45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO EDUCATION; EXTENDING THE NUMBER OF INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 22-8-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 63, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-8-9. BUDGETS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.--

A. No budget for a school district shall be approved by the department that does not provide for:

(1) a school year consisting of at least one hundred eighty-eight days, including one hundred eighty full instructional days, or the equivalent thereof, [exclusive of any release time for in-service training] and eight days for professional development and other staff purposes for teachers; or

(2) a variable school year consisting of a minimum number of instructional hours established by the state board, including professional development equivalent to eight days as provided in Subsection A of this section; and

(3) a pupil-teacher ratio or class or teaching load as provided in Section 22-2-8.2 NMSA 1978.

B. The state board shall, by [regulation] rule, establish the requirements for [a teaching] an instructional day, the standards for an instructional hour and the standards for a full-time certified classroom instructor and for the equivalent thereof.

C. The local school board shall submit a plan for the implementation of an alternate school year to the state superintendent for his approval.

D. The provisions of Subsection C and Paragraph (2) of Subsection A of this section shall apply to school districts with a MEM of one thousand or fewer."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Thirty-five million eight hundred twenty-six thousand dollars ($35,826,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to extend the school year by an additional eight days for teacher professional development. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.