NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used for other purposes.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Martinez, R.C.

 

DATE TYPED:

2/5/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Science and Math Training for

 Middle School Teachers

 

SB

196

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$260.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC files

 

Responses Received From

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 196 appropriates $260.0 from the general fund to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 to provide a professional development program for middle school teachers to improve their skills, knowledge and teaching techniques in mathematics, science and technology

     Significant Issues

 

Statistics reported by SDE and the National Assessment for Education Project (NAEP) show New Mexico middle school students scoring low on math and science tests.  This suggests a need for expanded and continued professional development in science and mathematics for middle school teachers.  It is expected that these activities will be aligned with professional development plans developed by school districts and the districts’ Plans for Student Success (EPSS).

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $260.0 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

 

The CHE reports this bill will have an unknown impact of the CHE. 

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The SDE suggests the bill’s sponsor consider including language that encourages alignment between this effort and those currently administered by SDE.  SDE also recommends that the bill include language that requires close collaboration between SDE and CHE.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This proposal was not presented to the CHE for review, consequently, it is not in the funding

recommendations submitted by CHE to the legislature.

 

The CHE suggests the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2002-2003):

 

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on higher Education by August 2005 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three period.”

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.               Should this proposal have been submitted to the CHE for review?

2.               Which groups are the primary supporters of this proposal?

 

LRB/prr