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

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ENACTING THE TEACHER CADET ACT; CREATING A PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO BECOME TEACHERS; CREATING A FUND; PROVIDING FOR A COMPETITIVE AWARD PROCESS; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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 "Teacher Cadet Act"."

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

"[NEW MATERIAL] PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Teacher Cadet Act is to increase the number of high achieving students who enter the teaching profession by recruiting students in grades six through twelve and providing them with information about career opportunities in teaching and the availability of financial assistance for teacher preparation."

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

"[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Teacher Cadet Act:

A. "eligible school" means a public elementary school that enrolls students in grade six or a public middle, junior high or high school;

B. "fund" means the teacher cadet fund; and

C. "pre-collegiate activities" means activities that support and encourage students to enter the teaching profession, including extracurricular education clubs, involvement in business and community organizations, secondary and post-secondary courses, practice as a student assistant, peer teaching, tutoring services, professional development opportunities through summer camps or institutes and other activities approved by the department of education."

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

"[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER CADET PROGRAM--CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT COURSES--APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING.--

A. The department of education and school district representatives shall work with the commission on higher education, teacher preparation programs and community colleges to develop concurrent enrollment teaching courses in areas such as teaching techniques, classroom management, child development, learning styles, cultural diversity and other teacher-related skills. The courses shall address current issues in education as well as innovative teaching practices.

B. A school district may create a "teacher cadet program" for students who are interested in pre-collegiate activities.

C. An eligible school may apply to the department of education for project funding for its teacher cadet program. Applications shall be in a form approved by the department and shall include the pre-collegiate activities to be offered, the number of students to be served and the eligible school's plan for evaluating the success of the teacher cadet program by tracking students throughout their public school and college careers and their employment status after graduation. The department shall provide technical assistance to eligible schools in developing funding proposals.

D. The department of education shall establish criteria for awarding money to eligible schools through the competitive application process.

E. Eligible schools that receive an award from the fund shall submit annual teacher cadet program reports to the department of education identifying the number and grade level of students enrolled in pre-collegiate activities, including the number of students concurrently enrolled in teaching courses, and in which schools; the number of students enrolling in an accredited education program upon graduation from high school; and the number of students entering the teaching profession."

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

"[NEW MATERIAL] FUND CREATED.--

A. The "teacher cadet fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated to the fund, earnings from investment of the fund, federal funds available for the purposes of the fund and gifts, grants and donations. The money in the fund shall not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. The department of education shall administer the fund and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to carry out the purposes of the Teacher Cadet Act. Money in the fund shall be expended upon warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the state superintendent or his authorized representative.

B. The department of education may provide awards from the fund based on competitive applications from eligible schools. Awards shall be provided directly to the eligible school and the money shall be used solely for expenditures approved in the application."

Section 6. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the teacher cadet fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the Teacher Cadet Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.