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

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/29/07

HB

SHORT TITLE NMSU Science, Technology & Math Outreach

SB 24

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$500.0

recurring

general fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 24 appropriates $500 thousand from the general fund to NMSU to coordinate and

expand a collaborative effort among the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Education and Engineering

related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational outreach

programs.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $500 thousand contained in SB 24 is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall revert to the

general fund.

This proposal was submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department by NMSU but

was not included in the Department’s funding recommendations for FY08.

House Bill 109 - Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

NMSU has created a STEM Alliance for the Preparation of Scientists, Engineers and

Mathematicians, which currently coordinates the efforts of the more than 50 separate science,

technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational outreach programs throughout the

state.

Through research, the Alliance is building a national model for increasing the number of

underrepresented K-20 students entering STEM coursework and careers. It also develops

collaborative programs between New Mexico institutions, businesses and governmental

agencies. The objectives of these efforts are to improve academic achievement among K-20

students and to increase the number of underrepresented students entering STEM subjects and

fields.

The 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) states 36% of US 4

th

graders

were proficient in math and 30% of 8

th

graders. In New Mexico, the scores drop significantly to

averages of 19% and 14%, respectively; which ranks New Mexico as 49

th

in mathematics and

science achievement. Standardized test results show that New Mexico’s K-12 schools are not

adequately preparing students, especially those disaggregated by ethnicity, for higher education

and future science, math and technology-related work force needs.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

SB 24 assist in the PED’s goal of reaching performance measures related to the percent of

students proficient in mathematics and science.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Alliance is working with other New Mexico institutions of higher education, Congressional

delegations, Department of Energy and federal and state agencies to increase the quality,

quantity and diversity of future scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technologists.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Duplicates HB 109

Relates to HB 111/SB 29, to appropriate $300 thousand to NMSU to pay for a science education

enhancement and K-12 teacher outreach program.

Relates to HB129, to appropriate $250 thousand to Northern New Mexico Community College

to offer professional development for middle school teachers in teaching math, science and

technology.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

NMSU reports STEM outreach and Extension programs are currently reaching more than 100

thousand students around the state. The STEM Alliance is working to enhance collaboration and

coordination of many of these programs, with an aim to increasing both the total number of

outreach initiatives statewide and the number of underrepresented students entering these

programs.

House Bill 109 - Page

3

The STEM Alliance is also working to align efforts in K-12 and higher education, and increase

access to university and community college STEM programs. These efforts are expected to result

in a steady increase in the number of underrepresented students capable of entering STEM

majors at the community college and university levels

.

ALTERNATIVES

NMSU may be required to seek additional funding from its institutional partners and other

private funding sources.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

New Mexico students may be limited in their access to the fields of science, technology,

engineering and mathematics by their inadequate educational preparation. This situation could

interfere with the State’s efforts to strengthen New Mexico’s workforce and economy, and

increase the State’s competitiveness in attracting science and other technology industries because

of the lack of technology-literate workers.

QUESTIONS

How many middle and high school math and science teachers in New Mexico are considered

“qualified" by No Child Left Behind standards.

AHO/nt