RELATING TO EDUCATION; EXPANDING THE READING AND WRITING TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADES.

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

Section 1. Section 22-2-8.5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-2-8.5. ADDITIONAL STATEWIDE TESTING.--

A. The state board shall expand the program of educational accountability established through its educational standards by adding reading assessments and writing production tests to its existing uniform statewide system of assessment to determine pupil status, progress and degree of achievement of basic skills and of essential educational competencies.

B. The department of education shall involve local school district personnel, especially certified elementary reading specialists, in the development of methods on a statewide basis to measure student reading performance in order to assist school districts in the assessment of student problem areas in kindergarten through third grade. The assessment shall provide a means of demonstrating continuous progress in reading and diagnostic information on phonics, phonemic awareness and comprehension.

C. The department of education shall involve local school district personnel, especially certified school instructors in the elementary, middle or junior high school grades, in the development or selection of a uniform statewide writing production test for school districts to measure student writing performance in order to assist school districts in the assessment of student problem areas. The writing production test shall be administered to each student, once when attending elementary school and once when attending

a middle or junior high school."