Yes. Environmental science can be part of Earth Science or Life Science course.
8.  If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements?   Yes. 

B. Grades 6-8

1. Is Earth Science part of the middle school science curriculum (grades 6-8)?  Yes. Every grade level has standards for Earth, life and physical science.
2. Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum?  Both. 
3. At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th.

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3. K-12 Enrollment

A. Student Enrollment: 2004-2005 School Year

Grades	K-12	K-5	6-8	9-12
Students	320,780	145,471	77,107	98,202

B. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses: 2003-2004 School Year

Course	Earth science	Chemistry	Biology	Physics
Percent	4%	37%	78%	10%

C. Enrollment trends in Grade 9 Earth science: 1996-2004

Year	Percent	Students
1996-97	7%	2,093
1997-98	7%	2,089
1999-00	11%	3,224
2003-04	4%	Not Available

D. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses: 1999-2000 vs. 2003-2004 School Years

	1999-2000	2003-2004
Course	Students (Percentage)	Students (Percentage)
Earth Science	13,627 (27%)	Not Available (33%)
General Science	2,524 (5%)	Not Available (5%)
Physical Science	8,075 (16%)	Not Available (16%)
Life Science	5,047 (10%)	Not Available (17%)
Integrated or Coordinated Science	4,038 (8%)	Not Available (23%)

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4. Science Standards: 2006-2007 School Year

• Standards Publication: National Assessment of Educational Progress
• Year in which science standards were adopted: 2005
• Are state standards determined at the district level? Districts adopt the state standards.
• When will the state standards be revised?  2009

The National Science Education Standards outline the concepts and principles that students should understand about Earth and space science. At the middle school level, the standards are divided into three areas: Structure of the Earth System, Earth’s History, and Earth in the Solar System. At the high school level, the standards are divided into four areas: Energy in the Earth System, Geochemical Cycles, Origin and Evolution of the Earth System, and Origin and Evolution of the Universe. For the AGI Report, the Earth science standards for each state were reviewed to determine whether they incorporate the concepts and principles outlined in the National Science Education Standards.

A. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 contain principles and concepts related to:

Energy in the Earth system? Yes	Origin and evolution of the Earth system? Yes
Geochemical cycles? Yes	Origin and evolution of the universe? Yes

B. Do the state standards for grades 9-12 include environmental science concepts?
Yes.  Emphasis within life science and Earth science standards.

C. Do the state standards for grades 5-8 contain principles and concepts related to:

Structure of the Earth system? Yes	Earth in the Solar System? Yes
Earth’s history?   Yes

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5. Testing and Assessment

A. State Science Tests: 2006-2007 School Year

Test	Grade Levels Tested:	Earth Science Component on the Test?
New Mexico High School Competency Exam	10	Yes
New Mexico Assessment Test	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, (11 as of 2007-2008)	Yes in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, (11?? As of 2007-2008)

B. State High School Exit Exam: 2006-2007 School Year

1. Name of Exam: New Mexico High School Competency Examination
2. Type of Test: Minimum competency
3. Does the exam have a science component? Yes.
4. At what grade do students first take the exam? 10
5. Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes.
6. Does the exam have an Earth science component? Yes.

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6. Textbook Adoptions: 2003-2004 School Year

• Does the state select or recommend textbooks? Selects and Recommends. 
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Statewide adoption, Districts select
• Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Statewide adoption, Districts select
• Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level:  Statewide adoption, Districts select

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State Contact Person

Mary Jo Daniel	Science Specialist
New Mexico Public Education Department 300 Don Gaspar Santa Fe, NM 87501-2786	maryjo.daniel@state.nm.us 505-476-1882

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