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SPONSOR: |
Salazar |
DATE TYPED: |
|
HB |
734 |
||
SHORT TITLE: |
|
SB |
|
||||
|
ANALYST: |
L. Baca |
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APPROPRIATION
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
$50.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
GF |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Identical
to SB 635,
Relates
to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act
Responses
Received From
State
Department of Education (SDE)
Commission
on Higher Education (CHE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Bill 734
appropriates $50.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents at Northern
New Mexico State School (NNMCC) to plan the development and implementation of a
curriculum for a middle college program at NNMCC.
Significant
Issues
NNMCC has proposed a pilot project at its El
Rito campus, which would bring together 11th and 12th
grade students to pursue their studies in a non-traditional setting. Students would be able to enroll in courses
allowing them to simultaneously earn both high school and college credit. Based on documents presented to the
Commission on Higher Education (CHE), the mid college
program could target students at risk of
dropping out of the traditional high school.
Need for the program relies on the projection that nearly 40% of
The mid college program at NNMCC’s El Rito
campus would be supported by NNMCC’s staff and facilities.
The SDE reports the mid college concept exists
in numerous locations in various states, such as
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of
$50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004
shall revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Future funding for the
program would come from the State Equalization Guarantee for public school
course work and the higher education funding formula for courses that generate
college credit. Some confusion and
controversy could occur over which fund would pay for specific activities and
whether some activities were being double-funded by the state.
In addition, either
the SDE or the CHE may have to become involved in the planning and implementation
of the program.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The
CHE reports that the creation of
The CHE suggests adding the following language for all new recurring higher education programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2003-2004):
“A
plan for a program evaluation, including specific program goals and criteria
for assessing program effectiveness, shall be submitted to the Legislative
Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
1.
Would the mid college program serve
at-risk students or all interested students?
2.
Under whose authority would the mid
college program fall, State Board or CHE?
3.
Would admission to the program be limited
to students from
4.
Will this be a program that will require
dormitory facilities or will students be transported to the El Rito Campus?