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

RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS IN RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS; CREATING A CENTER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; 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] CENTER ESTABLISHED--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

A. The department of education shall establish within the department a "center for rural and Native American education", which shall be located in northwest New Mexico to provide teachers in rural and Native American school districts who have limited access to educational resources with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students from rural and Native American communities.

B. The center shall:

(1) provide professional development for teachers who work with Native American students, bilingual students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds;

(2) collaborate with institutions of higher education, public schools, teachers and tribal governments to plan educational activities and learning opportunities;

(3) design, develop and make available to teachers curricula specific to the four core content areas of reading-language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, with emphasis on speaking, reading and writing, and ensure that the curricula align with state content standards and benchmarks;

(4) develop models for the recruitment, retention and support of teachers who are qualified to provide instruction to culturally and linguistically diverse students to ensure improved student achievement;

(5) research how teachers may best provide speaking, reading and writing instruction to culturally and linguistically diverse student populations;

(6) disseminate to teachers effective models to improve academic success for culturally and linguistically diverse students in the four core content areas;

(7) collaborate with the office of Indian education to ensure that work and programs are not duplicated;

(8) develop policy recommendations related to professional development models and effective reading and teaching strategies that assist culturally and linguistically diverse students to become successful learners; and

(9) provide other technical assistance to teachers, public schools and school districts as approved by the department of education.

C. The department of education shall:

(1) employ a director and other staff to carry out the purpose of the center;

(2) ensure that the center collaborates with school districts and addresses the needs of the school districts and their students and that the activities of the center are aligned with the educational plans of school districts;

(3) ensure that the center promotes progress in student achievement as set forth in the state accountability system;

(4) collaborate with institutions of higher education in research activities associated with the center and disseminate such research findings to support the development of policy and programs that improve the instructional methodology of teachers of culturally and linguistically diverse student populations; and

(5) evaluate the center using both formative and summative data and report annually with recommended funding for the following year to the legislative education study committee, legislative finance committee, state board and office of the governor."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 to establish and conduct the center for rural and Native American education. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.