A. An operating budget for a school district shall not be approved by the department if the educational plan does not provide for:

(1)     a school year and school day that includes instructional hours and professional work hours as provided in Section 22-2-8.1 N.M. Stat. Ann.; and

(2)     a pupil-teacher ratio or class or teaching load as provided in Section 22- 10A-20 NMSA 1978.

B. The department shall, by rule, establish the requirements for an instructional day, the standards for an instructional hour and the standards for a full-time teacher and for the equivalent thereof.