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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Boitano		DATE TYPED:	2/11/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Graduation Requirements				SB	149a/SEC
					ANALYST:		L. Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SEC Amendments

The Senate Education Committee amendments reinstate one unit in physical fitness as a graduation requirement, and restore the number of elective units to eight.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 149 amends graduation requirements in the Public School Code to require that one of the three units in mathematics be algebra or another higher level mathematics course, increases required science units from two to three, deletes one unit of required physical fitness; and includes physical fitness as an elective unit and adds service learning as an elective unit.

Significant Issues

The SDE reports that the mathematics requirement is congruent with New Mexico’s mathematics standards and that requiring three units of science is consistent with national trends to have students master content in the sciences.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The increased requirements for math and science will poses “challenges” for school administrators. Math and science teachers are in short supply, and persons not endorsed for the specific math or science classes are assigned to teach some classes. Implementation of these requirements could exacerbate the shortage of math and science teacher. It is possible additional lab facilities will be needed to satisfy the increased science requirements.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. The national media has been addressing the issue of obesity among all Americans with special concerns expressed about overweight youth. Given this scenario, is it wise to make physical education an elective unit?
2. How will the anticipated need for additional math and science teachers be addressed?

LRB/yr