New Mexico Teacher Residencies
Basis is proud to partner with the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) on a comprehensive, five-year evaluation of a bold statewide initiative to strengthen the teacher pipeline.
Why Teacher Pipeline Innovation Matters
The NM Teacher Residencies initiative brings together the PED and eight higher education institutions to reimagine how New Mexico prepares its future educators. We are not only studying program implementation and outcomes — we’re helping the state understand what it takes to sustainably deliver high-quality, practice-based teacher preparation that prioritizes teacher and student success.
Recognizing the deep, persistent inequities in teacher preparation and turnover, New Mexico is leading the way with a bold, statewide policy that reimagines how new teachers enter the profession. By paying teacher candidates to work alongside experienced mentors for a full academic year and using co-teaching strategies that directly impact student learning, the state is investing in a stronger, more diverse, and better-prepared teaching workforce — one designed to improve outcomes for both teachers and the students they serve.
Statistics
Impact in Action
Pipeline Transformation:
22% of all newly certified teachers in New Mexico are currently prepared through residency programs, with the ambitious goal of increasing this to nearly half of all new educators — a complete reimagining of how the state builds its teaching workforce.
Investment in Excellence:
Investment in Excellence: The program provides a minimum $35,000 stipend to 400 teacher residents annually, plus $2,000 for mentors and $2,000 for principals, demonstrating the state’s commitment to valuing educator development at every level.
Statewide Reach:
Statewide Reach: 50% of New Mexico school districts now match mentor teachers with residents, creating a collaborative network that spans urban and rural communities across the state.
Research-Driven Impact:
Basis’s evaluation will include an experimental research design in the 2027-28 school year to examine the direct impact on student outcomes when teachers are paired with NM Residencies residents, providing crucial evidence for policy decisions nationwide.
By the Numbers
Building Tomorrow's Educators
$35,000 Minimum Stipend:
provided to each of 400 teacher residents annually, removing financial barriers to high-quality preparation.
22% of New Teachers:
currently prepared through residency programs, with plans to reach nearly 50%.
50% of Districts
participating in mentor-resident partnerships statewide.
8 Higher Education Institutions
collaborating to deliver consistent, high-quality programming
5-Year Comprehensive Evaluation
tracking implementation, outcomes, and sustainability.
Data That Drives Decisions
By scaling year-long, co-teaching residencies with strong PK-20 partnerships and guaranteed job placements, the state is creating a comprehensive model with the potential to inform teacher workforce policy nationwide. This effort offers critical lessons for other states seeking sustainable, equity-focused solutions to persistent challenges in teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention. Basis’s evaluation will offer not just evidence of what’s working, but also a roadmap for future transformative success.