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AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY

BE OFFERED AS AN ELECTIVE; RECONCILING MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS TO

THE SAME SECTION OF LAW IN LAWS 2005.

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

Section 1. Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws

1986, Chapter 33, Section 5, as amended by Laws 2005, Chapter

314, Section 1 and by Laws 2005, Chapter 315, Section 10) is

amended to read:

"22-13-1.1. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.--

A. At the end of grades eight through eleven, each

student shall prepare an interim next-step plan that sets

forth the coursework for the grades remaining until high

school graduation. Each year's plan shall explain any

differences from previous interim next-step plans, shall be

filed with the principal of the student's high school and

shall be signed by the student, the student's parent and the

student's guidance counselor or other school official charged

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with coursework planning for the student.

B. Each student must complete a final next-step

plan during the senior year and prior to graduation. The plan

shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school

and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent and

the student's guidance counselor or other school official

charged with coursework planning for the student.

C. An individualized education program that meets

the requirements of Subsections A and B of this section and

that meets all applicable transition and procedural

requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act for a student with a disability shall satisfy

the next-step plan requirements of this section for that

student.

D. A local school board shall ensure that each

high school student has the opportunity to develop a next-step

plan and is reasonably informed about:

(1) curricular and course options;

(2) opportunities available that lead to

different post-high-school options; and

(3) alternative opportunities available if

the student does not finish a planned curriculum.

E. The secretary shall:

(1) establish specific accountability

standards for administrators, counselors, teachers and school

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district staff to ensure that every student has the

opportunity to develop a next-step plan;

(2) promulgate rules for accredited private

schools in order to ensure substantial compliance with the

provisions of this section;

(3) monitor compliance with the requirements

of this section; and

(4) compile such information as is necessary

to evaluate the success of next-step plans and report

annually, by December 15, to the legislative education study

committee and the governor.

F. Successful completion of a minimum of twenty-

three units aligned to the state academic content and

performance standards shall be required for graduation. These

units shall be as follows:

(1) four units in English, with major

emphasis on grammar and literature;

(2) three units in mathematics, at least one

of which is equivalent to the algebra 1 level or higher;

(3) two units in science, one of which shall

have a laboratory component; provided, however, that with

students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006

school year, three units in science shall be required, one of

which shall have a laboratory component;

(4) three units in social science, which

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shall include United States history and geography, world

history and geography and government and economics;

(5) one unit in physical education;

(6) one unit in communication skills or

business education, with a major emphasis on writing and

speaking and that may include a language other than English;

(7) one-half unit in New Mexico history for

students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006

school year; and

(8) nine elective units and seven and

one-half elective units for students entering the ninth grade

in the 2005-2006 school year that meet department content and

performance standards. Student service learning shall be

offered as an elective. Financial literacy shall be offered

as an elective.

G. The department shall establish a procedure for

students to be awarded credit through completion of specified

career technical education courses for certain graduation

requirements.

H. Final examinations shall be administered to all

students in all classes offered for credit.

I. A student who has not passed a state graduation

examination in the subject areas of reading, English,

mathematics, writing, science and social science shall not

receive a high school diploma. The state graduation

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examination on social science shall include a section on the

constitution of the United States and the constitution of New

Mexico. If a student exits from the school system at the end

of grade twelve without having passed a state graduation

examination, the student shall receive an appropriate state

certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the

grade completed. If within five years after a student exits

from the school system the student takes and passes the state

graduation examination, the student may receive a high school

diploma.

J. As used in this section:

(1) "final next-step plan" means a next-step

plan that shows that the student has committed or intends to

commit in the near future to a four-year college or

university, a two-year college, a trade or vocational program,

an internship or apprenticeship, military service or a job;

(2) "interim next-step plan" means an annual

next-step plan in which the student specifies post-high-school

goals and sets forth the coursework that will allow the

student to achieve those goals; and

(3) "next-step plan" means an annual

personal written plan of studies developed by a student in a

public school or other state-supported school or institution

in consultation with the student's parent and school counselor

or other school official charged with coursework planning for

the student.

K. The secretary may establish a policy to provide

for administrative interpretations to clarify curricular and

testing provisions of the Public School Code."

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