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

SPONSOR Robinson

DATE TYPED 3/1/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE Youth Mentoring Program

SB 926

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$150.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 926 appropriates $150 thousand dollars from the general fund to the Children’s

Youth and Families Department to support a youth mentoring program.

Significant Issues

The bill does not provide specific information regarding target population, geographic areas,

program objectives or expected results.

According to a 2002 U.S. Department of Education publication, New Mexico had the 5

th

-highest

high school dropout rate in the nation at 6.0% (the national rate at that time was 4.8%). The

PED’s last published dropout rate for New Mexico is 4.5% from school year 2002-2003. New

Mexico’s dropout rate has been steadily decreasing from high rates such as 8.7% in 1994-1995.

As per the 2002-2003 Dropout Report, APS had a 4.1% dropout rate.

Factors contributing to high school dropout are complex and multi-faceted. They include teenage

pregnancy, poor academic performance, poor attendance, history of changing schools frequently,

history of discipline referrals and low educational and occupational aspirations. Truancy is a ma-

Senate Bill 926 Page 2

jor risk factor for dropouts. One national study indicates that 80% of dropouts were chronically

truant before dropping out. Additionally, Hispanic, Native American and male students are more

likely to dropout of school.

The National Dropout Prevention Center has identified 15 effective strategies for addressing the

dropout challenge (

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effstrat/effstrat.htm

). They include:

•

Systemic renewal (school policy, practice and organizational development)

•

School-community collaboration

•

Safe learning environments

•

Family engagement

•

Early childhood education

•

Early literacy development

•

Mentoring-tutoring

•

Service-learning

•

Alternative schooling

•

After-school opportunities

•

Professional development for teachers and staff

•

Active learning strategies

•

Educational technology

•

Individualized instruction

•

Career and technical education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150 thousand 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

general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD would absorb any administrative impact resulting from this legislation.

BD/yr