44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING A PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION PILOT PROJECT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION PILOT PROJECT.--The state department of public education shall develop and conduct a performance-based compensation pilot project in fifteen public high schools. The department shall select three teachers from each of the fifteen high schools who volunteer to participate in the pilot project. The department shall involve students, parents, teachers, representatives of educational organizations and community members in developing the performance-based compensation pilot project. The department shall develop a mechanism for the teachers to be evaluated, including a procedure for student evaluations and evaluation portfolios. The department shall assess the pilot project and make recommendations to the first session of the forty-fifth legislature, including the efficacy of extending performance-based compensation to teachers of all grade levels.

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 to conduct a performance-based compensation pilot project. If teachers meet the standards of excellence established by the department, they shall be compensated with a two thousand dollar ($2,000) award. No more than ten percent of the appropriation shall be used by the department for administrative costs. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the general fund.