44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM INITIATIVE; AUTHORIZING GRANTS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT SCHOOL REFORM MODEL PROGRAMS OR SERVE AS MODEL PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION SITES; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Comprehensive School Reform Act".

Section 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Comprehensive School Reform Act:

A. "department" means the state department of public education;

B. "fund" means the comprehensive school reform fund; and

C. "model program" means a comprehensive school reform model pursuant to the Comprehensive School Reform Act."

Section 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM INITIATIVE--ADMINISTRATION.--

A. The department shall develop and administer a comprehensive school reform initiative to provide grant awards to public schools in need of improvement to carry out a model program meeting the criteria in Subsection B of this section and to provide grants to public schools that qualify as demonstration sites pursuant to Subsection D of this section.

B. A model program must employ innovative strategies and proven methods for student learning, teaching and school management that are based on reliable research and effective practices and have been replicated successfully in schools with diverse characteristics. To qualify as a model program, a public school's program must include all of the following components:

(1) effective research-based methods and strategies;

(2) a comprehensive design incorporating all areas of the school environment;

(3) professional development;

(4) measurable goals and benchmarks; provided that goals for student performance goals are tied to the state's challenging content and student performance standards;

(5) support within the school from faculty, administrators and staff;

(6) meaningful parental and community involvement in planning and implementing school improvement activities;

(7) external technical support and assistance from an external school reform entity, such as a university, that has experience or expertise in comprehensive school reform and improvement;

(8) evaluation strategies incorporated in a plan for evaluation of the school reforms and student achievements; and

(9) coordination of resources to support and sustain the school reform effort.

C. The department shall determine annually pursuant to Section 4 of the Comprehensive School Reform Act the public schools evidencing the least amount of improvement and the lowest ratings and ranking order and shall designate them as schools in need of improvement. Upon approval of the department, such schools shall qualify for a grant of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) from the fund to implement a model program.

D. Any public school, regardless of its rating or ranking order pursuant to Section 4 of the Comprehensive School Reform Act, may apply to the department to be designated a model program demonstration site for the purposes of teaching visitors from other schools and communities how to implement a model program. The department shall develop criteria for evaluating applications and qualifying public schools as demonstration sites. A public school that qualifies as a model program demonstration site may receive a grant in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from the fund to implement the demonstration site."

Section 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM IMPLEMENTATION--MEASUREMENT CRITERIA.--

A. The department shall develop a formula, approved by the state board, by which to measure school achievement in the areas of academic performance. The product of this formula shall take the form of a composite rating assigned to each public school in every school district. Academic performance shall be measured by:

(1) nationally standardized test scores;

(2) graduation competency scores; and

(3) other factors deemed relevant by the department.

B. Annually, the department shall assign a new composite rating to each public school. Schools evidencing the lowest rating or ranking order or least amount of improvement shall qualify for model program grants from the fund as provided in Section 3 of the Comprehensive School Reform Act."

Section 5. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL REFORM FUND CREATED--APPROPRIATION.--

A. The "comprehensive school reform fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated to the fund, federal money allocated to the state and gifts or bequests made to the fund for the purpose of implementing the comprehensive school reform initiative. Earnings from investment of the fund shall accrue to the fund. Balances in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

B. Money in the comprehensive school reform fund is appropriated to the department for the purpose of carrying out the comprehensive school reform initiative established pursuant to the Comprehensive School Reform Act; provided that no more than three percent of money appropriated or accruing to the fund in any fiscal year shall be expended by the department for administrative purposes."

Section 6. APPROPRIATION.--Two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the comprehensive school reform fund for expenditure by the state department of public education in fiscal year 2000 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the comprehensive school reform initiative established pursuant to the Comprehensive School Reform Act. Any balance remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

Section 7. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.