HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 136

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; REQUIRING STANDARDIZED PLACEMENT TESTS IN ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS FOR PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS; PROVIDING THAT DEVELOPMENTAL COURSEWORK MAY BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO GRADUATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. STANDARDIZED PLACEMENT TESTS.--

          A. The commission on higher education, in consultation with academic officers of two- and four-year public post-secondary educational institutions, shall develop or adopt standardized placement tests for English and mathematics requirements that will be used by all public post-secondary educational institutions for course placement of entering freshmen. The commission on higher education shall ensure that the placement tests are included in the alignment of high school curricula and post-secondary standardized placement tests, pursuant to Section 22-13-1.2 NMSA 1978.

          B. If a high school student intends to pursue post-secondary education or training as reflected in the student's next-step plan pursuant to Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978, the student shall take a commission on higher education-adopted standardized post-secondary placement test during grade eleven administered by a two-year or four-year educational institution; provided that no student shall be required to participate who provides to the appropriate school official a written waiver of participation signed by the student's parent. A student is not precluded from taking or retaking any tests to determine course placement.

          C. The two- and four-year post-secondary educational institutions shall provide that the test results of a student who takes the test are transferred to the public school that the student is attending prior to the end of grade eleven. If the score in English or mathematics indicates that the student will be required to take developmental coursework as a prerequisite to entry into freshman-level post-secondary English or mathematics courses, the high school shall provide the student the required developmental coursework or its equivalent prior to graduation. The high school shall provide a written notice to the student and the student's parent explaining the academic necessity for the developmental coursework.

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