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|
SPONSOR: |
Heaton |
DATE TYPED: |
02/05/02 |
HB |
76/aHEC |
||
|
SHORT TITLE: |
High School Curricula |
SB |
|
||||
|
|
ANALYST: |
Baca |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
|
|
$0.1 Significant |
|
General Fund |
|
Parenthesis)
Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates
SB 71
Relates to HJM 11 & SJM 10
State Department of Education (SDE)
Commission on Higher Education (CHE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of HEC Amendment
Where appropriate throughout the title and in
the bill, the House Education Committee amendment strikes “curricula” and replaces it with “standards
and benchmarks,” strikes the term “test” and replaces it with “criteria,” and strikes the terms “placement
into” and replaces them with “placement
assessment(s)”.
The amendment also changes language regarding
responsibilities for implementing the provisions of the bill to stipulate that the SDE and CHE shall jointly
implement the provisions of the bill.
Synopsis
of Original Bill
House Bill 76 requires
that high school curricula be aligned with the knowledge and skills necessary
for work and post-secondary education.
The bill further requires that the SDE and the Commission on Higher
Education collaborate in aligning high school graduation examinations with
tests used for college admissions and placement into college-level courses
Significant
Issues
The CHE analysis states that this legislation aligns with actions taken
recently by the CHE and SDE to support the development of a strong New Mexico
P-16 Partnership. On November 16, 2001 the CHE formally endorsed proposed
legislation for a P-16 advisory council to the CHE and SDE to align educational
policies between public schools and higher education so that all students
complete high school prepared to succeed in post-secondary education and work. Both agencies are also directed to
establish an integrated statewide P-16 student data system.
In addition, the analysis states, “More recently, in January 2002, both the
CHE and the SBE formally adopted a ‘P-16 Framework for Accelerated Learning
Options’, also part of the ongoing
P-16 Partnership established between both
bodies. This statement formally reflects the consensus of both boards to
develop a statewide policy for implementing the provisions of the bill”. In addition, the CHE recently identified it
four priorities for 2001-2002 and listed P-16 Partnerships as its third
priority.
While the State Board of Education (SBE) are
supportive of aligning curricula and continue working collaboratively with the
CHE, the SDE analysis points out that responsibility for establishing
educational policy, including public school curricula, is constitutionally
vested in the SBE.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill contains no
appropriation. However, according to
the SDE, the fiscal impact would be significant due to negotiated agreements and
contracts with outside parties to perform the required actions of this bill.
SDE indicates the bill supports the SBE’s
performance measure in the number of standards aligned with state
assessments. The SBE has established
performance standards and benchmarks pursuant to its constitutional mandate.
Student academic achievement is addressed in Standards for Excellence,
which specifications for the Education Plan for Student Success (EPSS), The New
Mexico Student Achievement System and the accountability framework specified in
the New Mexico Accountability Program.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
If this bill were
enacted, according to the SDE analysis, the department would have to determine
the content and standards used to develop examinations at two- and four- year
institutions. In addition the
collaboration mandated by HB 76 would require the establishment of more intense
and time consuming working relationships among the institutions affected.
DUPLICATION
House Bill 76 is identical to Senate Bill 71,
High School Curricula. It relates to
HJM 11 SJM 10, both titled Preschool through Post Secondary System.
The SDE analysis suggests there is a conflict
between this bill and the SBE’s constitutional responsibilities.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
1. How is this bill in conflict with the SBE’s
constitutional responsibilities?
2. Doesn’t the New Mexico Constitution state that the SBE will carry out its mandates as provided by law?
3. the CHE appears very satisfied with efforts
made so far to align curricula. Does
the SBE share this feeling ?
[1]Begin typing on the * in replace mode. Do not add or delete spaces.