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

SPONSOR Kernan

DATE TYPED 03-03-05 HB

SHORT TITLE ENMU Kindergarten Teacher Development

SB 898

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$2,000.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation to Eastern New Mexico University in the General Appropriations

Act.

Relates to SB32, HB429

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 898 – Making an Appropriation to Eastern New Mexico University for Professional

Development Opportunities for Kindergarten Teachers – appropriates $2,000,000 from the gen-

eral fund to the Board of Regents of Eastern New Mexico University for expenditure in FYs 06

and 07 for the purpose of providing web-based and face-to-face professional development for

kindergarten teachers. The appropriation shall be used to fund opportunities for kindergarten

teachers to implement effective early literacy programs that produce students capable of becom-

ing proficient readers by the third grade. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at

the end of FY07 shall revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

PED indicates that kindergarten teachers play a vital role in the development of children. What

children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves and

Senate Bill 898 -- Page 2

the world and can affect their later success or failure in school, work and their personal lives.

1

Kindergarten teachers must be knowledgeable in current research on child development and

early acquisition of literacy skills. Meeting the professional development needs of teachers is

challenging, particularly in the more rural areas of the state where districts do not have sufficient

resources. This legislation provides kindergarten teachers in the eastern part of the state with

the means to achieve the needed expertise. Using telecommunication capability in addition to

face-to-face interactions will provide kindergarten teachers with increased access to critical pro-

fessional development.

PED adds that the research is clear that kindergarten success is a major predictor of success in

subsequent years, of students reading at grade level at the end of third grade, of students staying

in school and graduating. It is the initial cornerstone of our educational system, and the first step

in closing the achievement gap. Professional development is extremely important in helping kin-

dergarten teachers provide developmentally appropriate learning activities for literacy develop-

ment that address the needs of all children.

CHE observes that this request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by Eastern New

Mexico University to the commission for review. Accordingly, the request was not included in

the commission’s funding recommendation for FY06.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED notes that this legislation supports the department’s performance measure that 4th and 8th

grade children will demonstrate proficiency in language arts/reading on the statewide criterion-

referenced tests.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2,000,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund

allocated for expenditure in FYs 06 and 07. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remain-

ing at the end of FY07 shall revert to the general fund.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation to Eastern New Mexico University in the General Appropriations

Act.

Relates to SB32 in that SB32 seeks to appropriate $10 million from the general fund to the Pub-

lic Education Department for the purpose of funding reading enhancement in grades one through

three in the public schools.

Relates to HB429 in that HB429 seeks to appropriate $2.5 million from the general fund to the

teacher professional development fund for the purpose of funding teacher professional develop-

ment

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

CHE suggests – assuming that funding will continue beyond FY06 – that consideration might be

given to requiring the university to submit a plan for program evaluation, including specific pro-

1

Teachers – Preschool, Elementary, Middle and Secondary. U.S. Department of Labor.

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/pdf/ocos069.pdf

Senate Bill 898 -- Page 3

gram goals and criteria for assessing program effectiveness to the Legislative Finance Committee

and the Commission on Higher Education by October 1, 2005. Further that the university should

also submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on

Higher Education by June 30, 2008 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from hav-

ing this program implemented for a three-year period.

BFW/yr