46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO EDUCATION; REQUIRING NEXT-STEP PLANS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WHICH THE STUDENTS SET PERSONAL POST-HIGH- SCHOOL GOALS; REQUIRING A FINAL NEXT-STEP PLAN AS PREREQUISITE FOR GRADUATION.

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

Section 1. Section 22-2-8.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 5, as amended by Laws 2001, Chapter 257, Section 1 and by Laws 2001, Chapter 276, Section 1) is amended to read:

"22-2-8.4. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.--

A. At the end of the eighth grade or during the ninth grade, each student shall prepare an individual program of study for grades nine through twelve. The program of study shall be signed by a student's parent or guardian.

B. [Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 1986-87 school year] Successful completion of a minimum of twenty-three units shall be required for graduation. These units shall be as follows:

(1) four units in English, with major emphasis on grammar and literature;

(2) three units in mathematics;

(3) two units in science, one of which shall have a laboratory component;

(4) three units in social science, which shall include United States history and geography, world history and geography and government and economics;

(5) one unit in physical [fitness] education;

(6) one unit in communication skills, with major emphasis on writing and speaking, which may include a language other than English; and

(7) nine elective units. Only the following elective units shall be counted toward meeting the requirements for graduation: fine arts, i.e. music, band, chorus and art; practical arts; physical education; languages other than English; speech; drama; vocational education; mathematics; science; English; [R.O.T.C.] reserve officers' training corps; social science; computer science; health education; American sign language; and other electives approved by the state board.

With the approval of the local school board, participation in a marching band, on an athletic team or in an athletic sport during the school day may count toward fulfillment of the physical education required unit.

C. Final examinations shall be administered to all students in all classes offered for credit.

D. No student shall receive a high school diploma who has not passed a state graduation examination in the subject areas of reading, English, math, writing, science and social science. [Beginning with the 1996-97 school year] The state graduation examinations on social science shall include a section on the [constitution of the] United States constitution and the constitution of New Mexico. If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade twelve without having passed a state graduation examination, he shall receive an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. If within five years after a student exits from the school system he takes and passes the state graduation examination, he may receive a high school diploma.

E. No student shall receive a high school diploma who has not completed and filed a final next-step plan pursuant to Section 22-2-8.11 NMSA 1978.

[E.] F. The state board may establish a policy to provide for administrative interpretations to clarify curricular and testing provisions of the Public School Code."

Section 2. A new section of the Public School Code, Section 22-2-8.11 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

"22-2-8.11. [NEW MATERIAL] NEXT-STEP PLANS REQUIRED--SCHOOL DISTRICTS, STATE BOARD AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT--ADDITIONAL DUTIES.--

A. As used in this section:

(1) "interim next-step plan" means an annual personal written plan, developed by a student, in consultation with the student's parent or guardian and school counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student, in which the student specifies post-high-school goals and sets forth the coursework that will allow the student to achieve those goals; and

(2) "final next-step plan" means a personal written plan, developed by a student, in consultation with the student's parent or guardian and school counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student, that shows that the student has committed or intends to commit in the near future to a four-year college or university, a two-year college, a trade or vocational program, an internship or apprenticeship, military service or a job.

B. No student shall be promoted from the ninth, tenth or eleventh grade who has not developed and filed an updated interim next-step plan within sixty days prior to the end of the school year. The plan shall explain any differences from previous interim next-step plans, shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent or guardian and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.

C. No student shall receive a high school diploma who has not completed and filed a final next-step plan within sixty days prior to graduation. The plan shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent or guardian and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.

D. A local school board shall ensure that each high school student has the opportunity to implement the student's next-step plan and is fully informed about:

(1) curricular and course options;

(2) opportunities available that lead to different post-high-school options; and

(3) alternative opportunities available if the student does not finish a planned curriculum.

E. The state board shall:

(1) establish specific accountability standards for administrators, counselors, teachers and school district staff to ensure that every student is able to develop and implement a next-step plan; and

(2) promulgate rules for private schools in order to ensure substantial compliance with the provisions of this section.

F. The state superintendent shall:

(1) monitor compliance with the requirements of this section; and

(2) compile such information as is necessary to evaluate the success of next-step plans and report annually, by December 15, to the legislative education study committee and the governor."

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this section is July 1, 2003.