SENATE BILL 383

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Craig W. Brandt

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROVIDING THAT CHILDREN WHO ATTEND PRE-KINDERGARTEN AT A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL HAVE FIRST PRIORITY TO ATTEND KINDERGARTEN AT THAT CHARTER SCHOOL.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-8B-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2000, Chapter 82, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "22-8B-4.1. CHARTER SCHOOLS' ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES.--

          A. Start-up schools and conversion schools are subject to the following enrollment procedures:

                (1) a start-up school may either enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery selection process if the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available at the start-up school; and

                (2) a conversion school shall give enrollment preference to students who are enrolled in the public school at the time it is converted into a charter school and to siblings of students admitted to or attending the charter school. The conversion school may either enroll all other students on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery selection process if the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available at the conversion school.

          B. In subsequent years of its operation, a charter school shall give enrollment preference to:

                (1) students who attended the charter school's pre-kindergarten program, for admission into the charter school's kindergarten;

                [(1)] (2) students who have been admitted to the charter school through an appropriate admission process and remain in attendance through subsequent grades; and

                [(2)] (3) siblings of students already admitted to or attending the same charter school."

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