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| SPONSOR: | Campos | DATE TYPED: | 3-13-01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Expanded Graduation Requirements | SB | 665 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Segura | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| N/A | |||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Department of Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 665 would amend Section 22-2-8.4 ,NMSA 1978 to include a writing performance as a part of the state competency examination. This bill also would provide for a New Mexico graduation examination, rather than a competency examination.
Significant Issues
According to SDE, the words "competency examination" has come to mean a minimum competency exam and the high school examination must be updated to be in alignment with state high school standards, referencing the examination as a graduation examination would be more accurate and not carry connotations.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The SDE indicates that a written composition is currently included in the high school examination, so there would be no fiscal impact implications for a writing assessment. There would be fiscal implication for updating the high school examination to the New Mexico Content Standards and Benchmarks and the New Mexico Career Readiness Standards. The SDE has issued an RFP and selected a contractor, pending legislative approval for development funds, to develop a standards-based high school graduation examination.
The funding for this program is included in the proposed appropriation act.
RS/njw