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

SPONSOR Begaye

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-13-2006

HB 796

SHORT TITLE San Juan County Education Programs

SB

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$20.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 796 appropriates $20.0 from the general fund to Public Education Department for the

purpose of providing education outreach activities to enhance learning among Native American

students in western San Juan County in mathematics, engineering and science achievement pro-

grams.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $20,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall not re-

vert to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Studies have shown that traditionally underserved students are less likely to attend, to persist,

and to graduate from college than other, more fortunate students. This report indicates that three

factors bear on access to and success in college: predisposition to college, access to academic

experiences of high quality and postsecondary opportunity. Programs that provide enrichment

experiences or support services can help fill the gaps where the system fails.

House Bill 796– Page

2

According to the Public Education Department, the data from schools in the western part of San

Juan County show that of the seven secondary schools within the Central Consolidated Schools,

only two have made adequate yearly progress (AYP) and of the five remaining, none have made

AYP under the mathematics goal. There are 10 elementary schools within the district. Two of

those elementary schools did not meet AYP and neither of the two schools met the AYP goal for

mathematics.

The need for providing outreach activities in mathematics, engineering and science is supported

by the PED’s data, but it would be recommended that an alignment, articulation and/or appropri-

ateness of these activities match the goals set forth in the school’s improvement plans where

math AYP goals are not being met and must include a research-base component.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

There is no direct impact on the PED’s Performance Measures; however, this would support the

Public School Support performance measures to increase the percent of fourth and eighth-grade

students who achieve proficiency on the criterion-referenced assessments in mathematics.

This may also support the Indian Education Act of 2003 where it calls for…” the study, devel-

opment, and implementation of educational systems that positively affect the educational success

of American Indian students.”

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the Public Education Department, there would be minimal costs to the agency. The

work on this appropriation could be absorbed within the current budget.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

On line 4 Representative Brian K. Moore is listed as the sponsor while the locator lists Represen-

tative Ray Begaye as the sponsor.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education pro-

grams within educational institutions in New Mexico have recently been high-lighted as issues

that are at the forefront of both the New Mexico Federal Congressional Delegation’s as well as

the federal Executive’s funding and legislative initiatives. This initiative is an effort to promote

New Mexico’s development of a technically proficient state population that is able to compete in

attracting investment at both the national and global level in scientific, high-tech manufacturing,

engineering, research, and mathematical fields.

ALTERNATIVES

Public Education Department stipulates that the Navajo Nation has some programs in place with

organizations such as the Rural Systemic Initiative and NASA, that can also be utilized so that

instruction can be contextualized in the native knowledge base and move the skill levels forward

from an enriching perspective. It would be recommended that Navajo Nation Department of Di-

neh Education be a partner in the implementation of this bill.

House Bill 796– Page

3

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Native students in western San Juan County will not have access to these funds for outreach

activities.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

PD/yr