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

SPONSOR Sanchez, B.

DATE TYPED 03-07-05 HB

SHORT TITLE Enlace Program at Certain Colleges

SB 972

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$1,200.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriations for the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University,

and the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropriations Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 972 – Making an Appropriation for the ENLACE Program at Selected Post-

Secondary Educational Institutions – appropriates the following amounts from the general fund

to the following post-secondary educational institutions for expenditure in FY06 to support

ENLACE programs:

•

$400,000 to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico;

•

$400,000 to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University; and

•

$400,000 to the Commission on Higher Education for Santa Fe Community College.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

Senate Bill 972 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

PED indicates that ENLACE stands for “Engaging Latino Communities for Education.”

ENLACE New Mexico was established with the assistance of a grant awarded by the W.K. Kel-

logg Foundation as part of a national initiative to improve the educational participation and

graduation rates of Latino students through enhanced community involvement. As background,

PED notes:

•

Academic achievement and dropout data show a significant gap between Latino

students and other student groups in New Mexico public schools;

•

Educational research has shown that, in order to reduce this gap, efforts must

come from different educational entities, parents and community groups;

1

and

•

ENLACE New Mexico has demonstrated its commitment and effectiveness in

improving schools and communities where Latino students are enrolled;

PED adds that this legislation will support Latino students at the three specified colleges by:

•

improving academic achievement and, as a consequence, reducing the achievement gap;

•

decreasing the dropout rate;

•

increasing student attendance rates at institutions of higher education; and

•

improving student self-esteem and identity.

CHE notes that this expansion request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by Uni-

versity of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, or Santa Fe Community College to the

commission for review. Consequently, the request was not included in the commission’s fund-

ing recommendation for FY06.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1,200,000 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.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and the Commission on Higher

Education will retain oversight of their designated appropriations.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriations for the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University,

and the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropriations Act.

1

Sources: Baca and Cervantes, 1998; Bridglall and Gordon, 2003; Gregory, 2000; and Krashen, 1996.

Senate Bill 972 -- Page 3

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

As additional background information, CHE observes that ENLACE is a multiyear initiative to

strengthen the educational pipeline and increase opportunities for Latinos to enter and complete

college. ENLACE seeks to unite institutions, organizations, and communities in single-minded

commitment to improving education for Latino youth. ENLACE aims to strengthen partnerships

and create coalitions among Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other qualifying higher education

institutions, K-12 school districts, communities, businesses, and others who are working to in-

crease opportunities for Latinos to enter and succeed in college.

2

ENLACE has evolved in three

phases. In Phase 1, 18 higher education institutions received one-year planning grants of

$100,000 each to respond to the needs of students and families by developing action plans based

on best practices as well as local contexts. For Phase II, 13 partnerships received grants ranging

from $1.4 - $2 million to implement their plans over four years. Implementation funds end with

the 2004-05 school year. A final phase will seek to sustain promising practices and ENLACE

principles for the benefit of more Latino communities and underserved student populations.

BFW/lg

2

Hispanic-Serving Institutions, as defined by the federal government, refers to colleges and universities with 25

percent or more Hispanic enrollment.