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

SPONSOR	Nava		DATE TYPED	2/4/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		School & College Funding Parity Study				SB	SJM 21
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial requests that the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) collaborate with public institutions of higher education o study the higher education funding formula to determine funding parity among the various schools and colleges within each institution, especially as it relates to student-generated funding between colleges and schools of education and other colleges within the institution.

Senate Joint Memorial 21 further requests that the findings and recommendations of the CHE be submitted to the Legislative Education Study Committee no later than November 1, 2004.

Significant Issues

College and school of education faculties and public school personnel have long felt that colleges of education are underfunded and therefore have been unable to meet the expectations of their students and the general public. This concern has been intensified by the demands for improved effectiveness of public school education, demands that have resulted in reform of education legislation and renewed vigor to develop public policies that will maximize the impact of public funds spent on public schools. These efforts are exemplified by the enactment of HB 212, the Reform of Education Act in New Mexico and the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act by

the federal government. The study proposed is an effort to ascertain the veracity of the widely held perception that teacher, counselor and administrator training programs are receiving considerably less funding than is needed to meet the public demands for high quality educators.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

SJM 21 does not carry an appropriation, but the CHE and institutions of higher education will have to expend as yet undetermined time and resources to comply with the request.

LG/prr