45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING NECESSARY FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

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

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

A. Sixteen million seven hundred eighty-six thousand dollars ($16,786,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to purchase portable classrooms or to build classrooms for full-day kindergarten throughout New Mexico. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

B. The state department of public education shall adopt an application process for school districts that wish to purchase portable classrooms or to build classrooms for full-day kindergarten. The school districts shall submit applications to the state department of public education by July 1, 2001. School districts shall provide the following information in the application to the state department of public education:

(1) district enrollment by school in half-day and full-day kindergarten for the 2000-2001 school year;

(2) the number of full-day kindergarten classrooms to be constructed or purchased at each elementary school in the district;

(3) whether the district is requesting brick and mortar or portable full-day kindergarten classrooms;

(4) the signature of the district superintendent approving the application; and

(5) verification from the superintendent of public instruction that the need exists for portable classrooms or built classrooms for full-day kindergarten.

C. When providing distributions to local school districts pursuant to Subsections A and B of this section, the state department of public education shall give priority to those school districts that serve children in schools with the highest proportion of students most in need based upon indicators in the at-risk factor. The state department of public education shall also consider the local resources available to build full-day kindergarten classrooms and the possibility of converting existing classrooms to full-day kindergarten classrooms.