Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR	Miera		DATE TYPED	2/3/04		HB	235
SHORT TITLE		Professional Development Teacher Training				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$1,000.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 235 appropriates $1 million to the PED to contract with a community-based organization for the strengthening quality in schools initiative to improve student achievement and system performance in New Mexico public schools by providing professional development and consulting parents, community members, public school employees and board members, and community college and university personnel involved in public school education.

Significant Issues

This bill funds continuation and expansion of the Baldrige system, a systematic approach for continuous improvement of student achievement irrespective of the student’s ethnicity, language background or socio-economic status of the family. According to the PED, return of investment is achieved by sustainability of the use of the Baldrige framework for advancing both student and system performance. This approach to improving the effectiveness of public schools has wide support among the business community. Matching funds provided by the private sector would leverage the funds from this legislation.

To date, the PED reports, the funds would impact approximately 7,200 educators and 65,000 students, with totals expected to increase because of increasing demands for assistance. Plans include assisting low-performing schools as a selection priority for expansion efforts.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the general fund.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The PED reports that Baldrige is a process that changes the work culture of schools to make them more responsible for achieving better results. The process relies on data-driven decisions for improved student performance and involves students by making them directly responsible for their learning results. The process transforms classrooms into “learning systems” versus teaching systems. Professional development would be provided for assisting all system owners – administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, school board members, PED personnel, postsecondary and business partners – to understand and implement a systemic process for accountability in reaching state educational standards and improving results.

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