FIFTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

FIRST SESSION, 2017

March 1, 2017

Mr. Speaker:

    Your EDUCATION COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE BILL 498

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

     1. On page 1, line 12, before the semicolon, insert "OR BY A CREDENTIAL".

     2. On pages 10 and 11, strike Subsections O and P in their entirety and insert in lieu thereof:

          "O. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, a high school student may test out of high school early and graduate with a diploma of excellence, including a state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy as provided in Section 22-1-9.1 NMSA 1978 if applicable, with the permission of the student's parent and if the student:

                (1) obtains one of the following:

                     (a) a score in the top twenty percentile of students on the most current administration of the ACT, SAT or armed services vocational aptitude battery;

                     (b) a department-approved cut-score on another academic or technical and vocational assessment approved by the department; or

                     (c) a department-approved industry-recognized credential;

                (2) notifies, no later than October 1 of the school year in which the student wishes to graduate early, the high school in writing, including the parent's signature, of the student's intent to graduate early; and

                (3) attends a meeting with the student's parent and the student's principal and any other relevant school personnel to advise the student of any known consequences related to early graduation.

          P. A student in grade nine, ten or eleven who meets the conditions of Subsection O of this section is required to finish the school year in which the student is enrolled and shall be granted a diploma of excellence only upon completion of that school year. A student who is in grade twelve who meets the conditions of Subsection O of this section prior to the end of the first semester of the school year in which the student is enrolled shall be granted a diploma upon completion of that semester and is not required to complete the second semester.".