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

SPONSOR Hamilton

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/08

HB 189

SHORT TITLE WNMU Internet-Based Teacher Program

SB

ANALYST Haug

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$388.6

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 189 appropriates

$388.6

from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Western

New Mexico University to expand the internet-based teacher preparation program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $388.6 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the

general fund.

The HED states that the proposal was submitted by WNMU to the New Mexico Higher

Education Department for review and is included in the Department’s funding recommendation

for FY09.

The HED’s evaluation table of FY09 Research and Public Service Projects provided to the LFC

classifies this project as a “would not oppose if funding available" project. Reasons for this

classification decision are not provided. (LFC Report 07-20, Higher Education Department

Review of Selected Research and Public Service Projects, January 12, 2008, Table 4, p76.

House Bill 189 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The PED states that:

•

The Network for Web-based Teacher Licensure (NeTL) project was initiated at WNMU

in the Fall of 2004 with funding from the NM Higher Education Department (HED);

•

WNMU proposes to reduce the teacher shortage in New Mexico by creating an accessible

option for teacher licensure and endorsement coursework through its Network for Web-

based Teacher Licensure (NeTL);

•

NeTL offers a distance learning option for teacher licensure and endorsement coursework

through web-based courses that assist teachers to overcome barriers such as geographic

isolation, employment schedules, and economic, cultural, and linguistic factors.

•

NeTL offers coursework required for licensure and professional advancement accessible

in those areas where the lack of full credentials is most serious;

•

Courses are 100% accessible by the Internet. Courses may have optional face-to-face or

instructional television sessions;

•

NeTL has enabled multicultural education to reach teachers and students in Mexico

(Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua) and New Mexico (Deming, Gallup, and T or C);

•

Spring 2007 had a total 108 unduplicated student count who took the on-line courses;

•

Bachelor and Master degrees in education are offered through this program;

•

Through the program laptops were also purchased and the program currently has a laptop

lending program for students and faculty.

The PED notes that the bill relates to and supports PED’s performance measures regarding:

•

core academic subjects being taught by highly qualified teachers in high-poverty schools,

kindergarten through twelfth grade; and

•

percent of elementary and middle school students to achieve the No Child Left Behind

Act annual measurable objectives for math, reading and language arts.

The HED states that the proposal complements HED's efforts to extend access of higher

education programs through distance delivery.

The HED notes further that part of the overarching mission of WNMU is to provide services to

outlying, rural communities. Online course and program offerings make this mission particularly

attainable. For many rural students, online education provides the only opportunity to earn

college degrees.

GH/mt