SENATE BILL 396
57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. López and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Leo Jaramillo and Harold Pope and Shannon D. Pinto
AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE HISPANIC EDUCATION ACT TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR ENSURING THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SPANISH LANGUAGE; REQUIRING THE HISPANIC EDUCATION LIAISON TO ADVISE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIVE-YEAR PLANS FOR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS; REQUIRING THE STATEWIDE HISPANIC EDUCATION STATUS REPORT TO INCLUDE INITIATIVES TO INCREASE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND REPORT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AS MEASURED BY A STATEWIDE TEST; CREATING A SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 22-23B-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010, Chapter 108, Section 1 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 1) is amended to read:
"22-23B-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Chapter 22, Article 23B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Hispanic Education Act"."
SECTION 2. Section 22-23B-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010, Chapter 108, Section 2 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 2) is amended to read:
"22-23B-2. PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Hispanic Education Act is to:
A. provide for the study, development and implementation of educational systems that affect the educational success of Hispanic students to close the achievement gap and increase graduation rates;
B. encourage and foster parental involvement in the education of their children; [and]
C. provide mechanisms for parents, community, community-based and business organizations, public schools, school districts, charter schools, public post-secondary educational institutions, the higher education department, the department and state and local policymakers to work together to improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students for the purpose of closing the achievement gap, increasing graduation rates and increasing post-secondary enrollment, retention and completion; and
D. ensure the maintenance of the Spanish language."
SECTION 3. Section 22-23B-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010, Chapter 108, Section 4 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 4) is amended to read:
"22-23B-4. HISPANIC EDUCATION LIAISON--CREATED--DUTIES.--
A. The "Hispanic education liaison" is created in the department.
B. The liaison shall:
(1) focus on issues related to Hispanic education and advise the secretary on the development and implementation of policy regarding the education of Hispanic students;
(2) advise the department and the commission on the development and implementation of the five-year strategic plan for public elementary, [and] secondary education and post-secondary education in the state as the plan relates to Hispanic student education;
(3) assist and be assisted by other staff in the department to improve elementary, secondary and post-secondary educational outcomes for Hispanic students;
(4) serve as a resource to enable school districts and charter schools to provide equitable and culturally relevant learning environments, educational opportunities and culturally relevant instructional materials for Hispanic students enrolled in public schools;
(5) support and consult with the Hispanic education advisory council; and
(6) support school districts and charter schools to recruit parents on site-based and school district committees that represent the ethnic diversity of the community."
SECTION 4. Section 22-23B-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010, Chapter 108, Section 6 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:
"22-23B-6. STATEWIDE STATUS REPORT.--
A. The department, in collaboration with the higher education department, shall submit an annual preschool through post-secondary statewide Hispanic education status report no later than November 15 to the governor and the legislature through the legislative education study committee. A copy shall be provided to the legislative library in the legislative council service.
B. The status report shall include the following information, by school district, by charter school and statewide, which may be compiled from data otherwise required to be submitted to the department:
(1) Hispanic student achievement at all grades as measured by a statewide test approved by the department with results desegregated by ethnicity;
(2) attendance for all grades;
(3) the graduation rates for Hispanic students; [and]
(4) the number and type of bilingual and multicultural programs in each school district and charter school; and
(5) school district initiatives to decrease the number of school dropouts and increase attendance.
C. The status report shall include the following information, by post-secondary educational institution, which may be compiled from data otherwise required to be submitted to the higher education department:
(1) Hispanic student enrollment;
(2) Hispanic student retention; and
(3) Hispanic student completion rates."
SECTION 5. A new section of the Hispanic Education Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK.--
A. School districts shall develop and publish a systemic framework for improving educational outcomes for Hispanic students. A school district shall develop the framework in collaboration with school employees, Hispanic students and families, social service providers and community and civic organizations. The Hispanic education liaison shall assist the school district as required during the development and implementation of the framework. The school district may request assistance from schools of education at state post-secondary educational institutions to identify best practices in collecting and using student-centered data to inform teaching strategies and schoolwide efforts to close the achievement gap between Hispanic students and all other student demographic groups.
B. The systemic framework shall include culturally relevant programs, services, curricula, instructional materials, activities and professional development that need to be provided to improve Hispanic education in the state.
C. Academic and other programs may include:
(1) high-quality professional development for teaching professionals and paraprofessionals;
(2) family-based early childhood programs that provide screening and referral and provide services to children with developmental delays or disabilities;
(3) bilingual and bicultural programs and projects; and
(4) programs designed to encourage and assist Hispanic students to work toward, and gain entrance into, institutions of higher education.
D. Culturally related activities may include:
(1) culturally related activities that support the academic program of the public school;
(2) activities that support the Spanish language programs;
(3) activities that promote the incorporation of culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies into the public school's educational program; and
(4) activities to educate students about the prevention of violence, suicide and substance abuse.
E. Services to be provided may include:
(1) early interventions to help struggling students, such as after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring and school and community interventions to prevent truancy and reduce dropout rates;
(2) comprehensive guidance and counseling services;
(3) integrated educational services in combination with other programs that meet the needs of Hispanic students and their families, including programs that promote parental involvement in school activities and increase student achievement; and
(4) family literacy services, including adult basic education programs."
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