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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Martinez, R.C.
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1-23-2006
HB
SHORT TITLE Middle School Teacher Science & Math Training
SB 25
ANALYST Dearing
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY06
FY07
$250.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates HB 126
Relates to:
SB 233
Expand Teacher Education Field Courses
HB 3 Education Appropriation Act
HB 9 WNMU Web-Based Teacher Preparation Program
HB 26 Santa Fe Teacher Science Instruction
HC 142 Building for Teacher Education and General Education for Northern New Mexico
State School in Espanola in Rio Arriba County
HB 160 Expand Teacher Education Field Courses
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Public Education Department (PED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 25 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to provide a program at Northern
New Mexico State School, commonly known as Northern New Mexico Community College, to
train middle school teachers to improve their skills, technical knowledge and teaching techniques
in science, mathematics and technology so that they are better prepared to teach students in those
subjects. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year 2007
shall revert to the general fund.
pg_0002
Senate Bill No. 25 – Page
2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $250,000 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 revert
to the general fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
According to the Public Education Department, this program reflects findings of the first Mathe-
matics and Science Education in New Mexico Town Hall/Summit, held in November 2005.
Northern New Mexico Community College (NNMCC) has partnered with the Northern New
Mexico Math and Science Academy (MSA) to conduct professional development for middle
school teachers.
The Northern New Mexico Math and Science Academy (MSA) program was started in 2000 by
the Northern New Mexico Council for Excellence in Education (NNMCEE) in partnership with
the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2004-2005 the four MSA staff members worked with
over 70 teachers in 14 middle and elementary schools in five districts. This bill would fund the
sixth year of this professional development program. Evaluators have found that student
achievement has increased steadily for the students of teachers in the program.
Among the Town Hall/Summit recommendations implemented by MSA are that:
•
New Mexico’s middle school teachers must have deep content knowledge and effective
pedagogical skills to be competent instructors.
•
MSA focuses on standards-based education using research-based concepts and instruc-
tional strategies, assessment and data analysis.
•
MSA’s goal is to increase student achievement by improving teacher practice.
•
The middle school teachers’ program consists of intensive training during a three-week
summer institute; biweekly site-based meetings after school; cognitive coaching and
mentoring four to five times a year; development of individual reflective portfolios; and
biweekly online discussions with the whole MSA community.
Funding for the MSA teachers has been provided by the Legislature and private and corporate
donations.
The sum of $73,200 was appropriated for this program in Chapter 34, Laws of 2005 (Senate Bill
190.) The Legislative Finance Committee funding recommendation for fiscal year 2007 has in-
cluded this amount as a component of a block-grant appropriation to NNMC for special projects
expansion.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
This legislation addresses fiscal year 2007 performance measures centering on percentage of 8
th
grade students achieving proficiency in mathematics.
pg_0003
Senate Bill No. 25 – Page
3
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Duplicates HB 126
Relates to:
SB 233
Expand Teacher Education Field Courses
HB 3 Education Appropriation Act
HB 9 WNMU Web-Based Teacher Preparation Program
HB 26 Santa Fe Teacher Science Instruction
HC 142 Building for Teacher Education and General Education for Northern New Mexico
State School in Espanola in Rio Arriba County
HB 160 Expand Teacher Education Field Courses
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
The promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education pro-
grams within educational institutions within New Mexico have recently been high-lighted as is-
sues that are at the forefront of the New Mexico Federal Congressional Delegation’s funding and
legislative initiatives. While this proposed legislation deals with the development of these core
competencies within the teaching community, this is directly related to the overall goal of in-
creasing scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematical abilities of students within the state,
through increasing the ability of teachers to convey this knowledge to their students.
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
Funding will not be provided to Northern New Mexico State School to train middle school
teachers at the higher level. This could limit their skills, technical knowledge and teaching tech-
niques in science, mathematics and technology. The result of lowered teaching capability could
decrease student competency in critical mathematics, science and technical areas among students
and could result in a generally negative impact on comprehensive test results.
There is a clear relationship among low standards, mediocre curriculum, undereducated teaching
professionals and poor educational results. The critical element in student achievement has been
shown to be teacher quality and high-quality curriculum. Recent data indicates that the percent
of classes taught by highly qualified teachers at the middle school level is approximately 76%.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
How are these funds to be administered.
Will this administration incur additional costs.
PD/nt