Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Miera

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01-31-08

HM 21

SHORT TITLE Support for Community Schools

SB

ANALYST Padilla

Relates to SB 30, SB 324, SB 187 and SB 486.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Memorial 21 (HM 21) encourages the support for community schools in order to increase

teacher-parent communications, provide increased security and heighten community pride and

rapport between students and other community members. Furthermore, collaborative working

relationships with schools, the business community, social service agencies, government

associations and post-secondary educational institutions increase parent involvement and student

academic achievement to ensure an overall high quality of life. It is resolved by the House of

Representatives that the State of New Mexico commit staff and financial resources to implement

the community school effort. Copies of this Memorial shall be transmitted to the Superintendent

of the Albuquerque Public Schools and to the members of the Legislative Education Study

Committee.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

HM 21 does not have any fiscal implications for the Public Education Department (PED).

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HM 21 indicates as follows:

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque have

worked together for a number of years on a community education model that would

combine resources from public and private sources to serve the educational needs of all

members of a community.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque

approved resolutions to form a Community Schools Partnership and to set forth

House Memorial 21 – Page

2

principles, alternative approaches and a scope to accomplish the mission and goals of a

community education program.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque jointly

participated with the Albuquerque Business Education Compact in a 2005 study with

high-level executives and staff members to clarify the options and steps required to

implement community schools within the Albuquerque Public School system.

•

The Community Schools’ approach recognizes that only about 22 percent of a child’s life

until ten years of age is spent in school and that conditions within the family,

neighborhood, among peers and within the larger community affect young people’s

motivation to learn and be successful in school.

•

The character of family life, family income, stability, peer and family drug and alcohol

use, mental health, nutrition, housing, neighborhood crime, gangs, the educational level

of family members and the importance family members place on learning will all have

and impact on learning.

•

Over fifty leaders from community schools in Albuquerque were interviewed, and their

responses contained important guidance for implementing community schools.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque, along

with the Albuquerque Business Education Compact, reviewed ten national and

international models of community schools nationwide.

•

The Community Schools’ Task Force recognized that implementing community schools

would require a significant commitment of staff and financial resources by Bernalillo

County, the Albuquerque Public Schools, the City of Albuquerque and the state’s private

foundations.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools, the City of Albuquerque Public

Schools, the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Business Education Compact

have each made a one-time contribution of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to

fund the start-up costs and initial operations of the community schools partnership.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque

approved a Joint Powers Agreement to achieve administrative efficiency in the funding of

programs by the establishment of the Community Schools’ partnership.

•

Bernalillo County, the Albuquerque Public Schools and the City of Albuquerque request

a significant commitment of financial resources from the State of New Mexico to

implement the Community Schools’ effort.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The PED indicates that HM 21 requests the commitment of state staff and financial resources to

implement the Community Schools’ effort.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

HM 21 relates to SB 30, SB 324, SB 187 and SB 486.

House Memorial 21 – Page

3

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The PED states as follows:

•

In a recent report by Blank, Melaville, and Shaw (2003), a true community school is

defined as a reflection of the needs and strengths of each different community. It is crated

with input from all levels of the community (e.g., youth, parents, school staff, local

businesses and other agencies that surround the school). A community school is both a

place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its

integrated focus on academics, services, supports and opportunities lead to improved

student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities. Schools become centers of

the community that are open to everyone – every day, evenings, and weekends.

•

The report mentions that students are engaged in learning and service activities at a

community school and have access to an array of personal and social supports.

Community schools promote youth development activities and community-based

learning and offer preventative health and social services before, during and after school.

•

In addition, parents and community residents support their children’s learning while

developing their own knowledge and skills. Literacy classes, adult and parent education,

employment training, family support, and leadership development all are part of the

community school vision.

•

HM 21 requests that the State of New Mexico commit staff and financial resources to

implement the community schools’ effort with Bernalillo County, Albuquerque Public

Schools, the City of Albuquerque, and other community entities.

•

The strategic direction of Albuquerque Bernalillo County Community Schools’

Partnerships includes:

9

Fostering economic development and improved quality of life for all

9

Community engagement and development opportunities for all stakeholders

9

Shared leadership structures and activities

9

Quality education available to all groups and at many times of the day and

evening

9

Emphasis on asset development for children and families in all areas: cognitive,

social, psychological, and physical

9

Broad array of family supports

•

The goals of Albuquerque Bernalillo County Community Schools’ Partnerships are to

increase public participation in the shared responsibility for student and community

success; strong parent involvement and student achievement at the school level; the

combination of school resources and outside community resources to provide seamless

programs; the number of active collaborations in governing such programs; and the

number of schools with extended hours that keep buildings open evenings, weekends, and

summers.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

The PED indicates that not approving this bill may impede further development and

sustainability of the Albuquerque Bernalillo Community School partnership efforts.

JRP/mt