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

SPONSOR Lopez

DATE TYPED 2/16/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE CYFD Early Childhood Aim High Program

SB 458

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$1,000.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB459; HB508; HB337; HB379; SB253; SB124; SB360

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

NM Public Education Department (NMPED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 458 appropriates $1 million from the general fund to fund to the Children, Youth, and

Families Department (CYFD) for the AIM HIGH program to raise the quality of early childhood

programs.

Significant Issues

It is the intent of the AIM HIGH program to help early childhood programs improve the quality

of services provided primarily to children and families receiving the child care subsidy. Cur-

rently, there are approximately 50 early childhood programs that are on the waiting list to par-

ticipate in the AIM HIGH program. This appropriation would allow more early childhood pro-

grams to participate in the AIM HIGH program.

Several studies (e.g., Perry Preschool Project, Abecedarian Study, Head Start, Chicago Child-

Parent Centers, the Chicago Study and Rand Report 2000) show academic benefits for four-year-

olds attending high-quality pre-Kindergarten programs.

Senate Bill 458 Page 2

The Aim High program establishes five levels of quality child care and encourages child care

providers to move through the level system.

The Pre-Kindergarten initiative is part of the Governor’s Legislative Package (HB 337 and SB

360). Improving the quality of community child care programs supports and encourages partici-

pation in the voluntary pre-Kindergarten initiative.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD has established performance measures relating to the AIM High quality child care pro-

gram. Additional funding will increase participation and improve performance outcomes.

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 FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

RELATIONSHIP

SB 458 relates to the following:

•

SB459 short titled “Satellite Early Childhood Training Programs”

•

HB508 short titled “CYFD Early Childhood Programs”

•

HB337 short titled “Pre-Kindergarten Act”

•

HB379 short titled “Expand Family Development Program”

•

SB253 short titled “Statewide Family Development Program Training”

•

SB124 short titled “Autistic Student School Personnel Development”

•

SB360 short titled “Pre-Kindergarten Act”

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Early childhood programs focus on children from birth to 3

rd

grade (Source: CYFD).

Aim High utilizes a five-point scale to indicate level of quality of child care services in licensed

centers, licensed and registered homes, licensed and non-licensed school-age facilities (Source:

www.newmexicokids.org website).

Criteria considered by Aim High for quality ratings include specifications in areas like curricu-

lum, amount of training of staff, child-to-teacher ratios according to child age, accreditation by

the National Association for the Education of Young Children, teacher professional development

and evaluation plans (Source: www.newmexicokids.org website).

Beginning in 2005, Aim High rating levels will be displayed by providers of child-care programs

(CYFD, Annual Report).

BD/yr