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

SPONSOR M. J. Garcia

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/30/08

HB

SHORT TITLE Las Cruces Schools Truancy Reduction

SB 477

ANALYST Haug

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$600.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

Relates to SB 410

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 477 appropriates $600.0 from the general fund to the Public Education Department

for the Las Cruces public schools, working in partnership with the local regional education

initiative, to implement an enhanced truancy process, taking a countywide approach to

improving attendance.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $600.0 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.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The PED states:

According to the National Center for School Engagement (National Center for School

Senate Bill 477 – Page

2

Engagement, 2008):

•

Truancy has been identified as one of the early warning signs of students headed for

potential delinquent activity, social isolation or educational failure via suspension,

expulsion or dropping out.

•

Truancy is considered to be one of the top 10 problems facing schools. 80% of dropouts

were chronically truant before dropping out. 90% of youths in detention for delinquent

acts were chronically truant.

•

If the attendance rate continues to decrease, the graduation rate will be affected.

•

Dropout and truancy have been correlated to an increase in juvenile crime.

•

The underlying issues for dropout and truancy are often associated with social, family

and health barriers that prevent students from achieving. These barriers negatively

impact closing the achievement gap

According to the 2005/2006 PED Student Dropout Report, the dropout rate reported in 2005-

2006 for Las Cruces school district was 1.6% (Public Education Department, 2008).

According to the 2006/2007 Las Cruces Dropout Report (2006-2007 Dropout Report):

•

Dropout rate reported in 2006/2007 for Las Cruces school district was 1.6%.

•

Number of students identified was 172 out of a total enrollment at the 40

th

day of 10,769.

•

Rates reported do not distinguish between students who decide to leave school

prematurely and students who transfer without notifying the district.

•

The Dona Ana Judicial Detention Center reported 21 dropouts out of a total identified of

51.

•

The dropout rate for the Dona Ana Judicial Detention Center is reported at 41.18%.

According to the Juvenile Justice Services Probation Violations (FACTS Bureau, ND):

•

In the first six months of fiscal year 2008, 462 juveniles were responsible for 1,591

probation violation charges statewide.

•

172 (39.4%) of the probation violation charges were for truancy.

•

In Dona Ana County during the same time period 55 juveniles were responsible for 198

probation violation charges.

•

One-in-four, or 15 (27.3%), of probation violations were for truancy.

RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 477 is related to SB 410 which appropriates $120.0 for the identical purpose.

GH/mt