HOUSE BILL 596

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Thomas E. Swisstack

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR PROPOSALS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ESTABLISH GENDER-SPECIFIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. GENDER-SPECIFIC EDUCATION--REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS.--The public education department shall issue requests to all school districts for proposals to establish gender-specific education programs. The public education department may fund proposals to a maximum amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for any single school district. In accepting proposals for funding, the public education department shall give priority to proposals that request funding for:

          A. training teachers in best practices for different teaching styles for boys and girls within the statewide professional development framework;

          B. creation of single-sex classrooms, provided that the teachers of these classes receive gender competency training;

          C. programs that bring a greater number of adequately screened and trained men, as teachers and mentors, into the schools to serve as positive role models; and

          D. providing a science-based method of evaluating the results of a funded proposal. 

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to provide support for gender-specific education by requesting all school districts to submit proposals that address gender-specific education, with no more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to be distributed to a single school district. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

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