HOUSE BILL 304

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Helen Garcia

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING AN AT-RISK ACTIVITIES PILOT PROJECT AT LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] AT-RISK ACTIVITIES PILOT PROJECT--LAS CRUCES HIGH SCHOOL.--The department and the Las Cruces public school district shall design a four-year "at-risk activities pilot project" to be instituted at Las Cruces high school. The pilot project shall provide funding for extracurricular programs and student clubs that target students who are at risk of dropping out of school. The purpose of the pilot project is to determine whether such support for extracurricular activities will significantly improve the dropout rate at the high school. To receive funding, a student club or other extracurricular program or activity must have at least sixty percent of its membership identified by the school as students who are at risk of dropping out of school. The pilot project shall include an annual evaluation phase that tracks Las Cruces high school students and their academic achievements and provides other data sufficient to determine the efficacy of the pilot project. Insofar as practicable, data collection and reporting shall be consistent with requirements of the student teacher accountability reporting system. The department and the school district shall report to the legislative education study committee by July 1 of each year on the past school year's success in improving the academic standing of Las Cruces high school students. The department and school district shall provide a written report, including findings and recommendations, to the legislative education study committee at the end of the pilot project."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2009 through 2013 for distribution to the Las Cruces public school district to implement an at-risk activities pilot project at Las Cruces high school. Of this appropriation, no more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year may be given to any one student club or other extracurricular program or activity. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2013 shall revert to the general fund.

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