RFP 26024 – Recruitment and Retention

Region 9 Education Cooperative (on behalf of the New Mexico Public Education Department) seeks one or more vendors to develop and execute a statewide educator‑recruitment and retention program. The contractor will target high‑school juniors/seniors, early‑college students, and community‑college learners, secure enrollment in educator preparation programs, obtain three‑year service‑commitment letters, provide fee‑free professional‑development, mentorship, and data‑driven reporting, and allocate 5 % of the budget for an external evaluator. • Recruit ≥ 200 candidates and ensure ≥ 70 % enter high‑needs teaching subjects (Special Ed, Bilingual, STEM, etc.). • Achieve 100 % outreach to identified rural LEAs within six months and maintain ≥ 75 % retention of early‑college participants. • Deliver three mandated PD sessions with ≥ 90 % attendance/completion, provide monthly and quarterly reports, and respond to inquiries within 24 business hours. • Manage data‑sharing agreements, maintain staff‑to‑student ratios, and comply with FERPA, IPRA, and insurance requirements. • Contract is for an initial one‑year term (potentially renewable up to four years) with a maximum funding ceiling of $1.1 million (FY 2027 dollars).